5 acts to catch at this year’s FME in Rouyn-Noranda

This year’s Festival de musique émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (FME) kicks off later this month, offering up four days of nearly non-stop live music in the beautifully tranquil town of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec (population 41,000).

Below we’ve selected five acts to catch at the festival, which runs from August 30th – September 2nd. In addition to the shows below, there are over 60 acts at the festival, from international touring bands to up-and-coming Quebec artists. The best way to experience FME is to grab a festival passport and hop from venue to venue, discovering as much of the diverse programming as your feet and ears will allow.

Our coverage from last year’s festival is here, while our interview with FME co-founder and vice-president Jenny Thibault is here. For tickets and more information visit the festival’s official site.

Karkwatson

Patrick Watson and Karkwa join forces for the first time in a decade for these special pair of shows, which feature both bands merging Voltron-style into a massive collective that will re-interpret material from each act’s catalogue. Nothing screams of the collaborative spirit of FME more than these two well-known acts melding their musical styles (and languages!) for these shows.
Friday, August 31st, 12:00 am, and Saturday, September 1st, 9:00 pm, L’Agora des Arts.

Loud

Quebec rapper Loud (Simon Cliche Trudeau) is having a moment. After moving on from the Loud Lary Ajust collective, Loud released his debut LP, Une Année Record in 2017, and has been packing them in during his solo shows throughout the province (including a wild set at Osheaga last week). His set at FME has already been upgraded to the large outdoor stage, which should make this one of the hottest sets at the festival.
Saturday, September 1st, 8:00 pm, Scene Desjardins. 

Frigs

Toronto’s Frigs combine elements of post-punk and shoegaze in a dreamy stew that should strike the sweet spot for those who grew up (or wish they grew up) in the 90’s. With propulsive rhythms, angular riffs and spoken / shouted vocals, Frigs should appeal equally to fans of early Sonic Youth, and younger bands like Bully and Alvvays.
Saturday, September 1st, 12:00 am, Cabaret De La Dernière Chance.

Cattle Decapitation

While there is no shortage of laid-back indie rock and folk acts at FME, if blackened death metal is more up your alley don’t miss San Diego’s Cattle Decapitation, who will be sure to bust eardrums and open up the pit with their blend of breakneck metal and guttural vocals. Definitely not for the patchouli crowd.
Sunday, September 2nd, 10:45 pm, Petit Théâtre du Vieux Noranda.

Surprise Concert

No, this isn’t a clever band name — FME organizers are keeping details of this secret show under wraps, but promise “an exclusive, brand-new show from an iconic Quebec artist who got their start at the FME.”
Any guesses? We’ll find out on August 24th when FME reveal all the details (tickets will also go on-sale that day too).
Thursday, August 30th at 12:00 am and Friday, August 31st at 12:00 am, Petit Théâtre du Vieux Noranda. 

FME runs from August 30 – September 2nd. For tickets and more information visit the festival’s official site.