Festivals
Montréal Jazz Festival 2025 –Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
On Monday night, as part of the 2025 edition of the Montreal Jazz Fest, Troy Andrews, AKA Trombone Shorty, performed the closing set at the TD Stage with his band, Orleans Avenue.
The New Orleans native made a stop in the 514 as part of his “Might Not Make it Home” Tour, cementing his status as a much-appreciated regular at the legendary Canadian festival. This marked his fourth appearance, and for the first time, he was headlining its biggest stage.
By the time 9 PM rolled around, the iconic Place des Festivals was already packed with more than 20,000 people, all ready to see the legendary musician bring a taste of NOLA to Montreal. He jumped onto the stage after his band, sporting black leather pants and a white tank top, trombone in hand, and a huge smile.
His 90-minute set included songs like “Do To Me,” “Hurricane Season,” and the bass-forward “Fire & Brimstone,” where he switched out the trombone for a mic for most of the song.
My favourite part of the set was when, in true Mardi Gras fashion, in the middle of a medley that included “When The Saints Go Marching In,” he said into the mic, “Montreal, can I take you down to New Orleans?” with the band still keeping the beat behind him. The crowd responded with loud cheers. He grabbed his trombone again and started walking down the stairs of the stage and into the massive crowd, with the band following closely behind. For the remainder of the song, they walked through the crowd playing, which truly transported us to the streets of Louisiana. The iconic brass sounds, jamming with that unmistakable NOLA flair, were truly the heart and soul of what Jazz Fest is all about.
Trombone Shorty has to be up there as one of the best musicians of xour generation. It’s how he and his band make hitting such complex notes look easy, their undeniable chemistry on stage, and how much fun they have while doing it that has cemented him as one of the most iconic and important figures in NOLA music, alongside legends like Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton.
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!
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE
All Photo Credit: Andres Amaya
Festivals
Montréal Jazz Festival 2026 – Naïka
If you caught Naïka at MTelus just a few months back, you already know how incredible her live energy is. But seeing her step onto the huge outdoor TD Stage at Jazz Fest on June 29th was something else entirely. She went from playing an intimate venue to looking out at a sea of about 30,000 people. You could tell she was genuinely moved by the turnout, and how could she not be, considering the crowd was more than ten times the size of her last show in the city.
She started the set in this beautiful, draping white dress that paid tribute to her French-Haitian roots. It looked amazing, but right after the opening track, she shed the layers for a short skirt and a white top so she could actually move around, dance, and really own the massive stage.
The setlist felt like a perfect journey through her catalog. She hit some of her biggest tracks like “Ma Chérie” and “1+1,” and then completely flipped the mood by playing a gorgeous, soulful cover of “Killing Me Softly” that had us all swaying and singing along to every word. The absolute highlight, though, was when she surprised everyone by bringing Jessie Reyez out to perform “One Track Mind.” The chemistry between them on stage was so cool to see live.
Beyond the music, just standing in that crowd felt special. Looking around, it was a massive mix of people from every background and culture imaginable. It really reminded me of why Montreal’s melting-pot vibe makes festival season so unique. For an independent global artist like Naïka, the whole night felt less like a standard festival set and more like a major milestone moment in her connection with the city.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
NAÏKA AT JAZZFEST MONTREAL
All Photo Credit: Andres Amaya
Festivals
FIFA Fan Festival™ Vancouver – Shakey Graves & Grayson Repp
On June 28, the FIFA Fan Festival™ in Vancouver wrapped up the day with an atmosphere that will be remembered for years. Just after Canada defeated South Africa in dramatic fashion, scoring a last-minute winner to book its place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 for the first time in the country’s history, supporters stayed at the festival ready to celebrate.
The amphitheatre was packed from the moment the music began, and the energy never faded. Fans dressed in red and waving Canadian flags carried the excitement of the match, turning every performance into part of the day’s celebration.
American folk-rock artist Shakey Graves delivered a captivating set that balanced laid-back storytelling with energetic moments. His blend of blues, folk, and Americana fit perfectly with the summer evening, and the crowd responded warmly throughout the performance.
On the Park Stage, Grayson Repp brought his own style to the festival with an engaging performance that drew a steady audience dancing to classics celebratory songs. Together, the two artists provided a fitting soundtrack to a day already filled with unforgettable memories.
Check our our favourite photos of the show below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SHAKEY GRAVES
GRAYSON REPP
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer