Montreal’s Igloofest music competition is again and cooler than ever

Greater than 10,000 folks gathered in Montreal’s Outdated Port to bop underneath the falling snow Thursday as Igloofest celebrated the opening evening of its fifteenth version.

The favored winter music competition had been placed on hiatus for 2 years as a result of pandemic, and Montrealers had been clearly itching to get dancing because the opening evening was totally offered out.

With two levels and a stacked lineup, festival-goers obtained to see worldwide headliners like Flume and Chrome Sparks, however native artists are additionally getting their time to shine, like Jordan Gardner, who performed the competition for the primary time.

“It was positively what I imagined,” he stated. “There was a lot pleasure from everybody, it appeared like an enormous room of individuals appearing like youngsters in the absolute best method.”

Gardner says he often is not a fan of the chilly, however the delicate climate was “excellent” and, to high every thing off, it began to snow proper on the finish of his set — “like Christmas.”

Gardner is engaged on music of his personal, and stated one of the best a part of enjoying a competition like Igloofest is seeing the group reacting to his unreleased music.

“They had been actually into it,” he stated. “Once I performed a few of my songs, I may see a noticeable carry in power and reactions, in order that was actually thrilling.”

Gardner says he will likely be going again to the competition to help his artist buddies akin to Priori and Ultima Esuna, but in addition to see Tiësto, who was the primary producer to get him into digital music.

For Igloofest co-founder Nicolas Cournoyer, creating a various lineup is a high precedence.

“As we’re doing 12 nights, we at all times need a broad number of DJs,” he instructed CBC’s Dawn.

“We at all times search for the old-school ones, newcomers … we wish folks to find digital music of all types. It’s essential include a musically open thoughts. There’s two levels, a variety of artists — huge artists, and there is actually good ones in Montreal as nicely.”

He additionally needs Igloofest to be a spot the place Montrealers do not simply tolerate winter, however get pleasure from it.

Bringing folks collectively

Tasha Prentice, Igloofest’s lead content material supervisor, stated she was elated to be up and operating once more. 

“It was magical, truthfully,” she stated. “It was actually good to be again on website and have this enormous occasion — which is one of the best a part of winter — come again to life.”

She stated she noticed everybody smiling as she walked across the competition and was stunned to see the group kind so early within the night. She believes the competition offers folks one thing to sit up for at midnight and chilly season.

“I believe folks had been keen to return again and social gathering with us within the lifeless of winter,” she stated.

“Digital music is especially made to be listened to collectively so I believe that is one thing yow will discover at Igloofest.”

Gardner agrees. He says digital music has a sure accessibility that brings folks collectively.

“This complete time it has been consultant of a tradition,” he stated.

“Again in New York, Chicago, Detroit it was [in] bathhouses for queer Black and Latin folks. Even to at the present time, the truth that [electronic music] can nonetheless characterize these cultures who had been historically not represented commercially … is basically fascinating and I believe that is what helps the underground proceed to develop and exist.”

This yr, Igloofest is attempting to broaden its viewers. As a result of the competition itself is restricted to these 18 and older, organizers determined to create some family-friendly programming.

Music heads can carry their youngsters to Igloofête each Saturday between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to see DJs and video artwork in addition to slide on ice and roast some marshmallows.

“It was an enormous problem because it at all times is, however particularly this yr being again after a pair years … I believe we actually did fantastically,” stated Prentice.