Soul of The City kicked off its first edition with a sold-out show at La Sala Rossa on Wednesday, August 12. The four-night festival featured some incredible local artists that I got to discover and revisit.
Singing in both English and French, Sara Danielle warmed up the crowd with her delicate voice. It was my first time seeing her, and I was quite impressed. If you’re a fan of Norah Jones or indie pop/soul, check out her latest single, Down To The Wire.
https://open.spotify.com/album/1NN37cdEy0sKhZVn7pjRPQ?si=3VOwGSsoTQeuZMre9-FMSg&utm_source=copy-link
It’s always a treat to catch up with Montreal’s sweetest Cameroonian import, Clerel. His silky-smooth voice gently soothed the tightly packed room as he preached about his introduction to and love of soul music.
He even had the nerve to cover Otis Redding with Try A Little Tenderness, which sent the entire crowd into an unexpected frenzy as we danced madly around the stage. I had never heard anyone cover that song live and do it justice until that night.
It’s been seven years since I first saw Clerel perform, and he just seems to be getting better and better. No one wanted his set to end, so he ended up doing some extra songs. My favourite track of the night had to be his latest single, Close To You.
https://open.spotify.com/track/06oM7R6y5fziLxhjPyvclN?si=XZ-VhsAMSG6ysbk7WsD1QA&utm_source=copy-link
The second night, I got to discover Rose Adam, who blew me away with her sultry voice, dark lyrics and moody acoustic guitar. She performed alone with some backing tracks, addressing the crowd with warmth and humour and letting us know that, although most of her songs were quite sad, we were in for a treat because Kola was on next.
I was not ready for what was about to happen, but then again, Soul Of The City was full of surprises.
Multi-instrumentalist and self-proclaimed “funky ass dude” Kola hit the stage and completely elevated the vibe. Have you ever met anyone who completely embodies the joy of music? Kola had us all dancing, including myself, without caring how we looked because we knew how we felt, and it was magnificent.
Jumping into the crowd with his keytar and simply being his funky-ass self, he left us all wanting more. If you’re a fan of funk, soul, hip-hop, disco or simply just feel-good music, check him out. One of my favourites of the night was I Love Myself. He has some new music coming out, and I can’t wait.
Closing the night was one of my favourite Montreal singer-songwriters, who kept the love flowing with her sweet and soulful voice. Avery Jane has this intimate way of singing that makes every single person in the room feel like she is their BFF. She’s a masterful storyteller whose lyrics range from quirky and vulnerable to dark and complex, reminding me of Maggie Rogers.
https://open.spotify.com/track/250g6wyRGiCIlZqvC0xvqN?si=ydsyZC9XQESJZJKtXdSegA&utm_source=copy-link
I attended three of the four nights and wished I could be at all the shows, as there were two venues with shows going on at the same time, La Sala Rosa and Casa del Popolo.
The energy was high on the third night as we waited eagerly outside the venue, where a long line had formed. Zaynab Wilson started us off with a smooth, jazzy set infused with Afro-Caribbean rhythms and some funky soul. The singer-songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist smiled warmly behind her drum kit as her gentle vocals filled the air. She was accompanied by a guitarist and steel drummer, who created a wonderful island vibe.
I knew Coco Rose would bring that groovy energy because I’ve seen them before, but what I wasn’t expecting was the entire venue to participate in some line dancing led by vocalist Kelo Chauvin. The full band, with trumpet, trombone and saxophone, got everybody on their feet, putting the fun in funky. If you ever get a chance to see them, do not miss it, unless you don’t like partying and feeling good.
Closing the night were two of my favourite Montreal artists, singer-songwriters, musicians and incredible vocalists. I’ve truly lost count of how many times I’ve seen Hanorah perform live, and I’ve been lucky enough to see Nora Toutain a few times as well, but I had never seen them perform together on one stage.
It’s no secret that they are friends and collaborators, but their shared love and admiration for each other created quite a powerful stage chemistry. Their voices truly complemented each other as they sang each other’s songs, especially on White Flag. One of my highlights had to be when they covered Bill Withers’ Lean On Me, when we all joined in and truly felt connected.
There was such a powerful sense of community and love at every single show. All the volunteers and artists exuded deep levels of care and purpose that I’ve never seen at any other music festival. Everyone shared the spotlight. Everyone cheered for each other. Hanorah and Nora joined forces on one stage to prove that there can be more than one female headlining a festival.
Music is to be shared by everyone, regardless of gender or ethnicity. Soul music truly brings everyone together. I can’t wait until next year.
For more info, check out their website and socials.
Annette Aghazarian
Writer and photographer
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