Montreal Hosts the 2008 Osheaga Music Festival
Osheaga in Montreal, Canada, is a Lively Mid-Summer Musical Bash
California hosts Coachella. In Tennessee, Bonnaroo is the rule. And England’s Reading has been a steady go for more than three decades.
So what can Montreal add to the multiple-day outdoor summer music festival mix?
In a word: Osheaga.
The year marks the third edition of the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival. In all some 50 acts will perform on four outdoor stages Aug. 3 and 4 at Montreal’s Jean Drapeau Park.
What Does Osheaga Mean?
Pronounced o-she-ah-ga, the word is a reference to Montreal’s geographic name made during a meeting between explorer Jacques Cartier and the indigenous Mohawk peoples. According to the Web site, the Mohawk term actually translates to “people of shaking hands” (there was some misinterpretation of signals at this meeting — the complete tale is told online).
The 2008 Line-Up for Sunday, August 3
- The Killers bring their unique alternative sound and are the evening’s headliners (River Stage, 9:15 p.m.).
- Iggy & the Stooges feature the one and only Iggy Pop. It’s his first Montreal appearance in 20 years (Mountain Stage, 8 p.m.).
- Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings offer a soulful retro vibe (Mountain Stage, 5:45 p.m.).
- N*E*R*D offers a powerful brand of alternative/rap fusion (River Stage, 3:30 p.m.).
- Cat Power brings ethereal vocals and poignant acoustics (River Stage, 6:45 p.m.).
- The National Parcs are Canada’s very own hip-trip percussionists (Tree Stage, 10 p.m.).
- Eddy Grant is the one and only Electric Avenue ‘80s icon (Mountain Stage, 2:45 p.m.).
- Also on the bill: Foals, Metric, Spiritualized, Devotchka, Booka Shade, Plants and Animals, Chocolat, Duchess Says, and more.
The 2008 Line-Up for Monday, August 4
- Jack Johnson offers effortless vocals with a soulful acoustic sound. It’s his first Montreal appearance (River Stage, 9:15 p.m.).
- Gogol Bordello is the ever-engaging must-see rag tag accordion-clad band mostly born in Eastern Europe and based in New York’s Lower East Side (Mountain Stage, 5:45 p.m.).
- Broken Social Scene offers definitive indie anthems (Mountain Stage, 8 p.m.).
- Duffy is the smoky-voiced Welsh pop princess who’s making all the waves (River Stage, 6:45 p.m.).
- CSS are the Brazilian-based funsters best known for their recent iPod commercial (MEG Stage, 8:30 p.m.).
- Chromeo brings a dose of breezy electro-pop fun (MEG Stage, 10 p.m.).
- Jamie Lidell offers his own brand of lighthearted antics and artistry (MEG Stage, 2:30 p.m.).
- Also performing: MGMT, the Weakerthans, the Black Keys, the Kills, the GO! Team, Matt Costa, Rock Plaza Central, the Enemy UK, and more.
Navigating Osheaga
The key to Osheaga: pick a band, discover a new sound, sing along — repeat. The music starts at 2 p.m. and continues until 11 p.m. Set times range from 30 minutes to an hour and a half for each performance. Food and beer kiosks are available on site. You are allowed to bring your own food as well as backpacks, but bringing your own alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Point-and-shoot cameras are allowed; interchangeable lens cameras are not. A rain poncho and/or an umbrella come in handy in case of rain.
Information
- What: Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
- When: Aug. 3 and 4, 2008
- Where: Outdoors at Jean Drapeau Park in Montreal
- Price: Single-day tickets cost $67.50; two-day pass costs $120
- Order: Through Admission Ticket Network at (800) 678-5440 .
- Get there: The easiest way to get to Osheaga is by public transportation. Take the yellow line to Metro station Jean Drapeau (it’s only a 10-minute subway ride from downtown). Show your Osheaga ticket for a free ride on the Metro to the concert.
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