Montreal’s free summer concert series celebrates 100 years
Posted July 30, 2024 11:14 pm.
Last Updated July 30, 2024 11:53 pm.
The year 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Montreal’s Campbell Concerts. Until the end of August, the city’s parks – like Wilfrid-Bastien park in Montreal’s St-Leonard neighbourhood – will come alive with free musical performances by contemporary brass bands and local artists.
One of this year’s featured artist is multi-instrumentalist and Radio-Canada Musical Revelation of the Year Award winner Joseph Sarenhes, as visitors are invited to discover styles from classical, to pop, to jazz.
“You’re going to cry, you’re going to smile, you’re going to jump, definitely dance,” Sarenhes said of the musical pieces performed.
“Every concert begins with fanfare and then there’s this big concert with musicians and amplification,” explained Benoit Gagnon, a Campbell Concerts representative for the city of Montreal.
Gangon added: “It’s all about diversity, so we got very different styles of music, I would say, so that it reflects the Montreal population.”
The concert series was the brainchild of the late lawyer Charles S. Campbell, who chose to leave a donation to fund free outdoor concerts at Montreal venues in perpetuity.
“We got some blues in Côte-des-Neiges. We’ll be having, as well, some Asian music and dance as well. So you can see that’s sort of a celebration of Montreal,” Gagnon told CityNews.
The Campbell Concerts began in 1924, presenting military bands such as the Fusiliers Mont-Royal and the Black Watch Association Band. Over the years, the program has been tailored to reflect the changing tastes of the public, and to reflect the diversity of the Montreal population.
“Music is the most accessible way to express messages and talk in general. Because sometimes, especially in a city like Montreal, where people talk Creole, English, French, all of that – sometimes it can be hard understanding each other. So when you speak music, it’s easier to spread a message, to spread an emotion and just connect as a community,” Sarenhes said.
See the full Campbell Concerts schedule here.
