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AIM Electronic Music Festival: Innovation with a fun-loving spirit- Are you in?
CJLO is celebrating the first edition of the most exciting new music festival in Quebec. That's right, we're sending 5 people and their best friends to Montreal's AIM Electronic Music Festival this weekend FOR FREE! Contest details here... But what's AIM all about, you might ask?
Well, when you look at the festival's lineup and see headliners such as Pig & Dan, Four Tet, and Kerri Chandler playing beside Tesla Boy, Shaydakiss, Shash'u - you'll notice that AIM isn't your average EDM festival at all.
AIM is first and foremost a festival that features less mainstream genres of electronic dance music such as Detroit House and Techno, and situates them in the extremely successful European-style model of a festival experience. This type of festival typically includes free or paid camping and a scenic location as well as other activities for festival goers when the amazing music just isn't enough. International acts include Guy J from Israel, The Martinez Brothers from New York, and Paranoid London from well...London. Yet, AIM still maintains the distinct flair and fun-loving spirit that is unique to Quebec's underground electronic music culture through the multitude of local acts that keep us warm year-round at Piknik Electronik and Igloofest.
Another thing that makes AIM stand out from other festivals is the waterfront and forest-backed location of the festivities which will be a perfect compliment the excellent weather that's forecasted for the weekend. The festival takes place on the historic battle grounds of Parc Carillion in the grassy, tucked-away town of St.Andre-D'Argenteuil during St. Jean Baptiste weekend. AIM chose this location not only because of its beauty, but also because it provides ample space for dancing, the camping spots are available on-site all weekend, plus the availability of soccer and volleyball courts. AIM attendees are either safe to fall asleep to the divine sound of 32 hours of non-stop music, or get their game on at all hours of the day or night.
All in all; AIM Festival is an event that pays tribute to Quebec's history and future, and of course, our vast lineup of musical, culinary, and visual talents. Between the lineup (with killer visuals from some of Montreal's best and literally brightest electronic visual artists), the camping, the artist workshops, the sports areas, the variety of local food trucks on-site... we don't know what the most exciting aspect of this weekend will be. So come on down and discover the Art Innovation Movement experience for yourself. Bring a tent, some munchies, and some good vibes. Its going to be an occasion you don't want to miss.
The fun starts Friday at 3pm. For full line-up, schedule, tickets and more information, visit AIM's website.
Thinkbox hosts The Machine Stops: Fridays 9 to 10am and will be covering AIM for CJLO.
Wednesday June 24, 2015
Hosted by Catlin Spencer
Stories by Catlin Spencer
Produced by Emeline Vidal
News for Wednesday, June 24th 2015
AIM Electronic Music Festival- June 26-27-28- Giveaway Madness: TODAY!!
Who is up for a Montreal AIM Electronic Music Festival adventure? 3 days, 32 hours of non-stop music & camping- June 26-27-28 at a National Historic Site: Parc Carillon? CJLO - 1690AM & AIM Electronic Music Festival want to send you and a friend to the inaugural year of Montreal's newest music festival featuring: Tiga, Jamie xx, Wolf + Lamb, Four Tet, Pig&Dan, Bedouin, The Martinez Brothers, Shaydakiss, Kevin Saunderson, Martin Buttrich, Pachanga Boys, Auntie Flo, MightyKat et plus! Full line-up details here.
Text CJLO your name and "AIM" 514-848-7471 for a chance to win these sweet double wknd passes to make your summer!
June 22nd 2015
Hosted by Danny Aubry
Stories written by Patricia Petit Liang + Saturn De Los Angeles
Produced by Saturn De Los Angeles
News stories for Monday, June 22nd 2015
By Saturn De Los Angeles
The STM is hoping the new Metro cars will be ready for use at the end of this year.
According to the Montreal Gazette, the La Pocatière-based plant owned by the Bombardier/Alstom consortium, is on its way to completing the production of the new AZUR-branded cars.
The plant had shut down temporarily late last year following a misunderstanding between the software manufacturer Ansaldo STS, and the consortium, taking away 245 jobs.
But early this Spring, the Quebec government intervened with some financial backing worth 31.5 million dollars in order to keep the plant in operation.
The cost of the 468 new cars comes at a total of 2.4 million dollars. Half has been devoted to infrastructure upgrades and financing charges.
With testing already in place in the past several months during overnight hours, the new cars will replace the existing trains running on the Orange and Yellow lines.
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By Patricia Petit Liang
Canadians celebrated indigenous culture on National Aboriginal Day last Sunday, June 21st.
According to CTV News, events such as pow-wows, marches and solstice celebrations were held all across Canada to celebrate the heritage, diversity and achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people in Canada.
It was also a somber day for many, as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report shows that Canada committed cultural genocide through its use of the Residential School system.
