Montréal Jazz Festival 2025 – Natalia Lafourcade

This past Thursday and Friday, Mexican composer, singer, and producer Natalia Lafourcade performed two sold-out shows in Montreal, promoting her latest album Cancionera as part of the 2025 edition of the Montreal Jazzfest, all inside the beautiful Wilfrid-Pelletier Theatre.

The legendary artist, who holds 18 Latin Grammys and is considered one of the most prolific musicians in Mexico, delivered an intimate 90-minute set with just her acoustic guitar.

Throughout the performance, she walked us through her career, which spans more than 25 years, offering a beautiful blend of old and new songs. One standout moment was En el 2000, the pop anthem that catapulted her to stardom in Mexico 25 years ago. Hearing her perform a song she wrote at just 17, alongside a varied setlist, was a reminder of her artistic depth. Each of her albums explores a different sound, ranging from pop and alternative to traditional Mexican folk. Yet she has remained unapologetically herself through it all. She hasn’t chased trends; instead, she’s set them, all while honouring the legacy of the great Mexican folk musicians who inspired her.

She shared that, now turning 40, she wanted to tour with just her and her guitar, in the spirit of artists like Bob Dylan, Agustín Lara, and Johnny Cash. No big production, no backup band, just her and six strings.

As a fellow Mexican, this night was deeply meaningful. It evoked the kind of folk music you’d hear by the fire on a cold night in northern Mexico, surrounded by your dad and uncles on a weekend at the ranch. Just music and the sounds of nature. It made me feel both nostalgic for my country and incredibly proud of the richness of our culture. And truly, there’s no better artist to bring that spirit to Canada than Natalia Lafourcade.

Visit the festival’s website for schedule and ticket information.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

All Photo Credit: Andres Amaya