Ancient Future Festival is situated at a woodland spot by the water at the old port. Once a year in September this festival transforms the spot into a little utopian world which is a hub for electronic music, visual arts, and circus arts all with a fantastic view of the St-Laurent river and Quai de l'Horloge. The outdoor venue has a couple of stages with masses of people dancing amongst the trees surrounded by hammocks, local vendors, and fire dancing circus acts. However once the sun has fully set, the final venue opens up at the immense warehouse next door with a gigantic sounsystem and trippy visuals to enable the festival goers to rave all night long. 

1. Californian band Joyce Manor. Barry Johnson (left) Matt Ebert (right)

Celebrating forty years of punk music, Festival 77 Montreal slammed into Parc Jean-Drapeau. The weather was perfect, the festival site with two stages, a record fair, poster exhibition and movie house was a busy place. 

The city of Montreal was well represented by The Pale Lips, which got the festival started, hardcore punk band Genetic Control, The Kingpins and powerhouse Barrasso. The Creepshow also brought their unique brand of psychobilly to the festival. 

Festivals can be a truly polarizing experience. On one hand, there are a lot of unknown variables that can lend themselves to a bad time. Not so friendly weather, band cancellations, poor planning, and endless lines at food stands and bathrooms. On the other hand, there’s nothing quite like watching your favourite artists in the great outdoors, the freedom to be as much (or as little) part of the action as you like, and just the feeling of warm air and summer vibes that connect you with the rest of the attendees in a way you just don’t get inside a closed venue. While Pitchfork Festival has a history of strong line-ups and excellent organization, I still wasn’t sure what to expect, it being my first time attending.