MUTEK | A 25th anniversary under the sign of accessibility

For his 25th^e anniversary, MUTEK will host the best of electronic music and digital creativity, in performances accessible and free to the public. Some 80 projects by artists from all over the world are on the bill for the event, which takes place from August 20 to 25. A call to discovery.

Outdoor stage for all

For its general and artistic director, Alain Mongeau, it is first and foremost the outdoor component, located in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles, which is to be highlighted in this edition. He sets the tone: “We have made an even greater effort in programming. There are [évènements] that we could have programmed in prime time at the MTelus that we decided to present on the outdoor stage as a kind of gift that we give ourselves for the 25th^e birthday. “

This part of the festival has become increasingly important in recent years, especially since the opening of the Esplanade Tranquille. “It came grounder not only the stage, but also the festival where all audiences can meet,” according to Alain Mongeau, who sees this outdoor stage as if it were almost a second festival.

These free outdoor performances are “a gateway” to MUTEK and, above all, a “big invitation to come and discover the festival at zero risk”. We will highlight the performances of international DJs, including Kode9, who presents, among other things, his album Escapology Saturday, August 24.

Free, on the Expérience stage of the Esplanade Tranquille, from August 20 to 25 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and until midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Life in the Digital Village

MUTEK is not only an electronic music event, it is also an incubator for digital creations. It offers, free of charge and outside, the Digital Village, a tour of nearly 20 audiovisual installation projects.

More specifically for this edition, the team is making room for Quebec artists and studios. Among other things, it will be necessary to experience the works Cycles by Martin Messier, Redshift by LP Rondeau, Digi-Deuil Distribution by Anna Eyler and Nicolas Lapointe and Vessels by Sofian Audry, Samuel St-Aubin and Stephen Kelly. And, of course, Inflorescences by Sabrina Ratté.

At the corner of Clark Street and De Maisonneuve Boulevard, in a container modified for the occasion, Sabrina Ratté stages old VCRs and cathode-ray televisions using video and 3D scanning. The idea is to imagine “a future in which nature has evolved to live in symbiosis with abandoned electronic objects,” according to Sarah Ève Tousignant, head of programming for the Digital Village.

Once humans have disappeared, “these organisms will adapt and feed on the remains of electronic waste,” explains Sabrina Ratté. The work makes visitors aware of the obsolescence of this waste, but also of its future. Sabrina Ratté also designed the visual identity of the MUTEK Digit’Ale (!) beer created for the occasion in collaboration with the Brasserie Dieu du ciel!

In short, if it is presented as a special program of the 25th^e anniversary, the Digital Village has a life of its own: it starts earlier and ends later. “It’s not just an extension of the festival, it’s a project in itself,” says Alain Mongeau.

Check out the events of the Digital Village

In the room

Of course, for more seasoned ears, MUTEK also presents indoor shows, through the Nocturne and A/Visions series as well as Metropolis, the climax of the festival. Efforts have also been made at the MTelus theatre to create an even more immersive sound, according to programmer Marie-Laure Saidani. The Metropolis 2 evening will be noted for its playful side, thanks in part to the Factory Floor sound environments.

The second Nocturne will also attract attention with three artists whose watchwords are “tinkering” and “tinkering”. Jacques produces sounds with everyday objects: the noises are even danceable. The project of the duo No plexus offers a playful and very theatrical scenography, while Mathieu Arsenault (Seulement) revisits the animation frame by frame by cutting out its shapes himself.

The forum

For the more intellectual, MUTEK Forum returns this year for a 10^e edition. Nearly 90 international experts are meeting to discuss issues related to technology and the future: artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality (XR), the sustainability of music, architecture… Video games are in the spotlight to highlight Montreal’s importance in this industry. Special attention will also be paid to work on Indigenous immersive futures, including that of multimedia artist Skawennati.

At the Monument-National and the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), from August 20 to 23

Special event

In addition to presenting Film Scores for No One: a Patrick Watson ProjectNew City Gas welcomes, for the first time at MUTEK, Colin Stetson as well as the experimental practice of Kara-Lis Coverdale, on August 21, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Check out the event page

MUTEK takes place from August 20 to 25, 2024.

Check out the event schedule