Dokk-aebi

A change of seasons has brought a change in my social habits.  It had been a while since I had two steady days off a week.  With this in mind I had been looking for new things I could try in Montreal.  I was checking the local city listings when one of them had an article discussing some of this years showings at the RIDM.

The first documentary I saw was “A City is an Island” which described itself as:

“In a Montreal where linguistic identity is a permanent, fundamental issue, a community of talented English-speaking musicians has put down roots, attracted by the city’s comparatively modest rents. The scene has grown into a cultural world unto itself. Warehouses abandoned in the 1990s now buzz with these discreet but busy new arrivals, contributing to Quebec’s cultural life even though they are barely integrated into it. Timothy George Kelly’s film is an uncompromising exploration of the paradox of a dynamic independent music scene that remains permanently distinct. Made with the same DIY ethos as its subjects apply to their music, A City is an Island introduces us to Mac DeMarco, Patrick Watson, Sean Nicholas Savage, Tim Hecker, Colin Stetson and many more.”

It was my first experience attending a RIDM event.  The first showing was held at the “amphitheatre du coeur des sciences” on Sherbrooke street.  I didn’t know if I should expect large crowds so I turned up a good 45 minutes early with a book. Continue reading →