Year after year, the Piknic formula proves that it works.
Itʼs a tall order to meet the expectations that come with such a reputation, but once you cross those gates and step into the crowd, it quickly becomes clear why this festival continues to draw people in. The fluorescent backdrop, paired with an even more vibrant crowd swaying to infectious grooves and skipping from stage to stage, gives the event a sense of playful debauchery. It’s the crème de la crème of summer parties, where artists show up with their A game.
A tribute to Montrealʼs diversity, Piknic offers a full spectrum of nightlife condensed into the microcosms of its two stages. At the National Bank Stage, set up like an intimate boiler room session, we were treated to a pulsing evening of hyperpop. Meanwhile, just across the gulley at the Fizz Stage, the mood was a global homage to club classics. Chloe Lallouz captivated the crowd with her delightfully unpredictable genre-blending. Opening with a bachata track, the
open-air venue momentarily transformed into a casual tropical party. From there, she offered glimpses of sounds from across the globe—India, Morocco, Brazil, and early 2000s U.S.A.—all layered over a steady afrohouse groove that built into baile funk and amapiano. Dancing circles formed, limbo sticks made their way through the crowd, and most importantly, her set illuminated the multicultural essence of Montreal, bringing everyone together in a shared rhythm.
As the night deepened, Stryv picked up where Lallouz left off, carrying the collective energy and elevating it to euphoric heights. An experienced producer, Stryv has mastered the art of anticipation, keeping dancers on the edge with a finely tuned balance of chord stabs and ghostly vocal textures. His rhythms were hypnotic, evolving seamlessly without ever overwhelming. It was like watching a storm roll in and out—subtle yet powerful. And as the final hour approached, the sky metaphorically cleared, releasing a wave of positive energy. Even soaking wet, the crowd refused to accept that the night was ending, chanting for “just one more song.”
In a parallel universe only a five-minute walk away, ZORZA was redefining techno with a cool and collected presence. Navigating the fringes of hyperpop and underground rave, her quiet continuously renewed the element of surprise. With an ear for obscure internet finds and sped up pop samples, Zorzaʼs inventiveness was a breath of fresh air. With distorted samples that sounded like the system was about to crash, people were losing their minds. All around the stage and amongst the muddy grass, people were jumping, yelling and punching the air. Everywhere you felt the release and excitement of what it means to be here at Piknic. Its the official arrival of summer, and the fact that whether it rains or shines, Montrealʼs nightlife is always alive.
Piknic isnʼt just a music festival—itʼs a cultural barometer of Montrealʼs evolving nightlife. Whether you’re drawn in by nostalgia, global rhythms, or emerging djʼs, there’s space for you at Piknic. And maybe thatʼs the magic of it: in a city as eclectic as Montreal, this festival finds a way to make it all dance together.
