Labor Day weekend invites us to cultural discovery with an abundant program. Our journalists have listed festivals and events not to be missed.
The Emerging Music Festival (FME) in Abitibi-Témiscamingue offers around a hundred performances in performance halls and outdoor venues in Rouyn-Noranda. Among the many guests are Elisapie, FouKi, Jonathan Bree, Karkwa, Imposs, Les Louanges, Milk
The Botanical Garden is lit up this Friday with the return of the highly anticipated Gardens of Light event. Until October 31, visitors are invited to stroll in the moonlight in the three cultural gardens of the Montreal institution. Carried by the music, they will be able to discover under another eye the Japanese Garden, that of the First Nations as well as that of China. With its many lanterns, the latter highlights this year one of the greatest Chinese legends: the butterfly lovers, a tragic love story à la Romeo et Juliette. To walk the trails, you must reserve a fixed visit time when purchasing tickets.
Jean-Michel Blais will kick off the festival founded by Angèle Dubeau on Friday evening at the Première Scène Mont-Tremblant. The singer-songwriter will present his most recent album, aubades, with three other musicians. Among the many artists expected, let’s mention the presence of Yves Lambert, who will give a concert with the Grand Orchester La Grande Fête au Village, Diane Juster, pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin, and of course Angèle Dubeau, who will be surrounded by musicians of La Pieta.
Comedy lovers have every reason to head for the Mauricie this weekend, Trois-Rivières will be the scene of its first TRIP, a brand new comedy festival whose program has something to envy. The Friday gala will be hosted by Pierre-Yves Roy-Desmarais, who will host Adib Alkhalidey, Michel Barrette, Korine Côté and André-Philippe Gagnon. On Saturday, Mehdi Bousaidan will welcome Neev, Arnaud Soly as well as Louis-José Houde, for whom it could be a last presence on stage before an extended (and deserved!) break. In addition to these stand-up galas, several other events will take place throughout the city, including a wrestling gala, an improvisation match between the National Improvisation League and the Mauritian Improvisation League, the recording live from the Oral Sex and Open Couple podcasts, Le Show Queer, which will bring together comedians who identify with the LGBTQ2S community, and Le Gong Show, a late-night open mic where anything goes.
The Quebec Redneck Bluegrass Project has been crisscrossing Quebec en masse for years, but doesn’t stop in Montreal that often. While JP “Le Pad” Tremblay and his band will stop by the MTelus on September 1st and 2nd to end their Aqualactic summer tour, it’s a golden opportunity to taste their wild and festive trad punk. In the first part, the Vancouverite Petunia and the Montreal group Bad Uncle of Santosh Lalonde, who also staged this total show where the musicians rub shoulders with circus and burlesque artists.
JOAT, the Montreal street dance festival produced by Danse Danse, will take place this year from August 29 to September 4 at the Place des Arts esplanade. At the heart of the many activities on offer, you can attend the JOAT Battles, these confrontations between dancers led by a DJ and a master of ceremonies. The 16 best dancers will meet at Club Soda for a final contest that will establish a winner. Last year, JOAT won the Jury Prize from the Conseil des arts de Montréal.
