by Charu Suri
Last updated: 4:13 PM ET, Wed June 28, 2017
Canada's famous Montreal Jazz Festival began June 28th and runs through July 8th.
The logistics that go into producing this tour de force is no small feat.
I caught up with Lauren Saulnier, the festival's VP of programming, to see what the team goes through each year to bring hundreds of musicians together to a crowd of over 2.5 million:
After the musician roster is decided, the actual process of booking the bands begins, and it is a year-long job for a couple of people.
"There are some offers that have already been sent for the 2018 edition," Saulnier said, "especially if you are talking about special projects and popular bands."
The lineup for this summer's performance includes an orchestra/live movie combination of La La Land.
"This had nothing to do with the fact that Ryan Gosling is Canadian," Saulnier joked. The theme of the movie appealed to Montreal, and the idea of blending "live music and a movie is always very interesting: La La Land is really perfect for that kind of project," he added.
The budget for the Festival is around $20 million (USD), and current sponsors include TD Bank along with Rio Tinto, plus Hyundai, Heineken and Bell Canada.
Saulnier recalls the most extravagant production the festival has ever staged: In 2004, for their 25th anniversary, they did a closing night co-produced by Cirque du Soleil, which coincidentally was celebrating its 20th anniversary. Musicians from Montreal performed that night, along with special guests including Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour, Daniela Mercury, including many circus acts. The directors of the show were Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon.
"What a night!" Saulnier gushed.
[READMORE] READ MORE: Yes, That's a Naturally Pink Waterfall in Canada [/READMORE]
This year, the festival's biggest showpiece is the Discotheque on July 1st that celebrates Canadian dance-music, with a 24-piece band and special appearances by Carly Rea Jepsen, Muzion, Radio Radio, etc.
"We will transform the Place des Festivals into a giant discotheque for one night only!" Saulnier exclaimed.
Saulnier is also proud of the opening night's performance that celebrates music from Montreal with international bands like Half Moon Run, Coeur de Pirate, Milk & Bone, Franklin Electric, Plants and Animals, Black Tiger Sex Machine and Pierre Kwenders.
The Festival runs from June 28 through July 8th, and many of the events (including the opening night) are free, held at the Place des Festivals and in and around the city.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
