Arctic Monkeys (Joshua Mellin), Florence & the Machine (Alex Crick), and Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Killian Young)
Osheaga has revealed its 2018 lineup. The three-day music festival goes down from August 3rd-5th at Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau.
The impressive lineup boasts Arctic Monkeys, Florence and the Machine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The National, James Blake, St. Vincent, Lykke Li, Franz Ferdinand, Blondie, Jenny Lewis, Portugal. the Man, Tyler the Creator, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Future Islands, Chromeo, Brockhampton, Modeselektor, Noname, Blood Orange, Kali Uchis, Toro Y Moi x Nosaj Thing, and Calpurnia (featuring Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard).
Also playing are Travis Scott, Odesza, Rae Sremmurd, Post Malone, Khalid, Dua Lipa, A-Trak, BØRNS, Goldlink, Rapsody, Lord Huron, Sylvan Esso, Alvvays, Alex Cameron, Julien Baker, Son Little, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Rex Orange County, Manchester Orchestra, Billie Eilish, Jungle, TOKiMONSTA, Tash Sultana, Dermot Kennedy,
General admission and VIP passes go on sale today via the festival’s website.
Travis Scott, Arctic Monkeys and Florence and the Machine will headline this year’s Osheaga Music and Arts Festival, Aug. 3-5 at Parc Jean Drapeau.
The annual celebration of all things rock, pop, electro, folk and hip hop features a mixed bag of festival favourites and up-and-comers, hitting enough right notes to satisfy fans of all stripes.
“I’m a bit biased, but I feel really happy with it,” said Osheaga director Nick Farkas on Tuesday afternoon. “We looked at some negative feedback that we got last year, that there was not enough hip hop and not enough rock, and we made sure it was as balanced as possible.”
Rapper Scott gets a major promotion, closing the day Friday, Aug. 3, having previously made only an early-afternoon appearance on Osheaga’s Green stage in 2014. British band Arctic Monkeys plays Saturday, Aug. 4, after headlining in 2014 and having first played the festival in 2007. Florence & the Machine appears in the Sunday, Aug. 5 slot, after headlining in 2015 and stealing the show with a standout performance in 2012.
While seeing Arctic Monkeys and Florence & the Machine back at Osheaga may feel like déjà vu, Farkas is OK with that. As it enters its 13th year, Osheaga has developed a strong identity, and these are some of the bands that have helped in that.
“I love Portugal. The Man,” Farkas said, referring to the Alaska psych-rockers who are back at the festival once again this year. “I consider Portugal. The Man an Osheaga band. I love that they’ve played mid-afternoon sets and been fantastic. Arctic Monkeys, this is the fourth or fifth time they’ve played.
“Yeah Yeah Yeahs are coming back 10 years later; the National is coming back, and people are still talking about the set they played (eight) years ago.”
New York rockers Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who headlined in 2009, play on the Friday; and lugubrious Ohio rock band The National, which teed up for Arcade Fire at Osheaga’s 2010 edition, checks in on the Sunday.
You may sense a theme among the other acts on the bill Friday, including: Seattle electro duo Odesza; British electro-soul crooner James Blake, in his Osheaga debut; American singer-rapper Rae Sremmurd; electro-pop firebrand St. Vincent; Swedish chanteuse Lykke Li; dreamy Montreal chillout duo Milk & Bone; and Montreal electro-pop act Chromeo.
It will be a family affair as Montreal DJ-producer A-Trak (brother of Chromeo singer Dave One) follows on Saturday. Also playing that day are Georgia R&B star Khalid; California rapper Tyler, the Creator, who delivered a rousing set at last year’s Osheaga; singer-rapper Anderson.Paak and the Free Nationals, who wowed the crowd in a free outdoor blowout at last summer’s Montreal International Jazz Festival; new wave throwbacks Blondie; synth-pop act Future Islands; Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis; and Montreal rap phenom Loud.
“We looked at Anderson.Paak last year and the jazz fest wanted him,” Farkas said. “He did an outdoor show, which was perfect. If you look at the jazz festival and Osheaga, the line (between them) is blurring a lot more. To me, Anderson.Paak is a great jazz fest act, but also a great Osheaga act. This is a big city with great festivals. How do you take an artist and make sure their career continues to grow? By allowing them to perform in interesting situations.”
