Free Concerts in Montreal City Parks this Summer
Parc Arthur THerrien. Photo Rachel Levine
On a hot summer night, few things beat live out door music. The Concerts Campbell series offers 14 different artists performing live in parks throughout the city. Though few have heard of Charles Sandwith Campbell, he moved to Montreal from Kingston and was largely involved in business law. When he died, in the early 1900s, he left a portion of his money to “encourage the playing on summer evenings of bands of music in the public places handy to the congested parts of the city.” Free music has been on offer since 1924. So, thank Mr. Campbell and find out if something is happening in your neighbourhood and take a stroll down to your local park.
Valaire plays June 29 at Parc de l’Honorable-George O’Reilly (7:30 p.m.). The jazz quintet Key of Groove plays in Parc de la Petite Italie on July 4. July 5 has klezmer band Kleztory at Parc de la Marina d’Escale. On July 7, get out your brass and your dancing shoes for Busty and the Bass at the Outdoor stage at Salle Pauline Julien. July 13, you can listen to the warm vocals of Catherine Major at Parc Marcel Léger. Funk it up the right way with Papagroove on July 15 at Parc Jarry. Another set of klezmer kings, the Lemon Bucket Orkestra hit Parc Kent on July 17 and Parc Ahuntsic on July 18. THe Cuban Martinez Show is at Parc Roger-Rousseau on July 19 or you can catch the Orchestre Métropolitain under the direction of conductor Nicolas Ellis at Parc West Vancouver the same night, but at 8 p.m. The Orchestre Métropolitain plays again on July 20 at the Adirondack lookout at the Mt. Royal chalet, also at 8 p.m. Jordan Officer sings the blues on July 24 at Parc Eusèbe Ménard. La Fanfare Fanfaronne combine words and music and clowning arts at Parc Wilfrid Bastien on July 25. Kleztory is back on July 26 at Parc Beaubien d’Outremont. The Cuban Martinez Show returns on July 31 at Pierrefond Comprhehensive High School.
Things continue through August. Blues and folk rocker, Samuele plays August 1 at Parc Jean-Brilliant. The Auclair Ensemble plays at Parc Lefebvre on August 2. Catch Papagroove again at the Pavillion Mordecai Richler on August 3. Samuele is back August 7 at Parc de le Promenade Bellerive. The Cuban Martinez Show returns on August 9 at Square Cabot. Everyone loves urban electronic master Boogat who can be seen on August 10 at Parc de la Promenade Bellerive. Jordan Officer is at Parc Wilfrid-Laurier on August 12 and again on August 16. The Cuban Martinez Show returns on August 17 at Parc Alexis Nihon.
All shows are at 7 p.m. unless otherwise indicated.
For more details and schedule, click HERE.
