Mysterious Québécois experimental rockers Angine de Poitrine are currently experiencing a significant viral moment. The duo’s performance at the Montreal International Jazz Festival last week drew record-breaking attendance, reaching levels not seen since Stevie Wonder’s 2009 appearance at the same event. According to festival organizers, the masked duo’s June 27 set attracted hundreds of thousands of concertgoers, with crowds spilling down entire city avenues to catch the performance. Due to the overwhelming turnout, organizers were forced to restrict access to the site thirty minutes before the 9:30 p.m. start time; for context, the band drew approximately 2,000 attendees at the same festival just one year prior.
According to Montreal’s emergency medical services, six individuals were transported to the hospital during the band’s set for a variety of ailments, ranging from intoxication to injuries sustained from falls. Notably, there were no reported incidents of chest pain. These injuries occurred sporadically throughout the two-hour performance rather than stemming from a single localized event. Additionally, five other attendees required on-site treatment for heatstroke.
The Montreal International Jazz Festival, recognized as the largest of its kind globally, began on June 25 and is scheduled to run through July 4. The lineup includes a diverse array of artists, such as Béla Fleck, Saint Levant, and Billy Bragg. For those interested in the band’s recent output, our review of the latest Angine de Poitrine album, Vol. II, is available for further reading.
