Prince Palu's FME 2024 Preview
Here in Quebec, there is an annual phenomenon that takes place right around this time of year. As the summer begins to wind down there is a parallel excitement that begins to build, because for those in the know, it means that it is almost time for the Festival De Musique Émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, more commonly referred to by melomaniacs as FME. Tucked away in the quiet mining town of Rouyn-Noranda - located roughly seven hours north of Montréal, close to the Ontario border - this festival has been going strong for over two decades, shining a light on emerging artists and building a beautiful network of exchange between artists and music enthusiasts. The four day party that will see 89 artists performing on 15 stages sprinkled around town, kicks off this Thursday, August 29, and promises to be another precious jewel in the crown of achievement for this little festival that could.
It has been three years since my first and last experience with FME and I have been pining away for my return. Thankfully that will come to an end when I jump in the car with ol’ Oncle Ian and set out for the seven hours journey to this oasis of the North. (It should be noted that Quebec is so fricken large that it is another 1600 km above Rouyn-Noranda to reach the most extreme northernmost point in Quebec, Cap Wolstenholme.) Now I have done enough of these types of festivals to know that it is a fool's game to try and predict what you are going to see and do, but I can tell you some of the shows that I am hoping to see. As with all festivals that are spread out over multiple days in multiple venues, the number one nemesis for all attendees is the dreaded overlap in scheduling. There are always difficult decisions to make when deciding what to see and what you’ll have to miss, but we won’t worry about those decisions right now. Right now we are only going to celebrate all the possibilities of this most excellent 22nd jubilee of music and fun.
Thursday, August 29
Show de la rentrée - Événement SiriusXM at Main Stage (7th St.)
On the main stage right in the hub on 7th Street in downtown Rouyn-Noranda, the festival kicks off with a quadruple bill that perfectly encapsulates what FME is all about and gives a clear understanding of what any of the newcomers and uninitiated spectators can expect over the next four days. Starting off with the genre blending stylings of Duprince recording artist HAWA B, the music project led by Montréal singer-songwriter Nadia Hawa Baldé. Her music dips into equal parts jazz, soul and rock, to create a seductive and mysterious sound. Her debut album, Better Sad Than Sorry, will be released in November 2024. Next up will be Oakland, California’s ensemble Orchestra Gold, led by Mariam Diakite, who blends traditional Malian music with the Afro-Beat funk-psychedelia of Fela Kuti. Singing in her native language, Bambara, only adds to the intrigue of this cosmic rhythmic juggernaut. It is always hard to say at this time, but this might well be “the band” to see at this year's festival. No disrespect to all the other artists on the program. Following Orchestra Gold will be the hottest hipster band at the moment, and I mean that as the highest of compliments and not as a hipster-like sneering comment. Brooklyn, NY’s BODEGA, an art-punk five piece, are using indie-rock as a platform for a cultural and anti-corporate revolution. Their latest album, Our Brand Could Be Your Life, is at once both a tip of the cap to the DIY 80s music underground chronicled in Michael Azerrad's 2001 book Our Band Could Be Your Life - a must read for any music fan - and a shot at the corporatization and the concept of “branding” in music in this post-TikTok world that we live in. The album has been described as “fuzz soaked, consumerism-skewing”, so you have to ask yourself, “What’s not to like?!” This party will be rounded out by the return of Montréal rock royalty as Karkwa makes their much anticipated return to the stage after over a decade. The Polaris winning quintet are still the only French language album to win the prestigious award and promise to leave all who attend the opening night show speechless and full of energy. That last part is really important when you are planning on doing the whole four days/nights. Throw in Montréal music scene mover-and-shaker Pat de Brat on DJ duties throughout the event and it is an event to not be missed.
Last Waltzon & zouz at Cabaret de la dernière chance (146 8th St. E.)
It is extremely maddening that this early into our plan-making portion of the FME spectaculars, we already have our first conflict, but as we said in the opening rant, this is not the time to try and fix those problems. This is the time to revel in all the possibilities and understand that too much of a good thing is not something to be sad about. Besides, if you talk with any festival veteran they will tell you that the trick is catching a bit of each show when you find yourself at a crossroads with a complete lack of resolution. That said, the next showcase that you need to know about is happening at my personal favourite venue in Rouyn-Noranda, Cabaret de la dernière chance. Once you experience it you will understand why and fall in love with this wooden walled slice of paradise. On this Thursday evening they present a one-two punk rock punch of Last Waltzon and zouz. One Anglophone, one Francophone, proving that there is no language divide in the arts. Maybe we should get some of those politicians, who always seem to want to stir up those old political divisions, to come down for this show and see that we are all done with that old BS. Politics aside, this is gonna be a banger of a show. Starting the night off, will be the blistering mayhem that is Last Waltzon. These boys have been whipping up a frenzy with every show that they have played over the past two years, and there is no doubt that the high energy rock and roll performance that has become their trademark is the perfect fit for an opening night. Don’t be surprised if you wake-up, pogoing out of bed with “Down Under” or “Rehash”, two of their latest singles, still bouncing around inside your head. If that was not enough, the power trio zouz, newly signed to Simone Records, appear to be on a “take no prisoners” type of run with their blend of hardcore punk and the eerie psychedelic sonics of early Black Sabbath, they will be the perfect compliment to the Last Waltzon.
