Laval’s Diapason Festival returns with free shows from Milk & Bone, Safia Nolin, Koriass, and many more

Set in the cozy confines of Laval’s Sainte-Rose neighbourhood (about a 40-minute drive from Montreal), the Diapason Festival returns for its 11th edition this week, with a stacked lineup of predominately Quebec musicians.

The majority of the festival’s shows are free, including outdoor performances from recent Francos performers Milk & Bone (July 4), Safia Nolin (July 5), Alaclair Ensemble (July 5), and Koriass (July 5). Alongside the large headline acts, the festival features a diverse selection of more underground groups, including rockabilly hero Bloodshot Bill & The Televisionaries, Alex Burger, Emilie Kahn, and more.

For those looking for a more intimate concert experience, the festival is also offering a handful of cruise shows, where a small number of attendees will board the Héron Bleu pontoon for shows by Philémon Cimon, Fred Fortin, and Julie Dorion. The Cimon and Fortin cruises are sold-out, but some spots still remain for Dorion’s cruise on Sunday, July 7 at the respectable adult time of 1:30 pm. Tickets for that are available here.

If making the trek out to Laval seems imposing, the Société des transports de Laval will be providing free shuttle service to and from metro Montmorency during the festival.

Diapason runs from July 4 to 7, 2019. For the full program and all information head to the official festival site.