Published on July 20, 2009 – Close to 70 indoor shows, more than 150 free outdoor concerts and hundreds upon thousands of festivalgoers… the numbers speak for themselves, but they can’t convey the incredible ambiance that reigns in Montréal during the FrancoFolies, winners of the Grand Prix du tourisme québécois 2009, Montréal region (in the category of festivals and tourism events – operating budget of over $1 billion).
And this year’s program promises to be white-hot, with a 21st edition that will take over the brand-new Places des Festivals, at the heart of the Quartier des spectacles. Happy festivalgoers will have the chance to enjoy performances by Jane Birkin, Pierre Lapointe, Arthur H, Ariane Moffatt, Daniel Bélanger and other great artists headlining the 2009 cream of the crop during the greatest celebration of French-language song in North America.
Dedicated to the late, great Alain Bashung, a legend of French song who left us this past winter, these 11 exciting music-filled days will be marked by another homage, this time to poet Gaston Miron, during the closing ceremony show 12 hommes rapaillés—12 poems taken from the work “L’homme rapaillé” and set to music by Gilles Bélanger. An incredibly moving moment that will see the likes of Michel Rivard, Yann Perreau, Daniel Lavoie, Richard Séguin and Vincent Vallières, among others, together on the Théatre Maisonneuve stage, to pay tribute to the talent of this giant of Québec poetry.
The Francofolies promises a major 21st birthday celebration!
Les FrancoFolies de Montréal from July 30 to August 9, 2009
