Chromeo, Kim Ann Foxman and Vockah Redu lead our Pop Montreal dancefloor picks

Such a dizzying array of dancefloor options at this year's Pop Montreal, so little time… If you thought the local indie music institution only catered to those with rock 'n' roll inclinations, do yourself a favour and read through our recommendations. Pick your dance battles now, or forever hold your peace.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
On this inaugural day of Pop-hopping, we suggest slowly easing your way into the festival groove before hitting the dancefloor. New York soul singer, violinist and multi-instrumentalist Marques Toliver, who’s already worked alongside the likes of Grizzly Bear, Holly Miranda and Bat for Lashes, brings his lilting, classically-invested jams to O Patro Vys. This is your opportunity to hear why the in-demand Toliver will soon have to opt out of all Central Park busking. 

Liam Finn & Marques Toliver & Reversing Falls | O Patro Vys | 8:00pm

Lunice

You might also want to hop over to Le Belmont for Lookout’s solid showcase, featuring American hip-hop producer Araabmusik. The producer of Dominican and Guatemalan descent caught our attention this summer with the release of Electronic Dream, an album that toys dangerously close to the “trance-hop” descriptor, but which manages to elevate such electronic textures above ‘90s ravey dreariness to create something quite unique, distinctly rooted in hip-hop.

Montreal leftfield hip-hop darling Lunice and Belmont’s dubstep queen/Bass Drive Wednesdays founder Vilify will ensure the party doesn’t turn into an all-out glowstick fest.

Lookout presents: Araabmuzik & Lunice & Rilly Guilty & Vilify | Le Belmont | 9:30pm

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Sure, the eyes of the world will be turned to the Place des Festivals for Arcade Fire’s free outdoor gig, but it’s also one of the most dance-friendly nights for POP. A dizzying array of options await, so you better clear that Friday morning schedule or risk spreading yourself thin before the weekend even gets underway.

The frontrunner for electronic event of the night is the DFA Dance Party being held at Le Belmont. Among the dancefloor glitterati expected to get your rumps shaking and visages emoting, count on Hercules & Love Affair’s Kim Ann Foxman, a soulful house lady, whose catchy single “Creature” became the second release on Andy Butler’s Mr. Intl label last October.

Also joining the DFA crew will be talented NY-based disco-house producer Prince Language, whose remixes of LCD Soundsystem, MGMT, The Rapture and (a personal fave) Azari & III have made him one of dance music's most in-demand shape-shifters. Also count on the bold electronic stylings of UNO NYC label head Charles Damga, who’s been keeping the Brooklyn dance scene inspired with his Vietcong warehouse parties, all the while releasing EPs by Montrealers Jacques Greene and CFCF, the latter of whom will also perform.

DFA Dance Party: Kim Ann Foxman & Prince Language & Charles Damga & Rilly Guilty & CFCF & Membersonly & Seb Diamond | Le Belmont | 9:00pm

Also keep an ear out for:
The very worldly Masala DJs throw their showcase for unruly rhythms at the collision of Latin, Caribbean, African, Asian and North American at CFC, featuring the dancehall and hip-hop-attuned Buenos Airean El Hijo De La Cumbia, Kreole kompa-tronica rapper Mr. OK and Brussel baile funk fixer-upper Max Le Daron.

Masalacism Showcase: El Hijo De La Cumbia & Max Le Daron & Mr. Ok & Masala Djs | CFC | 9 :30pm
 

Lambi’s tag-teamin’, disco purveyin’, afro funky-fancyin’ Cocktail Club Soundsystem have also whipped up a mixed drink of rambunctious flavours at HOHM Private Club, which includes Sal Principato of influential NYC funk outfit Liquid Liquid, and Toulouse pop-rock band Recipe, which sounds decidedly more mellow and ethereal than Cocktail’s classic bookings. It’ll be interesting to see how it all comes together. Jonattan Levingstone & Ludaxpack – in other words, your neighbourhood CCS boys – round out the night.

Cocktail Club Soundsystem Showcase: Sal Principato (Liquid Liquid), Jonattan Levingstone & Ludaxpack (CCS), Recife | HOHM Private Club | 10:30pm

Nightbox

Finally, Balattou finds itself transformed into a full-on house of synth this Thursday, as Toronto-via-Ireland indie outfit Nightbox will treat those gathered to its rousing, radio-friendly dance-rock anthems (check out the video for Pyramids here), produced by two Canadian stalwarts, MSTRKRFT’s AL-P and Death From Above 1979’s Sebastien Grainger. Montreal moody techno duo UN will also perform its brand of echoey melodies and eerie synth lines. 

