Phrases / Phil Gomez
Pictures / Artwork Evaristo
FEQ 2026 hit in another way—it channeled the electrical anticipation of a childhood sleepaway camp, the type that makes your abdomen do flips earlier than you even attain the campsite. This marked LADYGUNN’s third 12 months on the pageant, and at this level, we’re well past the “camper” section; we’re principally head counselors. Because the Moist Scorching American Summer time ethos goes: “I don’t want luck, I’m a counselor!” We had been locked and loaded to dive into the chaos. Overlaying FEQ isn’t simply an task; it’s an immersive ecosystem that brings collectively a world collective of music, artwork, and tradition. In the event you’re right here, you’re right here to “earn your patches.”
This 12 months, we dropped into the guts of the 11-day marathon in Quebec Metropolis. With a lineup boasting legends like Muse, Shaggy, The All-American Rejects, and wish we are saying it? The mom herself, KESHA, needed to present up prepared. We touched down on the eve of Kesha-fest, swept away by the FEQ chariot straight to our residence base: the Château Frontenac. This royal fortress has performed host to everybody from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Princess Grace of Monaco, and let’s be actual—the visitor listing simply acquired a hell of so much cooler now that LADYGUNN has checked in.
Past its standing as a grand historic landmark, the Château Frontenac is a up to date pioneer in sustainable luxurious. It’s a spot the place ecological gastronomy isn’t only a buzzword, it’s the usual. The chef maintains a lush rooftop backyard to reap native merchandise, alongside energetic beehives that provide the kitchens with contemporary honey. With a strict no-single-use-plastic coverage, the lodge serves as a first-rate instance of why we love Quebec: they honor the previous whereas fiercely defending the longer term. It’s that very same ethos that makes FEQ so particular. It carries the legendary DNA of an old-school pageant like Woodstock however developed to prioritize neighborhood and the atmosphere. You’re feeling that respect mirrored throughout town, the crew, and the attendees alike, a uncommon, acutely aware vitality that many mainstream festivals have but to grasp.
Kesha Day was the last word option to kick off the FEQ expertise. After an early morning exploring the Château and a wonderful breakfast unfold that fueled the fireplace we navigated the pageant grounds to reunite with our favourite PR powerhouses, Kenza and Ines from BLEUFEU. Credentials in hand and feeling formally “in,” we hit the grounds on a mission to soak within the vitality. Because the solar dipped, the shift in ambiance was palpable; the headliner all the time dictates the vibe for the night, and tonight, the vitality was singular. You would see it within the sea of cutoff shorts, leopard print bras peeking via DIY cutout tees, and sufficient glitter to be seen from house. FEQ was serving peak party-girl vitality, and we had been greater than prepared to affix the motion.
In the event you’re on the lookout for us, we’re seemingly on the artist compound, the undisputed hub for real “meet-cutes” and high-vibe headquarters. It’s additionally homebase to my favourite individual in Quebec: Gabriel the bartender. For the final couple years, Gabriel has stored us hydrated and joyful; this 12 months, we even manifested the “Phil,” a drink born from a cheerful accident. Whereas channeling Kesha’s personal “tryna get just a little bit tipsy” doctrine and feeling able to “dance until your pants come off,” we noticed LADYGUNN alum’s, the boys from All-American Rejects, having fun with a post-show slice of pizza and simply needed to say whats up earlier than marching towards the Bell Stage.
Shaggy was already getting the celebration began. Let me let you know, “Uncle Shaggy” has completely nonetheless acquired it, delivering a high-energy efficiency outlined by each thrust-heavy “dutty wine” the gang may deal with. The actual fever pitch got here with the 2000s anthem “It Wasn’t Me,” which dissolved the Plains of Abraham into an enormous, singalong. Hyped on nostalgia and adrenaline, we had been able to “celebration until the break of daybreak.”
