Video Interview With Louis Bellavance, Program Director Of Festival D'Été De Quebec

Scott Legato – Festival d’été de Québec 2018
Dave Grohl gives it his everything. As always.

Festival d’été de Quebec celebrated its 51st edition, July 5-15. Pollstar was on site, to listen to some amazing artists and talk to program director Louis Bellavance about the festival’s long history.

Festival d’été takes place in the heart of Quebec City, which sits right on the Saint Lawrence River and makes for an incredibly scenic festival site. The festival stages are dotted around the old town, with the main stage occupying an ancient battlefield called the Plains of Abraham. Every venue is within walking distance from one another.

Since the festival takes over the entire city – the oldest city in North America, founded in 1608 – one cannot escape the old-European charm of the place. Bellavance does not program during daytime to give visitors ample time to explore their surroundings. “You’re not coming here for the festival. You’re coming here for Québec City and the festival,” Bellavance told Pollstar.

The festival was founded in 1968, and has been operating as a non-profit event, run by a board of volunteers, ever since. “We’re not trying to increase profit, we have to keep it affordable,” Bellavance said.

So far, he’s succeeding. A transferable pass granting access to all the 10 outdoor and indoor venues, including the main 80,000 capacity Bell Stage, for all the eleven festival days went for $110 CAD in the general on-sale this year, which is around $84 USD.

“As far as I know, this festival is the most affordable festival in the world, based on what we offer,” said Bellavance. This year’s offer included Neil Young, Foo Fighters, The Weeknd, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, The Chainsmoker, Future, Beck, Lorde, Bonobo, The War On Drugs, Jethro Tull and many more, bringing the total number of shows up to 250.

Scott Legato – Festival d’été de Québec 2018
Adam Granduciel of The War On Drugs

One highlight was watching The War On Drugs vocalist and guitarist Adam Granduciel loose himself in his band’s hypnotic indie rock on a warm Sunday night. He was playing the 10,000 capacity Loto-Québec Stage located in the Parc de la Francophonie, the festival’s most picturesque venue, which had to be temporarily closed for sold-out shows by Jethro Tull, Jane Birkin, Charlotte Cardin, America and Air Supply, 2 Frères and

The same happened at the 6,000 capacity Hydro-Québec Stage for Jain and Hubert Lenoir. The Fibe Stage hosted up-and-coming francophone artists such as Helena Deland – and a surprise set by Chromeo on opening night – and the free stage, which is open to the public, hosted world music, as it has been doing for 51 years.

Belavance talked about his booking policy. Festival d’été may have a boutique feel to it, but it still relies on big names for its headline slots. He explained why he didn’t think today’s artists could ever reach Springsteen-status, because the rules of the game have changed. “It’s easy to produce music now, and if you’re making good music, people will notice. And if they notice, they will over-consume it for a short while, and then move on to the next. And that next buzz might be another record by yourself, or the guy next door that also has talent.

Scott Legato – Festival d’été de Québec 2018
Camila Cabello enjoying herself on the main stage in front of some 80,000 people

“That said, this is producing headliners. We have Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, The Chainsmokers. We had Future last night. Even The Weeknd, those guys weren’t around five years ago. Can’t say they will in five years, I sure hope they will, but who knows.”

He also elaborated on the industry’s current buzzword, “experience,” and what that means in today’s “narcissistic era.”

“The new festivalgoers, what they’re looking for is pretty much to get on stage and ask Bon Jovi to share the mic with them while their friend is shooting it on Instagram,” said Bellavance half-jokingly. “You need to pay close attention to that, you cannot deny it.”

He also elaborated on the impact of technology at Festival d’été and the current security measures taken at the event, before revealing some of his favorite live acts of all times, as well as the one act that he hasn’t managed to secure yet.

Scott Legato – Festival d’été de Québec 2018
Neil Young in the flesh