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Canada’s FEQ Gets The Festival Experience Right
Stereogum's Annie Zaleski reviews the Festival d'été de Québec (FEQ), praising it as a rare example of a large festival that gets the experience right amid a wider concert industry slump marked by soaring ticket prices and cancelled tours. Held across three days in Quebec City, the festival stood out for its compact, well-organised layout, affordable pricing and lack of the usual frustrations associated with big multi-day events, making the case that festivals can still work when designed with attendees in mind.
Founded in 1968, FEQ is now Canada's largest outdoor festival, staging more than 150 shows across six stages over 11 nights, with past headliners including the Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga and Lorde. The reviewer highlighted the festival's compact footprint within the city, sound isolation between stages, early evening start times and strong food offerings, alongside notably low prices: an 11-night general admission pass cost around $180 Canadian (about £105), while a premium viewing option was $615 Canadian (about £360), with both selling out in advance.
In short
- Reviewer praises Quebec's FEQ festival as a rare festival success story
- FEQ is Canada's largest outdoor festival, running since 1968
- Affordable, well-organised and stress-free compared to typical festivals
Explained simply
The Festival d'été de Québec (FEQ) has been highlighted as an exception to the challenges currently facing the live music industry, where rising ticket prices and tour cancellations have become common. The festival is notable for demonstrating what large, well-designed events can achieve when they prioritise attendees' experience.
FEQ, founded in 1968, is Canada's largest outdoor festival, featuring more than 150 shows across six stages over 11 nights. The festival has hosted major international headliners including the Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga and Lorde.
The festival's approach sets it apart through practical design choices and affordability. It occupies a compact footprint within Quebec City with sound isolation between stages, early evening start times, and diverse food options. An 11-night general admission pass costs around $180 Canadian (approximately £105), whilst premium seating is $615 Canadian (roughly £360)—both options regularly sell out despite these low prices.
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