A new tradition was forged in the Old Port in Montreal in 2007, courtesy of the boys behind Piknic Electronik. It's called Igloofest and it attracts thousands of electronic music fans -- roughly 60,000 over the course of three weekends every January -- willing to dance hours outdoors during the coldest nights of the year to mixes spun by the crème de la crème in DJ talent. Past guests include:
"It's such an amazing crowd, people go just absolutely mental from the very first record that you play. It must be a Montreal thing!" -Dutch producer Joris Voorn
IGLOOFEST 2012 HIGHLIGHTS
Running the gamut of house, techno, bass, and everything in between, it takes a certain level of guts laced with chutzpah to play a set at Igloofest, with Montreal's wind chill in full blast come January, even though any experienced Igloofester will tell you the weather is no big deal: count at most 10-15 minutes to work up a sweat on the snowy dance floor. Nonetheless, it takes balls to spin in subzero weather and the following DJ/producers are rising to the challenge in 2012, not about to wimp out over a wee arctic bite.
Igloofest 2012 Weekend One: January 12-14, 2012
Weekend One features scratchings signed Montreal native A-Trak, followed by one of the godfathers of dubstep, Brixton, South London's Mala (Digital Mystikz/DMZ), then electro funk by Jersey-raised Tanner Ross, electro-ish house by German brothers Tiefschwarz, back to bass with Montreal duo Botnek, an appearance by French outfit Bambounou and a live progressive kuduro performance by Portuguese outfit Buraka Som Sistema.
Full DJ lineup here.
Igloofest 2012 Weekend Two: January 19-21, 2012
Weekend Two covers industrial-tinged techno with French producer Terence Fixmer, electro house with Montreal "vibe sayer"/occasional satirist Tiga, choppy, housey dubstep with London's heavily-monikered David Kennedy, who, for the purposes of Igloofest appears as Pearson Sound, yet more techno with yet another Londoner, Max Cooper, and a dab of house purism with French producer Sébastien Léger.
Full DJ lineup here.
Igloofest 2012 Weekend Three: January 26-28, 2012
London house phenomenon Maya Jane Coles, EBM-influenced Chicago house scene techno hit maker Green Velvet and German veteran producer/Berghain resident Marcel Dettmann are all lined up for Weekend Three, with several acts yet to be announced. Weekend Three also features a surprise DJ courtesy of an Igloofest Competition. Igloofest Competition details here.
Full DJ lineup here.
Igloofest: It Gets Cold Out There, But Not For Long
Dress warm (e.g., heavy duty down jackets) and most importantly, in layers because it gets sweaty in there as the night progresses. And leave the heels at home. The dance floor, which is basically a bed of snow and slush, has more slip than grip. Another thing, newbies might be interested in joining an Igloofest tradition. It's getting a little old but participants are rarely lacking in the chance to outdo one another by wearing the ugliest, most fluorescent snowsuit get-ups they can find. It's called the one-piece competition and here are pictures of last year's winners and finalists.
Food? Beer?
Beer, energy drinks and mulled wine are sold on the premises as are poutine, pizza and other morsels.
Beat the Crowds
For a lineup-free experience getting through admission, get to the Quai Jacques-Cartier on the Quays of the Old Port, near the corner of Prince Arthur and Place Jacques-Cartier, before 9 p.m.
Cost
Admission $15 per night, full lineup-free festival pass $60 plus taxes and service charge.
Where Is Igloofest?
At the Quays of the Old Port (map).
Getting There
Champ-de-Mars Metro or Place d'Armes Metro.
For more information on the next edition, visit the Igloofest website.
