My love affair with Canadian indie rock was gradual – we took it slow, you know? But sometimes relationships – even abstract ones – can rush upon you like that heat you feel walking into a crowded venue.

My newfound romance with electronic dance music (EDM), it's more like that.
 
I took the train out from Toronto to Montreal last weekend to check out Igloofest 2010, mostly for the sake of meeting up with a friend from Halifax. The results of that trip have probably changed me for good – I discovered how it feels to breath in live EDM. For the record, I know the passion of getting swept away by Hey Rosetta's "Old Crow Black Night Stand Still" at The Horseshoe on the venue's birthday. My time at Igloo matched that sensation.
 
The dirty details are that it's outside on Quai Jacques Cartier in Montreal, from 6pm to midnight-ish on the right nights. You pass through the igloos and other ice sculptures on your way to the party, but a lot of them have branding and logos worked in, making that part a bit of a turn-off (albeit a necessary one). Once you get to the good stuff, though, 4 or 5 artists rotate on and off the synchronistically-lit stage over the course of the night.
 
Being new to the genre, I had no idea who was on stage at any given time, and to be honest with you, I didn't care. Whoever arranged that line-up did a good enough job to make me not care (and I mean that in a good way). Boots, dancing, toques, arms, hugging, mittens, people, slush, snowsuits. Most of all, it's the people. If you're open to it, you get that they're just there to live and feel life. I had the time of mine. 
 
Igloofest continues through to January 30th on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Upcoming Canadian acts include DJ Mightykat and Jeff Waye (aka Ghostbeard  and formerly known as W.I.G.).
posted by Lily Mills on Jan 20, 2010