Christmas carols and markets, fruitcakes and midnight mass, dancing or Christmas Eve in front of the television… Fortunately, there are other options to the traditions of the holiday season for those who wish to live the moment in pleasure and originality. A short review of parties Christmas and New Year’s Day on the sidelines of seasonal clichés.
Punk tradition, but tradition all the same: the songwriter, violinist and publisher — among other hats — Norman Nawrocki does it again on Thursday, December 22 with the 9e edition of Rad Non-Xmas Music Showbilled as “the perfect antidote to traditional lard [traduction de « schmalz »] of the Christmas season. At the Casa del Popolo, a dozen artists will play everything (punk, rock, jazz, synth-pop, contemporary music, klezmer) except the tunes of the Holiday season, a salutary proposition.
The same evening, the good people of Turbo Haüs will spare a thought for freelancers with their Party Holidays “for anyone who works for themselves, is an independent contractor, or just wants to have a good time” — free admission, priceless atmosphere.
Even on public holidays, the party never stops at the legendary club Balattou, which presents concerts on December 22, 23, 24 and 25. Montrealer of Brazilian origin, Bianca Rocha kicks off the festivities on Thursday, followed by Oluwa Banjo, a musician with Cameroonian roots. On Christmas Eve, it’s time for Congolese rumba by Blaise Labamba and his Kotakoli orchestra, then Ivorian zouglou by Tajoa on the 25th. Admission price: $10, a bargain.
The origins of the ugly Christmas sweater fashion are nebulous (American, the trend is said to have originated in the 1950s before gaining popularity three decades later), but the gag will persist at Stereo Bar, during the Ugly Xmas Sweater Party December 25 — on the decks, UNDFND PRML and Shades of BLK.
A little music to accompany all this? It’s been a tradition for seven years already, in December, the Slam Discs label offers ZOO, compilation on which its artists spoil us with covers of their own. The 2022 vintage is especially tasty: Slater & Fils taking over a classic from Rock and Belles Oreilles, Frank Custeau translating Video Killed the Radio Star of The Buggles (now Internet has killed Music More), covers of BB, Jean Leloup or Zébulon, Limp Bizkit and the Viagra Boys sung in French, which can be found on the Bandcamp page of the record company. And while visiting the digital music retailer, also look out for record label Pacific Plaza’s Bandcamp page for a vaporwave Christmas (It’s a Vaporwave Christmas Vol. 3.) and that of Tramp Records for a Christmas funk (Santa’s Funk & Soul Christmas Party 4); it changes from Christmas by André Gagnon.
Vigils
Head to Sala Rossa for an inclusive New Year’s Eve simmered by the queer collective Unikorn — until 3 a.m., more than a dozen musicians and DJs will parade, including Lafhomme, Syana, Awwful, Sisi Superstar and Dijipoune. For a more rock evening, just across Saint-Laurent Boulevard, the party organized by Casa del Popolo will bring together young hardcore shooters, including Public Acid from North Carolina. Another enticing rock option, Les Deuxluxes at the Esco, rue Saint-Denis, accompanied by the musical atmosphere of DJ Poulet, from 9 p.m.
The party experts of the Moonshine collective are preparing a special evening in a space that will be kept secret until the last minute; accustomed to the house co-founded by Pierre Kwenders. Even the poster of guest DJs and musicians has yet to be revealed, but this night called Saï Saï will come alive from 10 a.m. to 7 a.m. and will be full of quality Afro-electronic grooves. In the same dancing spirit, the Balattou – him again! — prepares its “Tropical” New Year’s Eve on December 31, with the Mandingo tunes of Aboulaye Koné (guitar) and Zal Sissokho (kora), an African buffet and a lively dance floor.
Also on December 31, we’ll be playing disco and new wave at the Bar Le Ritz PDB, and more techno at the chic Système, a young bistro and nightclub set up on the Plaza Saint-Hubert, taken over by the family of the record company Éditions Appaerent: on the musical menu, Marie Davidson and Feu St-Antoine will DJ, live performance by Lash as a bonus.