Nightbox & UN & Blunt Fang & Molly Sweeney | Balattou | 9:30pm

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
On Friday, there’s legendary ‘60s Motown group The Velvelettes performing at Cabaret du Mile-End (9:30pm), and you can count on the soulful gals to pour their heart into classics like Needle In a Haystack and He Was Really Saying Something. But you want rump shaking, not heart aching, so I digress.  

Among the more anticipated acts of the night are Kanye West’s Windy City, electro-rap protégé, Kid Sister (originally signed to A-Trak’s label Fool’s Gold), and the dubstep and grime-inclined Dirty Gold DJs, who also happen to be the new residents at Tokyo Thursdays this fall. 

Lookout presents: Kid Sister & Azelia Banks & Shaydakiss & Dirty Gold DJs | Le Belmont | 9:30pm
 

Vancouver’s ION Magazine is also collaborating with POP to introduce Montrealers to Vockah Redu, an in-your-face New Orleans bounce act who’s giving fellow sissy bounce sistah Big Freedia a run for her money. 

Also on the bill is Foxtrott, aka Montreal producer/musician Marie-Hélène L. Delorme, aka MHMHMH, who’s made a name for herself remixing the likes of Bernard Adamus, Lesbians on Ecstasy, Random Recipe and Think about Life. She’ll unveil her thrillingly dark, beat-driven, hazy pop.

ION Magazine & POP Montréal present: Vockah Redu, Dominique Young Unique, Fat Tony, Foxtrott, A-Rock & Hatchmatik (Peer Pressure) | Église Saint-Édouard | 9:40pm

HUMANS

Sandman Viper Command & Sweet Mother Logic & Cherry Chapstick & HUMANS & DJs XI, James Krown, and Lexis | Les 3 Minots | 7:30pm
 

Also keep an ear out for:
HOHM Private Club’s A Night of Tropical Dance!, featuring Miles Cleret, Mr. Pauer & Andy Williams; and the psychedelic electro stylings of Born Gold (aka Gobble Gobble, sporting a brand new moniker) at Mission Santa Cruz for the Passovah Showcase, alongside Miracle Fortress.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Saturday’s obvious main draw for fans of ‘80s electro funk will be the return of Montreal born-and-bred BFFs Dave 1 and P-Thugg, aka Chromeo. Along with Arcade Fire’s return to POP to mark the festival's 10-year anniversary, it’s quite fitting to have our very own cool cat crooners bring their glamorously synthy, talk box-friendly stage antics to the Metropolis.

Chromeo & We Are Enfant Terrible & AEIOU | Metropolis | 11:30pm

Bok Bok

Boundary-pushing New York producer Kingdom, who’s gotten lots of attention for his bass-heavy, East Coast take on UK garage, brings his eclectic dancefloor instincts to Le Belmont. He’ll be accompanied by London Night Slugs label co-founder Bok Bok, who’s also branched out as producer to bring his own banging spin to UK’s thriving house and bass music scene. Also on the bill is Los Angeles duo Nguzunguzu, who’ve got tons of energy to spare with their house-infused melding of R&B, cumbia, and Chicago footwork. Can you keep up with that? 

Kingdom & Bok Bok & Nguzunguzu & Rilly Guilty | Le Belmont | 10:00pm

Also keep an ear out for:
Lookout’s Saturday showcase beats the drum to all things Montreal, featuring local bedroom popster A K U A; soulful, jazzy, trip-hop threesome She’s Got A Habit, and the incomparable Incubator (aka Scott C), the man with an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things groovy.

Lookout presents: A K U A & She's Got A Habit & The Incubator | Le Belmont | 6:30pm
 

Snap!’s synth-tastic Saturday showcase features the analogue, vintage sounds of Brooklyn electronic duo Ford & Lopatin (formerly Games), the New Age-y, R&B infused pop of Montrealer D’Eon, the sophisticated electronic sensibilities of Mike Silver (aka CFCF) and the lush, lo-fi dream-pop of Stefanie Franciotti, aka Sleep ∞ Over.

Snap! presents Hippos In Tanks showcase: Ford & Lopatin, D'eon, CFCF, Sleep ∞ Over | SAT | 9:00pm

dOP

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
To get your dance fix on Sunday, the place to be is at Parc Jean-Drapeau, as Piknic Électronik and Pop Montreal team up for what promises to be a most memorable end to Pop, and a fitting way to cap off another standout year of Piknic parties.

Headlining the line-up are Parisian progressive house trio dOP, as well as Salon Daomé tech-house residents Nymra & Sofisticated, and local fixture Mightykat.

Piknic Électronik, with dOP, Nymra & Sofisticated and Mightykat
GURU Stage: Waterfront Property, DJ Menjai and Leboeuf et Laviolette | piknicelectronik.com 
 

POP Montreal | September 21 to 25 | popmontreal.com