With this long history of abuse still affecting countless lives, family members of Canada’s missing and murdered indigenous women marched together to create awareness and to show support for their community.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper released a statement on Sunday, urging Canadians to learn more about indigenous people and their contributions to Canadian history.
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By Saturn De Los Angeles
In India's capital New Delhi, more than 35,000 people celebrated National Yoga Day, on June 21st.
According to ABC News Australia, the United Nations-sanctioned celebration was hosted by prime minister Narendra Modi, who happens to be a big fan of the practice.
The occasion set a new world record for the largest number of people participating in a single yoga session; and brought together Christians, Muslims, and Hindus in the same space with colorful yoga mats just before sunrise.
Modi called on June 21st to "commemorate peace, harmony and "to train the human mind to scale heights."
Secretary General Ram Madhavi from Modi's political party considers yoga as India's greatest contribution to humankind.
DVD copies of the 35-minute routine, made by the Prime Minister's personal yogi were sent to Indian missions overseas in advance of Sunday's event to hold their own yoga events.
FRINGE 2015: Beat Sexü at Le Divan Orange
It was Thursday night. June 18th. While you could hear the loud raindrops outside on the streets of Montreal, the music pouring in was much louder inside Le Divan Orange.
Of the three bands scheduled to play on stage, the headliner, Pif Paf Hangover, went on just a few minutes before midnight. The six-year-old band - composed of Maxo, Jo, Frank, and Manu - are all experienced musicians. With that kind of street cred, you'd know Le Divan would be a full house. Their rendition of songs from their 2014 EP Curry Love, was quite pop-rock-electro-funk-whatshouldwecallit kind of sound… Their performance was on point.
While calling Montreal their home in recent years, Pif Paf actually hails from the town of St-Jérôme, just northwest of Montreal.
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The evening's second second act was Human Human, a band composed all of high school friends from St-Bruno-de-Montarville, a tiny town located south east of Montreal in the South Shore. All dressed in super-tight business suits for their performance, they are all about the rock n’ roll energy, and the Brit Pop, and the Chill Wave, and the…
Oh wait I totally forgot where I was going with that last sentence. Their break-loose/feel-free music tends to give away that vibe, I guess.
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And then, the opening act. No one had a clue when they were supposed to start since the online listings don't match. Eventually the band we're talking about started playing at 9:45.
That band was called Beat Sexü, and their name had everything it promised to deliver. The members were donned in gold and glitter, projecting psychedelically remixed footage from old educational documentaries in the background, and gave a stellar performance that should be worthy of a full house at the Metropolis. All that for a crowd of less than two dozen. After all, they were tasked with the hardest job of motivating a half empty room (or half-full, whatever way you wanna look at it) of Montreal concert-goers who had no idea who they are.
In their own words, Beat Sexü is "... un cocktail sexy inspiré du dance-punk, du disco et de l’électro-rock. L’expérience live comprend également l’amalgame de charmantes vidéos rétro qui complètent de façon exquise l’effet Sexü”. In other words, it is a one-of-a-kind sexy cocktail drink that gives off a very fascinating sexü effect. Interesting.
The bandmates are Jean-Étienne Collin Marcoux on vocals and drums; Maxine Maille on vocals and keyboard; Jean-Michel Letendre Veilleux on vocals and guitar; Symon Marcoux on bass; and Antoine Bordeleau as the projectionist. With the exception of Antoine who is based in Montreal, all of the members are based in Quebec City, On top of all that, this band is considered as giants in the Quebec CIty's underground music scene, headlining Le Pantoum, a refurbished loft-slash-studio space located on St-Vallier. Opened since 2012, the space is dedicated to promoting and bringing together Quebec City artists.
They are dynamic, plain fun to watch, and quite democratic. They even let the crowd choose between listening to one of their latest songs or a cover of a current Quebec City band. That’s the thing - they are definitely on the way to being Champions of their Local Scene. Among all their other individual projects and engagements, they’ve been working hard on a collaborative cover album with Quebec City's underground artists. That's definitely something to look forward to.
Not bad for a band born out of a misunderstood joke in the span of three days in early 2014. No kidding, just look 'em up.
Their EP, "Première Fois is now on Bandcamp for free if you want to take a listen.
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Frantz-Patrice Séïde Cameau is part of CJLO’s Official Fringe Team covering the sights and sounds from the 2015 St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival.
You can contact Frantz by via email: lobster.mtl@gmail.com
FRINGE 2015: Myth Mirrors Punk & Allie Weigh's Inn - Deciphering the human experience
Life is all about stories. Whether that's the latest TV show we shamelessly binge on or a feel-good bedtime tale we anticipate when we're young, stories spark both our curiosity to learn about the world and ourselves.
Notably, stories of the human experience come in all shapes and sizes. Some wonderful. Others upsetting. Many fascinating.
