Shortly after rapper Hamza’s last words on the adjacent stage, numerous beams of light gave festival-goers an orange hue, the color of Volcano, Jungle’s most recent project. On the notes of Busy Earnin’, a 2014 hit, the British soul-funk band made their entrance in remarkable fashion.

From the very first moments, the band’s different impulses had the crowd dancing. The music of Tom McFarland, Josh Lloyd-Watson and, most recently, Lydia Kitto, is one of the liveliest and most festive around. It’s no surprise that inflatables and balloons roamed among the fans throughout the performance; the mood was festive, to say the least. Jungle has a way of making us enjoy the moment.

The balance between recording and live creation couldn’t have been better. The three protagonists get involved vocally and contribute with various instruments such as guitar and synthesizer. The arrangements are danceable, and the vocals as bewitching as on record. Two percussionists and a bassist rounded things off brilliantly.

On two occasions, artists appeared on the big screen for the duration of a song. This was the case for Erick the Architect during the disco hit Candle Flame, a song on which the crowd burned a lot of calories, rest assured.

Several times, the band addressed the fans in both English and French. The Brits seemed delighted by the welcome they received from Montrealers, who responded by singing along to their various choruses and clapping their hands. There’s no doubt that Jungle’s appearance was one of the highlights of the weekend’s festivities.

Crédit photo: Benoit Rousseau