Fans of all genres come together at FEQ music festival

Québec City’s biggest music festival Festival d’été de Québec, generally referred to as FEQ, once again took over the Downtown core for 11 days of performances. Over the years the festival has grown to be a major event not just in the city but the province, welcoming guests and artists from around the world.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a teenager,” one attendee shared with me, “it’s my favourite event in the city,” she continued while bopping along to the music.

The moment you land at the QC airport you are greeted by FEQ posters. Temporary bike lanes are placed along the main festival road and festival staff can be seen on every corner, answering questions and directing foot traffic. Grande Allée E, which cuts through most of the city, turns into a pedestrian street, furnished with FEQ performance highlight posters and a row of sponsor activation booths. Want a foot massage? Chevrolet got you. Need a makeup refresh? Sephora is also there.

The global artist lineup is an array of genres from 50 Cent to Nickelback, J Balvin, and Mötley Crüe. Attending the entire 11 days might feel somewhat overwhelming so most people chose a handful of days to immerse in. Much like the previous years, Quip attended three nights of showcases. Much like the previous years, the rugged Canadian weather stole one of the nights from us. This time, however, the extreme gusts of wind and rapid heavy rain were courtesy of Hurricane Beryl rampaging its way through North America. But even in this rainy, somewhat tropical weather, fans came out by the dozens and for electro night danced through the showcases in non-stop drizzle.

Baltimore’s Future Islands played one of the medium stages to a packed and extremely loud crowd. The frontman Samuel T. Herring is a very theatrical performer, adding layers to each track with both vocals and dance moves. From kicks and exaggerated facial expressions to bear walks and polka breaks Herring took very few moments to rest during their 70-minute set. “We are Future Islands. This is what we do,” he proclaimed addressing the screaming fans.

The inner-city stage housed a lot of melodic performances from guitarists to singers/songwriters and alternative bands. Gabrielle Shonk took the stage mid-day with a sunny Sunday morning type of vibe that progressively grew into an instrumental and vocal showcase. Quebecer Elliot Maginot followed her set with a highly anticipated melancholic performance.

After the storm closures in the early evening, Montreal indie rock band Karkwa took it upon themselves to make things up to the festival goers. The group built a tight mini-stage on the festival’s largest stage creating a jam session type of environment, a different approach than this stadium crowd is used to seeing. Throughout their set Karkwa invited a handful of guests to join them including electronic musician CRi, singer-songwriter Talk, and New Brunswick trio Les Hay Babies.

The above-mentioned storm had impacted quite a few hip-hop and rap sets including NAS and TOBi, who we did meet earlier that day for an interview. The night prior, however, Nicole Wray, aka Lady Wray, played a free show on the Hydro-Québec Stage. Nicole got her start in music as Missy Elliott’s protégé and that influence is certainly visible in her performance. In her own words, Lady Wray offers “Aretha Franklin-era soul matched with a Lauryn Hill 1990s hip hop vibe” and that’s honestly the best way to describe her powerful and poetic R’n’B showcase. Nicole was joined on stage by a full band – backup singer, guitar, bass, drums – and every member was bringing it.

Berlin’s DJ and electronic music producer LOVRA treated Québec City to two performances, one on the main stage and a late-night set at the Extras in The Armoury. With the consistent rain, this was not the easiest electro night but attendees came prepared decked out in rainjackets, rainboots, ponchos, and glamorously trimmed black garbage bags (Balenciaga’s take notes). LOVRA kicked off the night on a high note and each performer who followed – Mike Demero, Loud Luxury, Alan Walker –  progressively elevated the energy and volume. There was fog, there were pyrotechnics, strobe lights. The tricks were pulled, the bling was brought, and at the end of the festival, it all ended with epic fireworks.