Saturday at Shazamfest 2024
From the moment I arrived at the nineteenth edition of Shazamfest, there was not a minute that passed without something exciting or, at the very least, interesting happening. As I approached the main site, following the decorated path from the car park, the Eastern Township fusion dance troupe Tribal Roses had just gotten underway. Led by Catherine De Sève, the troupe mixes eastern dance and western electronic music. It was punctuated with flamboyant costumes and a fair amount of audience participation, which at Shazamfest culminated in one big mass dance-a-thon to close out the show.
Without much downtime, Drummondville band Verre Moutarde took to the stage soon after Tribal Roses finished their performance. The quartet earned their spot at the festival by winning the Battle of Shazam contest held in Sherbrooke, Quebec earlier in the year, (an annual talent show of local performers with the winners earning a spot in the Shazamfest lineup.) Verre Moutarde got right down to business and didn’t stop till their hour or so show was over. One of the highlights from their concert was a rousing rendition of their song which is also a recent YouTube video, “Bucket Hat.”
The energy at the festival kicked into high gear when the band Rau_Ze took to the stage. The lead singer Rose Perron seemed possessed by the groves put down by guitar player Félix Paul and bassist Henri Bouchard. Inspiring her vocals to the next level on songs from their album Virer Nos Vies songs like “Montreal Chill” and “Sumerset.”
Aside from great music on Saturday, there was also the Shazamfest fashion show where the participants showed off their creations made earlier in the day during the costume creation workshop. As well, there was the always highly anticipated Ziv’s Freakshow. This year’s edition featured the antics of sword-swallowing clown Daddy Red. Éliane Bonin of Collectif Carmagnol bemused the audience with her blend of satire and burlesque while strongman the Mighty Leviticus, a long-time festival favourite, announced his retirement from the Shazamfest stage. But only after battling a yellow pages phone book and having darts thrown into his back by the one and only Bonbon Bombay; who performed earlier, with a whimsical take on classical burlesque.
Montreal band Kamendja closed out the evening with some members of the band, Alexandre Gauthier on bass and Pascal Per Veillette on harmonica, who first appeared on stage clad in Mexican wrestling masks. (Maybe a nod to the wrestling event by Lutte à l'Est that was happening the following day.) The rest of the band is Dominic Gamelin on guitar, and Pascal Lepage on drums. Their sound varies, drawing influence from metal, klezmer and jazz, making instrumental music that is both engaging and fun, with a ting edge as they played cuts from their two albums, Sans Queue Ni Tête and Sur La Route De Salem.
The slogan for Shazamfest is “Where the Misfits fit in.” One would be hard-pressed to find a more welcoming environment. From the volunteers working at the entrance to the many costumed ones greeting the kids of all ages as they first wander around the festival site. Everywhere there were smiling faces that were only replaced with those of shock and awe during Ziv’s Freakshow.
Clifton Hanger is the host of Brave New Jams, Saturdays 10PM-Midnight on CJLO
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