Jazz Festival Outdoor Concerts

Montreal International Jazz Festival presents

Free Outdoor Concerts

The 37th edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival presents an exciting whirlwind of musical happiness: 11 days and nights of celebration, 9 outdoor stages, 3000 artists from all over the world… and it’s free! With two-thirds of its programming presented free of charge, the Festival proudly maintains a formula that is the only one of its kind anywhere: inviting the world’s greatest musicians to a site renowned for its unparalleled accessibility and goodwill. In all, the Festival will present over 600 free concerts and activities for every conceivable taste, every age and every desire from June 29 to July 9. From jazz to hip-hop, reggae to swing to blues, from legends to new discoveries, from right here in Montreal and as far away as New Zealand, Ethiopia, Scandinavia and Mexico, one thing is certain: anything is possible! www.montrealjazzfest.com

Some highlights from the free outdoor event schedule:

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 9:30 PM
TD Stage
The Rio Tinto Grand Opening Concert
The female reincarnation of the legendary James Brown comes hurtling in with her faithful Dap-Kings, a formidable combo that magically revives vintage acoustic soul, raucous R&B and nasty funk inspired by the ’60s and ’70s. Since Sharon Jones had to cancel her 2013 concert for health reasons, we’ve been breathlessly waiting for this moment: an immensely happy reunion with our fave soul sister.

Jamie Cullum
Monday, July 4, 2016 at 9:30 PM
The TD Grand Event
He’s the British jazz prodigy, an extravagant fusion of crooner and rock star, the man who shuffled the deck and kicked off a genre revolution. After selling out the Maison symphonique last year, the super-popular British artist brings his mind-blowing stage presence back to the Festival—this time, under the stars on the main TD Stage for what promises to be an unforgettable show.

The Campbell Brothers
Including a special performance of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme
Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM
TD Stage
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, the Campbell Brothers revisit the master’s work with their unique “Sacred Steel” gospel, a sound powered by lap steel and pedal steel guitars. It’s a spiritual message permeated with funky, groovy gospel that weaves an irresistible collective trance-state.

Come Fly With Me: Colin Hunter Crooner Show with the Montreal All City Big Band
Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at 6:00 PM
A Festival regular, this year Canadian crooner Colin Hunter treats us to a performance with his big band! This multi-faceted musician is genuinely passionate about jazz, enthusiastically reviving the classics of the Great American Song Book for over 10 years now. Tonight, matched with the Montreal All City Big Band, this show will swing like nobody’s business!

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Thursday, July 7, 2016 at 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM
TD Stage
Since their memorable Spectrum concert 20 years back, California band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has played with dozens of American symphony orchestras, provided music for hundreds of films and TV shows and even played the Super Bowl! Just try to resist the lure of their modern swing and catchy hooks!

West Trainz
Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 9:30 PM
The SiriusXM Special Closing Event
After rolling his project all over the site, Erik West- Millette brings West Trainz to the stage this year with a multimedia show inspired by his travels in the world of the railroad. Thanks to a cinematic retro-futurist sequence, the project’s 5 musicians take us on a journey that pays homage to the great transcontinental express. All aboard!

Tons of new additions to the site

Kids of all ages, step right up!
Looking for the sound of happiness? Meet us at the new Rio Tinto Musical Park! Established over 25 years ago, the Family Zone welcomes an explosion of new additions this year, offering a park that’s more musical than ever, with an array of interactive new activities and installations around the theme of music. Playtime and technology are combined in fun new musical installations that are imaginative and fantastical… For example: the Saxophone, Petits tambours, the Vinyle and the giant Pédalophone, as well as an incredible, innovative new giant Piano! Better yet, the entire Musical Park was created internally and manufactured right here at home, thanks to local savoir-faire and expertise. No question about it: the Rio Tinto Family Club will be an absolutely essential element for budding music aficionados!

Place Heineken: an incredible experience!
From the moment you step onto the site from the Ste. Catherine Street entrance, you’ll plunge right into the heart of the action! Located right in front of the Maison du Festival, the new Place Heineken has everything it takes to keep a crowd entertained. It’s the place where music rules: kicking off at 1 p.m., the music goes non-stop, with a succession of concerts, musical entertainment, DJ and VJ sets, and a new series of concerts at midnight starring Jordan Officer and his guests. There’s also the Heineken public piano—where Festival fans can tickle the ivories and show off their keyboard talents! The program is packed and jumpin’, and the action rolls on into the wee hours. And that’s not all, because Place Heineken is also the perfect place to relax, unwind and live the good life: with a terrace, relaxation lounges and fresh, cold beer, this is the ideal spot to enjoy a drink, have a bite, hang loose and revel in your passion for music. It’s much more than just a stage… it’s a complete experience!

Destination: Turkey
L’Escale Turkish Airlines will also have plenty of surprises: in addition to starring the artists of Turkey, there will also be dancers, artisans and tons of special exotic discoveries.

A site where the livin’ is good!
Finally, check out the new layout of relaxation areas offered by TD: three new Comfort Zones, as well as new bleacher seating with 160 seats alongside the Place des Festivals, right on the frontlines of our concerts!

Furthermore, the Festival site has absolutely everything to satisfy your hunger––especially since Chef Jérôme Ferrer is launching his first-ever food truck, and restaurant Aux Vivres will host a kiosk offering delicious vegetarian menus. There’s no doubt, summer will be delicious on the Festival site!