Fans wait over nine hours for Osheaga Festival
Max Szyc | Fulcrum Contributor
Photo by Charleena Fan
MONTREAL’S ANNUAL OSHEAGA festival typically attracts festival-goers of all ages thanks to its eclectic lineups. This summer was no exception, as ‘80s electro-pop veterans New Order played back-to-back with modern folk-rock sensations Mumford and Sons at the festival’s closing night Aug. 4.
While New Order’s fan base was easily identifiable by their signature band T-shirts, the vast majority of the crowd was there to see Mumford and Sons–a fact indicated by the hundreds that stood in front of the River Stage for more than nine hours to ensure a front spot for the British band.
The constantly changing weather didn’t make things any easier for them—it was either sunny and hot or rainy and cloudy. Performances by singer-songwriter Jessie Ware and American rockers Silversun Pickups experienced heavy downpours lasting almost exactly the lengths of their sets.
Heavily contrasting performances by The Lumineers’ sparse folk and Kendrick Lamar’s high-energy hip-hop preceded New Order on the Mountain Stage. Despite having split up and reunited twice, the new wave pioneers gave off great energy and seemed to be having fun. Much of the non-New Order audience seemed skeptical until energetic performances of the hits “Bizarre Love Triangle” and “Blue Monday” won them over.
Mumford and Sons then took the stage and immediately commanded the audience. The band put on an undeniably entertaining show that included an acoustic cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire.” Frontman Marcus Mumford even seamlessly switched from guitar to drums on occasion.
For fans willing to hold their pee for 11 hours—it was worth the wait. f
