- Bell enhances its financial and technological support with
renewed partnership for the next decade
- Two special shows to cap off the 30th anniversary edition of
the Francos
MONTRÉAL, May 17, 2018 /CNW
Telbec/ - Francos de Montréal and Bell today announced a historic
10‑year partnership marking the 30th anniversary of the
world's biggest French music festival.
"The Francos de Montréal festival plays an important role in
showcasing Montréal and francophone culture on both the local and
international stages," said Martine
Turcotte, Vice Chair, Québec for Bell. "Bell is extremely
proud to extend support to the festival until 2027 to ensure it
continues as of Québec's most cherished and unifying events."
"In addition to the Francos turning 30 this year, we also mark
another important number with this announcement– the number 10.
We're thrilled that our partnership with Bell has been renewed for
the next 10 years," said Les Francos de Montréal's CEO
Jacques‑André Dupont. "We offer our heartfelt thanks to the company
for its continued support, which enables us to put on a festival of
this magnitude and quality."
In addition to providing significant annual funding, Bell will
expand the festival's technology capabilities with the development
of new apps, online platforms and virtual reality projects. Bell
Media will also help the Francos de Montréal and francophone music
reach a wider audience by presenting concerts and broadcasting live
from the festival.
Two special concerts on June 17
Yann Perreau, Tombés du ciel, un
salut au grand Jacques Higelin,
with guests Hubert Lenoir,
Catherine Major and Anna Frances, comes to the Bell Stage at
7:30 pm on June 17. Vocalist Yann
Perreau will perform songs from the rich repertoire of the
late Jacques Higelin in honour of a
rock and roll poet who left an indelible mark on the history of
Francophone music.
At 9:00 pm, Ariane Moffatt, Betty
Bonifassi, BEYRIES, Catherine
Major, Gabrielle Shonk, Klô
Pelgag, La Bronze, Marie-Pierre
Arthur, Safia Nolin and
Valérie Carpentier will perform tracks from the album Stone
– Hommage à Plamondon, a modern take on Luc Plamondon's repertoire that is also the
soundtrack for a Cirque du Soleil show of the same name that was
presented last summer. The concert will feature Plamondon songs
rearranged by Jean-Phi Goncalves to
provide a contemporary feel to classics by the prolific songwriter.
This special concert will close out the festival's 30th
anniversary celebrations.
"What better way to pay homage than with these exceptional
closing concerts, where we will see and hear so many talented
artists from different generations and musical styles coming
together to perform their own takes on classic songs by the late
French rocker-poet Jacques Higelin
and renowned Québec composer Luc
Plamondon. Each made a unique contribution to the history of
Francophone music," said Laurent
Saulnier, Vice President, Programming for the Francos de
Montréal.
About Bell
Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is
Canada's largest communications company, providing innovative
broadband wireless, TV, Internet and business communication
services across the country. Bell Media is Canada's premier content
creation company with leading assets in television, radio, out of
home and digital media. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX,
NYSE: BCE). To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health
with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's
Talk Day and provides significant funding for community care and
access, research and workplace initiatives. To learn more, please
visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
About Francos de Montréal
Francos de Montréal is a
non-profit organization created by Alain
Simard, Guy Latraverse and
Jean-Louis Foulquier. Its aim is to
promote and encourage the dissemination of French-language music
and to bring together artists from all over the French-speaking
world. The event also contributes to Montréalers' quality of life,
the international reputation of their city, and the development of
the city's culture, economy and tourism.
Since 1989, the Francos de Montréal are the reflection of
vibrant French-language music. The event draws almost a million
visits each year and offers approximately 200 shows that showcase
the quality and vitality of its rich programming including a broad
range of musical genres, with 1,000 writers, composers, musicians
and artists from a dozen countries, and a multitude of free outdoor
shows. To learn more, please visit: francosmontreal.com.
Media inquiries
Bell
Marie-Eve
Francoeur
514 391-5263
marie-eve.francoeur@bell.ca
@Bell_News
Francos de Montréal
Greg
Kitzler, Manager, Press Relations and Social Media
514 525-7732, ext. 5666
greg.kitzler@equipespectra.ca
Éliane Lévesque, Press Agent
514 525-7732, ext. 5260
eliane.levesque@equipespectra.ca
SOURCE Bell Canada