Les Échanges nocturnes are programmed as part of the activities of the MTL 24/24 Night Council, a citizen forum working towards the inclusive development of Montreal’s nightlife. Each evening consists of two one-hour panels and a 30-minute networking break between the two discussions.
PANEL 1 – De l’underground au mainstream : qui décide de la visibilité au sein de la scène musicale montréalaise?
INVITED PANELISTS
- Salima Bouaraour, co-founder of the label Chez.Kito.Kat records (Samuel Ricciuti, Christophe Biache), DJ-Producer under the pseudonym Shadya, DJ-Producer under the pseudonym Safia Nihil (with DBY)
- Kevin Calixte, influencer/activist, representative of nightlife in the Black community, North Harlem Festival, Rapolitik, Keke Uncensored, The Keke Show, Keke Agency
- Félix Patry, DJ, Founder of homeby6, programmer for (avec)courage! .
ORGANISATION AND MODERATION
- Youri Dominique (moderator), member of the MTL 24/24 Night Council, change management consultant, and founder and president of HITstory and DJpool.club
- Sylvain Ferland, member of the MTL 24/24 Night Council, event project manager at Bain Mathieu, and programming director at lafaceb.live radio
PRESENTATION OF THE PANEL
From their inception, music and cultural scenes have been shaped by opposing forces between underground and mainstream, authenticity and commodification. With globalization and the rise of social media, which disseminates local—sometimes niche—artistic and cultural movements worldwide, these boundaries are shifting and becoming more porous. This panel offers an open discussion on how visibility is constructed within Montreal’s nightlife. Through concrete experiences, participants will explore the tensions between underground and mainstream scenes, between local and international artists, between humility and self-presentation, and the role of certain clubs and festivals in supporting artists’ careers; while acknowledging that other artists have built their international careers without this kind of support.
DATE AND TIME
Tuesday, March 10, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., in person
VENUE
Mes pants de queer
2025 rue Parthenais, suite 241, Montréal
Free event, open to everyone upon registration.
Register here
PANEL 2 – Qui protège la fête? Sécurité, prévention et responsabilités partagées en milieu festif
INVITED PANELISTS
- No Police, DJ, producer, member of T.I.T.S., and involved in setting up one of the first Safe Squads in the city (for OCTOV).
- Alexandrine Beauvais-Lamoureux, co-founder and CEO of Scène et Sauve.
- Davidé, DJ, co-owner of Cabaret Berlin and co-founder of Cirque De Boudoir.
ORGANIZATION AND MODERATION
- Geneviève Phan (moderator), member of the MTL 24/24 Night Council, lawyer, co-coordinator of Ärder’s Safe Squad, and Safe Squad volunteer for several other collectives
- Maryline Thomas, member of the MTL 24/24 Night Council and co-founder of SMart PRODUCTIONS, better known as QUEEN & QUEER events
PRESENTATION OF THE PANEL
By 2026, safety in nightlife settings can no longer remain merely an intention or a wish; safe spaces are absolutely vital to nightlife, particularly for women and marginalized communities, who are often more vulnerable to violence. This panel will examine the challenges of safety, violence prevention, and harm reduction at festive events, bringing together the perspectives of organizers, security teams, and venue managers to transform these values into concrete practices adapted to the realities on the ground, especially for smaller groups with limited resources. The discussion will address the various prevention and intervention strategies adopted, areas of tension, and the room for maneuver available to each stakeholder in ensuring event safety. How can we build safer festive environments without resorting to excessive control, while sharing responsibility for safety among venues, professional teams, and the public themselves?
DATE AND TIME
Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in person
VENUE
Mes pants de queer
2025, rue Parthenais, suite 241, Montréal
Free event, open to everyone upon registration.
Register here