Filling out Sunday’s lineup is singer-rapper Post Malone; British singer-songwriter James Bay and pop star Dua Lipa; internet-abetted rap crew Brockhampton; veteran Scottish rock act Franz Ferdinand; German electro duo Modeselektor; New Orleans jazz-pop party man Trombone Shorty, another jazz fest favourite; and Montreal funk-soul crew The Brooks.
Osheaga weekend passes became available on Tuesday, and while sales weren’t through the roof, they were solid. After selling out for five straight years, the festival came close but didn’t quite continue the trend last year. It’s a sign of the times, according to Farkas.
“I can’t help but look at what’s happening in North America. There’s been a festival bubble, and now there’s festival fatigue. We never thought we would sell out every year; the fact that we did is cool.”
“The reaction to (this year’s) lineup is very positive. The headliners — Arctics, Florence and Travis — all have new records coming out. It feels like there’s a lot of momentum bringing it home.”
AT A GLANCE: The Osheaga Music and Arts Festival takes place Aug. 3 to 5 at Parc Jean-Drapeau. Festival passes cost $320 (general admission; VIP packages also available), on sale now at osheaga.com. Single day passes will go on sale at a later date.
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Debbie Harry and the band Blondie, seen here in 2014, are coming to Montreal’s Osheaga 2018.
Our days are getting longer. It may still be snowing a bit, but it's almost time for Montreal to shine again!
Osheaga is billed as the top music festival in Canada, and 7th around the world! Montreal is the best if only for all the festivals we get.
There have been lineup leaks and confirmations all weekend long and now the time is finally here...
READ ALSO: You Can Buy Your Osheaga 2018 Passes Right Here
I present to you, the full official Osheaga 2018 lineup!
Via Osheaga
Florence and the Machine, Travis Scott and Artic Monkeys are this year's headliners!
They'll be joining Dua Lipa, Blondie and Tyler, The Creator previously announced this weekend.
Today is a big day for Montreal! Hell, it's a big day for Canada!
Osheaga is the top music festival in Canada, and today they finally revealed their full lineup!
READ ALSO: The Full Osheaga 2018 Lineup Has Finally Been Released
I've got all the pertinent information and links for you right here!
As usual, evenko will sort you into their Virtual Waiting room to buy your passes. The VW usually opens about 30 minutes before they go on sale.
You've got 3 options for passes this year:
General Admission Passes - $320
Festival Pass for 3 days valid for Friday, August 3, Saturday, August 4 and Sunday, August 5 at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
Taxes and service fees included.
Non-transferable.
The pass is an RFID bracelet.
Gold Passes - $585
Festival Pass for 3 days valid for Friday, August 3, Saturday, August 4 and Sunday, August 5 at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
Access to the Casino de Montreal Osheaga Terrace, an exclusive multi-level platform with a premium view of the Bell Alt TV River stage.
Access to private washrooms and exclusive food & beverage stands at the Casino de Montreal Osheaga Terrace.
Access to the general admission platform reserved for Gold and Perrier Platinum customers with a premium view of the Coors Light Mountain stage. Limited space available, first-come/first-served
Taxes and service fees included.
Non-transferable.
The pass is an RFID bracelet.
Platinum Passes - $1150
The Gold pass with these added perks!
Access the VIP zones in front of the Green and Main Stages
Access to the Perrier Platinum Lounge with guest service, complimentary water and snacks, VIP washrooms, a giant screen showing the Bell Alt TV River and Coors Light Mountain shows, charging stations, exclusive food & beverage stands.
Access to the Perrier Platinum sections located directly in front of the Bell Alt TV River, Coors Light Mountain and Green stages.
Shuttle service between the Perrier Platinum lounge, the main stages and the secondary stages.
Dedicated fast lane entry to the site.
Currently, just 3-day passes are on sale in the three price tiers. Daily passes become available closer to the festival date, and we will announce those when you can grab them!
Happy Osheaga 2018, everyone!
@tylerwilsonphotoembedded via
Check out Osheaga's website for more information.
