Francos de Montréal : 12 shows from sure bets to new discoveries

The Montreal festival season is shaping up to be a colourful one, with Les Francos de Montréal promising to be a wild affair! This year, the indoor program at Place des Arts is focusing on sure bets, while the Nuits urbaines series on the Esplanade’s Desjardins stage will push the boundaries of contemporary music even further, exploring everything from hip-hop to soul to R&B to various cultural fusions. Here are twelve not-to-be-missed events selected from this abundance of Francophone music!

Louis-Jean Cormier: three is a magic number!

Louis-Jean Cormier will be giving not just one, but three sold-out performances in the Cinquième Salle as part of Les Francos de Montréal, from June 13 to 15.

This intimate show by the artist, who is seeking to “move away from the noise to rediscover the essence of his creations and who he is as a musician,” will feature a variety of songs, both by Cormier himself and by others who have inspired him throughout his life.

Claude Dubois

On Saturday, June 14, Claude Dubois, a Francos regular, will be making his way to Théâtre Maisonneuve to present his new show Dubois solide en liberté, which will see him performing his biggest hits.

D’eux, 30 ans déjà: a tribute to Céline

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of Céline Dion’s landmark album, D’eux, the Quebec idol’s first collaboration with songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman. To this day, it remains the best-selling French-language album of all time, with nearly ten million copies sold. To celebrate the legacy of this now legendary work, seven artists—Marie Denise Pelletier, Ariane Roy, Martine St-Clair, Lou-Adriane Cassidy, Brigitte Boisjoli, Safia Nolin, and Rita Baga—will reinterpret its greatest hits on the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier stage on Sunday, June 15.

Claude Lemesle in his own words

Considered to be one of the greatest French songwriters of all time, Claude Lemesle will perform some of his most well-known music in Salle Claude-Léveillée on Thursday, June 19. On this evening of songs and stories, with the close collaboration of Radio-Canada host Monique Giroux, Claude Lemesle will present songs written for such high-calibre performers as Joe Dassin, Serge Reggiani, Alice Dona, Gilbert Bécaud, Michel Fugain, and Nana Mouskouri, to name but a few.

Bruno Pelletier and Alain Souchon: one night only

On Friday, June 20, Bruno Pelletier will begin the final leg of his Miserere 25^th Anniversary tour in Théâtre Maisonneuve. To mark the occasion, the singer will present a version of the show that has been “reimagined” especially for the Francos.

That same evening, Place des Arts’ Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier will once again welcome singer-songwriter Alain Souchon, accompanied on stage by his sons Ours and Pierre. The Montreal audience will get to hear the trio perform hits from the album Âme fifties, released in 2021, as well as music from the rest of the artist’s repertoire, spanning his more than five-decades-long career.

Singer-songwriter Jeanne Côté, winner of the 2023 Francouvertes and finalist for the 2024 Félix Leclerc Prize, will be the opening act for this show.

Les Nuits urbaines: hip-hop as a common thread

Located on the Place des Arts Esplanade, the Desjardins stage will once again showcase the emerging generation of musicians. It’s an opportunity to explore new sounds and promising artists, free of charge, starting at 10:30 pm.

Queer feminist rapper Calamine will kick things off on Friday, June 13. The winner of the 2021 Félix Leclerc Song Prize and a 2021-2022 Radio-Canada Revelation will present cuts from three albums, Boulette Proof (2020), Lesbienne woke sur l’autotune (2022), and Décroissance personnel (2024).

The next day, Sensei H will appear on the same stage. The Franco-Algerian rapper from Rimouski—real name: Sirine Hassini—came in second in the 2024 Francouvertes competition. Those with an ear to the ground will recognize her single Hors du commun, used as the jingle for Télé-Québec.

Self-proclaimed “Smooth Criminal” David Campana will follow on Sunday, June 15. The international section of the Nuits urbaines series will then feature Mairo, a Swiss rapper of mixed origins, on Wednesday, June 18. Yousseff Swatt’s will be appearing the following day.

The series will conclude on June 20 with a performance by Joe Rocca, who is enjoying a flourishing solo career alongside his work with his band Dead Obies, a finalist at the 2013 Francouvertes.