Exposé Noir Ushers in Summertime with a Three-Day Festival

Exposé Noir closes out its 2023/2024 season with its first-ever three-day program. The electronic music collective will take over the Montreal Science Center from May 17-19 with more than 41 hours of musical programming.

The mini-festival in the Vieux Port de Montréal's belvédère, terrace, rooftop, and hangar is a melting pot of musical talent. It features all of the city's DJ sweethearts, including Marie Davidson, Esther Côté, Regularfantasy, and many more.

The program will also include the groundbreaking UK techno artist Surgeon, as well as three members of the esteemed Berlin collective Mala Junta and long-time Panorama Bar resident Massimiliano Pagliara. Catering will be provided by Fleurs & Cadeaux, one of Montreal's best Japanese restaurants.

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For the occasion, Exposé invites acclaimed photographer Sven Marquardt, the iconoclastic bouncer known as the "face" of Berlin's most renowned nightclub, for the second-ever presentation of his innovative large-scale photo installation "DISTURBING BEAUTY."

The DISTURBING BEAUTY exhibition will feature a selection of his first photo works captured in 1980s East Berlin, shortly before Marquardt took a hiatus from photography following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent explosion of unified Berlin's club scene. The cutting-edge installation uses artificial intelligence to shift and rearrange the haunting black-and-white photo works in dynamic and inventive ways.

In Sven's words, "For more than thirty years, club culture has determined both my life—as a curator of countless nights—and, of course, my life as a photographer. In a city in transition after the wild eighties and the fall of the Berlin Wall, I had put my camera aside for the first time. It was at the end of the 1990s that my camera again became a stylistic device for expressing our attitude towards life. Berlin has always been the setting and inspiration for my pictures and projects."

Exposé Noir

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Malaika Astorga is the Co-Founder & Creative Director of Also Cool. She is a Mexican-Canadian visual artist, writer, and social media strategist currently based in Montreal.

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Kickdrum & Also Cool present: Late Nite Laundry, Sophie Ogilvie & Lucy's Delirium at La Sotterrenea

Our favourite Chicago psychedelic soul band Late Nite Laundry is coming to Montreal, and we're happy to be co-presenting their show on February 12th at La Sotterrenea alongside Kickdrum. We recently interviewed the band about their self-titled EP,  Late Nite Laundry (released via Acrophase Records), which you can read here.

Late Nite Laundry will be joined by Sophie Ogilvie (feat. members of Helen Paradise and Bodywash) and Lucy's Delirium, who played our holiday charity event for the Mile End Mission. 

Sophie Ogilvie is a singer and songwriter based in Montréal, Quebec. Approaching songwriting with the confessional lyricism of folk and an indie rock penchant for pop song structures, Ogilvie's sound is set apart by her deft command of the voice. Ogilvie has performed in Montreal's synth-pop and indie-rock scenes with the band Helen Paradise, with whom she recorded their External World EP (2021). On her upcoming EP Coming Up, Crocus, Ogilvie uses both electronic and acoustic instrumentation, borrowing from downtempo, singer-songwriter, and R&B genres. 

Lucy's Delirium is an alternative rock band from Montreal, made up of members Addie, Franky, Lila and Hanak. They want to dance, jump, cry and yell with the audience while keeping the scene open and inclusive. They'll be releasing music this year and can't wait to scream on stage.

Portes/Doors – 20h30 I Spectacle/Show – 21h I $12 adv / $15 door

***Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds***

Tickets

*** ACCESSIBILITÉ / ACCESSIBILITY ***

Le lieu est appelé La Sotterrenea, situé dans le sous-sol de La Sala Rossa (4848 St. Laurent Blvd.). Des escaliers sont nécessaires pour se rendre au lieu. Il n’y a pas d’ascenseur.

The venue is called La Sotterenea, located in the basement of La Sala Rossa (4848 St. Laurent Blvd.). Stairs are required to get to the venue. There is no elevator.

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Enter Palingenesis: A Night of Independent, Genre-Defying Creative Expression

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To start off 2023, we’re unveiling the lineup of Palingenesis: a night of independent, genre-defying musical performances and multimedia installations animating multiple levels of church-turned-event space allsaints – 330 Laurier Avenue East, on Saturday, January 21st, from 7:00PM-2:00AM in Ottawa. Presented by Congrego in collaboration with Also Cool and Debaser, Palingenesis brings together cutting-edge talent evading the cultural mainstream from the curators’ hometown scene and beyond, including musical acts Pony Girl, Fraud Perry, Treus Jones, Crasher, Lesser Evil, maxime., DJ TRINIDADDY, Dimitri Georgaras and DJ Russ Plus, accompanied by works from local artists SLVR, Cheru Pompey and Andrew Doxtater.

Advance tickets are available for purchase here. Limited quantities available at the door. 

Excited? Us too. Save the date and meet the Palingenesis musical guests below and get ready for the hottest event of the season (on the coldest day of the year)!

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Pony Girl

Pony Girl are masters of artpop, invigorating stages with a prismatic sound that’s all their own. Hailed for their “evocative soundscapes” (CBC Radio), “ability to push the boundaries that define pop-rock” (Mixtape Magazine), and “musical depth quite astonishing to experience in person” (Exclaim!), Pony Girl is a rare gem worth uncovering.

Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify

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Fraud Perry

“Fraud Perry is a vibe, a don't take shit type. Emerged from her chrysalis to ride a beat like a dick type...”

Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | SoundCloud

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Treus Jones

Instagram | Spotify | SoundCloud

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Crasher

“Crasher is a new three-piece electronic punk band fronted by Airick Asher Woodhead (Doldrums, errhead). Crasher formed during COVID while ‘bubbling’ in a shared jam space, and recorded the tape Street Cleaning Machines of the World, which released in spring 2021. They performed it live at Montreal’s OXYGEN outdoor rave event series in summer 2021.” — Suoni Per Il Popolo

Bandcamp

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Lesser Evil

Lesser Evil is Ariane and Christophe, who grew up strangers in houses next to one another in the same small town, met years later and morphed into a haunted two-headed beast of a musical duo as if it was always in the cards. Driven by Ariane's vocals, Christophe's electronics and a shared propensity for refined-meets-broken production, they plumb the depths of sound and mind in ways equally intense, intricate and immediate.

Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify

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maxime.

maxime., born Maxime Trippenbach, is an alt-pop artist (self-released/AWAL) who writes, records, produces and engineers his music in his bedroom in Montreal. For his live show, he is accompanied by two friends: James Clayton on guitar and Lucas Kuhl on drums.

Instagram | Spotify | SoundCloud

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DJ TRINIDADDY

“DJ TRINIDADDY (they/he) is an Odawa based and Tkaronto-born DJ, musician, & overall multidimensional artist. As a queer & trans Coolie femme boy in the DJ & music community, they aim to make party & gathering spaces accessible & safe(r) for QTBIPOC, and hope to inspire & create community through their sounds. From soca, chutney, & dancehall to afrobeats & sick club edits, there's no way yuh cah free up & feel up yuhself when they're spinning!” — Pique

Instagram | Mixcloud

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Dimitri Georgaras

Ottawa-born composer, sound artist, and instrument builder. Dimitri's compositional voice is informed by deconstructing the fundamentals, limitations, and chaotic behaviours of analog electronics and digital signal processing, creatively exposing their musical potential through composition and performance.  

Instagram | Website | Bandcamp

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DJ Russ Plus

Instagram | SoundCloud

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Palingenesis Floor Plan

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NO WAVES, Sweet Flood, Büntsa, and Lucy's Delirium Play La Sotterenea for the Mile End Mission

What's better than an all-ages show? An all-ages show for the Mile End Mission! Join Also Cool for our last show of the year at La Sotterenea this Friday, December 16th, with NO WAVES, Sweet Flood, Büntsa, and Lucy's Delirium. Tickets are $10 at the door, or $5 with two or more food donations, with all sales and donations going to the Mission.

Now to tell you a bit more about the bands...

NO WAVES are our favourite surfy punk rock Gen Zs, who recently appeared on our N10.as radio show. They played the most chaotic combination of tracks, ranging from blink-182 to Ellie Goulding, in preparation for this week's set.

Sweet Flood began by organizing DIY shows and events in Montreal's punk scene. The name Sweet was inspired by combining two songs that heavily influenced the band's sound. The heavy sludge-sounding tones of "Sweet Leaf" by Black Sabbath and the melodically atmospheric composition of "Floods" by Pantera. You can find the band at Traxide, an underground punk venue, with an energetic crowd smiling and moshing at the same time.

Büntsa is a three-piece progressive alt-metal band from Montreal. In 2020 during the "red zone" of COVID, Chris and Matthew began meeting up in a backyard shed, composing a hybrid of progressive metal and noisy grooves with a punk rock sensibility. They soon recruited the "old guy," Eric (Chris's dad), to flesh out the sound with heavy beats and rhythmic flourishes. They then moved into Eric's recording studio, practicing their unique blend of fast, heavy grooves and tight, gritty riffs.

With high-energy riffs and their instrumental prowess, Büntsa will make you want to jump, mosh, and slip into a barnyard square-dance adrenaline-fueled ecstasy.

Lucy's Delirium is an alternative rock band from Montreal. Made up of members Addie, Franky, Lila and Hanako, the band is hitting the scene with bratty songs and an energetic attitude. They want to dance, jump, cry and yell with the audience while keeping the scene open and inclusive. They'll be releasing music in the next year, as well as playing more local shows, so keep an eye out!

All Ages Dec 16TH 8PM $10 at the door/$5 with a donation of 2 or more food items.

See you in the pit.

Malaika Astorga is the Co-Founder & Creative Director of Also Cool. She is a Mexican-Canadian visual artist, writer, and social media strategist currently based in Montreal.

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Arbutus Founder Seb Cowan Opens Système - Montreal’s Newest Nightlife Venue

Système by Sarah O’Driscoll

As we welcome Système into the neighbourhood, it only feels right to reminisce on the venues of previous years that helped shape Montreal's scene into what it is today. From Torn Curtain to Poisson Noir, La Plante, Silver Door, Cyberia, and of course the iconic Durocher lofts where Arbutus first had their HQ, venues and shared spaces have always acted as incubators for the scene, allowing creatives to find each other.

