As the sun turned the sky a fiery orange over Parc Jean-Drapeau, Misstress Barbara took to Piknic Électronique’s main stage for a delightful sundown set. Taking control of the festival’s massive sound system, the homegrown legend unleashed a pounding hard house and techno set that lasted four hours. From the opening moments, rolling percussion, scratches, and hard-hitting 808s hinted at the delirium ahead.
Not shy to let the dancefloor energy simmer, she patiently built up the tension, teasing breakdowns and sudden stops, only to drop back into a steady, ground-shaking thump. Minimal deep house vocals threaded in and out throughout her set, as the focus stayed firmly on rhythm. Deep percussion and samba grooves with accompanying whistles and unmistakable acid-tech intermissions kept the music sounding fresh as the mood darkened when the sun dipped below the horizon. Her warm gestures to the packed crowd, bathed in a wash of red and blue lights, were a true testament to her dedication to her loyal fanbase.
True to her roots, she delivered the entire performance on vinyl, moving through her selection of tracks at a dizzying pace, while never losing sight of the bigger arc. The mix of young ravers and seasoned clubbers was mirrored in her selection – forward-pushing techno balanced with nods to traditional rave sounds. At the apex of the night, she dropped a bold flip of the iconic « You Spin Me Round » by Dead or Alive, blowing kisses to the crowd as the crowd roared the lyrics back at her. As the set was drawing to a close, she kept the heaters coming: stage lights sparkled to a relentless, bass-heavy finale of acid house.
Misstress Barbara didn’t just deliver – she reminded those in attendance why she remains a pillar of Montreal’s dance music scene, bridging generations on the dancefloor with vinyl mastery, boundless energy, and a disarmingly warm stage presence.
Photo: Emmanuelle Laurin
