QUEBEC CITY - Metallica, Sir Elton John and Jean-Pierre Ferland aren't usually mentioned in the same breath.
Yet all three are headlining Quebec City's summer festival, an annual event whose eclectic programming has been a key part of its success.
The 11-day festival begins on Thursday and runs until July 17.
The top acts weren't easy to lure to the 44th edition of the festival, according to director Daniel Gelinas.
"This year was more difficult in terms of musical stardom for events like ours," he says. "The most established superstars were less available. Many were not on tour, and others were in Europe."
But the effort to bring big stars to the provincial capital has already paid off.
The Metallica and John shows are sold out, but with a program that offers 250 shows, there remains lots to choose from, Gelinas says.
The Rocket Man will be playing on the Plains of Abraham on July 9.
Other headliners include Simple Plan, Ben Harper, John Fogerty and Grammy-winners the Black Keys.
Gelinas says the diverse musical acts help attract a larger, wider audience, and he's hoping to attract 1.5 million people to this year's festival.
Last year, the direct tourism benefits of the event were worth nearly $25 million, he says.
One of the key aspects is the affordability, he says. A day pass costs $30, while one for the whole festival goes for $65.
