Quebec City's Festival d'été de Québec is one of the biggest events of the Canadian music calendar, running for a whopping 11 days from July 4 to 14.
Included on the bill are some of the biggest artists in the world — but, dig a little deeper into the small-font names, and fans will find under-appreciated indie heroes and fast-rising new talent.
Ranging from the ultra-famous to the still-emerging, here are Exclaim!'s must-see artists for FEQ 2024.
Meet Me @ the Altar
The Offspring are FEQ headliners — but, further down the bill on that same day, are another pop-punk band with a new spin on a classic sound. It's a great chance to check out the genre's origins alongside its latest chapter.
Nickelback
Wait! Don't click away from this article — hear us out for a second! Once the favourite punching bag of music fans, Nickelback have persevered and entered a new phase as loveably self-aware veterans. After Mötley Crüe's recent feuds, Nickelback are our choice for the festival's must-see silly rock band.
Nico Paulo
FEQ brings a stacked lineup of indie rock on July 9, including Fleet Foxes, Karkwa, Tokyo Police Club and Hurray for the Riff Raff — but don't miss up-and-coming East Coast singer-songwriter Nico Paulo, whose gorgeous self-titled 2023 album was a low-key highlight of the year.
Alexandra Stréliski
Perhaps the biggest curveball of this year's FEQ lineup is that Alexandra Stréliski has ascended to headliner status. A pianist and neo-classical composer on a festival poster in the same font size as Post Malone and the Jonas Brothers? Frankly, we're here for it.
TOBi
Having ascended steadily for a few years now, TOBi is finally getting the recognition he deserves. Fresh off a triumphant JUNO Awards ceremony in which he won two trophies, he will be bringing his banging pop rap tunes to the festival stage.
