Photo : Patrick Callbeck
Cavendish Beach Music Festival
involved and get your message out strategically .”
Squires is actually co-owner of the brewing company , with partner Kevin Murphy , who also operates Murphy Hospitality Group , a group of restaurants that helps to provide onsite service to the roughly 25,000 people who attend each day of the festival .
“ That ’ s a daunting task ,” Squires says . “ So we contract out to the catering division of Murphy Hospitality Group to provide those services . We contract out to a bus company to provide bussing services , as well as different electrical companies , and other local vendors with their own food trucks – and again , that ’ s the benefit of the festival in terms of providing economic impact .”
Le Festival d ’ été de Québec ( FEQ ) is another event that relies heavily on corporate sponsorship to deliver its experience and , similarly , adds a significant economic boost to its host area . Held in downtown Québec City with roughly 300 shows spread Jeff Squires over 11 days and 10 stages , it ’ s an ambitious and very successful festival – one that typically attracts approximately one million visitors per year . Unlike CBMF , Festival d ’ été ’ s offerings are very eclectic and range from rock , folk , and hip-hop to electronic , world music , jazz , and , unlike other Canadian festivals , a substantial number of French-language artists from Quebec and around the world .
Its primary venue , the Bell Stage , is situated on the historic Plains of Abraham battlefield and can accommodate roughly 80,000 people – a necessity considering past headliners have included the likes of The Rolling Stones , Foo Fighters , Billy Joel , Tiësto , and
Lady Gaga . Other venues feature street performers , children ’ s activities , and concerts of all descriptions .
Founded in 1968 , it ’ s one of the longest-running festivals in the country and originally featured largely local and regional artists and acts . Since , it has grown substantially and generates in excess of $ 25 million in revenue for the city and region .
Programming Director Louis Bellavance explains that his role is essentially that of an artistic director – overseeing the entire process in terms of the entertainment that ’ s programmed as well as where and when specific artists will perform . His job is to ensure that the festival features the right mix of genres and styles , and also that the number of artists from specific genres fits the current public appetite for live music .
In doing so , the question of whether to rely on one or two big names as lynchpins for the event or to use the festival ’ s resources to hire a number of well-known acts with slightly smaller profiles to create a different kind of impact is never far from his mind .
In programming the festival , Bellavance looks at the scheduling and booking as being similar to creating a showcase or set list . “ It ’ s like I begin with one song and end with another . That ’ s the idea .” Additionally , he oversees a team dealing with everything related to the artist experience in terms of transportation , accommodations , catering , and backstage hospitality .
The festival has always been communitybased , Bellavance says . “ It ’ s rooted very deeply in the culture of Quebec City and used to be much more Francophone , but world
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