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It’s this time of the year again and you’ve guessed it: it’s Osheaga! Here you will find everything you need to get ready for this year’s festival in our special Osheaga-themed issue. We hope to see you there!

Today, Osheaga is one of the biggest music festivals in the world, and most certainly the biggest in Canada. Everybody, from the regulars to the ones who have yet to experience it, knows about this festival as each year, those legendary three days attract tens of thousands of people from all over the globe. It is hard to believe that this huge event, such a household name today, is only but a few years old.

Making its unforgettable debut in 2006, it has since grown every year, attracting more and more people, welcoming incredible artists each time. These artists have included Coldplay, Arcade Fire, The Killers, Sonic Youth, The Roots, Eminem, and will include this year Jack White, Arctic Monkeys and many more. But Osheaga’s many stages do not only welcome famous artists; their objective is in fact to give local and national performers a chance to shine alongside the world’s most famous ones. These world famous artists attending Osheaga attract thousands of people who can then discover the many emerging bands

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also playing at the event. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Well if you’re thinking of going this year, we suggest that you start saving some money. After all, considering the scale of this event, it’s no surprise that the tickets tend to be rather costly… But rest assured, it is well worth your money as the charm of the festival strongly overpowers its cost, not to mention the incredible music your ears will be graced with. In such few years, Osheaga has truly distinguished itself as the place to be in August for all music lovers, especially for fans of indie music. It is, without a doubt, an event that should be experienced by all.

Anybody who has ever attended will tell you the same thing: it is absolutely amazing, hence its popularity. As for the rest, the people who have never set foot at Osheaga, have we convinced you yet? We sure

hope so. With extraordinary

artists like Jack White, Outkast, Arctic Monkeys, Lorde, The Replacements and so many more, not to mention all the emerging talents to be discovered, no one should miss

it! As a first-timer, you will navigate through the event in a sea of fans that have already seen it all. You may feel a little intimidated or disorientated, but fret not! We’ve got you covered. We’ve summarized all of the memorable and important events of the previous festivals for you to know everything you have missed. You will almost feel like you actually were there. Enjoy.

September 2nd, 2006 marked the inauguration of our beloved festival with a quite the bang: ten thousand people. Not bad for a first day. While groups like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Vulgaires Machins did great on that Saturday, Sonic Youth completely stole the show. As for Sunday, more than fifteen thousand people showed up to listen to the amazing performances that were given by The Flaming Lips, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Final Fantasy and many more. It was the perfect way to start off what is now quite the annual event. For its second installation, Osheaga welcomed Arctic Monkeys (who are coming back this summer!),

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Feist, The Smashing Pumpkins, M.I.A, Bloc Party and so, so many more, for a total of 74 artists and bands! The Killers and Jack Johnson were the big names of 2008, while Coldplay and Beastie Boys were 2009’s. Unfortunately, Beastie Boys were forced to cancel due to the recently diagnosed illness of one of their members, resulting in hundreds of refunds. This fourth year was a rough one for Osheaga as they lost a lot of money, but the attendees still enjoyed it and reviews were, as always, overwhelmingly positive. As for 2010, with artists like Arcade Fire, Weezer, Sonic Youth, Snoop Dog and Arianne Moffat, it’s no surprise that it went extremely well. It was after the success of 2010 that Osheaga decided to add another day, making it the three-day festival we all know and love. And how could anybody forget the festival of 2011? With Eminem stealing the show, 2011’s festival was a huge hit! It truly introduced Osheaga to the world, attracting 80 000 people, this time from all over the globe. With the leading artists The Black Keys, Snoop Dog, Justice and Florence + The Machine, Osheaga even manage to outdo itself in 2012 with more than 120 000 tickets sold! Can you guess how many fans attended last year’s festival? More than 135 000 did, listening to The Cure, Mumford & Sons, Imagine Dragons, Macklemore and every other band present. Once again, it was an extraordinary event, which will surely also be the case this year.

Now that you are all so well informed, you are officially ready to face the music. So get your computers, smartphones or whatever you like to use, and head to Osheaga’s official website, www.Osheaga.com, to buy these tickets your hearts yearn for. We hope to see you all among the crowd and wish you a wonderful summer!

