Peter Black
March 24, 2024
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
peterblack@qctonline.com
To the delight of fans able to get passes, and the disappointment of those who were not (see article below/on page ?), the 2024 edition of Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ) features a lineup organizers call one of the most impressive ever.
Some of the big prizes headlining the July 4 to 14 event include the immensely popular pop-rapper Post Malone, whose FEQ gig is his only one in Canada this summer; Canadian mega-star rockers Nickelback, making their first FEQ appearance after a 2015 date was cancelled; country stars Zack Brown Band and Latin sensation J Balvin.
Other big names booked for the giant Plains of Abraham stage are punk-pop legends The Offspring, pop favourites The Jonas Brothers, rapper 50 Cent, electro star Alan Walker and “heritage” rockers Mötley Crüe.
FEQ programming director Louis Bellavance told the QCT that in the past the festival relied on two or three huge stars, but this year “all I see are big names, some heavy hitters.”
The only woman to headline the big stage is Quebec neoclassical star Alexandra Streliski, who will create a carte blanche event with invited guests. Despite that, Bellevance said about half of the acts are women.
Quebec favourites Karkwa will also head up a carte blanche evening, with Les Hay Babies, Fleet Foxes and Tokyo Police Club on the bill.
The twin stages in Parc de la Francophonie are back, featuring some slightly less widely known names, such as Ava Max, Michel Rivard, Martha Wainwright, Les Soeurs Boulay, KITTIE, Kim Mitchell and Kansas.
Bellavance said he is particularly proud of the diversity of this year’s line-up, with something to appeal to most tastes.
What is also impressive, he said, is that many of the “undercard” performers are headline acts in their own right, giving the example of Killer Mike opening for 50 Cent or Loud Luxury setting up Alan Walker on the electro night.
The festival will be returning to Place D’Youville this summer after a two-year absence. The Place D’Youville stage and the stage in front of the National Assembly will feature emerging artists. Both sites are free to access.
For the first time, FEQ will come to the Grand Théâtre this year. Tickets for Grand Théâtre shows will be sold separately from the regular festival. The lineup is to be announced later.
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Canadian rock legends Nickelback will make their FEQ debut this summer.
Photo courtesy of FEQ
Pop-rap sensation Post Malone makes his only Canadian stop at FEQ this summer. Photo courtesy of FEQ