Unpredictable weather and last-minute cancellations certainly didn’t stop the party.

By: Sun Noor

Montreal’s newest music and arts festival, Palomosa, wrapped up its first edition over the weekend, gathering thousands of music lovers to Parc Jean Drapeau. While the event operated at a smaller scale compared to the city’s major outdoor festivals, there was truly never a dull moment. Festivalgoers were quick to adapt to the minor setbacks including Kali Uchis‘ cancelled headlining set and Saturday’s rain storm. Palomosa was without a doubt one big, wet, party.

In an era where music festivals seem to be on their way out, curation is most important. Local music fans were already raving about Palomosa long before the announcement of its full lineup, as the first names made a positive impression. Although Montreal is no stranger to events showcasing an impeccable curation, a new festival format has emerged over the past couple of years, focussed on targeting specific demographics with their choice of artists. Gesaffelstein, Jai Paul, Yung Lean, along with up and comers, including underscores, distraction4ever, and Snow Strippers, all cater to a specific listener. A merging of “indie sleeze,” “Tumblr-core” and “hyperpop” if you will. Nonetheless, the attendees of all ages enjoyed the show.

Thursday’s high-energy block party officially marked the start of a weekend packed with great music. Friday saw clear skies and high-octane performances. Montreal-based DJ and jazz vocalist Andrea De Tour kicked things off at the Du Jardin Stage for the early crowd. Local post-punk duo distraction4ever hit the Videotron Stage and delivered a captivating set. The crowd slowly started pouring in just in time for underscores, singer-songwriter April Harper Grey’s experimental solo project. Yaeji‘s upbeat DJ set featured tons of fan-favourites along with her infectious, head-banging new track, “booboo.”

Even at the tail end of “Brat Summer,” Charli XCX’s breakthrough album is nearly inescapable. Various DJ sets played cuts from Brat and Yung Lean even incorporated his verse in the remixed version of “360” to his set, debuting the track live. During his one-off North American appearance, Lean got right to it and started things off with “Ginseng Strip 2002.” He also incorporated a few tracks by frequent collaborators and Drain Gang members Thaiboy Digital and Bladee, performing “ONE SECOND” and “Diamonds.” German DJ HorsegiirL and her horse mask kept the party going. Rapper Destroy Lonely offered a change of pace by getting a circle pit started as soon as he hit the stage.

French electornic artist Gesaffelstein made his return to Montreal after a decade, immersing the crowd with a tense soundscape. A glimmering figure emerged from a high structure with strobe lights illuminating his obsidian costume over a thick cloud of smoke. This performance also marked the start of his short run of concerts in support of his latest record, Gamma. The DJ’s ominous presence paired with his dark techno music made for an explosive set.

Palomosa saw a change in set times on Saturday, bumping up each set with Jai Paul being the new headliner. Nana Zen and Frankie Teardrop got Shygirl‘s Club Shy takeover going up at the Du Jardin Stage, setting the scene for a night of non-stop club music. Over at the Videotron Stage, the masked musician Delachute performed a handful of his melacholic indie tunes as the rain started picking up. Local dance-punk duo Pelada had their last hurrah, playing their final show in Montreal. Vocalist Chris Vargas and producer Tobias Rochman’s unique blend of acid house and club music creates an invigorating sound, amplified by the Spanish-language lyrics that are mostly centered around social justice. The pair’s energetic set also featured various cuts from their excellent sophomore album, Ahora Más Que Nunca.

The Dare had one of the most anticipated sets of the weekend. On one hand, his debut single “Girls,” from 2022 saw a resurgence for the past month or so. The musician and producer just released his debut full-length album, What’s Wrong with New York?, a day prior while also embarking on his first-ever North American tour. A crowd featuring many individuals in black suits (paying homage to the his signature look) braved the rain for his chaotic yet entertaining set. The musician even incorporated a reworked version of his Charli XCX collaboration “Guess” midway through his set.

Yves Tumor and their live band served as Palomosa’s choice for the festival’s rock band. Under a thick cloud of smoke, the group delivered an illuminating set that felt like a full concert. The band mostly played cuts from Tumor’s more rock-centric material, including their latest releases, Heaven To a Tortured Mind and Praise a Lord… In many ways, Yves Tumor can be categorized among the remaining artists that fall under the ‘rockstar’ as proven by their enigmatic performance. Over at the party stage (a term later coined by festivalgoers around me) Lsdxoxo warmed up the stage for Shygirl‘s closing set, mixing some club classics with breakbeat and techno as the rain slowly began to clear up. The London-based rapper and DJ sang a few of her tracks before hitting the decks for a B2B set with Lsdxoxo. An early evening rave that took over the “Trois Disques” monument, soundtracked by incredible mixes.

Palomosa’s final set began to draw in an eager crowd as the rain fully stopped in time for Jai Paul‘s highly-anticipated set. On top of adding Montreal stop to his one-off live appearances, the festival marked the British musician’s first-ever show in Canada. For those unaware of his cultural impact, Paul sort of became 2010’s pop urban legend after disappearing from the music industry following the release of two demos and an album’s worth of material was mishandled and leaked onto Bandcamp as a result. While the tracks ended up taking on a life of their own and becoming heavily sampled by the likes of Beyoncé and Drake. Jai Paul became an underground legend with said incomplete record. Over the past decade, Paul’s idiosyncratic production approach became a guiding light for various mainstream and underground artists.

Seeing Jai Paul’s name on the bill was essentially the selling point for the festival, as the artist has only mapped out a handful of shows this year. Being able to hear the record live with a full band was both a nostalgic an otherworldly experience for those who soundtracked many moments with his work over the years. Hearing those songs accompanied by a live band was a refreshing experience. Paul revealed that Palomosa marked his last show “for a while,” and decided to play “Straight Outta Mumbai” twice to mark the occasion. All good things eventually come to an end and watching that alluring performance felt like a one-time opportunity many I’ll continue to cherish.

Check out the full Palomosa photo gallery: