Festivals
Montréal Jazz Festival Announces Académie Event Program
The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (FIJM), presented by TD Bank Group in collaboration with Rio Tinto, is continuing its educational and community mission with the return of the Académie. The first edition of this event series was so successful that it’s coming back this year with twice as many activities! Through 10 or so events, nearly all free of charge, this special space for sharing, held alongside the Festival, offers a unique meeting point for up-and-coming musicians and seasoned artists, furthering music practice through knowledge sharing between artists and the Montréal community. And there’s another new feature this year: the event will benefit from the expertise of an artist-in-residence, none other than Nate Smith, renowned American drummer, producer and singer-songwriter.
Académie: A platform for creative sharing
This year’s Académie will involve two activity series: Espace Discussions (discussion space), where intimate conversations will take place with guest artists; and Espace Créatif (creative space), which will feature interactive masterclasses on the art of making music, which attendees will be invited to contribute to. Save the dates: all free activities will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis!
Espace Discussion
Discussion with Wynton Marsalis
with Alexa Tarantino and Chris Lewis
June 26, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Théâtre Jean-Duceppe (Place des Arts)
Paid activity
Meet talented American trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis, the first jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music, in conversation with saxophonists Alexa Tarantino and Chris Lewis. Tickets go on sale May 22 at 10:00 a.m.
Discussion with Branford Marsalis
with Mark Ruffin
June 30, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
Cinquième Salle (Place des Arts)
Free!
Saxophonist, composer and bandleader Branford Marsalis, formerly the frontman of the Tonight Show Band, will take part in a conversation moderated by Mark Ruffin, radio host, music journalist, producer and author.
Discussion with Katherine McVicker
Anyone Can Book a Gig
July 1, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
Cinquième Salle (Place des Arts)
Free!
Take a deep dive into the rich professional world of agent Katherine McVicker, author of the book Anyone Can Book a Gig: A Performer’s Guide to Successful Touring and leading figure in the touring world for three decades, who now works with some 40 renowned contemporary jazz musicians through her talent and booking agency Music Works International.
Discussion with Patricia Pascal, Tao Ming-Lau & Caroline Fontanieu
Women in Music
July 2, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
Cinquième Salle (Place des Arts)
Free!
An in-depth reflection on the place women hold in the music industry, featuring some of its most vibrant participants: Caroline Fontanieu, ECM marketing director; Patricia Pascal, producer and director of the emerging artists program at Tomorrow’s Warriors; and Tao Ming-Lau, agent with Paquin. The discussion, moderated by Magali Ould, general manager of Secret City Records, is presented in collaboration with nonprofit organization Women in Music Canada.
Discussion with Camille Thurman
July 4, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
Cinquième Salle (Place des Arts)
Free!
Saxophonist, singer and composer, Camille Thurman talks in depth with Caroline Fontanieu, ECM marketing director.
Espace Créatif
Workshop with Nate Smith
Drums masterclass
July 1, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
Cinquième Salle (Place des Arts)
Free!
Nate Smith offers a masterclass on drumming, which will reveal more about his approach to the instrument.
Workshop with Derrick Hodge
Composition and creativity
July 2, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
Cinquième Salle (Place des Arts)
Free!
Composer, bassist and bandleader Derrick Hodge joins the Académie to lead a discussion on music creation, as well as an interactive music composition workshop.
Find the full Académie program here!
The 45th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will take place from June 26 to July 5, 2025 in the Quartier des Spectacles. More info here.
Festivals
Governors Ball 2026 Release Daily Schedules
The set times are in. Governors Ball Music Festival just dropped its daily schedules for June 5–7, and the usual game begins: mapping your day, picking your battles, and accepting you can’t see everything.
Friday, June 5
Day one leans indie-pop into rap by night. Lorde closes the main stage at 8:30, opposite the tail end of Baby Keem(7:30–8:30). That’s your first big call: polished pop spectacle or Keem’s high-energy set.
