Finally ! We’ve been waiting for the real Francos to return to downtown Montreal for three years. And we weren’t disappointed. Rarely have we seen the Quartier des Spectacles so full for this festival which was visibly missed by the public.
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It was barely 7 p.m. when Sainte-Catherine Street and the terraces were overflowing last night. From our memories of the pre-pandemic era, the kickoff of the Francos had never been so popular. We even thought we were more at the Jazz Festival as there were people everywhere. There is no denying it, two summers without a festival, it seems!
Photo QMI Agency, Thierry Laforce
A crowd of spectators came to see Koriass perform.
When Koriass took to the main stage at the Place des Festivals two hours later, a tide of spectators greeted him. All the elements were there for a great evening: a Friday night, good weather and a very popular rapper.
Arrived on stage with his sunglasses, Koriass made the premiere of his most recent album Makeshift Shelter (for End of the World)released last April.
Photo QMI Agency, Thierry Laforce
“Thank you to the Francos for giving me the task of opening on the big stage,” he said. For this special evening, Korey Hart, by his other nickname, had planned a concert for the less generous of 24 titles.
Accompanied in particular by brass instruments and singers, the rapper delivered a frenzied performance, as if he had always played on the big stage of the Francos. It must be said that it was his fourth career show on this huge platform. Impressive !
Among his guests, Koriass received Safia Nolin. Together, they paid a very nice tribute to Karim Ouellet by resuming his song Marie-Jo. A touching moment.
At the time of this writing, Koriass and Imposs deliver a hard-hitting duet on Special effects.
Nostalgic Of Larochellière
A little earlier in the evening, Luc De Larochellière took the spectators who came to see him on the Loto-Québec floor on a journey through time.
As he had started to do a few years ago, the singer wanted to celebrate the 30e album anniversary save my soul.
Photo QMI Agency, Thierry Laforce
This concert yesterday, however, almost did not take place. A few days ago, the songwriter had a big scare.
“I must tell you that I am in mourning … Monday night, my gallbladder left me for a better world, he confided to the crowd at the start of the game. with a few holes in my stomach I’m here to bring you this show. But I’m here ! »
Since the duration of his album save my soul does not fill the time slot that the Francos had entrusted to him, De Larochellière decided to open his show with half of his first album, Bitter America.
Before we had to leave to see Koriass, we were able to hear the first four pieces of save my soulincluding the timeless title track.
As soon as Luc and his singers – the same as at the time – started save my soul, screams rang out in the audience. Everyone was smiling and swaying their hips.
Photo QMI Agency, Thierry Laforce
We can’t say it enough how much we love the symphonic lawn parterre through all the surrounding concrete of the Quartier des Spectacles.
In the crowd, you could see spectators of all ages. Thirty-somethings, fifty-somethings, children. The atmosphere was happy and relaxed. It was there that we realized that we had found our Francos and that we had greatly missed them.