The Patriots’ Day holiday is a great time to get out! Here are some ideas.
Piknic Électronik will kick off on Sunday, May 21. For the 20th anniversary, 18 regular events await festival-goers who will move to the sound of guest DJs. Visit Parc Jean-Drapeau until October 1.
Three giant works of art inspired by insects will unfold in Frédéric-Back Park starting May 18. The works Bivouac, by the Collectif Escargo, On the air, by Architecturama and Hortus formica, by Frédéric Saia, were chosen by a jury, in particular because of the ecological nature of the materials used. They can be observed throughout the summer in this park located in the heart of the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex, in Montreal. Note that the Montreal Insectarium will also offer on-site interpretation activities.
Thirty-six hours of continuous dancing. Here is what MTL 24/24 offers with the Non Stop event, presented from May 19 to 21 at the Pavillon du Grand Quai, in the Old Port of Montreal. Fifteen local and international artists will have participants dancing to electronic music, including DJ Minx, Jacques Greene and GLOWZI. Indoor shows for ages 18 and up are scheduled from May 19, 10 p.m. to May 21, 8 a.m. New this year: Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., an outdoor stage accessible to all will be set up on the Place des commencements.
The Pouzza Fest, Montreal’s punk festival, is back for its 11th edition with around a hundred bands performing in various Montreal venues, including Les Foufounes Electriques, Théâtre Sainte-Catherine, Turbo Haus and Café Cléopâtre. Headliners include The Bronx from Los Angeles, Paint It Black from Philadelphia and The Flatliners from Ontario who will be celebrating their 20th anniversary. A comedy component, featuring young French-speaking and English-speaking comedians, is also planned. May 19-21.
Singer-songwriter Madeline Peyroux will be on stage at Théâtre Maisonneuve with Martha Wainwright on May 21 at 8 p.m. On the menu: the jazz artist will offer compositions from his album Careless Love, in addition to lifting the veil on new pieces.
The play Traces d’étoiles, by Cindy-Lou Johnson, tells the story of Rosannah DeLuce (Mylène Mackay) who, after having traveled 5000 km by car, wearing her wedding dress, stops at Henry Harry’s ( Maxim Gaudette) who tries to find out why she is trying to flee. “The beauty of Traces d’étoiles is to manage to make us believe in this impossible story. The piece is reminiscent of the work of Tennessee Williams, with characters in a state of crisis, wavering, madness. Mylène Mackay is flawless as Rosannah. Maxim Gaudette is also terrific,” journalist Luc Boulanger tells us in his review published May 12.
Thirteen storytellers are expected in Montérégie starting May 17 for the 4th Flots de Paroles Festival. In the lot, note the presence of Michel Faubert who will present his show Dog, duck and other wonderful tales on May 27 at the Vieille Caserne de Verchères. Note that two Martinican storytellers and a Belgian-Japanese storyteller will join the Quebec artists. New this year: a storytelling hike on the banks of the St. Lawrence River by Les Semeurs de contes. Departure from the pioneer park in Verchères. The festival is presented in Verchères, Varennes, Contrecœur and Saint-Hyacinthe from May 17 to 28.
The BlackBerry movie chronicles the equally dizzying rise and fall of Canadian tech giant Research In Motion. Jay Baruchel plays the role of Mike Lazaridis, while Glenn Howerton personifies Jim Balsillie. “Through its perfectly calibrated concern for authenticity, BlackBerry makes our nostalgic fiber vibrate. The various filters and lenses (Jared Raab), retro technology (Adam Belanger), vintage clothing (Hanna Puley) and music (Joy Division, Mark Morrison, Moby) combined with the camera and editing that sometimes approach those of the documentary allow a convincing and sympathetic immersion in this time which will never seem distant to me, ”tells us the journalist Pascal LeBlanc in his review published on May 12.
