Osheaga-Festival | Seven highlights

The Montreal meeting returned this year in its usual format. The consequences of the pandemic are still being felt (particularly on traffic), but the weekend of music was generous in terms of highlights. Our journalists attended the three days of the festival. Report on seven highlights of this 15^e anniversary.

Intoxicating Dua Lipa

Marissa Groguhe
The Press

It was the grand finale, the one we were looking forward to even though she had just brought her tour Future Nostalgia at the Bell Center. Dua Lipa did not disappoint. She dazzled us. The production of his show was breathtaking. The Briton was surrounded by a whole arsenal of dancers, musicians and choristers. Dua Lipa is made to be on stage, she knows how to give her audience a good time. The whole thing seems effortless, but it is clear that the work put into this show is gigantic (if only in the execution of such a complex staging). That says it all, if she came back to Montreal for a third time next week, we would be there!

No respite with Apashe

Marissa Groguhe
The Press

For his first major show at a festival in Quebec, the Montreal artist, of Belgian origin, was fantastic. He did not skimp on the means to translate his electronic music inspired by classical music on stage. He created a roster that gave the crowd gathered before him no respite. On one of the more remote stages of the site, bordered by the river, he surrounded himself with a brass section of eight musicians, a screen behind him accompanying in images or in text his cinematographic music played live. A string of guests also joined the party: KROY, Geoffroy, Lia, Wasiu and Ymir. At 7 p.m., under a setting sun but still high in the sky, the crowd danced and jumped like midnight during a wild evening.

The Thrills of Arcade Fire

Emilie Cote
The Press

We’ve seen Arcade Fire perform many times, but never have our arms shaken so much with shivers in front of the group that has been the pride of Montreal for nearly 20 years. Is it because of Osheaga’s forced three-year hiatus due to the pandemic? Countless ardent hymns from the extended family band of Win Butler and Régine Chassagne? Maybe. But rarely have we seen the members of the clan so intense, invested and, above all, emotional on stage. To wink at the title track of the album The Suburbs (winner of the album of the year at the Grammys, need we remind you), the passage of time will not alter the feeling of great rock intensity that we felt on Friday evening.

Arkells offers a classic

William Theriault
special collaboration

At the beginning of the evening, Saturday, Arkells allowed itself to be heard Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight), monster success of ABBA, to the festival-goers. From the first notes of the mythical song, thousands of arms were raised in the air, and hundreds of people quickly ran to the main stage to celebrate with the Ontario rock group. It’s a moment to which words do not do enough justice: on the spot, impossible not to have had shivers on the arms or even a pressing desire to go dancing.

The return to the roots of Tones and I

William Theriault
special collaboration

“When I wasn’t earning my living with music and just playing in the streets for passers-by, I was always singing the same song. Friday afternoon, during the early hours of the festival, the singer Tones and I created a moment that was both touching and moving. “I promised myself that I would sing it at each of my shows. So here is my version of forever Young she smiled. Visibly happy, the 21-year-old Australian interpreted the success of Alphaville brilliantly – and above all with emotion.

Parcels, the happy mix

Emilie Cote
The Press

The country of Australia and the music genre of disco don’t necessarily go hand in hand, but that’s what sets Parcels apart. Of course, the quintet also swims in rock as the vocal harmonies of the two singers Noah Hill and Patrick Hetherington add a touch of psychedelia to the group’s exquisite musical cocktail. On Friday, when the late afternoon sun was beating down on the Green stage, Parcels’ music, both soaring and dancing, had a perfect degree of intoxication. For those who have never attended Osheaga, know that the Green Stage, bordered by the natural amphitheater of the Plaine des Jeux, enjoys the view of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge in the background. It’s to see once in a lifetime!

The Canadian premiere of Wet Leg

Marissa Groguhe
The Press

British duo Wet Leg are very convincing on record. His self-titled album, released in April, wreaked havoc in the musicosphere. The enthusiasm is such that Hester and Rhian are in demand all over the world. Their performance in Osheaga was their first in Canada. We couldn’t wait to see this new musical phenomenon live. If we did not leave disappointed, we remained unsatisfied. Although Hester, Rhian and their group are instrumentally solid, they lacked energy on stage at the start of the show, when their indie-rock is often caustic, despite an already conquered audience. Verdict: an uneven performance, of which we prefer to remember the good times, because after all there were many of them.