Festival d'été de Québec Preview: Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Skrillex, Patrick Watson Invade Quebec City

Although they've yet to lure the Phoenix Coyotes to their crumbling Colisee, the otherwise beautiful Quebec City seems to have no trouble bringing in grade-A American music heavyweights to play their annual Festival d'été de Québec, happening this year from July 5 to 15 at the Plains of Abraham and other spots around town.

If the music being played at every gas station along highway 40 from Montreal to Quebec City is any indication, Bon Jovi are not just the biggest band in the world, they're the only band in the world. In all seriousness though, there's no doubting the lads from Joisy know how to fill a big field, so if you haven't picked up a ticket to their Monday, July 9 Plains of Abraham set yet, chances are the closest you'll get to seeing them is at a truck stop two towns over.

There seemed a time when LMFAO couldn't possibly pen a better tune than "Shots," yet the big-haired shuffling kin of Gordy and Rockwell keep churning out the party rockers (and subsequent apologies). They kick off the festivities Friday, July 6. For something a little more mature, a resurgent Lionel Ritchie performs Saturday, July 7.

Young people might know Steven Tyler exclusively as the guy who dispenses astonishingly level-headed advice on American Idol, but he'll always be the star of beloved arcade game Revolution X to me. To the vast majority of society though, he remains Aerosmith's iconic scissor kicking frontman, and they'll be performing on Thursday, July 12.

Before diminutive Predator-maned dubstep king Skrillex takes his army of screaming robots across Canada on the Full Flex Express train tour this summer, he'll be giving a stationary performance along with Araabmuzik, Major Lazer and Zed on Wednesday, July 11. Fellow Full Flex passenger Grimes (who recently moved from Montreal to Los Angeles) will be hitting the Imperial Club the following evening.

Other big names playing the Fest include City and Colour, who will be headlining the Loto Quebec stage Saturday, July 7. On Sunday, July 8, Outkast member Big Boi will be bringing some much needed hip-hop to the proceedings, while at the same time Cults will be providing indie cred at the Imperial Club. Former Polaris Music Prize winner (also long listed this year for Adventures in Your Own Backyard) Patrick Watson is like musical catnip in his home province, so expect a big crowd at the Loto Quebec Stage on Tuesday, July 10. Quite a few other Polaris Long Listers will be hitting the Fest, including: Avec pas d'casque, Dan Mangan, Barr Brothers, Ariane Moffatt and Great Lake Swimmers.

And if you're in from out of the province and seeking a bit of Quebecois flavor, be sure to check out Montreal piano man Pierre Lapointe on Monday, July 9.

They're no longer selling festival passes, but you can still pick up day passes and individual tickets here.

And if you end of falling in love with la vieille capitale and don't want to leave, Roger Waters will be playing The Wall on the Plains a few weeks later on July 21.

Here's an awkward YouTube message from the Floyder admitting as such.