Tips for the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal so far:

  • There are free shows all the time and weeknights are almost as pumpin’ as weekends.
  • There will be lots of blues and soul, which may be a tip or a warning, depending on your preference.
  • They will check your (big) bags on the way in, but beer inside isn’t that expensive anyway, and you can walk around the whole festival with it.
  • The density of the crowd is deceptive.  Try one of the ‘secret passages’ that allow ‘traffic’ about midway through.  The crowd closer to the stage might actually be less packed thanks to the barrier.
  • L’Astral is a great place to get stared at awkwardly while you try to enjoy funky tunes from an invisible DJ.  A good place to chill if you like… uh… standing?
  • Earplugs.  All the hip kids who live for live music are doin’ it.
  • Skip my last tip if you’re not a Montreal cyclist.  ;)
  • You can’t bike down Clark Street from the Plateau!  Some student with a mouthful of sandwich will not even let you walk your bike down.  I recommend St. Dominique – it also takes you straight to the massive, amazing, monitored, JazzFest bike parking lot!

La la la!!