Avril Lavigne at the 2024 International de Montgolfière: atmosphere, photos, and highlights

Last night, on August 17th, Avril Lavigne set the stage ablaze at the Festival International de Montgolfière in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, near Montreal, proving once again that she retains her title as the queen of pop punk. It was her first festival concert in Quebec and the only stop in the Province on her Greatest Hits Tour. Here’s a recap of Avril Lavigne at the 2024 International de Montgolfière!

For the occasion, the crowd was out in full force, with all ages represented, and many fans paid tribute through their outfits. She delivered an energetic performance, playing most of her iconic hits to the delight of the audience.

A 2000s atmosphere

From the first notes of “Girlfriend,” the atmosphere transported many back to their teenage years. Fans of all generations sang along, creating a nostalgic and vibrant mood. She followed with “What the Hell” and “Complicated,” taking the audience back to the 2000s with footage from her iconic music videos. An interlude then featured archival news clips and excerpts from her television appearances. The artist then grabbed her guitar for an instrumental interlude leading into “My Happy Ending,” which stirred deep emotions among the crowd.

The setlist was a perfect balance of timeless classics and newer tracks. Each song served as a poignant reminder of her past dominance on the pop punk scene. Songs like “He Wasn’t,” “Don’t Tell Me,” and “Losing Grip” reignited the teenage memories of many fans, while “Bite Me” and “Love It When You Hate Me” resonated with the new generation. She even covered “All the Small Things” by Blink-182, a nod to her musical influences.

Despite intermittent rain, the audience remained captivated, their eyes glued to the singer’s performance. The encore culminated with “Keep Holding On” and “I’m with You,” closing the night on an emotional note.

The only downside of the evening would likely be the merch tent, which was hard to access and where prices were somewhat steep. A tie for CAD 45 and a cap for CAD 55 added up quickly…