We spoke with founder Seb Cowan (Arbutus Records, N10.as) about the space, his experience in Montreal from the late 2000s to now, and his inspiration for this new venue.

Système by Sarah O’Driscoll

Malaika for Also Cool: Tell us about the space and why you wanted to open a club.

Seb for Système: It's a 1700sqft space located at the confluence of Little Italy, Villeray and Petite-Patrie. It has the feel of a wine bar in the front with a dedicated dance floor in the back. I wanted to open an establishment like this for a few reasons.

The inspiration first came when I moved here in 2007. Montreal can be a transient city, and many people move away. It can act as a springboard for creative talent, and especially if one sees success, they often move to larger cities like New York and LA.

I noticed that those who did stick around put back into the community in tangible ways by starting venues, labels, festivals, etc., the foundation of which in turn helps the next generation of artists. I was conscious of that and made a point to do the same with projects like n10.as radio and now with Système.

I also, like many others, moved to Villeray a few years ago and felt a sincere lack of a bar with a musical offering. There's Le Ritz, of course, but you tend to only go there when you're interested in a particular show, so it doesn't function as a social hangout like Casa del Popolo or Datcha does. There are plenty of fun bars in the neighbourhood, but most don't really have late-night music as a core part of their mission.

Also Cool: What can we expect IRL? What kind of shows are you interested in book, and what's on the menu?

Seb: I'm trying to decentralize the booking, or, to be more specific, I'm looking to find people who will then make the bookings. This way, rather than the bookings reflecting the sole taste of the person doing them, they can incorporate the diversity of all the different people who, in turn, are putting together the evenings. Also Cool presenting a night is exactly that! There will also be a full food menu, but we've only started piloting and testing a few items. The idea is it'll be a snack bar :)

Système by Sarah O’Driscoll

AC: How have other spaces in Montreal (or elsewhere) influenced your decision-making with Système?

Seb: My decade-plus of throwing loft parties at Lab Synthèse, La Brique, the Arbutus loft on Durocher, etc have all given me the education I needed to pull off a good party. I have to say it's been incredible to have the cops come, and then leave, without the party getting shut down or me getting a fine. It's a first for me!

Places like Nowadays (New York) and Brilliant Corners (London) are incredible, and I'm sure contributed to the concept either directly or indirectly. I'm also a big fan of architecture, design and urban planning, and the chance to plan and design a space from the ground up was a real privilege. I love seeing how people interact and use it in ways I never thought of. It's going to continue to evolve and remain flexible. I think it's important to learn, adapt and change when new ideas present themselves.

AC: During a time when many of our beloved spaces have closed down, what's something you hope that Système brings to the community?

Seb: I want to develop a space that performers will use to try out new things and experiment. Not to worry about making the perfect set, but rather just focusing on playing great songs and having fun trying something new. I hope the space is a little extra-ordinary (certainly the sound setup is!) to help catalyze this.

I'd like the patrons to have fun, make memories, and find new friends from which new collaborations and projects will emerge. I want it to be the kind of place that you'd go to, even if you have no idea who's performing that night. In the future, I'd like to also incorporate more live music than we currently do, but our sound setup isn't versatile enough to do more complicated live acts at the moment.

Système by Sarah O’Driscoll

AC: How can someone get involved with booking a night at Système or in any other way?

Seb: Get in touch! We'd love to hear new show or event proposals, but please be patient as we're a very small team and have a lot on our plates right now trying to just get this thing off the ground. We're even trying to set up a Google form where the bill could be selected by the crowd for one night a month. We'd have to control for those who are already booked and any spammy submissions, but I think it could be a great way to get people more involved with the space and have artists play that maybe wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to do so.

Come dance at Système this Saturday, July 23rd, from 10pm-3am. Free before 11, $10 afterwards. It'll be a disco-themed night curated by DJ Flleur B2B Revlux, Sperdakos (Cyberia, Disco Troopers), and Transpacific Express (NGL Flounce & Frantz Lin), VJed by Amelia Scott.

Malaika Astorga is the Co-Founder & Creative Director of Also Cool. She is a Mexican-Canadian visual artist, writer, and social media strategist currently based in Montreal.

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ACM x HHYDS Presents Digital Sleepover 2 An Online Frootiversary Panel and Dance Party

We're having a sleepover, and you're invited. On September 19th at 8pm EST, Also Cool is partnering with Hip Hop You Don't Stop and Strange Froots to bring you the second edition of our Digital Sleepover event in celebration of the Froots' 7th anniversary of their debut album.

The event will take place online as a part of HHYDS's hybrid festival format this year, and will be streamed from the Also Cool HQ. We'll be hosting a round table discussion on what we learned about the music and entertainment business during the pandemic, RnB's place in hip-hop culture, towing that line, navigating being a guest in the culture, and what queer representation looks like in the Montreal hip-hop scene. Our wonderful panellists will be JU!CE, Khadijah, Faneva, and Magi Merlin. After the panel, we'll have an online dance party DJed by JU!CE and Faneva.

RSVP to the event here

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