The stricter sanitary measures in Quebec than elsewhere in the world make international artists cautious, deplores Nick Farkas, in an interview with The Press.
Posted at 6:28 p.m.
At the end of the line, the vice-president, programming, concerts and events, at evenko reports dozens of singers or groups who preferred to cancel their concert in Montreal rather than postpone it in an unpredictable health context. This is the case, for example, of Courtney Barnett, City and Color or Glass Animals, which will skip the metropolis in the short or medium term.
Mr. Farkas and a dozen representatives of major events and festival associations published an open letter in The Press Thursday to ask for a full reopening date for the performing arts. “We were patient for two years,” he says.
However, the multiplication of concert cancellations in February, even in March, required an initiative to “save the spring”. evenko manages venues such as the Bell Centre, the MTelus, Place Bell, the Corona Theater and L’Astral, in addition to producing festivals such as îleSoniq, LASSO and Osheaga. This popular music and arts gathering should see many groups, including Foo Fighters, ASAP Rocky and Dua Lipa, perform at Parc Jean-Drapeau from July 29 to 31.
Nick Farkas does not believe, for the moment, that the presence of these headliners is compromised, but the next few months will be critical. And the festival will have to take place without a gauge, he specifies, first for financial reasons.
“We are in favor of the vaccine passport and even the mask if necessary, but the enclosures, we have tried it, and it does not work. It is not profitable. Producing an event like Osheaga is very expensive. We were among the only ones in the world in September to still have capacity limits outside. »
Until then, artists must be convinced to go through Montreal when they play in Toronto, New York, or even Burlington, in neighboring Vermont.
“With American artist agents, it’s very difficult at the moment,” notes Mr. Farkas. After several postponements, the teams are tired. We had scheduled Elton John in March 2022 thinking that the situation would have improved [les représentations initiales devaient avoir lieu les 2 et 3 avril 2020], but we still had to postpone. We don’t know what will happen. »
In addition, the postponement date of the Billie Eilish concert, scheduled at the Bell Center on February 15, has still not been confirmed. “She is requested by a lot of people. It is certain that the teams are wondering how the health restrictions will evolve. Fingers crossed to be able to report. »
Nick Farkas often comes up against the incomprehension of foreign agents when he discusses health restrictions specific to Quebec. From February 7, the halls will be able to operate at half capacity, up to 500 spectators, while outdoor events will be able to accommodate up to 1,000 festival-goers. After this date, no additional deconfinement schedule has been announced.
The agents answer us: “You are not vaccinated at 90%? You are not among the most vaccinated in the world?” We must explain to them the situation in the hospitals. But they want to say, “You deal with it and we’ll talk to you when it’s settled.”
Nick Farkas, vice-president, programming, concerts and events, at evenko
In Ontario, the government of Doug Ford announced that it plans to eliminate all tonnage restrictions, both indoors and outdoors, as of March 14.
A large contingent of artists touring North America in the coming months has announced dates in Toronto, without planning a detour to Montreal… At least for now. Among others, HAIM, Tori Amos, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the folk-rock trio formed by Sharon Van Etten, Julien Baker and Angel Olsen, John Mayer and Halsey – outdoors – have been pinning the Queen City in the coming months, but not Quebec.
And what about the young Californian sensation Olivia Rodrigo. “In his case, it is not related to the COVID-19, specifies Nick Farkas. It is the star of the hour and it is sure that we approached it. We are trying to work with her for an upcoming tour. »
Revised and corrected contracts
As for the Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ), programmers must also work hard to reassure international artists and their agents.
“We are in a situation where we are an anomaly in the tour plans,” explains Louis Bellavance, vice-president of content and artistic direction. “We try to put ourselves in the shoes of artists who do business with organizations around the world. They look at the agenda and say to themselves: “Doing shows in Quebec, is it possible? Is it necessary?” »
The programmer is delighted to have been able to sign Rage Against the Machine, hoped for on the Plains of Abraham on July 16, before the new wave of closures occurs in Quebec. “We were very, very lucky to keep the date of Rage at the very beginning of his tour. I don’t think we would have managed to add it if it hadn’t already been planned. »
He notes however that the band of Zack de la Rocha, like others, will require certainties in its contract, at the risk of the organizers. “The new situation came after our agreements were tied with the artists. What this causes are serious contractual headaches. We are on it. »
This uncertainty does not exist in other markets: in Europe, in the United States, in South America. We have gone elsewhere. And it’s not because the pandemic has gone elsewhere; these are societal choices.
Louis Bellavance, from the FEQ
Most artists now require guaranteed fees, which was not the case in 2020 and 2021. “We just went through two waves of cancellations, but the contracts allowed us to get out because we were in a situation of strength major, in a pandemic situation. We could escape our obligations. This is no longer the case. There are constraints related to COVID-19, but the risks that the government decides with three weeks notice to allow or not to allow a show, that does not happen elsewhere. »
Louis Bellavance points out that the FEQ will spend some $13 million to attract talent. If this money cannot be recovered in the event of cancellation, “it would be enough to put the organization at risk”, he notes.
“Artists who transport 50, 100 people on the road cannot end up with a one-week gap because Quebec is a link that does not work in a touring chain. The costs are prohibitive. »
Like his colleague Nick Farkas, from evenko, he urges the Legault government to offer a minimum of predictability to festival organizers. “Everyone wants it to work, everyone is patient. Everyone is in good faith. It’s February 3, but it’s not true that we’re going to be patient and in good faith on March 3, April 3. »
The FEQ will have to decide “soon” whether to go ahead with an international event in the summer. “We have been reserved until today, we have never commented on the news for two years. Now we feel we need to be heard. »
“Although the gradual resumption of activities is good, we understand the concern of festivals in the face of the situation,” reacted the Minister of Culture and Communications, Nathalie Roy, through her press officer, Élizabeth Lemay. “Our government has multiplied meetings with the sector to properly meet their needs and make them known to Public Health. As soon as we are able to announce further relaxations with the agreement of Public Health, we will do so. Never has a Quebec government listened to, invested in and supported the cultural community so much. We will continue to be there. »
Some evenko shows canceled since December 2021
- The Offspring & Simple Plan
- Six Invitationals
- Wizkid
- Killswitch Engage
- Courtney Barnett
- City and Color
- Oliver Tree
- Glass Animals