The Palomosa Festival once again proved that independent music still resonates loudly in Montreal.
Despite the rain, the second edition of Palomosa took place from September 4 to 6 at Parc Jean-Drapeau (the same venue as Osheaga), offering three days of performances and musical discoveries. With headliners like M.I.A., Rebecca Black, and ARCA, Montreal pulsed to the rhythm of an eclectic indie scene spanning all genres. The young and diverse crowd brought together fans of electro, rock, punk, dembow, R&B, and more.
Here are our five highlights from the Palomosa Festival:
The Fired-Up Block Party with Zack Fox and Tallandskiinny
On September 4, the festival kicked off with a block party presented by Piknic Électronik, igniting Parc Jean-Drapeau from 5 to 10 pm. DJs Zack Fox and Tallandskiinny got the crowd moving with electrifying sets, showcasing the vitality of Montreal’s DJ scene.
Zack Fox, a multifaceted artist from Los Angeles known for his work as a rapper, comedian, actor, illustrator and DJ, brought his dynamic energy to the stage, blending genres like Ghetto Tech, Jersey Club, Footwork and Booty Bass. Renowned for viral collaborations with Kenny Beats and appearances on Adult Swim, Fox captivated the audience with his eclectic and high-energy performance.
He was joined by local DJ Tallandskiinny, who highlighted Montreal’s thriving electronic music community, full of talent blending techno, house, afro-tech and more.
Tallandskiinnypar PLAY.FILLE
M.I.A. Balances Electrifying and Awkward Moments
There was no doubt: the crowd was waiting for just one artist on Friday night at the Palomosa Festival: headliner M.I.A. Her set marked her first appearance in Canada in several years, her last being in Vancouver in 2019.
She kicked off her performance with “Bamboo Banga,” immediately igniting the crowd with her boundless energy and magnetic stage presence. True to form, she followed with her classic hits, rekindling a sense of nostalgia among festival-goers with tracks like “Bucky Done Gun” and “Bad Girls,” before closing with her iconic hit “Paper Planes.” The audience was captivated, and the performance left no one indifferent.
M.I.A à PalomosaBIG Laur
Midway through her set, M.I.A. paused the music to deliver a speech that caught part of the crowd by surprise. A former supporter of Donald Trump, she touched on Palestine and “cancel culture,” claiming to have been canceled due to her political views. After a few boos, she tried to clarify her stance, stating she no longer supports Trump, but her message remained rambling and unclear, particularly regarding the situation in Palestine.
Despite this tense interlude, the concert’s energy remained intact. M.I.A. transported the audience into her unique world, blending power, nostalgia and audacity, delivering a memorable festival opener that left the crowd eager for the rest of the weekend. Hopefully, her fans will soon be able to move past this awkward moment.
A Powerful Queer Celebration with Rebecca Black
Rebecca Black à PalomosaPLAY.FILLE
On Saturday night, Rebecca Black delivered an unforgettable performance on the Palomosa Festival’s Fizz stage. Despite persistent rain and temperatures hovering around 12°C, she electrified the crowd with contagious energy, proving that her onstage charisma remains as strong as ever. Accompanied by two dancers, she performed several of her dance-pop hits, including tracks from her SALVATION project, all while waving LGBTQ+ flags and sending clear messages of support for the queer community.
The young and diverse audience responded enthusiastically, creating a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere. Her infamous viral teen hit “Friday” set the stage on fire: Rebecca performed it solo, without backing vocals, showcasing her vocal power and stage presence. The performance transformed that pop song into a collective anthem of liberation.
Marie Davidson's Techno Journey
Marie Davidson à PalomosaPLAY.FILLE
Montreal producer and performer Marie Davidson set the Palomosa stage ablaze with a mesmerizing techno set, punctuated with tracks from her project City of Clowns. Propelled by sharp beats, atmospheric textures and her singular charisma, she held the crowd in rapt attention from start to finish, confirming her status as an essential figure on both the local and international electronic scene. Despite a few technical issues that briefly interrupted the performance, her magnetic presence and musical storytelling transformed the concert into a memorable moment for techno enthusiasts.
ARCA captivates the audience with her avant-garde world
Headlining on Saturday night, ARCA, born Alejandra Ghersi Rodríguez, the Venezuelan musician and producer based in Barcelona and a specialist in electronic indie pop and dreamy synth-pop, hypnotized the Palomosa stage with a bold and immersive performance. True to her unique universe, she blended experimental sounds, electronic textures and mesmerizing visuals, keeping the audience spellbound from start to finish.
Choosing ARCA as the headliner was a daring move, given that her highly niche and experimental music doesn’t appeal to a broad audience, but she brilliantly rose to the challenge, showcasing the breadth of her eclecticism. Known for her collaborations with FKA twigs, Björk, and Kanye West, ARCA once again demonstrated her ability to push the boundaries of electronic music while asserting her singular artistic identity.
ARCA à PalomosaFélix
She wove together techno, ambient and deconstructed reggaeton landscapes with a singular ease, deliberately disorienting the audience. Bursts of punk-like energy, driven by her raw voice and cathartic screams, added a visceral intensity to the performance. Far from the conventions of accessibility, ARCA fully embraces her artistic freedom, turning every moment into a true declaration of creative independence.
This article was first published in French here.
