Igloofest: Week 1 Recap

That time of year is upon us; it’s Igloofest time! This is the time where all electronic music lovers gather at the Old Port to enjoy the hottest artists from the scene. Until January 28th, Igloofest will play host to the biggest outdoor party in North America, with a spectacular lineup for this year’s edition.

The first weekend line-up couldn’t have been better, with big names like Buraka Som Sistema, A-Trak, Botnek, Mala, Tanner Ross and Tiefschwarz gracing the Igloofest stage. Local hometown heroes like DJ Cosmo, Ohm Hourani, Construct, Harmsworth and many more got their chance to play in front of their hometown crowd, a crowd that broke the Igloofest record for Thursday night attendance (4690) and who also braved -30°C degrees on Saturday night for the Buraka Som Sistema performance. In total, more then 19000 fans attended the festival over the course of three days; it was a great way to start the event.

Thursday 12th

It all got under way Thursday on a snowy night with DJ extraordinaire, DJ Cosmo of Get Nice at Blizzarts fame. He began with a hip-hop inspired set, but he quickly showed the growing crowd that he had other tricks up his sleeve; no wonder he won the Red Bull Thre3style last October. Overall, it was an excellent set that got the crowd dancing and warmed up for Montreal hero and DMC champion, A-Trak. By the time he took over the stage, a significant amount of fans where waiting for him and he did not disappoint them. For over 2hrs, A-Trak played an energetic and addictive set as he went thru a wide range of hits ranging from hip-hop to techno, he even played "Barbara Streisand" and "Big Bad Wolf" from his current project, Duck Sauce formed with Armand Van Helden. The native Montrealer was noticeably excited to be playing in front of fans in his hometown; he also addressed the crowd in French, which really pumped them up. He wasn’t alone on stage, big brother Dave 1 from Chromeo was there to cheer on little brother. After the local hero came the legend, UK DJ/Producer Mala graced the Igloofest stage for the first time and only the second time in Montreal since his performance at Mutek back in 2009. His set started with slow, deep beats that gradually evolved into his well-known style; after all he is one part of the mythical duo, the Digital Mystikz. I could not have thought of a better way to end the first day.

Saturday 14th

What surprises me most about Igloofest attendees is how ready they are to brave the elements for their favorite DJs. Case in point: Saturday. Even with temperatures hovering around -30°C, there was no way to discourage them. Who would when Buraka Som Sistema performed one of the hottest performances ever at Igloofest? Well, hottest I’ve seen so far! Their one-hour set was filled with soca, konduro, and dancehall beats that got the crowd dancing the cold weather away. The group was experiencing their first ever Canadian winter, with emcee Blaya rocking a retro one-piece for the occasion. A pair of French DJs played before BSS, Bambounou and French Fries. The night got started with Montreal duo, Botnek. Their unique touch and sound have garnered recognition from the UK’s leading DJs and radio hosts like Annie Mac, Pete Tong and Benji B, who play their tracks regularly. The duo’s unique sound, a mix of Dutch house, jump-up techno and afrobeat is truly something to enjoy and discover. Big thing await the duo in 2012, be sure to follow them.

-All photos and text are curtesy of MNJIVR, who hosts AutoBeat every Tuesday from 10-11pm