Quebec’s Freakiest Fest is Back for a 19th Edition that’s More Flamboyant & Family-Friendly than Ever! July 11–14
As we scurry all over the map looking for a way to escape the sweltering cities, those in the know are hip to the fact that THE place to be this summer is ShazamFest, a unique four-day cornucopia of exhilarating neo-vaudevillian entertainment, all set in and around the lush riverside woods and natural amphitheater that skirts the organic Eastern Townships ShazamFarm, childhood home to festival Founder/Director Ziv Przytyk.
Back for its 19th edition from July 11 to 14, ShazamFest’s four official stages – the Shazam Stage, the Amphitheatre, the Small Stage, and the Temple – will host outdoor music, burlesque, comedy, circus, dance, wrestling, family activities, workshops, and so much more that defies description.
The keyword this year is “Flamboyant,” and whether you’re dancing to the hi-energy bands and DJs, gasping at the antics of sword-swallowers and giant-bubble-blowing clowns, strutting your stuff in a talent show or in a DIY fashion parade, or basking by one of the world’s biggest campfires, you can be sure that you’ll soon be leaving your inhibitions behind and hoisting your freak flags high. Quite simply, ShazamFest is a vast adventure playground catering to free spirits of all ages.
The weekend kicks off in raucous style with pounding punk from DVTR (“up and coming superstars in the Quebec scene,” says Ziv), then carries on with the Francouvertes winning neo-soul duo Rau-Ze, and Brooklyn’s finest, That Handsome Devil, whose melange of styles ranges from rock, jazz, blues, surf to creepy hip-hop. Other highlights over the weekend include Kirá Chao (son of Brazilian superstar Manu, but forging his own manguebeat identity), Kamendja (instrumentalists fusing polka, klezmer, tango, Electro, dub, funk and more), and Sherbrooke’s Rotin and the Princes with their ‘80s-themed rock-kitsch repertoire, as well as ShazamFest’s three Battle of the Bands winners: Moronic Inferno (punk trio from Montreal with a Hendrix and hip-hop twist), Mate (high school pals turned rock, folk & jazz outfit), and Verre Moutarde (whose unique pop-rock sound was born of Drummondville’s open mic competitions). Hot vinyl will be provided by a host of DJs including Da Joint Doctor (connected to ShazamFarm since the ‘80s), reggae maestro DJ Morzion, holistic DJ Prana Papa (primal soundscapes, with a serving of twisted hot yoga!) and wacky electronic duo Pain Naan.
Montreal hip-hop godfather Will E Skandalz makes a welcome return to ShazamFest, as do groovy big band Plomberie, who join forces with Townships trad folksters Excavation & Poésie for the final show of the fest, one which, true to ShazamFest’s socially conscious roots, proves it’s more than just fun, games and grooving. Together, they’ll present Rénoviction: both an epic musical spectacular and a protest against Quebec’s tenant-abusing Bill 31.
Says Ziv,
“a lot of our friends have been renovicted since the new law passed. We’re going to raise some money to help the cause and for anybody who’s been wrongfully evicted.”
Discover the complete ShazamFest 2024 lineup here.