The Labor Day weekend invites us to cultural discoveries with a rich program. Our journalists have listed festivals and events you shouldn’t miss.
Published yesterday at 11:45am.
Elisapie, FouKi and Karkwa at the Emerging Music Festival
The Emerging Music Festival (FME) in Abitibi-Témiscamingue offers around a hundred performances in halls and outdoor events in Rouyn-Noranda. The numerous guests include Elisapie, FouKi, Jonathan Bree, Karkwa, Imposs, Les Louanges, Milk & Bone, Philippe Brach, Tess Parks and The Psychotic Monks. The music genres therefore look quite diverse. Including bluegrass, R&B, psychedelic pop, rap and electronic music. Young star Thierry Larose will kick off the festivities on Thursday evening on the outdoor main stage.
Jean Siag, La Presse
Return of an autumn classic to the Botanical Garden
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION ARCHIVE
2021 edition of Gardens of Light
The Botanical Gardens will shine this Friday with the return of the highly anticipated Gardens of Light event. Until October 31, visitors are invited to stroll under the moonlight through the Montreal institution’s three cultural gardens. Carried by the music, they can discover the Japanese garden, that of the First Nations and that of China from a different perspective. This year, with its numerous lanterns, it illuminates one of the greatest Chinese legends: the butterfly lovers, a tragic love story like Romeo and Juliet. To explore the hiking trails, you must reserve a specific visit time when purchasing your ticket.
Véronique Larocque, La Presse
25 free concerts at the Tremblant Music Festival
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
There are numerous free concerts taking place this weekend in the tourist village of Mont-Tremblant.
Jean-Michel Blais will open the festival, founded by Angèle Dubeau, on Friday evening at the Première Scène Mont-Tremblant. Together with three other musicians, the singer-songwriter presents his current album “Aubades”. Among the many artists expected are, among others, Yves Lambert, who will give a concert with the Grand Orchester La Grande Fête au Village, Diane Juster, the pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin and of course Angèle Dubeau, who will be surrounded by many musicians from La Pieta.
Jean Siag, La Presse
TRIP: a brand new comedy festival in Trois-Rivières
IMAGE PROVIDED BY TRIP FESTIVAL D’HUMOR IN TROIS-RIVIÈRES
Humor lovers should head to Mauricie this weekend. Trois-Rivières will be the venue of its first TRIP, a brand new humor festival whose program will make everyone jealous. The gala on Friday will be moderated by Pierre-Yves Roy-Desmarais, who will welcome Adib Alkhalidey, Michel Barrette, Korine Côté and André-Philippe Gagnon. On Saturday, Mehdi Bousaidan will welcome Neev, Arnaud Soly and Louis-José Houde, for whom it could be one last appearance on stage before a long (and deserved!) break. In addition to these stand-up galas, several other events take place across the city, including a wrestling gala, an improv match between the National Improvisation League and the Mauritian Improvisation League, the live recording of the podcasts Sexo Oral and Open Couple, Le Show Queer, which brings together comedians who identify with the LGBTQ2S+ community, and Le Gong Show, a late-night open mic where anything goes.
Pierre-Marc Durivage, La Presse
TRIP comedy festival in Trois-Rivières, September 1st to 3rd
Quebec Redneck Bluegrass Project in Montreal
PHOTO NICOLAS LÉVESQUE, PROVIDED BY SPECTACLES BONZAÏ
Quebec Redneck Bluegrass Project
The Quebec Redneck Bluegrass Project group has been traveling extensively throughout Quebec for years, but doesn’t stop in Montreal that often. As JP “Le Pad” Tremblay and his band stop by MTelus on September 1st and 2nd at the conclusion of their Aqualactic summer tour, this is a unique opportunity to sample their trad-punk that is as wild as it is festive. The opening act featured Vancouver band Petunia and Santosh Lalonde’s Montreal group Bad Uncle, who also staged this full-length show that featured musicians side by side with circus and burlesque performers.
Josee Lapointe, La Presse
Montreal hosts the 2nd International Street Dance Festival
PHOTO FROM JOAT WEBSITE
JOAT, Montreal’s street dance festival produced by Danse Danse, will take place this year from August 29th to September 4th at the Esplanade des Place des Arts. At the heart of the many activities on offer we can witness the JOAT Battles, these clashes between dancers hosted by a DJ and a master of ceremonies. The 16 best dancers meet at Club Soda for a final tournament to determine the winner. Last year, JOAT won the Jury Prize of the Conseil des Arts de Montréal.
Jean Siag, La Presse