by Ian Osborne
Combine hot weather with hot music, cool friends, plenty of food and entertainment and you get a summer music festival. Here are 10 not-to-be-missed Canadian music festivals showcasing the best in rock, jazz, folk, electronic, and a bit of baroque. [Image credit: iStock.com/PeopleImages]
Parlez-vous jazz? If you’re going to attend one jazz festival in your lifetime, better make it the biggest and best the world has to offer – the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Each year, this “jazz festival of jazz festivals” brings together over 3,000 artists from more than 30 countries. Past performers have included Chick Corea, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, and Dave Brubeck. Enjoy the sunshine at 10 free outdoor stages and beat the heat at 10 indoor venues.
When: End of June through the first week of July
Why You’ll Love It: Experience all kinds of jazz, including classic be-bop, hot jazz, swing, and big band jazz groups
Visit the Montreal International Jazz Festival website for this year’s dates and artist roster.
Bach’s music has been featured in countless films and influenced everyone from The Beatles to the Beastie Boys. We’ll even take a shot in the dark and say that you’re already a Bach fan and don’t even know it yet. Plus, the modern understanding of Bach’s music through the lens of “historically informed performance” is way more rocking than the Bach your grandparents knew.
When: First and/or second week of July
Why you’ll love it: Featuring solo, orchestral and choral performances by world-class artists as well as a youth camp and seminars for budding performers, this is a festival for all ages.
Visit the Bach Music Festival of Canada website for info on this year’s artists and schedule.
“Chil’ren get your cultcha...” as Bob Marley used to croon; Calgary ReggaeFest aims to help you understand reggae, not just as music, but as a cultural experience, including music, food and activities for the whole family. You’ll leave the festival a “Rastagarian,” a Calgarian who appreciates the values of Caribbean culture and Reggae music.
When: Mid-August
Why you’ll love it: Bring friends and make new friends at this one! ReggaeFest is very much about bringing Calgary together – last year, tickets were made available to welcome Syrian refugees to the city.
Visit the Calgary ReggaeFest website for this year’s dates and roster of artists.
Big thumps and big stumps; Bass Coast is an exhilarating electronic dance party taking place in the pristine forests of British Columbia’s Nicola Valley.
When: Second weekend of July
Why you’ll love it: With amazing light displays, large-scale art installations, and soul-thumping beats, Bass Coast is hands-down one of the best electronic-oriented festivals to be found anywhere in Canada. Book early – this festival sells out fast!
Visit the Bass Coast Electronic Music and Art Festival website for this year’s schedule of artists.
If your musical tastes have a bit more of a country twang, the family-friendly Cavendish Beach Music Festival is calling you. Drawing in more than 70,000 attendees each year, this early July weekend has seen the likes of Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, and Brad Paisley kick up their boots in a gorgeous seaside setting.
When: Second weekend of July
Why you’ll love it: Camping and hotel packages are available to help you make the most of this family-friendly Maritime music experience.
Visit the Cavendish Beach Music Festival website for this year’s schedule.
As the biggest outdoor festival in the prairies, we just had to put Winnipeg Folk Festival on the list. Good times and good tunes are what this outdoor festival is all about. Past performers have included Elliott Brood, City and Colour, as well as Serena Ryder. The festival is held in Birds Hill Provincial Park, just outside the city, with ample campgrounds and a variety of food vendors preparing healthy, diverse and affordable menus.
When: First or second weekend of July
Why you’ll love it: This is a family-friendly festival with plenty for children to do, all winding up with a final parade.
Visit the Winnipeg Folk Festival website for this year’s dates and activities.
This four-day indie rock festival takes place in over 20 venues in Victoria, British Columbia. Past artists have included Modest Mouse, Tokyo Police Club, and Kiesza (just to name a few).
When: Mid-September
Why you’ll love it: With local and international performers, there are enough chart-toppers and show-stoppers to please anyone with even the smallest interest in indie rock.
Visit the Rifflandia website for this year’s schedule and artist roster.
A relative newcomer to our list, WayHome delivers the perfect blend of rock, soul, and indie performances to satisfy every festival-goer. You’ll have the chance to see many up-and-coming acts, as well as veteran performers. Past headliners have included Sam Smith, Imagine Dragons, Kendrick Lamar, LCD Soundsystem, The Killers, and Neil Young. Bring your college buddies that know how to party and have a good time.
When: Last weekend of July
Why you’ll love it: WayHome offers campgrounds, art, and a diverse food selection. Plus, it’s an easy 90-minute drive for most Torontonians.
Visit the WayHome website for this year’s show schedules.
This indie-oriented music festival is on our list for a very good reason – Osheaga Music and Arts Festival has been drawing in the big names since its start in 2006. Past performers have included Sonic Youth, Ben Harper, The Smashing Pumpkins, Bloc Party, The Killers, Coldplay, Weezer, Arcade Fire, The Cure, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
When: First weekend of August
Why you’ll love it: With its mix of well-known acts and a steady stream of new groups, this festival is perfect for those looking to discover new music and sing along to some fan-favourite tunes.
Visit the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival website for this year’s schedule and artist list.
Le Festival d’été de Quebec features more than 11 days of music, including enough big-name artists and indie acts to satisfy any audience. As Canada’s one-size-fits-all festival, just about everyone will enjoy Le Festival d’été de Quebec.
When: Mid-July
Why you’ll love it: Where else can you see such major artists as Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters, The Rolling Stones, and Backstreet Boys share the stage?
Visit Le Festival d’été de Quebec website for more details.
As the largest music festival in Canada, Canadian Music Week showcases 900 bands in over 60 venues for five nights of local and Canadian music. With a wristband running under the $100 mark, CMF delivers the biggest bang for your festival-going dollar. Plan ahead – with so much to see, you’ll need to have a schedule so you don’t miss your favourite acts. Festival alumni include The Flatliners, Death Cab for Cutie, Billy Talent, and many others.
When: Second week of May
Why you’ll love it: It’s not just a music festival with a nod toward Canadian artists; Canadian Music Week also features comedy acts and feature-length films at venues throughout Toronto’s downtown.
Visit the Canadian Music Week website to plan your schedule of shows.
Yes, we said “10 great Canadian summer music festivals,” but as you can see, there are actually 11 festivals ranked here. We just felt it would be a shame for any one of these festivals to be relegated to the “honourable mentions” category. Speaking of which, here are a few of the festivals we think you should also know about:
