Photo Credit FEQ / Phillipe Ruel
With its array of A-list talent and convival community atmosphere, Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ) is unlike any other music event in the Western Hemisphere. Nestled on a hill beside the mighty St. Lawrence River, Québec City’s famed Plains of Abraham transforms from a historic battle site to a center of celebration, as tens of thousands of fans from across Canada come together to watch epic performances from some of the world’s biggest acts. The final weekend of FEQ 2023 was one of the most memorable in the event’s 55-year history, concluding the festival on a high note. Friday night brought an energetic performance from Pitbull, as Mr. Worldwide brought his array of hits to life. On Saturday, the enigmatic chanteuse Lana Del Rey performed, bringing a glamorous, old Hollywood feel to the evening’s proceedings. Sunday concluded with a massive performance from pop-punk superstars Green Day, who stirred the 90k-strong crowd with their chart-topping anthems.The 2023 edition of the festival was a historic one in its history: for the first time, FEQ added a 12th day of performances, offering some of the best music Québec has to offer. Monday’s slate included performances by Les Cowboys Fringants, Robert Charlebois, and Sara Dufour. Originally scheduled to headline on July 13th, the popular Québecois folk-rock act Les Cowboys Fringants–led by frontman Karl Tremblay, currently being treated for cancer–returned to perform for their legion of fans in Québec City, offering a moment of catharsis to end the 2023 festival.Beyond the headliners, FEQ boasted an eclectic array of some of the best acts in Canada or anywhere else. Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead brought their new outfit The Smile to the Loto-Québec Stage, rocking as hard as ever with the help of drummer Tom Skinner. Rising dancehall singer Koffee brought an irrepressible joy to her early evening performance on Friday, while The War On Drugs electrified the Plains on Saturday with their spacey rock music, and SoCal punks Bad Religion galvanized fans with anti-establishment fervor. Held annually since 1968, the Festival d’été de Quebec is an inviting and convivial city celebration of music, culture, and community. Keep an eye on FEQ’s Instagram for in-the-moment highlights from Quebec City, and join us once again next July to experience the festival for yourself.
