Tiny Fest 2023 Day 2: A Captivating Showcase of Underground Music
Worst Dad Ever, a booking company that hosts DIY festivals and shows, presented Tiny Fest 2023 in collaboration with Casa Del Popolo in Montreal on October 6th and 7th. Despite the name, this year’s Tiny Fest #3 celebrated local singers, musicians, and bands of all genres, introducing Montrealers to new underground music.
The festival spanned two days, featured three venues offering specific concert and two-day passes, and was sponsored by CJLO and Norla Hats. Three local music venues on St-Laurent Boulevard, namely Casa Del Popolo, La Sotterenea, and La Sala Rossa, hosted the events in style. On the rainy Saturday evening of October 7th, Tiny Fest kept Montreal music lovers engaged across the three venues.
Have you ever experienced listener’s anxiety? It’s the tendency to feel nervous before listening to new music or exposing yourself to different music genres. As I stood there waiting for the festival to begin, I briefly grappled with listener’s anxiety.
The lonely bartender in front of me prepared and ate his aromatic dinner before the space began to fill up. People helped themselves to beer, shots, and mixed drinks from the bar menu, while I stood there with a glass of water, still feeling anxious.
Deer Scout, an indie musician from Brooklyn, New York, warmed up the slowly growing audience in the concert room at Casa Del Popolo. Her voice initially cracked as she began singing her 2022 release, “Afterthought”.
On her second attempt, she amazed us all. The soothing indie country song quieted the chatter in the room and in my mind. Listener’s anxiety was no longer an issue for me as I eased into the mood of the evening. Deer Scout also treated the well-behaved crowd to a cover of Alex G’s “Powerful Man” which received enthusiastic cheers
I am Streaming Mushrooms wasn’t the name of an edible confectionary available at the venue; it was the title of the album by the band Westelaken from Toronto, Ontario, who took the stage next. Their style combines elements of alt-country and indie folk, featuring emotive vocals by Jordan Seccareccia.
“Fixed Up By Orange Light” injected an uptempo burst into the evening and quickly became one of my favourites from their album. People danced and swayed with earplugs in as the deafening speakers were on full blast enhancing the whole performance, which stood as a testament to how much the band’s music was adored that night.
As a member of the audience, I found myself fully immersed in the feeling, involuntarily closing my eyes for the full experience. I indulged in their track “Fossilhead,” the second-longest song on their album.
In conclusion, Tiny Fest 2023 was a memorable musical journey, featuring many standout performances that showcased the festival’s commitment to celebrating local, raw, underground music, leaving the audience thoroughly engaged and enchanted.
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