When people speak of Parc Jean-Drapeau, a few things may come to mind. The open space, the iconic landmarks and the many paths you can leisurely walk to make it an ideal location for many events and festivals. It even hosts the prestigious Grand Prix of Canada. One very interesting fact of the islands is that they are partially man-made, as extensions and Notre Dame Island are made entirely from the fill dug out during the construction of the Montreal Métro back in 1967.

Like many of you know it is the yearly site of the massive festival île Soniq famous for its extensive bookings and over the top stages. Electronic music’s heavy-hitting mainstream artists like Tiësto are among the acts that reappear year by year. These artists play for upwards of 45,000 attendees as the production team delivers new ways to keep the festival feeling fresh and fun. Over the past three years the roster has seen a steady increase in the amount of artist the are considered to come from the underground cultural scene. Riva Starr, Lane 8, Eats Everything, Claude Vonstroke, Green Velvet and Tiga have all been invited in the past to showcase their sound to a younger and less versatile crowd. So far so good as the responses has been very positive keeping festival goers longing for the next year.

This time around, however, the team has taken a approach that will change the dynamics of the festival for the future. The addition of a fully dedicated underground stage is what we are talking about. We are very pleased to announce the confirmation of Damian Lazarus, Kerri Chandler, Eekkoo, Eli & Fur, Fur Coat, and Claude Vonstroke & Nymra & Sophisticated from the line-up that was released yesterday. When I spoke to Anthony D’Urbano, chief Front Riter and Social Media Coordinator for île Soniq he told me: “It’s a great commitment to a darker niche of melodic house and techno.”

Stay tuned for more as we will keep you updated in the following months!


Article by Andres (Husa Sounds)