Just a few blocks down Mont-Royal Metro station, you will find a cozy petite coffee shop tucked inside the heart of the Plateau neighborhood, called Café Tuyo. Inside houses a pair of some of the most emotionally riveting performances about life at the 2015 Montreal Fringe Festival - packaged, shaped, and shared together in all of its succulent Fringe-yness for all to devour.
In Myth Mirrors Punk, Carole TenBrink and Magali Desjardins Potvin are a fun pair to witness together, as each take their own turn in delivering a unique perspective to their own personal stories, segmented by intervals of silence, awe and reflection. Their respective manner of storytelling effectively sets the mood of each moment, of each anecdote, and of each personal lesson embedded within. These two talented spoken-word storytellers complement each other with tact - one with calmness, the other with feistiness. One fascinating story about an indigenous icon complements a personal story of defying the social norm of being both a woman and a senior in her retirement years. It is definitely a rotation of two talented performers from two opposite ends that harmonize so well.
And perhaps it is how these wonderful folks have integrated the stereotypically defiant theme of "punk" that makes this play charming in the first place. It does not hit you with the cliché ideals of anarchy many people tend to associate. Instead, it invigorates your soul and you realize that it is okay to stand up for something that you feel can make a difference not just for yourself, but for the people you care about.
Similarly enough, Allie Weigh's Inn doesn't veer away from that radical spirit of defying the norm- vying to be a unique individual in an unpredictable and socially conforming universe. With Allie Weigh's show, her personal stories are all brought out in a much more intimate and introspective manner. Through her various monologues, you experience her personal journey from childhood, teenhood, adulthood, parenthood, and beyond as she pours out what she has learned being in almost every kind of adventure she has gone through.
Since life is tough for all, it was a relief that this play provided soothing violin intermissions to comfort the audience. Come to think of it, when you're collectively experiencing a personal hour-long roller coaster journey through love, lust, victory, loss, and reconciliation, it's good to know that you're not alone. It's comforting to know that you're not only discovering more about Allie via her life stories, but you're also learning about yourself. This play has a very distinct charm in storytelling that shouldn't be taken for granted. Is it the violin? Is it the way she delivers her stories? Maybe it is her personal experience that connects the audience. Maybe it is all of the above.
Whatever the answer may be, her voice - as manifested in various tones and mindsets - brings in a sense of authenticity to the way she presents herself.
With hundreds of Fringe shows out there, it is completely normal not to know which production you’d want to see. However, no matter what show you choose, there is a certain charm that comes within Fringe territory. Whether it is your first festival experience, or your umpteenth time, each performance showcases a slice of the human experience being shared to the public in the raw. Carefully orchestrated yet full of unpredictability; spontaneous in nature yet full of enthusiasm. There is passion, there is dedication, and there is a lot of heart.
For those who lean on the kind of good old back-to-basics storytelling experience, Allie Weigh's Inn and Myth Mirrors Punk were just some of the shows that stood out. Even long after the festival has drawn to a close, these local storytellers have something insightful to bring to the table in celebrating the wisdom of the human experience.
To learn more about the people behind these plays and to keep up to date with what they have in store, follow the creators of Myth Mirrors Punk here, and Allie Weigh's Inn here.
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Saturn De Los Angeles is part of CJLO’s Official Fringe Team covering the sights and sounds from the 2015 St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival. Saturn also hosts Shibuya Crossing every Wednesday afternoon from 2 – 4pm, and is a member of the CJLO News Team.
News for June 19th, 2015
Two Montreal taxi drivers are facing 11 charges including theft, fraud and conspiracy, after using a device to skim customers PIN numbers and draining their accounts.
According to the CBC, Mohamad Fadel and Ayman Hajj Ali allegedly stole 400 000 dollars from customers between December 2014 and June 2015.
The second part of former Senator Mike Duffy's trial concluded on Wednesday.
Duffy is facing 31 charges, including breach of trust, bribery and fraud.
The senator used an official line of credit for his personal expenses, which would be repaid by former chief of staff Nigel Wright.
According to CBC News, the last days consisted of a voire dire, a process during which the prosecution and the defendant argue for evidence to be considered or dismissed during the trial.
Judge Vaillancourt still has to determine if and how much of the lawyers' testimony is admissible before the trial resumes in August.
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After a 14 hour manhunt, Dylann Storm Roof was arrested in North Carolina for allegedly killing nine people at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina.
According to the New York times, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the F.B.I. and the United States Attorney’s Office for South Carolina are investigating the nature of the shooting, as many believe that it was a hate crime.
President Obama addressed the nation on Wednesday, brought up the issues of race and gun control as well as quoting Martin Luther King.
The community congregated in a nearby church as a display of unity.
June 19th, 2015
Hosted by: Julian McKenzie
Stories by: Catlin Spencer, Emeline Vidal, Patricia Petit-Liang
Produced by: Emeline Vidal
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