The Secret of Piknic Électronik

For a 14th^season, electronic-music lovers danced under Calder’s Man. Unique in the world, Piknic Électronik continues to attract tens of thousands of dancers. Interview with press relations officer François Fournier. How did the last season

go? We had a record takeoff

with 13,500 people; it was unprecedented, even bigger than our big Igloofest. Fortunately, we had added a third stage and enlarged the site. After that, Mother Nature made things difficult with rain and cold, and we had to cancel some gloomy Sundays. We are obsessed with the weather and follow several radars so we can make a last-minute decision. For now, we have attracted more than 91,000 people; who knows, maybe we will reach 100,000. It is amazing to look at photos from the first Piknic Électronik events, when 200 people relaxed and barely danced under a small tent. Has Piknic Électronik managed to win over tourists?

Yes, 20% of our audience are people visiting Montréal.

We are definitely part of the tourist circuit; visitors do not want to miss Piknic Électronik. Every week, foreign media come to see us, and there is a buzz. French expatriates have been good ambassadors, and word has spread all the way to Europe. Piknic now runs in Melbourne and Dubai, and we are returning in January 2017. In Paris, we had a unique experience, a first test to feel out the ground. We fully intend to return more often because it was very positive. We are aiming for the United States, London and nerve centres around the planet. We are bold. We want to develop in ten international cities over the next five years. A nice anecdote? Two weeks

ago, there was

a beautiful marriage proposal right in the middle of Piknic. In 2014, there was a magical moment. We almost cancelled the last Piknic Électronik because the weather was so bad. It felt sad to end the season on that note. Late in the day, the sun appeared. The 100,000th visitor passed through the gate around 8 p.m. It^was the first time we had reached that number. What is the secret to keeping

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the event alive from May to November? It is all in the very

Montréal atmosphere. Artists are truly surprised by the diverse crowd, of all ages and styles. The site is magical. It is a rendezvous. People have made the event their own, and there is a real sense of belonging. Each week, around 5,000 people come, yet it remains a local, human-scale event. It feels like arriving at a friend’s place. Exporting the Piknic atmosphere is not easy, but we are working hard

on it. Already the last weekend to enjoy it. 

The final doubleheader for Piknic Électronik will be completely different. On Saturday, public requests take pride of place, with programmers reviewing more than 2,600 messages to invite the most requested artists, including Laura Scavo, Nymra & Sofisticated, Gino Gand Mike, and MisstressBarbara. Sunday is just asmajor with a Red BullMusic Academy Special: Theo Parrish, Depth Charge, Race Banyon, AAAA, Branko, Pierre Kwenders andBambi.  The PiknicÉlectronik team hassurprises instore forits 15th anniversary, Montréal’s 375thand the 50th anniversary of Expo 67 and Parc Jean-Drapeau. For^{electronic-music} fans, Igloofest will^soon be here to warm us^up. For full details, consult the related page, event page, exhibition page and partner links provided here.