Francos de Montréal and Bell announce a landmark agreement to support the world's biggest French music festival

• 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 30^th 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 30^th 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