Vieux-Hull gears up for fourth edition of Saucette en Showssettes

Tashi Farmilo

A free four-day music, comedy, and arts festival takes over the pedestrian zone of Rue Laval in Vieux-Hull from May 21 - 24, as Saucette en Showssettes returns for its fourth edition with its most ambitious lineup yet.

Now a fixture on the local festival calendar, the event has drawn a combined 18,000 attendees since its launch and has established itself as the unofficial opening of terrasse season in downtown Gatineau. This year's programming spans four evenings and one family afternoon, featuring some of Quebec's most sought-after names in music and comedy, all at no cost to attendees. The festival is supported by Tourisme Outaouais, the City of Gatineau, Vision Centre-Ville, the Government of Quebec, and the Government of Canada.

The festival opens May 21 at 6 pm at Place Laval with a solo performance by P'tit Belliveau. Soraï, whose album Millenium Star Diamant has been widely praised, opens the evening. Comedian Magalie Saint-Vincent performs a 30-minute set to close the night.

May 22 features one of the more eclectic evenings of the run. Sami Landri, the Acadian drag queen and fan favourite from the latest season of Canada's Drag Race, hosts a drag show before Matelot Max and DJ Robi take over for 75 minutes of outdoor karaoke. Comedians Louis Girard-Bock and Jay Laliberté also perform Rodage à deux, a new joint show built on the rapid-fire dynamic of two longtime friends and seasoned improv performers working the stage together.

May 23 is the festival's marquee evening. Léa Stréliski and Lauriane Lalonde each bring 30-minute comedy sets before Geoffroy opens the music portion with material from his latest album Good Boy. Ariane Roy follows. The recipient of the Revelation of the Year award at the 2022 ADISQ Gala, Roy released Dogue in 2025, a critically noted second album co-produced with Félix Petit that marks a sharp departure from her earlier work. Closing the night are Dead Obies, the influential Quebec hip-hop collective returning to the stage after a five-year hiatus, a rare appearance for a group that played a defining role in establishing rap as a mainstream force in the province's cultural life.

The festival's final day, May 24 starting at noon, is designed for families. Sponsored by the Caisse Desjardins de Hull-Aylmer, the afternoon includes bouncy castles, face painting, and music from DJ Mumbie. Magician Daniel Coutu performs Science ou Magie 4, C'est merveilleux, and L'Homme-Pizza presents a children's poetry show developed in partnership with the Maison des arts littéraires and the Bourgeons Éclatés festival.

New this year, the Parcours Déambulatoire Musical is a permanent outdoor installation winding through Vieux-Hull that will remain in place for the duration of the summer. Featuring song lyrics from more than 15 local francophone artists alongside QR codes linking to full tracks, the installation is intended to keep the neighbourhood engaged with Outaouais music well beyond the festival's closing night. Artists featured include Kinji00, RèN Darah, La Bronze, VASTE, and Sofia Duhaime.

Full festival details and updates can be found at www.facebook.com/events/2220653328671942