Legends, Hitmakers & Electro at Osheaga 2014

Three days of music, sunshine, and happy, beautiful people make Osheaga an unforgettable way to spend a weekend in Montreal this summer. The three-day outdoor festival gets bigger and better every year, and the 2014 line-up proves that yet again…

Osheaga, this year August 1-3, turns Parc Jean-Drapeau into a music-filled paradise, replete with tree-shaded groves and views of the St-Laurent river and downtown Montreal – not to mention huge names in music: Outkast, Skrillex, Jack White, Nick Cave The Bad Seeds, Arctic Monkeys, Lorde, The Replacements and dozens more play everything from indie-rock to electronic dance music. The sun beams down on two main stages, while further into the woods, smaller stages host big international and local talent too – discover new favourites even before the festival by trying Osheaga’s Music Recommender.

Friday night at Osheaga 2014 might belong to Atlanta hip-hop stalwarts Outkast and EDM icon Skrillex, but fans of indie-pop charmers Foster the People, Brit electro duo Chase Status, electro-rockers AWOLNATION, hip-hop artists Childish Gambino, Pusha T and Chance the Rapper, party-makers Chromeo, updated-bluegrass strummers Old Crow Medicine Show, Montreal rock stars Sam Roberts Band and atmospheric electronic artist Jacques Green are sure to be at the park early – the diversity of acts playing the festival is one of the best reasons to go to Osheaga not only on Friday but all weekend long.

Saturday’s afternoon-to-late-night line-up runs the gamut from the ineffable Jack White, Nick Cave and Modest Mouse to pop artists Haim, hard rockers Against Me!, the soulful voice of Serena Ryder, L.A. indie band Local Natives and hip hop’s Joey Bada$$. Sunday stuns with indie-punk-rock pioneers The Replacements on the big stage along with Lykke Li, Half Moon Run, Chvrches, The Temper Trap and Kodaline, while Tiga, Cut Copy, Gogol Bordello and more high-energy entertainers keep everyone dancing. Take a walk through the sun-dappled woods to find even more music, along with art installations, gourmet food trucks and thirst-quenching summertime drinks.

Pre-festival and afterparty shows add even more entertainment to the weekend’s main events: on July 31, hear the Volcano Choir at Corona Theatre and the MEG festival showcase at Sala Rossa. The first afterparties, on August 1, see WEDIDITCOLLECTIVE get the SAT thumping and Chromeo holding down with a DJ set at Corona Theatre. Now-legendary electronic producer Four Tet plays the SAT on August 2 while surprise guests rock the Corona. And on Sunday, Duke Dumont shakes up Le Belmont and Chvrches play a DJ set at the Corona. And art lovers: don’t miss the Music on Paper 4 exhibition of amazing poster art by Scott Campbell, Matt Pfhalert, Mishka Westhill, Jon Smith, José Garcia, Methane Studios, Delicious Design League, Todd Slater and John Vogol – at Yves Laroche Galerie (6355 St-Laurent) beginning July 3, where silkscreened prints will be on sale, and moving over to Osheaga Arts Village during the fest.