This will help you think of summer: The 52nd Festival d’été de Québec

[A look ahead at another Canadian summer music festival by contributor EFG. – AC]

I’m about to move so my place is riddled with empty boxes, half packed boxes and wannabe boxes that were too crappy to use. As I dismantle my life and pack it up for the umpteenth time, the vibe around here tends to teeter between “there’s too much to do” and “I can do this.” I can do this, so says me and all the motivational yellow sticky notes I’ve been leaving around.

So says them, me and my Spotify playlists that have been strategically designed to move me…literally. So what do Etta James, Supertramp, Eminem, Bob Marley and The Crash Test Dummies have in common? They are all helping me move.

What do Imagine Dragons, Slipknot, Mariah Carey, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Diplo have in common? Another eclectic playlist strategically designed to help pack and move something? Yes, but this time it’s going to pack a city and move music festival goers  from stage to stage for 11 days straight, and most importantly it’s not going to be pumping through my dinky iPhone.

Consider this your warning Québec City, July 4th to 14th The 52nd Festival d’été de Québec has big plans to quake your city with sound and a lineup so original that it shocked the industry and piqued the interest of festival junkies all over the country.

In all honesty, this lineup made me wish Alan Cross was the Oprah Winfrey of festival tickets “You get a ticket! And get a ticket! And YOU get a ticket!”

This year’s FEQ will remind you of spinning yee old iPod wheel, remember those? One spin will take you to rock royalty Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening on June 6th and the next spin will take you to a prom-themed night with Mariah Carey on July 11th, where divas, dramatics and dressing to the nine’s will be strongly encouraged, and much like real prom there’s an after party so it won’t be an early night. It’s BYOT tho. (Bring Your Own Tiara)

In addition to 11 days worth of heavy hitting performances atop the Plains of Abraham’s Bell Stage, food truck city, a Q&A series, every night the FEQ
headquarters, the Manège militaire, will turn it’s indoor hall into After-FEQ, a place festival goers NOT looking for a little shut-eye can go catch some late night shows and clink beer cans till the wee hours.

“Our team is working hard, with all the passion they’re known for, to create an unforgettable event. By the end of this 11-day musical marathon, the people of Québec  will be prouder than ever of their festival!” promises Alain-Jacques Simard, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Festival d’été de Québec.

No ride? No problem. FestiBUS passes go on sale May 1st, offered by the Réseau de transport de la Capitale and can be purchased at any RTC points of sale. The unlimited FestiBUS pass goes for $31.50 and the 10 ride pass is $22.50, both valid through the festival. Plan your ride at rtcquebec.ca.

The much loved/loathed phrase “I can’t even.” comes to mind upon reading the press release the other day. Twenty One Pilots, Lil Pump, Loud, Blink 182, Bishop Briggs, July Talk, Killswitch Engage, Kygo, Moist, The Strumbellas, The Offspring, April Wine, First Aid Kit, ALT-J, +LIVE+, with Lynyrd Skynyrd making a pit stop on their existing farewell tour, and more
acts to be announced.

You know what? I’m just going to go ahead and leave this link right here for ya.

The Plains of Abraham’s Bell Stage lineup FEQ passes recently went on sale April 4th for $105 and starting June 4th they go up to $115. For passes, schedules and all other inquiries visit feq.ca