Earlier, things get messy in a good way. KATSEYE (6:35–7:30) overlaps with Pierce the Veil (5:30–6:30) bleed, and The Beths (6:00–7:00) sit right in between. Indie fans will feel that pinch.
Midday conflicts are lighter, but The Dare (4:00–4:45) vs. Arcy Drive (3:30–4:15) creates a small fork in the road.
If you’re pacing yourself, the cleanest run is late afternoon into Mariah the Scientist (4:45–5:30), then pick your lane.
Saturday, June 6
Saturday is the most chaotic on paper. Stray Kids headline at 8:30, directly after Kali Uchis (7:30–8:30). That transition is smooth if you stay put.
The real trouble hits earlier. Major Lazer (6:30–7:30) collides with Blood Orange (5:30–6:30) and the start of Amyl and the Sniffers (7:30–8:30). Dancehall vs. alt-R&B vs. punk. Pick a mood and commit.
Mid-card is stacked with clashes: Ravyn Lenae (4:00–4:45) overlaps with Jane Remover (3:30–4:15), and Snow Strippers (4:45–5:30) runs right into Wet Leg (4:45–5:30). That last one is a true coin flip, two buzzy acts at the exact same time.
Sunday, June 7
Sunday might be the strongest day top to bottom. A$AP Rocky closes at 8:45, opposite the end of JENNIE (7:45–8:45) and Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist (7:45–8:45). That’s the toughest final hour of the weekend.
The lead-up is just as tight. Dominic Fike (6:45–7:45) overlaps with Clipse (5:45–6:45) and Hot Mulligan (6:15–7:15). Three different crowds, same window.
Earlier, Japanese Breakfast (4:00–4:45) and Holly Humberstone (3:15–4:00) form a nice back-to-back if you stay mobile, but Between Friends (2:30–3:15) cuts into that flow.
The takeaway
Friday is manageable. Saturday is conflict-heavy. Sunday is stacked late.
If you hate missing songs, plan short splits. If you want full sets, accept you’ll miss something big. That’s part of the deal, and honestly, half the fun.
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts Announce 2026 Lineup
Vancouver’s summer concert calendar is locking into place. The annual Summer Night Concerts are set to return to the Pacific National Exhibition from August 22 through September 7, bringing live music back to one of the city’s biggest seasonal events.
This year carries a bit more weight than usual. The series will debut at the brand-new Freedom Mobile Arch, a 10,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre built for large-scale performances. The venue promises better sightlines, improved sound, and a more immersive setup for fans. It’s a major shift for the fair, which spent much of last year dealing with construction that limited its footprint and contributed to a drop in attendance.
Now, with the full site back in action, organizers are aiming for a reset. The 2026 lineup leans into that idea, mixing legacy acts with newer names across genres like rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic.
Headliners include Blue Rodeo, The Guess Who, The Beaches, Nelly, and Zedd, alongside artists like Mt. Joy, Train, and Barenaked Ladies. Special performances include Cynthia Erivo backed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearances from Punjabi Virsa, Weird Al Yankovic, Earth, Wind & Fire, Pierce the Veil, Sarah McLachlan, and Boy George & Culture Club.
The full schedule runs nightly:
- Aug. 22: Blue Rodeo
- Aug. 23: The Guess Who
- Aug. 25: The Beaches
- Aug. 26: Nelly
- Aug. 27: Zedd
- Aug. 28: Mt. Joy
- Aug. 29: Cynthia Erivo with VSO
- Aug. 30: Punjabi Virsa
- Sept. 1: Train
- Sept. 2: Barenaked Ladies
- Sept. 3: Weird Al Yankovic
- Sept. 4: Earth, Wind & Fire
- Sept. 5: Pierce the Veil
- Sept. 6: Sarah McLachlan
- Sept. 7: Boy George & Culture Club
Tickets start at $49 plus fees and include admission to the PNE Fair. Presale began April 19, with general on-sale launching April 20 through TicketLeader.
New venue, full fairgrounds, and a lineup that leans both nostalgic and current. After a quieter year, the PNE looks ready to feel busy again.