J Balvin Heats Up Quebec City with Explosive Performance on the Plaines d’Abraham

On the Plaines d'Abraham in Quebec City, a diverse crowd waving flags and sporting soccer jerseys from countries like Colombia, Porto Rico, Mexico, Spain, Peru, Argentina, El Salvador, and Nicaragua gathered for the spectacle of J Balvin. The Colombian artist brought his caliente reggaeton to warm up even the chilliest of latino diaspora on a cool evening.

J Balvin, a major figure in Latin music, took the stage with energy, perched on a large cube at the center. Kicking off with his 2018 global hit ‘Mi Gente,’ he seamlessly transitioned into ‘Colmillo,’ a collaboration with Tainy and Young Miko, and then belted out ‘Dientes,’ a track made with Usher and DJ Khaled.

Initially subdued during the opening acts by Gale and Ivan Cornejo, which didn’t quite match the headliner’s vibe, the crowd suddenly came alive. Expressing his pride of being Latino, J Balvin engaged the enthralled audience declaring, ‘If you love our music, you’re part of the Latino gang gang gang!’

Donning sunglasses and cornrowed hair, the rapper, singer, and producer from Medellin, accompanied by backing tracks, was soon joined on stage by two collaborators, one on vocals and the other on turntables, along with six futuristic dancers.

The entire visual aesthetic of the show revolved around a space theme, with giant screens on the Plaines showcasing dancing extraterrestrials alongside images of planets and celestial bodies. Even in the sound transitions for costume changes – from a green leather jacket to a sequined ensemble – the visuals hinted at the connected fingers from the film E.T.

Throughout the evening, J Balvin generously delivered his hits that touch on everyday life, including ‘Reggaeton,’ ‘Loco Contigo,’ ‘Con Altura,’ ‘X,’ ‘Amarillo,’ ‘Ginza,’ ‘Ritmo,’ and ‘Que Calor,’ urging festival-goers to jump, sway, and light up their cell phones. The audience eagerly followed, leading to a finale where he bared his chest, raised a glass, and smiled with a sense of satisfaction.