Ice Cold Electro at Igloofest 2014

Igloofest turns every weekend from January 16 to February 8 into a reason to go out and party no matter what the weather is like. Now in its 8th year, the outdoor electronic music festival once again transforms the Old Port’s Jacques-Cartier Quay into an open-air club, complete with beat-driven music, high-tech visuals and smiling crowds.

Created as a winter counterpart to the extremely popular Piknic Electronik, an outdoor dance party held every summer Sunday at Parc Jean-Drapeau, Igloofest excels at turning the deepest part of winter into something to actually look forward to and even celebrate. Igloofest aims to create fun, memorable times, whether you’re there to dance for hours (in a neon one-piece snowsuit or otherwise), sit around a fire with hot chocolate in hand, or nod your head to the music while sipping from a tall can of Sapporo. This year, the festival adds a second stage, made entirely of giant ice-like bricks, to replace the small though cozy igloo dome of past years. But it’s the DJs that really indicate an even bigger and better Igloofest in 2014.

The festival’s first weekend alone proves the variety that electronic dance music: get down to the extreme bass of UK producer Skream, an all-new DJ set from American techno auteur Matthew Dear, Breach, the alter-ego of British producer Ben Westbeech, and the innovative techno of Germany’s Âme. Weekend two starts on a Thursday night with none other than BBC radio’s Pete Tong and a DJ set from buzzed-about Brit duo Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. Montreal’s own Misstress Barbara owns Friday night with avant-garde techno producer Stephan Bodzin, while Saturday night belongs to San Francisco’s Claude VonStroke and Dirtybird label-mate Justin Martin.

The January 30 weekend features US deep-house legend Sharam, formerly of Grammy-winning duo Deep Dish, British dubstep pioneer Scuba, and the shiny new house sounds of Levon Vincent. Igloofest’s final weekend pulls out all the stops with Swedish techno producers Adam Beyer and Ida Engberg alongside Montreal’s Mateo Murphy, hip-hop producer Just Blaze (known for his work with Jay Z and Eminem), and a Circus Company showcase featuring French DJs Nôze, dOP, and Sety.

Artists on Igloofest’s second stage provide an equal amount of excellent entertainment, much of it locally made, including sets from A-Rock, Notv, and Hissy Fit, and showcases from Eresys Records, Mile End Records, Booty Bakery, Lost Heroes (featuring DJ Christian Pronovost), and more. Also added this year, an “Iglooboutique” located in the Plateau neighbourhood at 4523 St-Denis Street, where tickets and merchandise (such as an official Igloofest toque) will be on sale beginning December 10. Check Igloofest’s site for more info, including the fest’s partnership with the food-centric Happening Gourmand event in Old Montreal.

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THE DETAILS

Igloofest, January 16-February 8, 2014

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