- Enjoying dance music outside at sunset might sound like dream material for many North American enthusiasts, discouraged by the plethora of festivals prioritizing hard partying over the music itself. Montreal's Piknic Electronik, however, doesn't have to try hard to distance itself from grittier fare, and once you step through the gate, the differences become obvious. Situated in a sunny park on a tiny island just outside the downtown core, attendees abandon the bustle of the city via a short subway ride. With an entire train sharing the same common destination, the feeling of community continues through the crowd on arrival and extends to the local and international-scale performers, many of whom qualify as both thanks to Montreal's strong electronic music scene.
Piknic's organizers wisely cater their lineup to as wide of an audience as possible, usually resulting in a massive turnout, with this year's inaugural weekend smashing previous records. Deeming it a "Piknic" and being so accessible primes Montrealers for a good time, so much so that many choose to attend without knowing who's playing.
This year is Piknic's tenth, reflecting both its own growth as an event as well as the growth of Montreal's electronic scene in general. Sunday's festivities were a shining example of the cross-section between home-grown and imported talent they strive to deliver, with Son Raw, Jacques Greene, Ikonika, Lunice and Machinedrum all lined up to hold down the main stage.
Having Jacques Greene play while things were still warming up was a good idea: although he's a high-calibre DJ who's accustomed to far more than the sparse 5 PM Piknic crowd, he's also a native Montrealer who knows the vibe. Consequently, he played a dynamic and perfectly appropriate set, ranging from George Fitzgerald to Daphni to loosen up the crowd, and the addition of zealous MC Ian InVncble injected extra enthusiasm. His set ended on a high note with Shlohmo's remix of The Weeknd's "Crew Love."
Ikonika turned things in a deeper direction but still tore up the dance floor by interjecting more colourful bits from Girl Unit and Shed as time went on before surprisingly mixing Timbaland into her own work. Up next was Lunice, also representing Montreal, with another palette that was distinct from his predecessors. His charming on-stage persona makes it impossible not to have fun while he's performing. Though Piknic is diverse by nature, it rarely strays as far into hip-hop and rap territory as Lunice took things, playing many of his favourites plus his own work, from Waka Flocka Flame to TNGHT.
Machinedrum's charisma gelled seamlessly with the ride-or-die attitude that had carried on all day, and he closed out the night with a set of his own music. I wasn't sure about scheduling a headliner with a sound that risked feeling a bit esoteric or alienating with such a mixed audience, but his lively footwork, juke and jungle hybrids swept the crowd off their feet. By the time he finished up, everyone was shouting for an encore.
This image alone captures the best part of Piknic Electronik, which brings genuinely talented artists to an open-minded crowd, who can be won over by merit. The sense of connectedness lingers long after the park empties out, and in its tenth year Piknic has established itself as a staple weekend activity here in Montreal. Here's to the last ten years, Piknic. Hopefully there are many more to come.