7.10.2023
Festival D’été de Quebec Recap: July 6th-9th
With Over 200 Acts Performing On Five Stages During the Fest’s 11 Days, FEQ Brings an Unbeatable Community Atmosphere and A-List Talent From Multiple Genres
Artists Who Performed During the Festival’s Opening Weekend Included Foo Fighters, Weezer, Zach Bryan, Imagine Dragons, Cypress Hill, Billy Talent, Megan Maroney, and Many More
(Credit: FEQ/Sebastién Dion)
THE RECAP:
Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ) brings over 325,000 unique fans to Quebec City over 11 days to witness performances by more than 200 of the most talented artists in the world.
Held annually since 1968, FEQ draws hundreds of thousands of fans (1.2 million total admissions!) and dozens of international artists (over 180 per year!) to Quebec’s city center for more than a week’s worth of fantastic performances on five separate stages. The summer festival makes use of The Plains of Abraham, one of the most notable historical sites in Canada, where, in 1759, the British and French fought a decisive battle in the Seven Years’ War. Now, hundreds of years later with Canada’s fate in its own hands, the Plains of Abraham (on the banks of the St. Lawrence River) is the location of the FEQ’s main stage, the Bell Stage at National Battlefields Park, with a capacity of over 90,000. FEQ is renowned for its ability to recruit some of the world’s best and biggest artists to that historic stage.
FEQ 2023 kicked off on July 6th, and its opening weekend was one for the books. Thursday brought a headlining performances from Weezer, who were in fine form as they performed beloved songs from their 30-year career, and Canadian rock band Billy Talent, who rocked the crowd at Bell Stage. Imagine Dragons headlined on Friday, performing in front of a 90k-strong sold out crowd, leading a bill that also featured Quebecois singer-songwriter Roxane Bruneau. Dave Grohl and the rest of the Foo Fighters brought down the house on Saturday night, closing a night that also featured Canadian star Jessie Reyez, plus rising singer Stephen Sanchez, and blistering rock band White Reaper. On Sunday, Country music took the spotlight, with ascendant superstar Zach Bryan headlining, and Megan Moroney performing earlier in the evening.
Keep an eye on FEQ’s Instagram for in-the-moment highlights from Quebec City, plus updates, guides, announcements, and much more.
Stay tuned throughout the week for much more from the one-of-a-kind festival, continuing each day til July 17th. Artists to come include Lil Durk, Lana Del Rey, Pitbull, Illennium, Green Day, and more. Check the dropbox below for photo highlights and
View photos of FEQ 2023 at this Dropbox (please credit photographers “FEQ/photographer name”):
For all other inquiries, please contact Michelle or Annjie
FOO FIGHTERS:
There goes my hero…Dave Grohl leads the crowd in an emotional performance on Saturday night
(Credit: FEQ / Sebastién Dion)
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
WHEEZER:
Rivers Cuomo leads his band in a set full of hits from their 30-year career
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
IMAGINE DRAGONS:
Radio staples for over a decade, the Las Vegas-native band brings the “Thunder” on Friday night
(Credit: FEQ / Sebastién Dion)
ZACH BRYAN:
The Oklahoma-born country star brings the house down on Sunday night, with songs like his Billboard Top 10 ballad “Something In The Orange”
(Credit: FEQ / Philippe Ruel)
CYPRESS HILL:
DJ Muggs, B-Real, and Sen Dog roll one up, light one up, and perform a hit-filled Sunday set
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
JESSIE REYEZ:
Born and raised in Toronto, Juno Award-winning Jessie Reyez is one of the most popular singer-songwriters in Canada and beyond
(Credit: FEQ / Philippe Ruel)
STEPHEN SANCHEZ:
Known for his double-Platinum hit “Until I Found You,” Stephen Sanchez closed out the SiriusXM Stage at the Parc de la Francophonie on Saturday night
(Credit: FEQ / Philippe Ruel)
BILLY TALENT:
The iconic Canadian band opens the festival in style
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
MEGAN MORONEY:
A Georgia-born singer known for her hit single “Tennessee Orange,” Megan Moroney is one of Country music’s biggest rising stars
(Credit: FEQ / Philippe Ruel)
KILLY:
A mainstay in Canada’s rap scene, Toronto artist Killy lights up the Loto-Québec stage
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
