Montreal Jazz Fest's Free Shows Worth Your Time
The festival's free outdoor stages feature everything from indie rock legends to Afrobeat collectives—here's what not to miss through early July.
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Montreal's Jazz Festival is a treasure for anyone in the city, and the free outdoor shows are the easiest way in. Running through early July, simultaneous stages mean you'll have to choose—here are standouts worth catching.
June 25 brings three former Arcade Fire members—Sarah Neufeld, Richard Reed Parry, and Rebecca Foon—to Club Montreal Loto Quebec at 6 and 8 p.m. They craft haunting, orchestral music that swings from ethereal to gut-punching. Also that night at the TD Stage (9:30 p.m.), The Barr Brothers blend long-form jamband energy with global instruments, harps, and frayed guitar strings—all the glory of a sunrise.
June 26, Dawn Tyler Watson takes the stage at Le Studio TD (6 p.m.). Twenty years of big singing has made her Montreal's reigning queen of jazz, soul, and blues—her sultry voice turns any standard fresh. At 9:30 p.m. at the TD Stage, London's 8-piece Kokoroko fuses Afrobeat rhythms with smooth West African brass and modern British jazz. Their viral hit "Abusey Junction" won't be the only song getting fans moving.
June 27 at the TD Stage (9:30 p.m.), Angine de Poitrine bring math rock chaos and polka-dot alien weirdness—they're the set everyone's buzzing about. June 28 features saxophonist Kamasi Washington at the TD Stage (9:30 p.m.), playing high-octane, rock-style cinematic jazz layered with hip hop, funk, soul, and classical music. It's sweeping and spiritual.
June 30, pop artist Willow hits the TD Stage (9:30 p.m.) with sonic fusion—R&B, soul, and electronica wrapped in crazy time signatures and a big voice. Place des Arts will be packed, so arrive early. There's a possibility St. Vincent could appear as a guest given their past collaboration.
July 3 closes the free picks with Afternoon Bike Ride at Club Montreal—an indie lo-fi dream-pop trio as soft, ambient, and folky as their name suggests.