MONTREAL - The world’s biggest jazz festival kicked off Thursday and the opening night star was quick to get political.
The enigmatic and often outrageous Rufus Wainwright issued his support for the student tuition protesters, saying, “it’s in my nature to join up with the oppressed and the angry masses.”
He wore red as a message of support for the movement.
His free outdoor concert Thursday is expected to be one of the highlights of the 2012 festival.
Wainwright said that he spends much time outside of the city, mostly in New York, but has kept abreast of the tuition protests.
Howver his focus was be on putting on a good show with an eight-piece band, as well as guest appearances by friends and family.
“It's going to be a different show, unlike any other on the tour,” he said.
He’s not intimidated by performing before a massive wall of humanity that shows up at the outdoor venue.
“I wanted to play the big stage,” he said, noting that the acoustics can be hard to control in the great outdoors.
“It's always a risk doing an outdoor show, it’s thrilling,” he said.
With a file from The Canadian Press
