Build it and they will come... Hopefully!
Funky drum roll please...
It's been a dream of mine for a long time to host a Mod Weekender & Scooter Rally in my beautiful city. Well, my Modernist friends, dreams can sometimes turn into reality. Mark your calendar! During Labor Day weekend, from August 29 to September 1st 2014, Montreal will be the centre of the Mod world in North America.
Ever since MODchicago has gracefully pulled the curtain after 10 years, I wanted to fill that void. I'm very proud and honoured to welcome you to the MODtreal Weekender 2014!
On this very blog, I have praised many North American cities like New Orleans, Memphis, Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas but I have never raved about the beauty of my hometown of Montreal. Ever since the prohibition era, Montreal has had the reputation for having that certain joie de vivre and a nightlife that is second to none. It was called Sin City even before Las Vegas! It was also dubbed the Paris of the North. This is where Al Capone came to hang out and where Frank Sinatra came to perform. I strongly suggest you check this 3 minute documentary from Radio Canada describing the nightlife and jazz scene in the 50s and 60s. You'll get a better understanding why the city is what it is and why we now host, every summer, the biggest Jazz festival in the world.
Click here: Montreal Jazz Scene
It also hosted Expo '67, the World Fair that put Montreal on the map and made it the metropolis it is today. Expo '67 was simply an explosion of MODern design and it happened RIGHT HERE! We even built an island for it! Some of the vestiges of that era will be the focus of the scooter rally.
 |
| If the sign says it than it must be true. |
Now, let's make it the Mod capital of the world for a weekend. Book your flight now! Do I have some great events lined-up for you. May I suggest that you arrive on August 29 for the Friday night events? Bar de Courcelle, one of the coolest dive bars in town, home of my weekly night, the Mod Club, will welcome an All-Star Canadian line-up of DJs.
The one and only Winnipegger and host of the On Target podcast, Mod Marty has an incredible record collection and will undoubtedly impress many of us with his selection. DJ Gaz, resident DJ of our sister night, Mod Club Ottawa, will show us why he has had the most successful Mod night in Canada for the past 10 years. Some of the Montreal's 60s DJ elite will also have their turn behind the turntables.
The one and only Winnipegger and host of the On Target podcast, Mod Marty has an incredible record collection and will undoubtedly impress many of us with his selection. DJ Gaz, resident DJ of our sister night, Mod Club Ottawa, will show us why he has had the most successful Mod night in Canada for the past 10 years. Some of the Montreal's 60s DJ elite will also have their turn behind the turntables.
Saturday will be a day full of events that you won't want to miss. Montreal's original Face, Eric Boulanger, will take our scooter riders on a sightseing tour accross the city. All are welcomed to join us for our first pit-stop at the coolest spot on the island, the Atomic Cafe for some refreshments and a vintage fair and record swap.
The evening festivities are also sure to please. I'm really excited to have one of the best Mod bands around, crossing the border for their Canadian premier. RAF will undoubtedly bring the house down during our Saturday night main event at Divan Orange. Make sure to grab their newly release EP before they run out. Seeing these guys live alone is worth the price of the airfare.
They will be followed by some of the top DJs on the continent. DJ Karen (Phoenix, Az), DJ TJ (Provindence, Boston), Dan Melendez (LA, Ca) Miss KT (Los Angeles, Ca) and myself, DJ Parka Pat are sure to make you dance until you can't dance no more.
We will close the holiday weekend on Sunday with some local talent. The power trio, Les Envahisseurs, are going to prove to you that Mod is not dead in this city. With an orginal anthem called Je Suis Un Mod (I Am A Mod), need I say more?
The new kids in town, Les Gentlemen, are sure to please with their powerful punch of sixties goodness.
Last but not least, we are honoured to welcome, all the way from Brooklyn New York, Quitty and the Don'ts. Let me just say that this won't be the last you hear from these guys.
Of course, I have many more surprises in store for you. For one, our local vintage scooter shop Scootart has promised as few goodies to be given away during the weekend. All you need to do is "like" the MODtreal Facebook page for all the updates.
I want to sincerly thank Mod Marty for designing our incredible poster, Franck Poireau for coming up with our logo and all our sponsors for suporting us.
We will close the holiday weekend on Sunday with some local talent. The power trio, Les Envahisseurs, are going to prove to you that Mod is not dead in this city. With an orginal anthem called Je Suis Un Mod (I Am A Mod), need I say more?
 |
| Photo by Katia Provencher |
Last but not least, we are honoured to welcome, all the way from Brooklyn New York, Quitty and the Don'ts. Let me just say that this won't be the last you hear from these guys.
Of course, I have many more surprises in store for you. For one, our local vintage scooter shop Scootart has promised as few goodies to be given away during the weekend. All you need to do is "like" the MODtreal Facebook page for all the updates.
I want to sincerly thank Mod Marty for designing our incredible poster, Franck Poireau for coming up with our logo and all our sponsors for suporting us.
Posts
Nice. See you then.
ReplyDelete