We had the chance to catch Charlotte de Witte, Head Nodders, Da’Gil, and Phil Fiction. The rising techno superstar delivered a relentless set, which was juxtaposed with the serenity of Piknic’s impeccable location selection.
Few cities are as robust and fruitful as Montréal in the summer. Packed with cultural destinations for the history buff, exquisite gastronomy for the foodie, and beautiful people for the avid sightseer, the quaint Quebec town is also a leading pawn in Canada’s underground music scene. With musical institutions like Stereo Nightclub, Salon Daomé, Velvet, and Newspeak, Montréal has proven that they have what it takes to host top-tier underground talent from all over the world. Their festival rapport doesn’t fall short either. Igloofest and MUTEK attract thousands of international visitors who are searching for a quality techno experience a year – Piknic Électronik is no exception.
This year marked Piknic Électronik’s stunning 16th season of production. Although it’s not a festival in the traditional sense of the word due to its weekly Sunday event format, Piknic has the set-up, talent, and amenities to lead visitors to believe each event is its own. Situated in the “Central Park” of Montréal, Parc Jean-Drapeau, the family-friendly event series holds two stages, an array of food and drink booths, and plenty of space to lounge and dance. Both stages presented meticulously curated talent, with Head Nodders and Enfants Malins opening for techno queen Charlotte de Witte on the main stage and J’vlvn d’Ark and Phil Fiction throwing electrifying sets on the Moog Audio stage.
Charlotte de Witte by Cannelle Wiechert
Most impressive, however, was the organizers’ impeccable ability to find the balance between maintaining attendance fruitful and oversaturated. Whilst on the dance floor, we never felt like we didn’t have enough room to dance or enjoy the grooves that were radiating through the sound system. Despite its dramatic rise in popularity compared to previous years – the Sunday rendezvous welcomed its millionth Picknicker in Piknic Électronik history – a shortage in space was nowhere to be found. Their roster for this season also deemed highly impressive, with industry heavy-hitters including Amélie Lens, Adam Port and &ME, Mija, Bicep, Or:la, Floorplan, and many more footing the bill. Piknic Électronik did an outstanding job with securing diversity on their line-up, something that has proven difficult for many other reputable brands.
Photo Credit: Cannelle Wiechert
Having been presented with good music, good people, good drinks, and good vibes, you can rest assured that we’ll be returning next season to see what they have to offer for their 17th season. If you’re interested in scoping out a Piknic Électronik event, catch their debut U.S. venture taking place in Austin, Texas on the 27th and 28th of October. You can see what’s on the menu and purchase tickets here!