Friday, August 30
Bonbonbon 5th Anniversary Party - Allô Fantôme, Félix Dyotte & Ada Oda at Cabaret de la dernière chance (146 8th St. E.)
Day two is really when the whole festival gets into your DNA. By the time this rockin’ party rolls around at 8:00 PM, we will have seen and done so much, but most of that is the “decide in the moment” or “follow your new friends” kind of decision making. It’ll all be about discovering new artists and making new contacts. This is a “we marked it down in pen” kind of plan, then we can head back to our favourite stomping grounds (this of course is assuming that Ian too will fall in love with Cabaret de la dernière chance, which I know he will) to catch the Bonbonbon 5th Year celebration. First up is Allô Fantôme, the dynamic music project of Samuel Gendron (Mort Rose, Blood Skin Atopic) that evokes thoughts of McCartney-esque pop, with its piano driven melodies and playful arrangements. Given how much we have loved this band's music from the get go, it is shocking that this will be our first time seeing them live. But as my mother used to always tell me, better late than never. Allô Fantôme will release their debut full length album in November. Next up is Félix Dyotte, an award winning songwriter and former front man of Chinatown. Dyotte has the kind of voice that can ease the most troubling of days, and as the FME website says so succinctly, “transports with sensitivity through lyrical flights and epic arrangements.” Could not have said it better myself so I did not try. Just trust that if you make the effort to see this man sing you will not be disappointed. The final act of this triple bill is sure to get the dance floor bouncing. Ada Oda, the first non-Québec artist signed to Bonbonbon booking agency, are an Italian post-punk band based in Brussels, blending 80s rock rhythms with Italian pop sensibilities. It is a dance party waiting to happen and the appropriate conclusion to this excellent showcase.
Grand Public & Feeling Figures at Le QG salle de spectacles (11 Ave Principale)
To end the second night is another great one-two punch of Franco and Anglo artistic unity. First up is the angular guitar driven indie rock of Grand Public, whose debut album, Sensations Diversions, came out earlier this year on Lisbon Lux Records. Like Ada Oda and zouz, this is another new discovery and as with those other two, one that I am so happy has been made. There is a throwback sound to their album that reminds me of the era when The Go-Go Radio Magic Show began, albeit with a French twist that adds another layer of pleasantry. I’m sure if we get the chance to speak with Grand Public, bands like Interpol and The Strokes leant a little bit of influence on their sound. As someone who loves those bands, that is delivered with the highest of compliments. Following Grand Public, is one of my favourite Montréal bands and people who I consider friends, or at least acquaintances that I really like and admire, Feeling Figures. As an added bonus, they also have a CJLO connection as our former Music Director, Zakary Slax, is one of the co-founders of this band with his equally awesome partner Kay Moon, which adds to the deep love we have for this outstanding quartet. Listening to their debut album, Migration Magic, released at the end of last year on legendary K Records, is like being transported back to all our favourite things about rock music in the 90s, when ol’ Ian and I were coming of age. That is not to say that they are some novelty act, there is a 21st century spin on the songs that also make them sound fresh and timeless. When we finally got to see them live at La Sala Rossa, for Taverne Tour back in February, they confirmed everything that we thought about them, they are a must see and will most likely become one of your favourite bands too, if they already aren’t.
Saturday, August 31
Les racines du hip-hop au Québec Block Party at Main Stage (7th St.)
Saturday is when FME kicks into full gear as it is now the weekend and everyone can come out and join the party. There are earlier shows than this Block Party presented by Télé-Québec, but when you are the age we are you know not to push it, so we will see how we feel in the morning before we commit to anything earlier. However, this Block Party right in the centre of the festival is the perfect way to jump back into the fury. Bringing together B-Boys and B-Girls for a breakdancing performance, a number of Québec rappers and DJ Felix B on the turntables to celebrate hip-hop culture and its place in Québec music history. Don’t be surprised if you see Ian doing some poppin’ and lockin’ before the afternoon festivities are done.
Shunk, Lemongrab, PyPy at Cabaret de la dernière chance (146 8th St)
This show is a post-punk music fan's wet dream. First up is Shunk who have quickly taken their rightful place at the top of the Montréal music scene. Fronted by Gabrielle Domingue, easily one of the most mesmerizing front women you are ever going to have the pleasure to witness, driven by Peter Baylis angular, stabbing guitar, and all held together by the thumping rhythm section of drummer Adrian Vaktor and bass player Julia Hill, a beautiful convergence of his jazz sensibility and her punk roots. They have just released their first single, “Goblin,” that is the splendid distillation of what this band brings to the stage, but should not be confused with all that they can bring. There are many layers to this band and it needs to be experienced to fully understand it. Next up is a band that started in Montréal but is now based in Berlin, Lemongrab. This five piece would have fit in perfectly on a bill with Television at CBGB or Iggy Pop at SO36, meaning that they are punk in the purest sense of the word. The bouncing rhythms combined with the jagged guitar lines of their songs make it nearly impossible to stop your body from moving. Closing out the night is PyPy, which is a meeting of Duchess Says and Red Mass, two legendary Montréal bands (the members of this band have been in so many other bands it would be silly to try and list them all here, but those two give you a good idea of who they are). Recently signed to Memphis,TN’s legendary label Goner Records, their long anticipated second album is set for release in the coming months. You may have noticed that the word “legendary” was used more than once and that should give you some kind of appreciation for what is about to unfold at this show.
