A Nostalgic October at Place des Arts

In the fall, trees turn wonderful hues of red, amber, and yellow. And in October, emotions promise to be just as vibrant at Place des Arts. The whole month will be dedicated to musical and cultural nostalgia, with a heartwarming program rich in memories, nods to the past, and reunions with remarkable artists.

Focus on Progressive Rock

Fans of the band Genesis will be delighted—twice over. Guitarist Steve Hackett, a member of the legendary group in the 1970s, will present the sole Quebec performance of his show Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo on October 9. The concert features some of the band’s most well-known songs, marking the 50^th anniversary of the album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

On a more intimate note, keyboardist David Myers, known for his work with The Musical Box, a Genesis tribute band, will perform the band’s greatest hits on piano on October 25. For die-hard fans, this will be an opportunity to rediscover these songs from a new perspective.

Next up, Foreigner will remind us why their hits—I Want to Know What Love Is and Cold as Ice—can still thrill the crowds. Returning to the city on October 27 after a sold-out 2019 show, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will stop at Place des Arts—with opening act 54-40—on their national tour that precedes Juke Box Hero, the Musical.

Tributes to Giants of the Music World

It’s impossible to bring up nostalgia without mentioning Fleetwood Mac. While the legendary band is no longer touring, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac offers a faithful and passionate tribute. This October 28 concert promises to envelop the audience in the unique atmosphere of the iconic 1977 album Rumours.

And we haven’t forgotten about French chanson… with Julien Dassin paying tribute to his father, the immortal Joe Dassin. In three performances, from October 23 to 27, the son will cover his father’s greatest hits, from L’été indien to Et si tu n’existais pas.

In a completely different vein, on October 11, the audience will get to reconnect with the guitars and festive rhythms of The Gipsy Kings and Nicolas Reyes, spreading the contagious energy of flamenco with songs like Bamboléo.

Theatre and cinema : Nostalgia in All its Forms

Nostalgia isn’t simply limited to music… it also turns up in the theatre and at the opera. The cult play Le dîner de cons—a French comedy gem—will be on the bill for four performances from October 10 to 12. Many will remember their first time bursting with laughter at this classic, which, decades later, remains uproariously funny. Starring Laurent Paquin as the hilarious François Pignon.

Classical music will stimulate the collective imagination with The Phantom of the Opera, a film-concert by the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, with musical accompaniment by organist Jason Roberts, marking the 100th anniversary of Gaston Leroux's novel. The perfect show for Halloween, on October 31.

Female Voices in the Spotlight

Another highlight: the return of Sarah McLachlan, a key figure on the Canadian pop scene. Her unique voice and melancholic ballads like Angel and Building a Mystery continue to send shivers down listeners’ spines, nearly 30 years after the release of her celebrated album Surfacing, which sold 11 million copies worldwide. She’ll be on stage in Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on October 29 and 30.

At the same time, the trio made up of Lulu Hugues, Luce Dufault, and Kim Richardson returns on October 29 with Elles, a collection of songs that live up to their vocal talents, from jazz to soul to folk and rock.

Lastly, the Orchestre National de Jazz de Montréal, under the direction of Marianne Trudel, will present Compositrices d’hier à aujourd’hui. This show, on October 30, will celebrate great female voices who have left their mark on the history of song and jazz.

The Timeless Daniel Lanois in the Limelight

He’s best known for the masterpieces he has produced for others, such as U2, Peter Gabriel, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan, to name but a few. But here, it’s Daniel Lanois, the singer-songwriter, who will take centre stage with his own compositions. His atmospheric music, sitting somewhere between rock and ambient, promises to make for an evening of profound and and luminous nostalgia on October 5.

With this program, Place des Arts is transforming into a veritable time machine. Attending one or more of these concerts will prove to be much more than a mere outing: it’s an invitation to revisit parts of one’s personal history, to share intergenerational emotions, and to remember that music, theatre, and great works survive the ages.