Home #WHERETONEXT Canada Tremblant International Blues Festival Celebrates 30 Years

Tremblant International Blues Festival Celebrates 30 Years

The very first Tremblant International Blues Festival was held 30 years ago this summer. To celebrate this milestone anniversary, this year’s edition promises to be extra special, making it an event not to be missed. From July 9 to 13, blues musicians from all over the world will be playing on different stages in the pedestrian village during the five-day festival. The festivities will start off strong with the long-awaited return of blues icon Colin James, one of Canada’s top artists in the genre, on the first evening, Wednesday, July 9, at 9 p.m. on the Casino Place Saint-Bernard stage. The next days and evenings will feature other great artists loved by fans, including Matt Anderson, The Reverend Shawn Amos, Lachy Doley, Sue Foley and many others. They will be performing on open-air stages, in the bars and restaurants of the pedestrian village as well as at the Casino de Mont-Tremblant.

For three decades, the Festival has given audiences the opportunity to discover many artists and to see incredible performances. Several budding artists have made a name for themselves at Tremblant. In the Festival’s first editions, a teen prodigy, barely 14 years old, played in Tremblant and went on to have a phenomenal career, playing with Blue Rodeo, among other bands. Now 34, Jimmy Bowskill and his band will be back to sing the blues on Thursday, July 10.

Another legendary moment that is sure to delight fans of the festival: Saturday evening’s 30th anniversary show. A dozen artists who lit up the Festival’s stages over the years will be jamming together in one big blues reunion: Angel Forrest and Denis Coulombe, Carl Tremblay, Jim Zeller, Jimmy Bowskill, Steve Strongman, Lily Thibodeau and Denis Viel, Jack de Keyzer, Angélique Francis, Guy Belanger, Justin Saladino and Breen Leboeuf, along with the Ben Racine Band. Expect performances so good, you’ll get goosebumps!

In addition to stage shows, surprise pop-up performances are also planned to give spectators intimate access to the artists during the event. To keep the whole family entertained, the Family Zone will have crafts, giant games, face painting and a caricaturist. Tremblant’s mascot Toufou and balloon sculptor Marc-Ambulles will also join in the fun.

Whether you’re visiting for the unforgettable music or planning a full summer escape, finding the right place to stay is key to making the most of your Tremblant experience. From cozy mountain lodges to full-service resort hotels in the heart of the pedestrian village, there’s a wide variety of accommodations to suit every travel style and budget. Click here to browse top hotel options in Tremblant and book your perfect stay.

Themed weekends and other free outdoor shows will be held throughout July. Here are several important dates to put on your calendar:

  • With the participation of the Government of Canada, Canada Day is celebrated on July 1 at Tremblant with a flag-raising ceremony, the singing of the national anthem and a variety of activities for resort visitors from noon to 4 pm.
     
  • Billie du Page and Pelch will be double-heading on Saturday, July 5, on the Place Saint-Bernard stage as part of Rythmes Tremblant. Billie, with her Fake Friends single and feminist pop, and Pelch, with his Yellow Shirt hit and more folk-pop sound, are sure to delight fans of all ages.
     
  • The festivities continue the weekend of July 17 to 19 with Les Rythmes Tremblant New Country, featuring—for the first time in Canada!—young Lindsay Ell, rising star of the New Country scene. She has been garnering international success and is opening for the Shania Twain tour this year. An up-and-coming authentic country artist from Quebec, Francis De Granpré, kicks off the weekend on Thursday night to play songs from his second album, Se laisser aller, released in September 2024. A wonderful variety of popular New Country artists will be performing over the weekend, including Rick Duff, who won the audience over during his appearance on Quel Talent! and Jay Kutcher, who is gaining popularity on both sides of the border. Around 15 shows will be held over the weekend, along with Caroline Gervais’ famous line dancing classes offered in several locations and at several times throughout the festivities.
     
  • The last weekend in July is not to be outdone with two major, eagerly awaited free concerts. On Friday, July 25, Isabelle Boulay, Quebec’s cherished velvet-voiced singer, will be performing a brand-new show with her musicians starting at 9 p.m. The next day, Saturday, July 26, none other than the one-of-a-kind DUMAS—one of the most gifted and prolific singer-songwriters of his generation—will be playing his enthralling songs.

Tremblant is packed with activities for everyone and plenty of shows on offer throughout the month. On the mountain, at the lake or in the village, there are plenty of options to take advantage of all the features and facilities offered in Tremblant, for all tastes, levels and weather conditions. Discovery, activity and fun go hand in hand at Tremblant, with every visit a truly unforgettable experience.