Yours truly,

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Meanwhile at Osheaga…

‘‘I went last year and Ben Howard blew my mind! I even met my husband there!’’

Samantha, 29, Montréal

‘‘I discovered Osheaga back in 2008 and now it’s an annual tradition!’’

Carl, 27, Trois-Rivières

‘‘I fell in love with the event. It’s like Christmas in the summer: so exciting!’’

Alex, 18, Québec

And now YOU tell us what you think about this year’s festival. We’d love to publish your thoughts in our next issue. To comment, you can tweet us, comment on our Facebook page or even go on our Tumblr. We hope to hear from you soon.

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Originating from Michigan, John Anthony Gillis, better known today as Jack white, launched his career as the guitarist, pianist and vocalist of the famous band The White Stripes, before they separated in 2011. Representing many types of rock, he is the recipient of more than 20 prestigious awards. His first album, Blunderbuss, marked his solo debut back in 2012 by receiving critical acclaim. It is definitely an artist you do not want to miss. Be sure to check out his hits “Love Interruption”, “Seven Nation Army” and “Blue Orchid” (with The White Stripes), “Go It Alone” (in collaboration with Beck) and “Freedom at 21”. It’s definitely worth your time!

Formed in 1992, the American hip-hop duo will definitely seduce you with their soul, funk and electronic music. Originating from Georgia, Atlanta, André “André 3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton decided to form their band as high school students. They succeeded at releasing their debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, in 1994 with great success, especially because of their first single “Player’s Ball”. Since then, they released five

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more albums, including Idlewild, their latest album, right before they separated back in 2006. However, the incredible duo that is Outkast have reunited last year and will be performing in more than 40 festivals this summer. We are lucky to have them at Osheaga! Don’t forget to check out some of their biggest hits such as “Player’s Ball”, “Ain’t No Things”, “NU2” and “Hey Ya!”.

Aware of the “British invasion” in America? Who said that One Direction was the only British band popular elsewhere than Great-Britain? They were definitely wrong now that America has discovered Arctic Monkeys, a rock band initially formed by Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Matt Helders and Andy Nicholson. In 2005, they released their first album, Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys, as well as their first single “I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor”, which became a huge hit. Unfortunately, one member, Nicholson, left the group but was soon replaced by Nick O’Malley, a very talented bassist. Since 2006, Arctic Monkeys have produced five albums, including their latest, Am, released last year. Osheaga will be a great opportunity for you to discover this fantastic new album. Don’t forget to listen to some of their hits in order to be well prepared!

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ARIES (Mar.21-Apr.20)

A marvellous day awaits you. Keep your eyes wide open for any kind of signs from strangers; you might even create long-lasting friendships.

TAURUS (Apr.21-May 20)

It’s a great day to get away from you problems at work. By the end of the day, you will feel euphoric.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

You will be struck by a pleasing sensation while discovering a new band that will change your perception of life.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

You will feel a bit on the edge today. Take it easy and go with the flow. Try to lose yourself in the beat and rhythm of music; it will help you find peace within yourself.

LEO (July 23-Aug.22)

You will feel incredibly hypnotised by the unbelievable talent of a so-far-unknown-band. Get your Sharpie ready for an autograph.

VIRGO (Aug.23-Sept.22)

Don’t miss out on the third concert of the day. As we say: “The third time’s a charm”. You will be surprised by the turnout of events.

LIBRA (Sept.23-Oct.22)

Today is a good day to try something new. Don’t be afraid to jump on the crowd as you will discover a new talent: crowd-surfing.

SCORPIO (Oct.23-Nov.22)

Don’t be afraid to become adventurous. New experiences will make you discover new passions that might push you to launch great projects.

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov.23-Dec.21)

While you will start your day on the wrong foot, you will be rewarded by many surprises. Coming to Osheaga will not be a waste of time.

CAPICORN (Dec.22-Jan.19)

The energy will be at its peak and so will the chemistry. Be daring: relationships will blossom.

AQUARIUS (Jan.20-Feb.19)

Be open-minded: you will find that new bands and different music are like a breeze of fresh air in life.

PISCES (Feb.19-Mar.20)

Today is the perfect day for all Pisces to follow their hearts. Do as you please and don’t let anyone stop you from chasing your goals. Accomplishment and success will follow.

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Test your knowledge with the word puzzle below!