CJLO 1690AM will run the first edition of the Dead Air Festival from April 9 to 12 at La Sotterenea, taking over the Plateau venue for four nights of live music. The station has put together a lineup that leans heavily on emerging artists, mixing local names with a few touring acts moving through the city that week. Single tickets are available for each night, with full passes set at $40 plus taxes.
The opening night on April 9 is built around the launch of Vermin, the second album from Kingdom of Birds, with DIY promoter Worst Dad Ever involved in the show. Ekka and Shunk round out the bill, with Shunk arriving just after a run of SXSW dates. It’s a louder start to the weekend, with guitars pushed forward and not much space between sets.
Friday moves in a different direction. Montreal duo 17Sport open with a more atmospheric electronic set, before things pick up with FIAMMA, Sarah Feldman, and Wicked Easy. It’s a danceable night without feeling like a club lineup, more rooted in indie pop and DIY electronic scenes than anything polished or overproduced.
On April 11, Hiding Places come through Montreal as part of their tour for The Secret to Good Living, released April 3 on Keeled Scales. The band, split between New York and Asheville, have been building momentum over the past year, including appearances at SXSW. They’re joined by local acts Knitting and Sasha Cay, who are heading out on tour together for the rest of April.
The final night on April 12 shifts the pace again. Kelly Elizabeth leads a lineup that also includes Museums and Edmonton’s Angela Begin, moving into quieter, more folk-leaning territory. After two nights that lean toward volume and rhythm, this one sits back a little more.
Dead Air is the first time CJLO has put together a festival on this scale, with La Sotterenea acting as the base for all four nights.
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