Like most other festivals this summer, the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu International Balloon Festival is back in full swing from August 13th to 21st. After a three-year hiatus, the popular Monteregian event is bringing back its shows, in addition to traditional hot air balloon flights. To find yourself between the nine feast days, The newspaper asked Head of Programs, Junior Bombardier, for seven musical and humorous events not to be missed this year.
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Charlotte Cardin
Photo Courtesy, International Hot Air Balloon
It’s obvious. Zach Zoya will be in front of her that night. CRi, who did the Fous N’Apart cover with Charlotte, will play right after that. Charlotte, we had her at the festival at the very beginning of her career. She opened for Marie-Mai. She had almost no equipment. She made covers. We had supported her. Since then we have seen a lot of his development. Although she has completed the MTelus in Montreal, which is part of our territory, 13 times, works the ticket office is in full swing. It’s a long-awaited evening. »
► Sunday, August 14, from 8 p.m
Billy Talent
Photo Courtesy, International Hot Air Balloon
“We don’t have much rock history in Montgolfières. We’ve always been into pop a lot. This year we open with The Franklin Electric who are always very good. Hubert Lenoir will then offer us a more rocking version of his material. We expect something that will increase. And we end with Billy Talent, which we also get for the first time. We’re really looking forward to that. The motto is really have fun and let it rock super. We’re happy because we never opened the festival with rock. »
► Saturday, August 13, from 7:30 p.m
marjo
Photo Courtesy, International Hot Air Balloon
“Marjo and La Chicane, I see it as a bit of a gift to our festival-goers. Marjo, at home, she made unforgettable evenings that we will remember for the rest of our lives. She’s incredible on stage, this woman. The group celebrates its 25th anniversary alongside La Chicane. With us, La Chicane, it was big. It drew large crowds. I find it really exciting to have this combination together. It will all be hits, one after the other, that people will sing along to. »
► Tuesday, August 16, from 8 p.m
Mariana Mazza
Photo Courtesy, International Hot Air Balloon
“We tried to do something different with this night, something you don’t find at other festivals. We had the idea of Le party de Mariana: Tounes & jokes. Mariana is super invested in this show. She invited many artists with her. There will be Sarahmée, Laurence Nerbonne, Roxane Bruneau, Cathy Gauthier and Jo Cormier. Shortly before, three comedians who made “Big Brother” will also be seen: Michelle Desrochers, Martin Vachon and Stéphane Fallu. More surprise names will be added this evening. It’s going to be a very special evening. In addition to her comedy number, Mariana will even sing! »
► Thursday, August 18, 9 p.m
Tory Lanez
“That night will be performed by KNLO, Fouki & Koriass and Tory Lanez. It’s pretty tough! It is also the evening that will close the youngest in the festival’s history. The stage is busy until half past midnight. It never happened. […] We’ve been talking about this for ten years and finally flipped the fringe scene so that the sound unfolds in the quarry rather than towards the houses. We can therefore finish later without sending the sound directly to the living area. […] We originally scheduled Ludacris for that night, but he had to cancel because his schedule for shooting a movie had changed due to COVID. »
► Friday, August 19, from 7:30 p.m
Jason Derulo
Photo Courtesy, International Hot Air Balloon
“We were supposed to open the festival on August 13th with Alicia Moffet and Jason Derulo. But a scheduling issue with shows being postponed due to COVID forced us to move that night to the 20th. We can’t wait tonight. Alicia and Jason are TikTok megastars. Young people of all ages know and appreciate them. We upgraded the evening with DJ Domeno. It’s going to be an evening of pyrotechnics. Hot air balloons are also illuminated throughout the grounds. Jason Derulo will also come with dancers. It’s gonna be a big party. »
► Saturday, August 20, from 7:30 p.m
Ariane Roy
Photo courtesy of Gaëlle Leroyer
“Our big change this year is the Discovery Stage. We’ve always had side stages at the festival, but we’ve still produced a lot of local artists from the South Shore. There we have developed a stage to accommodate up-and-coming artists. It is important to us in our positioning. At this level, we will open the machine more and more. People less appealed by the hugely popular artists on big stages will have these up and coming shows every night from 5pm to 7pm. Among others, Ariane Roy, Robert Robert, Marilyne Léonard and Émile Bourgault will be there. »
► Monday 15 August from 5.30 p.m. on the Découvertes stage