It was in the spirit of audacity and relevance that the FME concluded Sunday night on Kiwanis Beach, situated right in the heart of the city. A stage on the shores of the lake, a natural amphitheatre, and concerts by artists who marked the musical landscape of Quebec this year, including Klô Pelgag and Matt Holubowski. And as a finishing touch, a tribute concert to Richard Desjardins, Desjardins, on l’aime-tu!, presented for Desjardins himself for the first time, in the region of his birth. It was a moment rich with emotion, as the headliner from the very first edition of the festival was honoured, fifteen years later, by a lineup of Quebec artists who were all inspired by this great man. It was a memorable concert for the 12,000 people in attendance, and it fit in perfectly with the evolution of both the FME and Quebec’s musical landscape.
For fifteen years, the festival has managed to preserve the same formula: Concerts on a human scale, all taking place over four days of music and encounters, artists with a common goal, groundbreaking concerts presented for audiences of true music lovers, with truly innovative programming. The FME always delivers quality music, great networking, and wonderful conviviality in a city that sizzles with music and culture.
As such, it was necessary to reserve lodgings early in order to enjoy this anniversary edition. People are coming from ever further afield to come to the festival. This year’s edition was attended by more than 50 European music industry professionals and over 100 from Quebec and the rest of Canada. Even after the seemingly endless circuit of summer festivals, the FME is still a can’t-miss. It’s a kind of reunion, a family get-together for a dynamic Quebec music industry that has always wanted to do things on its own terms.
This year, an inspiring collaboration with the team from the Pikogan Pow-Wow allowed festivalgoers to immerse themselves in Anicinabe culture. With a sharing circle and the Makua show, among other events, people were invited to take the time to explore other cultures. It is certainly the beginning of a great relationship between the FME and the Pow-Wow.
Accounting for all the official events and the surprise concerts on the periphery of the official programme, 92 concerts took place in 31 different venues throughout Rouyn-Noranda. Nearly 80 different artists appeared on the various festival stages. To date, this is the biggest musical harvest in the history of the festival since its inception in 2003 with around 37,000 entries.
We’re already looking forward to next year’s 16th edition of the FME, from August 30 to September 2, 2018!
hello
Good morning!
Hey ho. For anyone who wonders, I think FME (above) = Festival du Mile End, just finished in Montreal. Kim Blackier caught the last couple of shows, including Patrick Watson, as she mentioned on Facebook.
Hello hello!
Good morning everyone!
Hi, you two!
Bowling solo on the indie plaza…
School lined children up in the rain to check for supermarket uniform
Children at Kepier School, in Houghton, who failed the match test were then placed into isolation or sent home.
https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/education/school-lined-children-rain-check-supermarket-uniform/
Wow, I had no idea school uniforms were such serious business. Those poor kids in the rain.
My previous comment about bowling solo: I posted it when nothing was appearing on my feed — despite the time stamp shown by your comments! Weird.
Regarding the uniforms, well, how surprising that a school acted like, um, like a schoolmarm?
You always had a good idea what year a pupil was in based on how much they were following the uniform rules. From full uniform in the first year to no blazer or school tie in the fifth year.
We had not joined the rest of the world in counting grades from primary school.
Garf, absent Brexit, G.B.’s joined the rest of the world in many more respects than the U.S.!
(Just heard on the news that Irma broke a hurricane gauge!)
@BfO, I don’t think the problem stems from kids being sent home for being out of uniform but the fact they were in trousers that were slightly the wrong shade of grey. Not to mention they were made to stand out in the rain to do it.
Could they not have sent a note home with the child to ask their parents about it rather than sending them home or making sit out a class all because their parents wanted to save a little money by paying £7 rather than £15?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfhY0qod_eM
Oh, I realise that. Both were taken into account in my previous comment (in my mind, anyway), and I also realise #3 — in effect demanding that kids & parents use a not-cheap store. Schools are often tone deaf — especially private ones. Is why I am not surprised. In their defence though, an identical uniform takes away the most obvious sign of money class — not that the kids are not smart enough to know about that otherwise…
Also, Garf, I thought standing out in the rain was essential to moulding the British character, or maybe just to moulding? ;-s)
@BfO, It’s a comprehensive school (not private) not that far from me.
https://goo.gl/maps/RqAkiamiuFH2
Patrick Watson and Godspeed! You Black Emperor I believe it was. Very jealous was I.
Hello
YodaDBSThe mid-fall Canadian Indie music tour continues: I just discovered Yukon Blonde and Rural Alberta Advantage are playing in DC in November!
I was hoping to see a few more Canadian bands this year
CBC R2 just played Dan Mangan’s *Sold*. I’ve rarely heard it loud, on my regular sound system. Even better than I remember!
Hehe. I thought you would comment on that Garf.
Fantastic Janet! I wish more would come to Regina. It doesn’t look like I am going to make it to UP&DT in Edmonton. Just too much going on and not enough money. 🙁
Garf, re “comprehensive schooll”: I sit corrected, but do point out that that changes mostly nothing.
I’ll gladly take back one l.
mosty?
Take that, Mr Mosty-Toasty! (Calvin & Hobbes, fighting for covers — an early strip)
Darbar I’m sorry to hear about UP&DT. The one upside (and believe me I had to search long and hard for an upside) of being an expat is that Canadian bands come through to small venues that are pretty affordable.
@janet – That would be a benefit. Regina just isn’t high on anybody’s touring stop priorities. Understandably, but it sucks.
I guess Regina isn’t considered a big market to stop at, eh?
I’m headed out now! Chat with you all tomorrow!
Back from having my plumbing checked out. Literally. I don’t have the bill yet but I can imagine. Next step total bathroom reno.
@darbar so glad it was just your bathroom plumbing!
Turns out that Blue Hawaii is playing the same night as Arcade Fire in Vancouver and the other two shows I was interested in are just before and just after I leave town. I will have to be content with the one show … so far. Really quite bummed to miss BSS with Belle Game as well as Whitehorse though.
If you were in Vancouver Oct 12-16 who would go see?
http://redcat.smallnoise.com/?page_id=5
@morgana – I hate when things don’t align properly. That is part of the issue with UP&DT for me. I will be in Edmonton the next weekend so my son can go to a workshop. That along with other commitments in town and I just don’t think I can do it. Boo.
I like Sam Coffey and the Iron Lungs. I would go to that!
@darbar I’ll take a listen, thanks.
I am excited for Arcade Fire so I should have just left it at that but nooo, I had to go looking for more!
I saw U2, The Smugglers show and The Flaming Lips on my trip to Vancouver. It was a nice variety of shows. Stadium, club and a soft seater theatre that ended up a standing show. It’s good to get in what you can when you have the opportunity.
I am not so sure Sam Coffey would be your thing. Might be a bit too punk?
sorry Darbar, computer froze!
Now it I need to go and make dinner.
Chat tomorrow I hope.