MONTREAL -- Osheaga is on the move.

How, you ask? Look no further than your calendar.

The third edition of the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival returns to Jean Drapeau Park Aug. 3 and 4. Headlining this year are Jack Johnson, the Killers, Iggy & the Stooges, Duffy, CSS, Gogol Bordello, Broken Social Scene, Cat Power, and N.E.R.D. In all some 50 acts will perform on four outdoor stages over the two-day event.

ALWAYS AUGUST

A word of note -- this year's "weekend" is a Sunday and Monday. A bigger word of note: While the fest spent its first two years trying to establish itself as an end-of-summer Labor Day bash, in years to come, organizers now aim to keep the festival dates in early August.

"We moved to August because the weather in September can be pretty unpredictable," said Osheaga Artistic Director Nick Farkas. "We also found out that there were more bands available in August. So it was just better timing."

Farkas said many of the same bands travel throughout North America and Europe during the summer festival circuit.

"But we've gotten easier to book," Farkas said. "People want to play Osheaga because we not only know what were doing now," he chuckled, "but it's worthwhile for the artist."

Why a Sunday/Monday?

"Because NASCAR is in town that Saturday (Aug. 2)," Farkas said. "We'll try for the weekend next year."

The artistic director does get to have some fun during the festival.

"I do get to enjoy the show. A lot of my work is done by that day," he said. "Jack Johnson has never played Montreal, so we're looking forward to that. And Iggy Pop hasn't been here in 20 years, so that'll be cool."

Overall, Farkas said, he's quite happy with the progression of Osheaga.

"I think we've progressed nicely over the first two years," he said. "Our notoriety has certainly grown, and we're able to get acts from all over the world. It takes time to build a festival like this, but we're patient. We're still learning and trying different ways to keep it fresh. We're still a work in progress."

Aren't we all.