Do you remember the feeling of pure bliss when you first held onto a beautiful snow globe? You instantly became captivated by the magical world created within, and when you started to shake things up, the atmosphere suddenly transformed into a polar paradise. On January 24 and January 25, 2019, the unforgettable emotion crept back up when we entered Montreal’s highly anticipated Igloofest, or what we like to call Canada’s very own snow globe.
We had the pleasure of covering a couple of the impeccable events that occupied the coldest music festival in the world. Before we jump in, we want to take a moment to thank the hardworking team behind the series of events for their undeniable sense of organization, generosity, and ultimately, their irrefutable passion that pours into every party that they coordinate. The hospitality absolutely blew us away, and we look forward to sharing our remarkable experience with our readers. Check it out…
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to visit the Old Port of Montreal, you know that this is a historic port located in Old Montreal. The location is a truly stunning tourist destination, guaranteed to lead you towards exciting adventures. From January 17, 2019, to February 2, 2019, this fun-filled location welcomes the beloved Igloofest. We were lucky enough to witness two of the fest’s events unfold: Igloofest #4: Chris Lake, AC Slater / YOOKiE, Big Tooth, and Igloofest #5: Above & Beyond, Spencer Brown / Waze & Odyssey.
On both occasions, the incredible organization amazed us. When entering the festival grounds, the organizers ensured that all participants, whether you possessed a general admission pass or a VIP pass, had a pleasant experience upon entry. There were plenty of lines and security staff to ensure that the check-in process was safe and efficient.
After entering the VIP area, we embraced the energetic crowd as they enjoyed themselves. All around the numerous lit-up bars were chart-topping tracks blasted through high-quality speakers such as Fisher‘s hit ‘Losing It‘. The designated area also offered a private Igloofest merchandise booth and an elevated passageway that lead towards the two stages, Sapporo (main stage), and Videotron.
We decided to explore all of the things that our VIP package included. Not only did we enter the festival rapidly, we discovered that we also had access to heated, private, and elevated terraces right beside both of the stages (seriously, you couldn’t have gotten a better view of the stages, not to mention it was so cozy!). The private bar areas offered free bottles of water, coffee, and mini Sapporo beer. We also had the possibility of reserving a table with bottle service, and the best part: heated washrooms!
In all honesty, we didn’t think that this experience could get any more magical. However, throughout the course of the two days, the moments got better and better! The festival’s attention to detail absolutely captivated us. Whether you wanted to try your luck at their fun-filled games, or to snap a photo at their themed photobooths, or test out their infamous “Iglooglisse” slide accompanied by the breathtaking view at the top of the grounds, there was always something to satisfied the partygoers taste.
Without a doubt, we knew that the performances would be worth the trip, but little did we know the impact they would have on us for days after the event was over. We kickstarted Thursday’s event by witnessing the very talented AC Slater throw down a groovy Night Bass infused set. Side note, he played his entire set without any gloves on; you know that the tracks were quite literally warming things up!
Following his set, we had the chance to sit down with the American producer for an exclusive interview. We are still on cloud nine thinking back to the charming DJ’s generosity and laid back attitude. Check out what he shared with us here.
At this point, we had permanent smiles. From stageside, we danced the night away while listening to Chris Lake‘s impeccable set. He had the chilly crowd busting out their best dance moves. Snails also threw down a heated set and we bumped into him in the VIP section! It was a beautiful sight to see. We mean, where else are you going to see attendees shuffling while bundled up in snowsuits?
Although we wanted to stay for his entire set, we wanted our dose of bass at the Videotron stage. We climbed up the Videotron heated terraces and witnessed the sheer madness unleashed from YOOKiE‘s set. The elevated view allowed us to witness some truly entertaining people among the sea of attendees. We even saw someone holding an open umbrella. Igloofest’s organizers weren’t kidding when they said that the event would go on, rain or shine!
[#FREEYOOKiE]On a finalement brisé la malédiction YOOKiE, après 1 vol manqué et 3h30 de retard, ils ont finalement pu jouer au festival de musique le plus froid du monde. #YOOKiEISFREE 🕊-We finally broke the YOOKiE curse, after 1 missed flight and 3 and a half hour delay, they finally played at the world's coldest music festival. #YOOKiEISFREE 🕊Posted by Igloofest Montréal on Saturday, January 26, 2019
We expected our adventures on Friday to be a little bit more mellow as the legendary Above & Beyond, Spencer Brown, and more were headlining the fest’. However, to our surprise, the event quickly turned into an even bigger party than we had originally anticipated!
An expected crowd of 10,000 people attended. Although the event was sold out, the festival team handled the numerous waves of people with grace, and efficiency. The wait to enter the festival wasn’t lengthy. The security team was on alert to ensure that all elements remained under control. Ultimately, the overall experience went Above & Beyond our expectations.
Speaking of which, the British DJs, as always, put on an undeniably beautiful and melodic set. They welcomed some of their biggest Canadian fans on stage to push the button, and closed off the festival with ‘Northern Soul‘, an appropriate ending to chilly night.
Perhaps the most pleasantly shocking moment was witnessing Waze and Odyssey unleash one of the best sets of the weekend. They dropped Patrick Topping‘s ‘Be Sharp Say Nowt‘ epic track. If we could relive that moment, again and again, we would in a heartbeat!
We want to encourage our readers to make the trip to Canada for next year’s edition. If you are up for the trip before 2020, Igloofest is gearing up to welcome A-list DJs such as RL Grime, Baauer, Maceo Plex, and more, until February 2, 2019. All that’s left to say is “wow; you really shook up that snow globe, and we are so thankful that we got to experience the magic once again.”
