Photo: Jérôme Suard // Nightlife

We tried. We bunched up our cheeks and tried to will the sun to come out from behind the clouds, but it still rained.

But, those who risk nothing gain nothing! It was in the this spirit that we decided to move forward and hold a wet-themed Piknic for this 11^th edition of the season, a meteorologically delicate proposition that worked out in our favour. Everyone got wet! Our theme worked! Afterwards, brought together by our thematic soaking, our dancers were ready for anything and everything. Which worked out perfectly, because we had everything and anything in store to throw at them. The Dirtybird label’s Justin Martin revved us up with a two-hour set on sunny side-up house. Would’ve been good with some actual sunlight, but that wouldn’t have worked with our theme now, would it?

All the while, partners-for-the-week Jack & Jones set up shop at Piknic with an activity that raised more than a few eyebrows, ours included. Surrounded by a bevy on onlookers, a model got her skin on for a body-painting session. Fortunately, they were not dealing with water-based paint, because that rain was everywhere. We didn’t have umbrellas to offer you, or rain boots, or even fisherman’s caps, but at least we had PONCHOS! Did we tell you that we received them the same day? Couldn’t make it up if we tried.

A few hundred meters from the Calder, the STM stage vibrated to the weight of quality bass music, as delivered by the Forward crew. Wally, Rhys Taylor, Dialect and the tagteam of Méta.B and Nitrous largely fulfilled the tastes and busted eardrums of genre enthusiasts, who danced regardless of style, and later, regardless of clothes. Sadly, we didn’t get the chance to check out the much-anticipated set by Wally and MC Ella Grave. Unending rain meant we had to cut the sound at 6pm. Our theme worked too well, and began to put al the sound gear at risk. Don’t forget, you can find the Forward crew at Passeport bar every Thursday night.

Bringing to a close this already epic day, Montreal’s own Olivier St-Germain and Soundshaper delivered one of the most humid sets in the Piknic’s history to the last remaining warriors of weather still on the sinking dance floor. Given the conditions, it was an audacious, heroic and simply memorable performance! We’ll have a podcast of the set up on the site soon.

As a last word, we’d like to thank the piknicers who did make it out, the artists who were so generous with their time, and our devoted employees who put up with some pretty wet conditions to present such a satisfying musical soundtrack.

Till next week,

Julie G. and Mariri