The last day of FME is bittersweet. I wanted this to continue forever, but my body had reached peak saturation of music and late nights.
Tess Parks (Surprise Guest)
The surprise guest turned out to be Tess Parks, who performed in a park on a beautiful sunny day.
It was a chill performance, and I again can’t wait to see Tess with the full backing band. Was finally able to get my CD signed and say farewell.
Karma Glider (Secret Show)
A secret show! We made our way to this natural amphitheater to listen to some Indie Rock from Karma Glider.
To have the sunset in the background on the water was a perfect setting for this band. Even better would be inside a club where the sound would deliver an even bigger punch and I’m sure they can get the crowd going in an indoor setting.
It was enjoyable nonetheless, with a sizable crowd assembled to experience this with us.
Hippie Hourrah
Hippie Hourrah had a nice Psychedelic vibe with extended jam sessions to our last sunset. The crowd was enjoying the performance as I caught the last songs from the set.
Lumière
I was not prepared for what I was about to witness. Étienne Côté is the epitome of a rock star. Étienne is the David Bowie of Quebec, and the performance was electrifying.
If Lumière was a wine, you would describe them as bold with a lingering Bowie savour, followed by hints of Queen, a dash of Steppenwolf & T. Rex. Best served with a temperature of 70s Rock.
Lumière was captivating, with a stage presence I could easily see fill stadiums one day.
The band was fantastic with one of the most energetic backup singers I have ever seen.
TUKAN
As the main stage was being dismantled, and the metal heads are inside catching BARF and friends, we were told the organizers added one last show: TUKAN.
Having forgot my earplugs, we got right up to the stage, so the speakers blasted those behind us.
It was impossible not to dance and give FME the farewell it so rightly deserved. This band is fantastic, and it was even more impressive to see them perform EDM using live instruments.
Insane would be a word used to describe seeing them live. The skill involved to get that sound is of a high caliber.
Conclusion
We walked back to our hotel and collapsed after the extended dance session that allowed us to give the last of our energy to the night.
Looking back at FME, I can now understand why those that go, return. It is an event that spoken very highly by the bands, who get exposure to both foreign and local press, bookings and record labels.
It is affordable and offers high value to music lovers, who have a buffet style choice of whatever style they want.
The press was treated very well, and the industry events made the event even more special.
This was a week-end where my appreciation for French music rose, and my radar now has quite a few bands to look out for, speak to, and catch live as they come to Montreal.
FME = Fantastic Music Everwhere
The whole town really welcomed the festival, and there was music just about everywhere!
Don’t miss out next year. You won’t regret it!
Writer: Randal Wark is a Professional Speaker and MasterMind Facilitator with a passion for live music. You can follow him on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. His Podcast RockStar Today helps musicians quit their day jobs with out-of-the-box advice from Ted Talk Speakers, Best Selling Authors and other interesting Entrepreneurs and Creatives. He created the Rock Star Today Music Business Jam Session for musicians. Randal is a collector of signed vinyl, cassettes and CDs.
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