“We don’t stand abuse in my home, so put your center fingers up.” Kesha instructions, “you understand what to do,” and a collective roar erupted. This wasn’t only a present; it was an awakening. Kesha appeared and sounded unbelievable. From the primary beat, you knew this was going to be a particular efficiency. Rising like the last word pop princess ascending from the ashes in big pink feathered wings and kicking off the present with certainly one of her bangers, “Tik Tok,” she had us all within the palm of her hand. And henny, she didn’t disappoint. From begin to end, she stored us fed with a number of outfit modifications, a guitar solo, and fierce dance breaks. There was no choice however to let the music take you.
I really like stay music. I really like being within the crowd, exchanging feelings with strangers and associates. I really like witnessing artists reclaim their energy on stage. I’ve been fortunate sufficient to see a number of nice performances, and I’ll say that Kesha’s FEQ present will land in my prime 5. When you possibly can see an artist fall again in love with their craft and provides that love again to the gang, that’s actually particular. One of many moments the place you felt this vibrational transaction was throughout “Your Love.” You actually felt her love for music, her love for efficiency, and her love for her followers—her Warriors. You additionally felt the love she was receiving, radiating via her and again out from the large LED screens in a burst of sunshine, vitality, and energy.
This was Kesha’s largest present as an unbiased artist and certainly one of FEQ’s most huge nights; you possibly can really feel the load of it when she introduced, “Tonight was delivered to you by Kesha Data, Child!” Feeling on a excessive, I made my method again to the artist compound for a drink, and bear in mind how I mentioned it’s the most effective house at FEQ for “meet-cutes”? Nicely, lady, I had one with none aside from Kesha herself. At first, I held again. She’d simply walked off stage after giving one of many largest exhibits, and I didn’t need to fangirl too exhausting. However I simply needed to go as much as her and inform her how magical it was to witness her artistry on her phrases. And with that we mentioned goodnight to day one.
Morning gentle washed over the Château Frontenac with a revitalizing glow, setting the stage for a yoga session that served as the last word palette cleanser for the soul. Between sips of fresh-pressed juices, rejuvenating massages, and a floral bouquet station curated by an area woman-owned farm, the post-Kesha haze lastly started to elevate. Rejuvenated and able to earn our subsequent set of patches for day two, we hit the media lounge for a deep dive with British pop sensation MIMI WEBB. Discovering that Mimi is a complete equestrian at coronary heart. With desires of opening her personal coaching heart, she’s effectively on her option to turning into the world’s first equestrian pop icon, and lady, we completely see the imaginative and prescient. We additionally acquired an opportunity to kiki with JESSIE REYEZ, who had simply delivered a uncooked and deeply emotional set as a part of her Little Vengeance tour. Jessie Reyez made positive we knew the mic was undoubtedly on! When requested what emotion deserves extra songs written about, she paused earlier than saying: “spirituality and consciousness.” She really helpful a particular monitor by BJ The Chicago Child, Dream II, “In the event you by no means heard it and also you’re on the lookout for some gasoline in your life, it’s an exquisite track.” Past the music, we realized she’ll by no means move up her mother’s empanadas paired with the Aji Pique her dad crafts. All this speak of household recipes labored up a critical urge for food, and by chance, we had been booked for a culinary feast on the latest eatery from our Quebecan favourite that introduced you, La Buche.
Whereas its sister spot La Bûche has lengthy since cemented its fame as a culinary staple of Outdated Québec, LA BUCHETTE serves up a extra intimate, neighborhood-bistro temper whereas holding that signature Québécois soul entrance and heart. And babes, if we’re lodging like royalty on the Château F, we needs to be feasting prefer it, too. Think about this your official signal to manifest the Seafood Tower. It’s a literal mountain of crushed ice overflowing with the freshest treasures from the Atlantic coast, the type of over-the-top indulgence LADYGUNN totally endorses. We’re speaking freshly shucked oysters, chilled jumbo shrimp, succulent lobster, crab legs (regardless of the sea decides to present us that day), all topped with scallops and caviar. Paired with house-made mignonette, contemporary horseradish, and a relaxing glass of champs, it’s equal components feast and spectacle. It’s elegant, considerable, and effortlessly photogenic a real headliner second that doesn’t sacrifice an oz of authenticity. One other standout was the Duck Carpaccio; sliced paper-thin and wearing a honey-truffle French dressing with a crunchy praline, it’s the last word sweet-and-savory chew. La Buchette resides proof that even consolation meals can serve a glance. With our spirits excessive and batteries recharged, we navigated again to FEQ, making a compulsory pit cease on the artist compound for a nightcap. Feeling correctly fueled, we formally earned our day two patches simply as the celebrities took over the evening sky.