Douance, The Wesleys & Gab Bouchard at Le Paramount (15 Gamble St. W)
This is where we are going to have to rely on our two decades of experience as radio heroes and figure out how to bounce between the show above and this one. Douance, Alexandrine Rodrigue’s musical alter-ego, describes their music as, “sincere and bold … the consolidation of beauty and shame, an ode to vulnerability and a cry to eternal love before its end,” and after listening to the debut album, Monstre, I gotta say they hit the nail on the head. Co-produced with Les Hay Babies’ Vivianne Roy and released earlier this year on Custom Records, Monstre blends 90s Grunge lo-fi influences with a light indie touch. With over a decade of experience playing the Québec music circuit, Douance is ready for take off. Up next is The Wesleys, and anyone who knows us it should come as no shock that they made our list. These fellas are more like family than just another band. The first full length album released on Ian’s Petit Village Records and four of our favourite human beings on the planet. We have had the pleasure of watching this band play and grow for the past two years and can honestly tell you, with no bias, that they get better every time we see them and never fail to deliver a banger of a show. With an LP’s worth of new songs and a well honed back catalogue of killer tunes, this is one of the bands that you do not want to miss. Rounding out the night is Gab Bouchard, who along with four mates (Pierre-Olivier Gagnon, Mathieu Quenneville, Zachary Boileau, and Victor Tremblay-Desrosiers) accurately christened The Cool Band. Blending country, folk, pop and soul into a fully realised vision that pulls influences from so many places but distils them into something new and fresh. Having never seen Bouchard before we are excited to go along for the ride, as we’ve been told it is an emotional rollercoaster that’ll have us swooning and jumping in equal measures.
Sunday, September 1
Erik Fines & Hezekiah Procter at Les Mooses (152 Perreault St. E.)
The itinerary for the last day of the festival will once again start with a late afternoon show that might actually not be the start of the day. There are so many surprise shows at FME it is hard to know how the day will actually unfold, but for now we are starting at the 5 à 7 with Erik Fines and Hezikiah Procter (the new project and alias of Li'l Andy). Anyone who has been around the music scene down in Montréal’s Sud-Ouest district the past few years knows very well who Erik Fines is, and if you do not then this is the day that you can correct that. Fines spent many years hosting the Bar de Courcelle’s famous open mike night and playing with a number of people as a session man and auxiliary live performance band member. At the end of 2022 Fines decided to step out of his Rock and Roll comfort zone and try his hand at Country music and the result was the incredible EP Country Ghosts. This extremely talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is a no-brainer for starting your Sunday music adventure. The Complete Recordings of Hezekiah Procter (1925 - 1930) is a concept album by Li’l Andy, centred around a fictitious country music legend, Hezekiah Procter, and recorded using antique equipment from the 1930s to create an authentic 78-rpm era sound. You had us at “concept album”!
Joe Grass, Petite Amie & The Brooks at Le Paramount (15 Gamble St. W.)
Going from the old-timey roots of that 5 à 7 show to the “deconstructed timeless country music and making it kaleidoscopic” that is the genius of Joe Grass’ 2023 album, Falcon’s Heart, seems like a perfect segue into what will be a blowout closing night celebration. A fixture in the Montreal music scene the past 20 years, Grass has collaborated with a who’s-who of Montreal musicians, including Lhasa, Patrick Watson, the Barr Brothers, and most recently Elisapie, but Grass has always written his own music as well. Getting a chance to see him perform it at Le Paramount is too good to pass up. Petite Amie is another of the international acts on the schedule. Hailing from Mexico City, they play a style of rock music infused with heavy doses of psychedelia and pop. Fuzzy guitar intertwining with swirling synthesizers, and sung in both French and Spanish, Petite Amie have been carving out a place for themselves in the global framework with numerous festival appearances and becoming darlings of KEXP, NPR, and KCRW along the way. If my word is not enough to sway you, maybe those radio heavyweights can. Finally, we come to the closer and what better way to end this musical journey that we’ve all shared than with the funk and soul power of The Brooks? A supergroup of Montréal music veterans, led by the icon Alan Prater, these fellas have been killing it on festival stages all over the world and we have the privilege to see them do their thing in this intimate setting. C’mon, it doesn’t get better than that.
Ok, I know that was a lot, but it really is only scratching the surface of what will be going on at FME. Just remember to go with an open mind and be ready to see things you were not planning to and maybe not seeing everything that you had hoped to. There are no missed shows at these kinds of festivals, just new opportunities. Have fun and say hi if you see us.
Prince Palu is the co-host of The Go-Go Radio Magic Show with Oncle Ian every Friday at 6pm!
Staff Login | Advertise | Our Location | RSS | Contact Us
