2. Free Outdoor Concert Picks: Monday, June 30 to Thursday, July 3
3. Free Outdoor Concert Picks: Friday, July 4 to Sunday, July 6
4. More on the Montreal Jazz Festival
Truly a fest for everyone and every budget, this year's 29th edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival -- from June 26 to July 6, 2008 -- features 3,000 musicians representing 30 countries, with musical styles from jazz to blues to folk to reggae to electronica and everything in between. Festival goers can look forward to all sorts of concerts, special events for kids and a constant flow of free outdoor shows, everyday, starting at 11 a.m. through midnight. Check out this year's top free shows, just below.
And with -- but you have to buy tickets for these -- headliners like Montreal's very own demi-god, Leonard Cohen, as well as soul giants Al Green and Aretha Franklin, a touch of folk with James Taylor, some Steely Dan and of course Woody Allen on clarinet, 2008 may very well top the 2.5 million mark of attendees expected to partake in Montreal's largest and most prolific festival of the year.
Montreal Jazz Fest Info-Line
(514) 871-1881
Street Closures
Cars are prohibited on de Maisonneuve and Ste. Catherine, from Jeanne Mance to St. Urbain for the duration of the festival (June 26 to July 6, 2008).
Get to the Jazz Fest
Considering how congested it gets around the jazz fest car-free perimeter, save yourself the trouble of finding parking (and reduce carbon emissions) and leave your cars at home. Take the subway, get off at either Place des Arts Metro or St. Laurent Metro and just follow the crowd upon exit.
FREE OUTDOOR JAZZ FEST SHOWS: TOP PICKS FOR THURSDAY
Thursday, June 26
Bomata
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Carrefour General Motors, corner of Jeanne-Mance and de Maisonneuve
Thursday, June 26
Angel Forrest
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Loto-Quebec Stage at the Fred-Barry Park, corner of St. Urbain and de Maisonneuve
Thursday, June 26
Tribute to Leonard Cohen with Katie Melua, Steven Page, Madeleine Peyroux, Adam Cohen and many more!
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Where: General Motors Stage, corner of Jeanne-Mance and Ste. Catherine
About Katie Melua
FREE OUTDOOR JAZZ FEST SHOWS: TOP PICKS FOR FRIDAY
Friday, June 27
The Lost Fingers
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Where: Pavillon Heineken, corner of Bleury and de Maisonneuve
Also playing June 28, June 29, June 30, July 1, July 2, July 3, July 4, July 5 and July 6. Consult the Montreal International Jazz Festival website for details.
Friday, June 27
Gareth Pearson
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Carrefour General Motors, corner Jeanne-Mance and de Maisonneuve
Also playing June 29. Consult the Montreal International Jazz Festival website for details.
Friday, June 27
Jacques Kuba Seguin
Time: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Where: Hydro-Quebec Park, corner of Ste. Catherine and St. Laurent
Friday, June 27
Martha High and the Shaolin Temple Defenders
Time: 9 p.m.
Where: General Motors Stage, corner of Jeanne-Mance and Ste. Catherine
Friday, June 27
Guy Bélanger
Time: 11 p.m.
Where: Loto-Quebec Stage at the Fred-Barry Park, corner of St. Urbain and de Maisonneuve
Friday, June 27
JF Lemieux with Jedi Electro
Time: Midnight
Where: Savoy du Metropolis, just outside 59 Ste. Catherine Street, east of St. Laurent
Also playing June 26, June 28 and June 29. Consult the Montreal International Jazz Festival website for details.
FREE OUTDOOR JAZZ FEST SHOWS: TOP PICKS FOR SATURDAY
Saturday, June 28
Hot Pepper Dixie
Time: 1 p.m.
Where: Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal Fountain, near Ste. Catherine and Jeanne Mance
Also playing June 29, June 30 and July 3rd. Consult the Montreal International Jazz Festival website for details.
Saturday, June 28
La Tourelle Orkestra
Time: 2 p.m.
Where: Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal Fountain, near Ste. Catherine and Jeanne Mance
Also playing June 29. Consult the Montreal International Jazz Festival website for details.
Saturday, June 28
Little Miss Higgins
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Carrefour General Motors, corner Jeanne-Mance and de Maisonneuve
Saturday, June 28
The Psychotropical Orchestra
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: Bell Stage, corner of Clarke and Ste. Catherine
Saturday, June 28
Pistolera
Time: 10 p.m.
Where: Main outdoor stage, near President Kennedy Avenue
Saturday, June 28
JF Lemieux with Jedi Electro
Time: Midnight
Where: Savoy du Metropolis, just outside 59 Ste. Catherine, east of St. Laurent
Also playing June 29. Consult the Montreal International Jazz Festival website for details.
FREE OUTDOOR JAZZ FEST SHOWS: TOP PICKS FOR SUNDAY
Sunday, June 29
The Little School of Jazz
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Where: In front of the Complexe Desjardins, at 150 Ste-Catherine, East of Jeanne Mance
Also playing June 30, July 1st and July 2nd. Consult the Montreal International Jazz Festival website for details.
Sunday, June 29
Monica Shore Quintet
Time: 4 p.m.
Where: Stage near the Complexe Desjardins, at 150 Ste-Catherine, East of Jeanne Mance
Sunday, June 29
Avi Granite
Time: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Where: Hydro-Quebec Park, corner of Ste. Catherine and St. Laurent
Sunday, June 29
God Made me Funky
Time: 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Where: Where:Main outdoor stage, near President Kennedy Avenue
Sunday, June 29
Sliding Hammers
Time: 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Where: Esplanade of the Place des Arts, near Ste. Catherine and St. Urbain
Sunday, June 29
Jamaica to Toronto
Time: 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Where: General Motors Stage, corner of Jeanne-Mance and Ste. Catherine
1. Free Outdoor Concert Picks: Thursday, June 26 to Sunday, June 29
2. Free Outdoor Concert Picks: Monday, June 30 to Thursday, July 3
3. Free Outdoor Concert Picks: Friday, July 4 to Sunday, July 6
4. More on the Montreal Jazz Festival
