As we approach a 14-hour double feature that will close their ‘Les Jardins d’Illusion’ first summer season in great fashion, we sit down with Mokrane Ouzane, founder of Illusion Festival.
When is this big night? What is it?
This Friday, September 13. We’re presenting you 14 hours of incredible music: thumping bass, addictive grooves, immaculate vibes, & heartwarming melodies. The journey is divided in two movements: EPILOGUE & ECHOS. EPILOGUE is a free event that starts @ 17:00 and ends @ 23:00 as we extend this special edition by two extra hours. ECHOS doors will open @ 22:00 at another location. We take the journey inside the warehouse until 07:00. Not for the faint of heart.
Where is it?
EPILOGUE is at the Jardins Gamelins, located dead center of Montreal city, right at the doors of Metro Berri-UQAM. It’s been our home for the summer and so we’re going to enjoy the sun there one last time, close the place in a proper manner.
ECHOS will take place at walking distance, on St. Laurent Street where we completely reinvented the Espace ESC location. Turbo Sound will be providing the frequencies. Complete bar & many surprises on site. We’re eager to have you there.
Who’s playing?
For EPILOGUE, we stacked up a wonderful local lineup consisting of 4 amazing DJ acts: Davian & violinist Marika Fellegi, Vie Sauvage, Anais Ley & Omni. These well experienced hands will slowly but surely put you into gear with some organic & progressive vibes.
At ECHOS, things get darker as frenchman Citizen Kain takes the lead. The man is internationally known for his releases on Tale Of Us’ Afterlife, Maceo Plex’s Ellum, Adriatique’s Siamese, Artbat’s Upperground, Oliver Huntemann’s Senso Sounds (to name but a few), as well as running his own Unseen record label. An incredible talent you don’t wanna miss. A few hard hitters have been added to the lineup, for incredibly strong support. Stereo Nightclub regular, Phenomena label boss & legit local legend Elias Erium joins him, as there’s no stopping his dark infectious grooves. From Mexico City, Boston Berklee University of Music graduate, Jossie Telch adds his psychedelic touch to the event. Illusion’s family favorites & great local talents Polard & Rabetrano will set the tone nicely.
How would you explain Illusion Festival to a newcomer?
Illusion Festival is the realization of a dream that began in 2017, born from a group of friends passionate about creation and equipped with diverse expertise and talents. Every year, we brought together around a hundred artists from the Quebec electronic scene, performers, digital art collectives, and live artists for five days of festivities in a transformed, idyllic natural setting. Our vision? To offer a space where artistic genres intersect, where experimentation thrives, and where wonder unfolds. Illusion is where magic happens, creativity comes to life, and the community grows richer through exchange and new perspectives.
What are ‘Les Jardins d’Illusion’?
‘Les Jardins d’Illusion’ is our new adventure, born from the desire to keep the spirit of electronic music alive in a different form. After putting the festival on hold, we had the opportunity to create unique events in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, thanks to the trust of Quartier des Spectacles, we became a programming partner at Jardins Gamelin. For us, it’s an opportunity to showcase the electronic music collectives that fuel local creativity and to democratize this culture by reaching a wider audience—from families to the elderly, as well as newcomers. Every Wednesday, we explore different styles of electronic music in downtown Montreal. It’s like a year-round festival: each night is a new discovery, a new collective, a new musical style. We even mix in reggae and dub, something we always dreamed of including in the festival. ‘Les Jardins d’Illusion’ is a space for sharing, diversity, and experimentation, open to all!
What makes Illusion so special?
What makes Illusion unique is, above all, its caring and respectful community that has managed to create a true magical bubble where everyone can escape the daily grind and reconnect with their inner child. We have always focused on scenography and programming that highlights local artists, while also inviting some international talents. Every event is designed as an immersive experience, where every set is handmade by a passionate team of volunteers with diverse skills: carpenters, painters, visual artists, engineers, project managers, motion designers, and many more. At Illusion, each edition is a new story to be lived. It’s a festival centered on techno, but not limited to it. It’s a space where creativity and craftsmanship merge to turn every moment into an unforgettable experience, shaped by skillful hands and passionate hearts.
What are the vision and values of the organization?
Our vision is to create a space where art, music, and community come together to create moments of escape and discovery. We believe in an inclusive and accessible culture where everyone can find their place and express themselves freely in all their diversity. Our values are based on kindness, respect, creativity, and collaboration. We are committed to supporting local artists while fostering exchanges with international talents. Every project we undertake aims to democratize electronic music and reach a broader audience. We value craftsmanship, handmade work, and a sense of community that drives us to create a more inspiring world, where each event invites wonder and connection. Our slogan: Live, create, share!
A question that’s on many people’s lips these days: will the Festival ever return? (Feel free to answer with humor and end on a cliffhanger, or we could skip it entirely—just having a bit of fun.)
Haha, I get asked this question a lot, and it touches me because I feel it has left lasting memories with our community. I take it as a thank you for our efforts, and it moves me. What I can say is that everything is in the works, but for now, we are focusing on lighter events that aim to bring the spirit of Illusion to Montreal. I can’t reveal too much, but we are planning some exciting new things for 2025, including a very special project that aims to transform the rave experience. In any case, the flame that drives us to create and share is still very much alive!
Thanks for taking the time & being with us today ! We’ll see you on Friday!
A true pleasure, really. We brought the magic of the deep forests to the heart of the city. Come & see for yourself this Friday, September 13. See you there! 😊
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