ABOUT US
Soul of the City is a non-profit music festival devoted to highlighting Montreal’s vibrant r&b/soul scene.
For four days in August, we will fill our favourite indie venues with an array of emerging and established local talent who are inspired by soul music’s pioneers, and are taking the genre in new directions.
Whether you love the old Motown hits, or are looking for the freshest voices, we hope you’ll enjoy celebrating this hidden gem in the Canadian musical landscape.
MANDATE
Soul of the City’s mandate is to promote, support, and celebrate Montreal’s R&B and soul music community. We are committed to:
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Showcasing both emerging and established local artists who draw inspiration from the roots of soul while innovating the genre.
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Creating accessible, high-quality live music experiences across the city’s indie venues.
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Fostering a vibrant cultural exchange between artists and audiences, highlighting Montreal as a hub for creative musical talent.
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Preserving and evolving the legacy of soul music within Canada’s diverse musical landscape.
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Platforming Montreal-based soul & RnB artists in front of regional industry to foster new opportunities
Our festival serves as a platform to elevate local voices, inspire artistic growth, and strengthen the city’s cultural identity through the universal language of music.
HANORAH
Hanorah is an internationally touring singer-songwriter whose soulful voice has earned her various awards and accolades. She has performed with Mavis Staples and Lee Fields, and has collaborated with local legends The Brooks. She loves soul music and the Montreal music scene, and wants to shine a light on the artists at that intersection.
CHRISTIAN
Christian comes from Montreal musical royalty; he is a lifelong performer and events organizer, working in music, improv, comedy, theatre, and musical improv. He is on the board of directors of Montreal’s first improv festival, Le Grand Yes And! and is line to begin teaching starting 2026. His work has taken him all over Canada and the US.
AVERY JANE
Avery Jane is a Montreal-based singer-songwriter and community organizer who has been inspired by soul and r&b since childhood. Having hosted Big Thursdays open mic and done programming in several local venues, she is deeply devoted to bringing artists together in a warm and inviting environment.
SARAH
Sarah is the head of Hot Tramp Management, an independent music service supporting exceptional talent like Janette King, Alicia Clara, and Maryse. With a background in grassroots venue programming and music festivals, she has a passion for gathering music lovers live and in person.
OUR TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OUR MISSION
Soul of the City Fest came about because we are endlessly inspired by the wealth of r&b/soul talent in Montreal.
We know there are incredible artists making this music.
We have seen the fans show up to the shows.
We see an opportunity to bring in local industry and show them this is a viable and vibrant genre of music to invest in.
We aim to honour the roots of soul music in Montreal and beyond,
and do what we can to help emerging artists in the genre spread their wings and connect with their people.