© Eva Blue

Igloofest 2023 marks 15 years of outdoor fun!

Mark Hamilton

Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, an internationally-touring musician with his projects Woodpigeon and Frontperson  and a graduate studies student of history researching LGBTQ+ activism in the city. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.

This article was updated on January 30, 2023.

Here in Montréal, winter is just a fact of life—but it takes more than a bit of snow to stop the party! Returning for its long-awaited 15th anniversary over the course of three weekends stretching between January 19 to February 11, 2023, Igloofest is bringing some of the world’s top DJs and electronic music talent to the Old Port of Montréal for 12 evenings of dance and frolic in the frost.

A who’s who of electronic music

For their post-pandemic return, Igloofest is pulling out all of the stops with an all-star roster of electronic music superstars headlined by the almighty Tiësto. Montréal’s chillest festival crowd is sure to eat up the likes of Black Tiger Sex Machine and Apashe (both on Saturday, February 4), while the special Anjunadeep label showcase on Saturday, February 11 brings Ben Böhmer, hometown heroes CRi, Yotto, Eli & Fur and Olan to the Igloofest stage. Other highly-anticipated artists include Australia-based Flume, the UK’s Camelphat, France’s Kavinsky, and Switzerland’s Nora En Pure. Expanding the Igloofest palette, the 2023 edition includes DJ sets from bands WhoMadeWho and Bob Moses, and a mainstage set from rapper Hamza. And as always, Igloofest’s cutting-edge programming guarantees you’re bound to discover your new favourites while prepping for the headliners. Tickets and further lineup information are available now at Igloofest’s website.

 

© Eva Blue

Coming together in the winter

While Burning Man attendees bake in the desert heat, Igloofest brings the crowds together for an illuminating experience that, on more than one level, is the ultimate in chill. And Igloofest’s installations like the playful Igloovillage, eye-popping visuals and epic stages leave just as much of an impression as the music. We’re particularly fond of the annual tacky snowsuit contest—there’s some unforgettable monstrosities in Igloofest fans’ closets indeed, and where else could you win big for looking your worst?

 

© Eva Blue

The start of 2023’s festival season

Montréal is a city of festivals, with an internationally renowned annual calendar of unmissable events encompassing music, performance, film and comedy. And 2023 kicks off in fittingly grand style with Igloofest, a sign of better things to come throughout the year. From the world-famous Just for Laughs comedy festival and the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal to the cutting edge Pop Montréal International Music Festival and image+nation festival film LGBTQueer Montréal, there’s something for everyone!

 

Mark Hamilton

Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, an internationally-touring musician with his projects Woodpigeon and Frontperson  and a graduate studies student of history researching LGBTQ+ activism in the city. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.

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