Montreal International Jazz Festival Reveals Free Programming Lineup with Rufus Wainwright, Chromeo

BY David DacksPublished Jun 6, 2012

North America's largest jazz festival, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, has released its lineup of free programming, completing the rollout of the event's 33rd edition.

These shows typically provide much of the excitement and colour of the festival. The big three free events in the fest's Place Des Festivals are festival openers and closers Rufus Wainwright on June 28 and Chromeo on July 7. Brooklyn's indie-disco ensemble Escort perform a mid-festival show on July 3.

Further notables announced are Algerian songstress Souad Massi (July 4); Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica reconfiguring Esquivel's 1950s vintage hi-fidelity lounge oeuvre; Malian singer/Thrill Jockey artist Sidi Toure (July 3); Brooklyn's versatile the Sway Machinery, who oscillate between West African grooves and Jewish diasporic sounds (June 30); and the first French artists to sign with Domino Records, Francois & the Atlas Mountains (July 2).

L'Astral, located in the festival's HQ, will see some fine midnight programming throughout the festival for its Open House series as well. Ninja Tune Canada kingpin Ghostbeard and his henchman Poirier will be bringing their Sud West vibes from June 28 to July 1, veteran Montreal jazz dance DJs Andy Williams and Sweet Daddy Luv concoct a jazz-based sound system experience from July 2 to 4, and the global groove oriented Canicule Tropicale hold down the spot from July 5 to 7.

All told there are some 300 free shows. Add in paid events ranging from Miles Davis bass alumnus Ron Carter, Bieber-beater Esperanza Spalding, atmospheric guitarist Bill Frisell and, erm, James Taylor, and you've got another dizzyingly diverse and deep edition of the long-running festival.

The Montreal International Jazz Festival runs from June 28 to July 7 in the city's Quartier Des Spectacles, centred on the main drag of St. Catherine Street. Full listings and other information can be found at the festival website here.

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