Montreal Gazette

O is for Osheaga, a festival that unites the city to the beat of musical heavyweigh­ts.

Comes together, pounding like a heartbeat’ at our music and arts fest

- FATIMA ARKIN SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

Not even distance can keep Meaghan Tardif-Bennett from attending Osheaga. The 22-year-old Concordia student is on an exchange in Germany, but she’s scrambling to put together the funds to come back early especially to attend her favourite music and arts festival in Montreal. Over the last five years, Tardif-Bennett has camped out on each day of Osheaga to ensure premium access to some of music’s best-known talent, including Coldplay, Arcade Fire and Macklemore.

“It’s moments like those that I still live for,” she said.

“I feel like the whole island of Montreal comes together, pounding like a heartbeat. Even as the crowd melts away after a show, we all walk together chanting, singing, loving music and what we had just experience­d. It’s unreal.”

For music aficionado­s, there’s nothing quite like Osheaga. It’s where up-and-coming Canadian talents mix with mainstream heavyweigh­ts. Where, just a few years ago, local ensemble The Barr Brothers played in the same venue as Eminem. Where, this August, Hey Rosetta! will rock out alongside Jack White.

Between Aug. 1 and 3, an estimated 135,000 people in fringe shorts and gladiator boots are expected to descend upon Parc Jean-Drapeau in a musical pilgrimage that evokes comparison­s to Coachella and Lollapaloo­za.

And just like its U.S. counterpar­ts, Osheaga attracts its fair share of out-of-towners. Last year, 65 per cent of festivalgo­ers — or almost 88,000 people — came from outside of Quebec. Among them was Malorie Bertrand.

Last August, Bertrand, along with three of her family and friends, made their way from Ottawa to Montreal in a two-hour drive that was years in the making. Bertrand first heard about Osheaga in 2009, but it was hard for her to find a group to go with. People’s schedules didn’t always line up and money, at times, was tight. Then, last year, everything fell into place and Bertrand couldn’t have been happier with the timing.

“It was probably one of the best years to go,” said the 28-year-old communicat­ions officer at Canada Foundation for Innovation. “The lineup was so diverse and riddled with talented acts.”

Among the highlights were Mumford & Sons and Explosions in the Sky (Bertrand has been a fan of the American post-rock band since it appeared on the movie soundtrack for Friday Night Lights.)

But, more than just music, Osheaga is also about art and fashion, an aspect that Bertrand, a part-time stylist, was keen to explore. Dressed in a loose racerback tank top and jean shorts, Bertrand kept it neutral and comfortabl­e while snapping away at stylish 20-somethings for Ottawa Magazine’s blog.

“Events are always a great excuse to play with your style,” she said, adding that a lot of the people she met wore cute and functional outfits like bohemian tops and fringe shorts.

If you feel unsettled by the image of thousands of party loving hipsters, don’t. Osheaga enthusiast­s insist that there’s a way for all personalit­y types to enjoy the festivitie­s. Aside from the main dance areas in front of the stages, there’s plenty of green space for laid-back music fans and families with young kids to relax, soak up the sun and sing along with the music.

MJ Lafleche plans on doing just that. At the first Osheaga she attended, back in 2006, Lafleche was a teenager rocking out to Sonic Youth. Now at 24, the Starbucks barista calls herself a “cranky old lady” when it comes to crowds. She’ll still be at Osheaga this August to watch Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Modest Mouse perform. And she still anticipate­s complainin­g about having to jostle through the crowds. But Lafleche wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m happy that Osheaga got so popular,” she said. “I’m proud that Montreal has such a big festival that features some really good music that everyone can get into and have a good time.”

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 ?? DARIO AYALA/ THE GAZETTE ?? A crowdsurfe­r enjoys last summer’s Osheaga. The festival, now in its ninth year, runs Aug. 1 to 3 and is expected to draw 135,000 music lovers.
DARIO AYALA/ THE GAZETTE A crowdsurfe­r enjoys last summer’s Osheaga. The festival, now in its ninth year, runs Aug. 1 to 3 and is expected to draw 135,000 music lovers.

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