Since 2006, the OSHEAGA Festival Musique et Arts has stood out as the most important festival of its kind in Canada. Once again, this year it was sold out. For a fifth consecutive year, more than 135,000 attendees made their way to Parc Jean-Drapeau from July 29 to 31, for the 11th edition of the OSHEAGA Festival. The enormous popularity of the Festival continues to grow as evidenced by the rapid ticket sales prior to the event, and the enthusiasm of the fans who flock to Montreal to enjoy the weekend festivities.

The Festival has quite a reputation beyond our borders. OSHEAGA 2016 attracted music fans from 47 countries, generating an economic impact of close to $26 million for the city and Quebec. Close to 65% of Festival attendees come from outside the province. The event’s scale and reputation offer all-important visibility to our city by positioning it as a world-class cultural destination.

As tradition would have it, OSHEAGA 2016 once again offered an extraordinary experience to all kinds of music fans from here and elsewhere, in a unique and inclusive environment. Numerous highlights marked the weekend, not the least of which was the highly anticipated performance of Radiohead, who closed their show, and at the same time this year’s OSHEAGA which will not soon be forgotten, with a remarkable rendition of their classic, Creep.

To start the party Friday night, the legendary Red Hot Chili Peppers gave it their all and put on a spectacular show for the thousands of fans gathered in front of the Scene de la Riviere. Under a starry sky Saturday night, the mysterious and no-less-talented Lana Del Rey charmed her audience with her languorous brand of downtempo music.

Other favourites include the performances of Future, Charlotte Cardin and The Last Shadow Puppets who attracted giant crowds to the Scene Verte. How can we forget the unforgettable and highly appreciated presence of several other major artists, including Leon Bridges, Flume, Haim, Cypress Hill, Post Malone and The Lumineers to name but a few. A special shout out to several talented local artists who shone during the Festival, including Half Moon Run, Coeur de Pirate, Kaytranada, The Damned Truth and Wolf Parade.

OSHEAGA, is also a series of before and after parties across the city. More than ever, the evening events at New City Gas, the Casino de Montreal, the Theatre Fairmount, Newspeak and at the Belmont sur le Boulevard, attracted many Festival attendees who partied late into the night with Kaytranada, Dragonette and The Barr Brothers.OSHEAGA 2016 IN NUMBERS

  • 11th year
  • 110 artists
  • 28 Canadian groups
  • 16 Quebec groups
  • 3 days at Parc Jean-Drapeau
  • 6 stages including the 2 SAM750 from StageLine – the largest mobile stage in the world
  • 1 Village des arts entirely dedicated to the work of Canadian artists this year
  • 9 official Osheaga accommodations
  • 135,000 fans
  • 2,506,129 square foot site
  • More than 30 hours of music
  • The Osheaga + Meg professional gatherings
  • $26 million in economic benefits (2015)
  • 4,500 employees on site
  • 14 Osheaga events off site before and during the festival
  • 1 culinary experience by Chuck Hughes and Danny Smiles behind the scenes at Osheaga

Osheaga 2017 Dates are August 4th to 7th.

 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment, and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors, and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats. Reach out - bryen@thebuzzmag.ca