When it comes to Canadian dance festivals, few can rival îLESONIQ, a two-day marathon that takes over the lush parklands of Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau every August. A staple of the East Coast festival circuit, îLESONIQ will be returning to the French-Canadian capital for its ninth edition this August 11-12.
Best of all? We’ll be there every step of the way, offering in-depth coverage of this celebrated dance party and giving Nexus readers an exclusive look at what makes îLESONIQ the ultimate music festival.
With the festival just under two weeks away, we thought we’d look back at the history of ÎLESONIQ and explore how it became so important on the North American dance scene. We’ll also share all the important info you’ll need if you’re planning to attend the festival.
Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about îLESONIQ!
The History of îLESONIQ
Montreal has long been the home of an enviable dance scene, from the influential disco clubs of the seventies like Lime Light and 1234 to the noughties rave craze when clubs like Soma and Stereo took center stage. Since its inaugural edition in 2014, îLESONIQ has quietly slipped at the forefront of the MTL electronic scene, consistently bringing incredible global talents to Montreal’s passionate fanbase.
The first edition of îLESONIQ brought 25,000 attendees to its festival ground at the Parc Jean-Drapeau and featured an early-career Tiesto as one of its headliners along with Zeds Dead and Dillon Francis. Subsequent editions have seen everyone from The Chainsmokers and Swedish House Mafia to Skrillex and Deadmau5 perform, and the festival has rapidly grown in popularity, with a record 234,000 showing up in 2019.
Who To Expect In 2024
îLESONIQ 2024 brings together an incredible lineup of artists, ranging from EDM legends to underground melodic techno and house acts. Headlining this year is the Godfather of EDM Tiesto, with Loud Luxury, Timmy Trumpet, and Zedd taking the stage ahead of Tiesto’s festival-closing set on the Oasis Stage.
A few more exciting acts slated to perform include progressive house spinner Enamour (he’ll also be taking the stage at Newspeak, the legendary Montreal club, the same weekend); Italian DJ duo Gioli & Assia; actor-turned-DJ-extraordinaire Idris Elba; Grammy-nominated DJ Snake; and Green Velvet in a B2B with UK’s Patrick Topping.
This year, îLESONIQ also features some must-see after-hours programming, including performances by Seth Troxler, Odd Mob, and Loud Luxury at much-loved clubs throughout the city, including New City Gas, Newspeak, and Stereo Bar.
We’ll do a deeper dive on the lineup closer to the event—stay tuned!
A Few Details
If you’re thinking of attending îLESONIQ 2024, here’s some useful information to have on hand:
- Transportation: Luckily, getting to îLESONIQ is a breeze. There are tons of options for finding your way to Parc Jean-Drapeau, including attendee-exclusive public transit passes and accessible bike routes. The closest metro stop is less than a 10-minute walk from the festival grounds.
- Hours: îLESONIQ’s main program runs from 1 to 11 P.M. on August 11 and 12, with additional after-hours programming at Montreal’s most celebrated live music venues and clubs as part of îLESONIQ afterparty program.
- Tickets: Tickets are still available for the 2024 edition, with two-day weekend passes starting at $235 CAD. There are also some great VIP options that include perks like skip-the-line privileges, access to the mainstage’s front pit viewing area, and more.
We can’t wait to share our thoughts on îLESONIQ 2024! As always, make sure to follow us @nexusradiodance for more in-depth coverage of dance music’s best festivals, as well as news and exclusive interviews with the biggest names in the industry.
