This past Sunday, industrial rock gods Rammstein closed the 2010 edition of Quebec City's Festival D'Ete. The festival sold out for the first time in its 42 years of existence, and it doesn't look like organizers should expect anything different for next year.
Festival D'Ete is truly a world class happening and has become Canada's biggest annual celebration of music.
I took in a few days of the festivities and now believe this event deserves the title of Canada's Best Music Festival.
Here are 10 reasons why:
10. Size Matters
Everything about Festival D'Ete is super sized. For example:
• Their main stage, located on the Plains Of Abraham, is the biggest stage in Canada;
• The crowds are the largest for any Canadian festival, with 2010 audiences reaching 75,000 for Iron Maiden and over 100,000 for Black Eyed Peas;
• The main stage is surrounded with huge digital screens, so there's a perfect view no matter where you're situated on the Plains;
• The festival itself runs for 11 days.
9. Quebec City
For most Canadians, Quebec City is the place you went to on your eighth grade school trip. You got to stay in the Chateau Frontenac and the class bullies all bought knives at the local shops.
Coming back to the city with a slightly more mature perspective is a whole new experience. Quebec City is truly one of Canada's most picturesque places. The buildings and landscape offer a beauty with which no machete collection could ever compete.
8. Walking Distance
All of the festival's venues are within walking distance of each other. The longest stretch between sights is fifteen minutes. It's freakin' glorious to not have to rely on cabs, not to mention the money it saves.
7. Sound Quality
Festival organizers focus a great deal of time and energy on the sound quality of each show. World class engineers and sound systems are used for all outdoor performances.
A testament to their work was having Rammstein perform at this year's festival, as the band are notoriously anal about their live production.
After seeing Linkin Park perform at Festival D'Ete in 2008, Rammstein's management gave the band the thumbs up to come and participate this year.
6. The Locals
It's almost creepy how nice and relaxed everyone in Quebec City was during the festival. That's not just the organizers, but the locals themselves.
Everyone smiles and says hello.
When Iron Maiden finished their set on Friday night, the more than 75,000 in attendance calmly exited the Plains and took to the streets and local bars to continue the celebration. Those French are rather enigmatic.
The lesson:
Montreal Canadians + Playoff Series Win = Downtown riot
Metal shows + 75,000 Quebecers = Fun Friday nights
Conclusion: Music fans are cooler than jocks.
5. Blinking Lights
Each year when festival goers purchase their passes, they're also given a pin with a red blinking light on it. Once the sun goes down on the Plains Of Abraham, the area becomes illuminated with tens of thousands of these blinking lights. It's cooler than a polar bear's toenails.
4. French Accents
French accents are hot whether you're into guys or girls. It doesn't matter what they're saying because everything sounds sexy. "Bonjour! Bienvenue chez Subway." Meow.
3. Beer Drinkin'
Once you purchase a beer in the festival, you are free to drink it anywhere on the grounds. There are no beer gardens. It's open forum and it's god damn amazing.
If you've ever been to a show on Toronto Island and had to wait in a two-hour line just to buy beer tickets so you can go wait in another two hour line just to use said tickets, you will appreciate the freedom of the Festival D'Ete.
Take note, Ontario liquor licensing board: Canadians are capable of drinking responsibly outside of caged areas.
2. Price
Fifty bucks gets you an all-access pass for every show at the festival. That's less than the price of some one-day events.
What's even better is I didn't see one person get turned away from a show. Everyone with a festival pass walked right into the venues.
1. The Bands
A festival is only as good as the artists it showcases. Festival D'Ete brings in acts for all types of music fans.
Throughout the 11 days, the 2010 Edition of Festival D'Ete featured the likes of Arcade Fire, Rammstein, Iron Maiden, Billy Talent, Social Distortion, Rush, Santana and Black Eyed Peas on the main stage.
Venues all over the city hosted more intimate shows with Bedouin Soundclash, Caribou, Besnard Lakes, Born Ruffians, Holy Fuck, Poirier, Great Lake Swimmers, Kid Koala, Woodhands, Passion Pit, Cat Empire, Jill Barber, Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine and GBH.
Quebec's Festival D'Ete 2010 ran from July 8 to 18.
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