Over three decades after her first Montreal appearance, Lauryn Hill returned to the city's Place des Arts this week, delivering a pair of rousing concerts that once again showcased her enduring talent and deep connection with local audiences. Performing at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, the artist defied her reputation for unpredictability with a consistently powerful performance that had fans marveling.
A Montreal History Spanning 31 Years
Lauryn Hill's relationship with Montreal began precisely 31 years ago, on December 12, 1994. Then a little-known singer with the upstart rap band The Fugees, she opened for Spearhead and Ben Harper at the Spectrum. Even in that supporting role, Hill emerged as a dynamo, captivating the audience with her singing and rapping and effectively stealing the show.
Her rise with The Fugees was meteoric. The group returned to Montreal in March 1996 to play Metropolis alongside The Roots and Goodie Mob. Just six months later, propelled by the massive success of their album The Score and the hit single Killing Me Softly With His Song, they performed at the Molson Centre, now known as the Bell Centre.
The Solo Journey and Live Legacy
Hill's solo career launched with the now-classic 1998 album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which earned her five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Despite releasing only one more official album—the raw and defiant MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 in 2002—her live performances have remained a constant.
Her Montreal concert history is a testament to this. She first played Place des Arts in June 2002 as part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Subsequent performances included a late-night show at Metropolis in 2011, a return to the Jazz Festival in 2016, and an appearance at Place Bell in 2019. Through all these years and eight witnessed performances, the reviewer notes never having seen her have an off night, contradicting the narrative of a flaky or unreliable artist.
The 2025 Place des Arts Performance
For her latest Montreal outing, Hill took the stage about an hour after the announced 5:30 p.m. start time. Backed by an impressive 14-piece band featuring two drummers, three keyboardists, and a three-piece horn section, plus two dancers, she commanded the stage for 75 minutes.
Dressed in a patchwork trench vest, pinstriped pants, and a striped blouse, with her signature dreadlocks flowing, Hill powered through reimagined versions of her greatest hits. The setlist included anthems like Everything Is Everything, a reggae-inflected Lost Ones, and the heartfelt Ex-Factor.
A poignant moment arrived when she brought her son, Zion Marley, to the stage. He performed the song she wrote for him at his birth in 1997, followed by a few of his own tunes, his voice carrying a haunting resemblance to his legendary grandfather, Bob Marley.
The concert reached its peak in a thrilling final stretch. Hill delivered electrifying renditions of Doo Wop (That Thing), the iconic Killing Me Softly With His Song, a goosebump-inducing Ready or Not, and the funky Fu-Gee-La. She concluded the generous performance by staying to sign autographs from the stage.
The show served as another powerful reminder of Hill's unique artistry. Long after being prematurely labeled as difficult or past her prime, she continues to deliver passionate, musically rich performances that justify any wait. For Montreal, a city she has been giving love to and receiving love from for over three decades, the message remains clear: she is always welcome.
