In Montreal, the journalist Louis-Philippe Messier is mainly on the run, with his office in his backpack, looking for fascinating topics and people. He speaks to everyone and is interested in all areas of life in this city chronicle.
The igloo festival will rarely live up to its name like this weekend in Montreal, where the mercury has to drop to almost minus 30 degrees Celsius for a appreciated feeling sometimes below minus 40.
Since its inception in 2007, the Old Port Winter Electronic Music Festival has never been canceled due to extreme cold.
Unless there is a last-minute change, the event will take place tonight. Festival-goers are advised to cover up generously.
“We’re used to the cold, it’s part of the event’s DNA,” says Barbara Philip, explaining the communication of this festival, which has a habit of calling its customers “Warriors of the Cold”.
“I can’t wear gloves, I need my fingers for my work,” DJ Tallandskiinny, who I spoke to last night before his performance, tells me.
Luckily for them, heaters form a kind of climate chamber around the artists.
A type of plexiglass windshield in front of the console helps form a shell effect and blocks out most of the weather.
Warm clothing
For poorly prepared artists, the igloo festival offers an arsenal of clothing from hats, scarves, mittens, etc.
Photo agency QMI, Thierry Laforce
Staff regularly come to warm up and eat in a caravan.
“In 2019, the artist Four Tet performed at minus 30,” recalls stage manager Guillaume Mathieu.
“Every time he stopped using a turntable, I would use the blower to clear the snow. »
Photo agency QMI, Thierry Laforce
Bar employees have glowing heaters to keep their backs warm.
The ground floor is surrounded by buildings that (somewhat) cut off the wind. Pub workers get their rinds tanned by glowing rays.
“The attendants spend a maximum of one hour between breaks in a trailer,” says operations manager Julien Brière.
The dance to warm up
One of the noticeable effects of the crowd of dancers: this effervescence creates a lot of heat!
“When it’s colder, people dance harder. »
I have no doubts about the bravery of the “igloo festivaliers”, but something tells me that the pavilion with (heated) bar will be busier than usual.
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