Montreal’s Infringement Festival: anything but typical

Montreal’s annual Infringement Festival showcases anything and everything art-related that is not heavily commercialized or corporate. In fact, the festival’s promoters have made it their mission to steer away from large-budget productions and mainstream works. Instead, they chose to focus on a variety of underground critical arts, music, theatre, films, visual arts and street performances. Running from June 17th to the 27th this year, the Infringement Festival will offer no shortage of local and international performers, events and experiments.

Throughout the festival, Usine 106U will be hosting an exhibition featuring 29 visual artists. The works at hand include hallucinogenic paintings, pop art silk-screens, kinetic sculptures, erotic drawings, plush toys and surrealist jewelery. If you’re into the unconventional, this is the gallery night for you.

On Friday the 18th, rock band Dead Messenger and psychedelic new wave band Owl Farm will be playing at Barfly starting at 9:00 pm. There will also be a performance by folk-rock artist Richard Lahmy at les 3 Minots.

On Saturday, artist Alexandra Cuellar will be presented her fantasy-ridden art as part of the Dumpster Dive Art Drive in a TBA alley. Her style is incredibly feminine and her work comes across as fleeting and imaginative.

On the 20th, as well as most other days of the festival, a theatre experiment titled Car Stories will be playing every thirty minutes at Bar Bifteck. The piece is being described as a theatrical joyride through an urban wonderland.

Thursday the 24th is jam-packed with events including a tongue-in-cheek costumed theatrical/musical performance entitled Anal Pudding at Barfly. The Infringement Art Show will also be showcased at Barfly that night, featuring art by Mr.Saad, Alexandra Cuellar, Sophie-Claude Miller and Laurence Tenenbaum. Singer, rapper and percussionist player Martin Robichaud will be playing everything from progressive rock to Celtic chant in the afternoon at Les 3 Minots.

On the 25th, the burlesque dancers of the Blood Ballet Cabaret will be performing deranged short comedy skits in leather and stilettos at Barfly, along with a performance by acoustic band Sunshine hailing from Brooklyn.

Art, theatre, music, comedy, cabaret…is there anything Montreal’s Infringement Festival can’t do?