Day three arrived with that signature bittersweet feeling, it’s sometimes our remaining full day, so the mission was to jam-pack each second with as a lot as attainable. We kicked issues off early with an exploratory mission, however first, a compulsory pit cease at SQDC, the native dispensary. As a result of let’s be actual: what’s an city journey with no little green-tinted enlightenment? Coming from New York, I’m a complete strolling fanatic, and Quebec Metropolis is the last word playground for it. You end up wandering via an old-world cinematic dreamscape, the place trendy artwork installations and busker melodies interject with the salty breeze from the St. Lawrence. It’s all very main-character vitality. Our vacation spot? One among our absolute favourite Quebec pastimes: classic searching. We navigated to St. Joseph Road, lined with boutiques and cafes that serve pure eye sweet for these on the lookout for a hunt. One among my top-tier picks is BillieBob’s; I all the time handle to search out absolute gems there. Lawrence, the proprietor, greets us like previous associates now, and the luck holds up as soon as once more. I walked away with a classic majorette bandleader hat that I used to be totally obsessive about although perhaps that was simply the Aperol Spritz speaking. Both method, mission completed. Feeling just a little tipsy and correctly rejuvenated by retail remedy, we navigated again to the pageant grounds and take 5 with the boys from FAUX REAL earlier than their set, the Franco-American artwork pop duo fashioned by brothers Elliott and Virgile Arndt schooled us on a common reality: “faking stuff is extra actual than you assume”.
The vibrations on the artist compound took a pointy flip as a string of weather-induced cancellations left the ambiance feeling just a little heavy. However babes, the second we realized we had been all huddled collectively below the shelter of the bar cover, the despair evaporated. Gabriel stepped up because the undisputed headliner of the hour, holding the spirits excessive whereas the rain hammered down. Within the midst of the washout, we shared fries with the ladies from BIRDS OF PREYYY and even crossed paths with GENERAL CHAOS, a Montreal-based punk collective whose 16-year-old members show that rock ‘n’ roll has no age restrict. Nevertheless, the actual buzz of the pageant was reserved for indie darlings ROYEL OTIS. As quickly because the climate gods determined to play good, we sprinted towards the stage. And so they served a set that channeled that uncooked “smells like teen spirit” grit, appearing as the last word catalyst for an era-defining second and we acquired to witness it.
And similar to that, our remaining day slips into the rearview. As we share our parting goodbyes and take up the remaining vitality of the FEQ ambiance again on the artist compound, I’ve to pause and replicate on the true significance of this cultural second. Music festivals possess a singular type of magic; they perform as life-shaping experiences that depart an enduring impression on everybody, from the crew behind the scenes to the followers singing alongside within the pits.
I’ve gathered a lifetime of pageant recollections, however FEQ simply claims a everlasting spot on the very prime. Very similar to LADYGUNN, they prioritize neighborhood at their core. Slightly than merely reserving expertise, they give attention to amplifying the following era of indie voices and curating the historic crossovers that outline an period. This intentional curation is the key sauce behind their eclectic lineup, a masterclass in programming that concurrently honors nostalgia, invitations new discovery, and encourages you to go away your worries on the entrance gates. Spending a number of days totally immersed on this collective consciousness, pushed by a shared sense of collective goal, serves as a reminder of simply how vibrant life turns into whenever you step past your personal orbit.
