Montreal's music scene: festivals, hip-hop and rock live shows

Jazz it up

by Diggory

As certain as Christmas or New Years, the Jazz Fest is back in the temporarily snow-less Montreal. A week and a half of shows, some paying (so you won't see me there) but tons free and outside. Really, the Jazz Fest has come to embody Montreal's summer; if that is a good thing or not is very debatable.... (I am too lazy to debate...) One thing's for sure, its pretty damn fun. Its fun to groove in the night, its fun to listen to acts that you never knew existed and its fun to switch stages when you get bored.

I don't even know why it's still called the Jazz Fest, I dare you to find a purely Jazz act. Still, it's one of the things I love the most about the festival. It so eclectic, you can hear everything; only jazz would bore me and everyone else pretty damn quickly.

To the socialist poser that I am, a few things about the fest make me itch in discomfort. Of one, the omni-present corporate sponsorships make me feel as if I am walking INSIDE a giant outdoors ad. Then again, the corporate w#*&re in me, sitting on my right shoulder, is quick to point out: "How else do you want to see these shows for free you dumbo, somebody's gotta pay all these starving artists". Kinda makes sense, so I'll live with this itch.

As for the poor student image that I project, the fact that we can't smuggle beer and wine makes me stick out as the soberest student out there. No kidding, the security is tighter than at JFK. And I understand that Labatt want's to earn its sponsorship money back by selling us overpriced Blue that I'll drink only in life or death situations anyways. But wouldn't it be some much better if we could bring our own wine, sit on the stairs, listen to some good music and sip on this god-given drink with friends. Really, the only people that can afford drinks at the fest are at least 15 year older than me.

Now, with a lighter heart I can finally urge you to GO. Don't miss it, if your in town, go to the fest, what else do you have to do anyways at 10 PM? Why go? I told, you have nothing else to do. Not only that, I'll repeat myself: it's free, its fun and it will open your rusty ears to some new sounds. And don't wait for the week end, when you won't be able to move in the crowd; go during the week.

Check out our live coverage of the Montreal Jazz Festival.

Check out the Jazz Fest online at www.montrealjazzfest.com.