TANK AND THE BANGAS:
Originating in New Orleans, the soulful collective led by Tank Ball is known for their captivating live show, which won them NPR’s “Tiny Desk Contest” in 2017
(Credit: FEQ / Sebastién Dion)
WHITE REAPER:
The Louisville-based rock band makes an impression with an energetic performance
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
ROXANE BRUNEAU:
Quebecois singer Roxane Bruneau led a sizable contingent of Canadian talent at the festival
(Credit: FEQ / Sebastién Dion)
The home-province crowd shows love
(Credit: FEQ / Sebastién Dion)
JUPITER & OKWESS:
The ultra-talented Congolese outfit performs during FEQ’s opening night
(Credit: FEQ / Sebastién Dion)
SCENES FROM THE FESTIVAL:
(Credit: FEQ / Philippe Ruel)
The party continued after dark at the FEQ Extras official afterparty (Credit: FEQ / Sebastién Dion)
The country crowd comes out for Zach Bryan (Credit: FEQ / Philippe Ruel)
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
(Credit: FEQ / Stephane Bourgeois)
(Credit: FEQ / Sebastién Dior)
Critical Praise:
“Held annually in the provincial capital of la belle province since 1968, Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ) is one of Canada’s largest live music events: a world class experience that plays host to a genre-diverse collection of emerging artists and international stars alike.” – Exclaim!
“The result was a festival that remained impressive—in terms of both the fashion and the music—for the entire duration of its 12-day run. We can’t wait to see who graces the stage, and the audience, next year.” – Forbes
“Nested in the pure and bliss city of Quebec, the famed Festival d’été de Québec, stands as the apex of Canadian festival culture, dominating its industry since its beginning in 1968.” – Clash Magazine
“Quebec City’s Festival d’Ete was back in a big way in 2022, boasting as it always does an exciting lineup of artists from a broad spectrum of genres.” – ET Canada
“Beyond the lineup, FEQ stands above other Canadian festivals of the same capacity when it comes to accessibility thanks to easy walkability from different stages, as well as access to and from the city. It’s situated amongst various parks and greenery, creating a perfect balance of modern stage design and outdoors beauty. ” – Consequence
“With their passion for their city and music at the centre of their plans, it’s safe to say the festival won’t be a hidden gem for long.” – NME
“Surmise to say that Festival d’été de Québec is a gorgeously grassroots affair: created for the enjoyment of the province’s population, curated with a well-conceptualised human touch, and consummated by the wonderfully joyous people of the city.” – The Line of Best Fit
The Background:
About FEQ
In the heart of Quebec City, the Festival d’été de Québec welcomes international icons, rising stars and emerging artists of all musical genres.
Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ) is a music festival managed by a non-for-profit organization, right in the heart of Québec City. With five stages located in the historic part of Quebec City, the most imposing of which is on the Plains of Abraham, the event takes place in a unique setting. The FEQ offers more than 150 shows of all genres, from the biggest headliners in the world to the emerging scene, and has been getting hundreds of thousands of festival-goers dancing and singing since 1968. For 11 consecutive evenings, the city center resembles a real urban and open-air celebration. The FEQ is an accessible and safe gathering, a truly immersive experience in Quebec music and culture.
Next edition, July 6-16, 2023.
About BLEUFEU
BLEUFEU is an event organizer and show promoter that presents festive and inspiring experiences, including the Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ), Toboggan – New Year’s Evenings and St-Roch XP, in addition to presenting hundreds of shows throughout the year at the Imperial Bell and a new showroom opening soon. The new umbrella brand will oversee the various existing NPOs, which already have a reputation in the industry for the quality of its productions. BLEUFEU has more than sixty permanent employees and recruits over 500 contract workers each year, in addition to hundreds of volunteers. Visit BLEUFEU.com for more information.
Links:
official site | tiktok | facebook | youtube | instagram
Visit the FEQ website for FAQs and tickets: https://www.feq.ca/en