Montreal rock royalty Arcade Fire will perform in town for the first time in more than two-and-a-half years as the featured act at this year’s edition of KANPE Kanaval on March 15 at Metropolis.
Régine Chassagne, one of the band’s co-founders, is an outspoken advocate for Haiti, from which her parents hail, and is a co-founder of KANPE, a relief organization dedicated to rebuilding the nation that was devastated by an earthquake in 2010.
The fifth annual edition of Kanaval — a Haitian-style carnival party where attendees are invited to dress up in masks and colourful costumes — will be hosted by actor Jason Sudeikis, who rose to fame during his eight years as a cast member on NBC’s late-night comedy institution Saturday Night Live, and who has more recently transitioned to big-screen comedies, including Horrible Bosses, We’re the Millers and Mother’s Day. His co-host for the evening will be Quebec TV vedette Anne-Marie Withenshaw.
Among the other performers at the fundraiser, the first being held at Metropolis:New York-based Haitian singer-songwriterPaul Beaubrun; actor and singerGardy Fury;Montreal-based Creole rapperFwonte; Montreal music groupRara Soley; musiciansDiolkidi, Ti-Will andJean-Nazaire Baptiste;Montreal DJDebby Friday;Haitian singer-songwriterTito Maréchal Blues Créole;Montreal DJGayance, and more artists to be announced.
Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler, as his DJ alter ego Windows 98, will also perform a DJ set.
The Grammy-winning band last performed in Montreal on Aug. 30, 2014, at Parc-Jean Drapeau, in support of its last album, 2013’s Reflektor. The group has reportedly wrapped up the recording of that album’s long-awaited follow-up. Earlier this week the group also announced a European tour that kicks off June 3 in Barcelona, Spain. No North American dates have yet been announced.
KANPE Kanaval is March 15 at Metropolis, 59 Ste-Catherine St. E. Tickets are $65, plus taxes, and go on sale at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 15, via evenko.ca and at Metropolis.
