‘Concerts feed our souls’: Nathaniel Rateliff fans wet and wild at Montreal jazz festival

article content

As they shared an umbrella on the main stage of the Montreal Jazz Festival in downtown’s Place des Festivals, a little rain wasn’t going to dampen Sloan and Rob Prevost’s spirits on Tuesday night.

article content

Taking a front row seat nearly two hours before showtime, the pair said the COVID-19 pandemic had robbed them of concerts for more than two years.

Now, dancing in the rain as a crowd slowly gathered around them, they likened the experience to coming to life.

“It’s been two and a half years since we’ve seen a concert, and concerts feed our souls,” said Sloan Prevost, 29, as she shook raindrops off her umbrella.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to get back to that than with Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.”

The Colorado-based band headlined the second big outdoor show at this year’s Montreal International Jazz Festival on Tuesday night.

With the festival back in full force after two mild pandemic editions, concertgoers began to pack the venue in the late afternoon.

article content

Carrying umbrellas and clad in rain ponchos, Montrealers and tourists alike were grateful for the festival’s return, huddling under covered terraces and tents between stages.

Bob Miller, 78, made the trip from St. Petersburg, Florida, having last attended the festival about 15 years ago. Walking from stage to stage, he said he was happy to see the area so vibrant after two difficult years.

“It’s really nice,” Miller said. “It was hard being stuck behind a mask and having to eat out, so it’s great to finally be out.”

Earlier, Carol Shore could barely contain her excitement as her daughter’s image flashed by on the big screen behind her.

Shore’s daughter, Stacey Ryan, was playing the main stage at 6 pm, the biggest show to date in the 21-year-old’s young career.

article content

And the proud mother was not going to miss a moment of it. Along with her husband and her other daughter, she arrived early from her home in Vaudreuil-Dorion to ensure the best view possible.

“We want to be front and center and have the phone ready to shoot,” Shore said. “It’s super stressful, but super exciting at the same time.”

Shore said Ryan played on stage during a music camp in 2016, so seeing her return to perform as a featured act during the jazz festival was hard to put into words.

“She was born and raised here, so it’s pretty cool,” Shore said. “This could be her biggest to date, but there is so much more to come for her.”

As scheduled, Rateliff and his band hit the stage shortly after 9:30 p.m., bringing to life the wet but raucous crowd assembled in anticipation.

article content

“It’s a pleasure to be back here in Montreal,” Rateliff told fans. “We miss you all and it’s good to be here with you. Thank you for standing in the rain.”

In an interview with the Montreal Gazette last week, Rateliff said he drew inspiration for the band’s latest album, The Future, in part from the dark times brought on by the pandemic.

But on stage Tuesday, the band launched their setlist with an infectious, upbeat energy as Rateliff’s powerful voice was backed up by a brass section.

By the third song of the night, the crowd-pleasing Look It Here, attendees had forgotten about the weather.

Almost everyone dropped their umbrellas to embrace the rain and, apparently, the return of large-scale festivals to the city.

“Look at it here,” they sang along with Rateliff, “baby, now I’m lucky.”

The Montreal International Jazz Festival continues through Saturday, July 9. For tickets and more information, visit montrealjazzfest.com.

[email protected]

article content

Toggle full screen mode Previous Gallery Image

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

Next Gallery Image Toggle gallery subtitles

The 6 photos in the gallery

function not available

Full screen is not supported in this version of the browser.

You may use a different browser or device to view this full screen.

okay