Performing Guests

Your Favorite Enemies' distinctive blend of dirty and polished type of sonic textures, along with their introspective poetry and symbolist type of lyrical approach gathered fanatics from all different musical backgrounds into a defining communion of high level noise, post-punk, psych, shoegaze and prog rock.

Well known for their old school DIY dedicated ethos, for being fierce human rights advocates and for their insanely unique scenic let go type of live performances, the six members of the band devote every aspect of their career based on their community values which led them to play throughout Europe, Japan, China, Australia, and most recently in the United States. One of their more recent albums, Between Illness And Migration, was also was nominated in the Rock Album of the Year category at the Juno Awards 2015.

Furthermore, the prestigious Japanese company Square-Enix attended the band’s concert at the Shinkiba Studio Coast, in Tokyo. Enthralled by the reaction of the public, usually known to be culturally reserved, but jubilating as they saw the band’s passionate on stage performance, they decided to make Your Favorite Enemies the first non-Japanese band to compose theme songs for the legendary video game Final Fantasy, songs that would reach #1 in Japanese charts after the release of the game.

Sonically twisted, lyrically juxtaposed symbolistic and creative polemics are amongst the few aspects that make Your Favorite Enemies one of the most exciting, intriguing and artistically fascinating ventures to emerge on the musical front scene over the last couple of years.

L'orchestre de Jeux Vidéo was founded in September 2008 by Catherine Caplette-Bérubé, Jocelyn Leblanc and Sébastien Wall-Lacelle. Directed by maestro Jean-Pascal Hamelin, its primary mission, as its name suggests, is to produce concerts featuring music from the video games soundtrack repertoire, which is a unique concept in Quebec. From its earliest days, the orchestra has always had great success with the Montreal crowd, with many concerts drawing in crowds of over 500 people. The orchestra is looking forward to playing for a third time at Otakuthon and is planning a program filled with epic video game soundtracks!

L'Orchestre portable de jeux vidéo (OPJV), conducted by Sébastien Wall-Lacelle, is composed of fifteen musicians and offers music lovers a unique experience. As its name suggests, the OPJV is dedicated to video game music. From classics such as Mario and Zelda to more recent games like Kingdom Hearts II and Valkyria Chronicles, the OPJV explores a total of thirty years of music that takes its audience through the most epic and moving memories they have of video games. Being a smaller ensemble, the OPJV offers its fans not only an orchestral experience, but a more intimate event than a typical orchestra concert. All the music has been rearranged in order to create a much more personalized experience. The OPJV concerts offer an occasion not only to discover video game music for those who have not discovered it yet, but also brings a whole new way of performing the most well-known video games themes.

In the shattered halls of Comedy where lesser performers fall like the non-coated remains of pocky there exists a troupe of improv comedians who dare anything, watch everything and game an awful lot: The 404s! Since their conception from the ether in 2005, The 404s have remained Canada’s Premiere geek improv comedy troupe. Making audiences laugh all over North America, this band of deranged misfits will get a joke even when you don’t expect it. Like right now: a Spanish magician tells the audience he'll disappear at the count of three. He says "Uno, dos..." and poof disappears without a “tres”.

Komachi Montreal is a Japanese dance group established in 2007 which performs several folk dances throughout the Montreal region, but as well as in Quebec, New York and Ottawa. Their performances aim to make you live pleasant moments through traditional Japanese dances. Come and share this festive energy and dance with them.

This year, Komachi Montreal is taking on a special project based around the dance "Koi suru Fortune Cookie" by AKB48, a very popular J-pop idol group in Japan. They are reenacting the entire video clip, substituting the dancers with Montrealers of all sorts and filming in several locations across the city. In this way, they can promote Montreal by showing off its different events as well as having representation of the artistic communities who live there.

Komachi will be taking this opportunity to film a segment of their project during Otakuthon. At the end of Komachi show, there will be a mini-practice of the dance movements for the video after which a video will be shot in the wonderful festival atmosphere.

Take this opportunity to immortalize your fabulous costumes in the video "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie – Montreal version"!

The first Hakuho Ryu branch opened in Canada, Koryukan is an independent dojo whose goal is to practice and preserve the techniques of traditional Daito-ryu Aki Budo and Kenjutsu Ona Itto-ryu as they were taught.

Located in Montreal, Koryukan offers the teachings of Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu and Kenjutsu to individuals and groups. Respect, loyalty, friendship, humanity, humility, bravery, dedication, commitment and a right spirit are all values strongly encouraged.

The purpose of Daito-ryu practice is to better our own lives and the lives of those around us. Koryukan feels that it must not only preserve and develop Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu, but also must strive to promote it all over the world and pass it down to future generations.

Website:
www.koryukan.com

"A true warrior has no confusion in his mind..."

No Martial Art symbolizes the spirit of the warrior more than the arts of kendo and Iaido. Although the metal swords have been replaced by bamboo and wood, all other aspects of the Samurai Spirit live on in the practice of these martial arts.

This intense training contributes greatly to self-development, builds up a strong character and clears the mind giving the students confidence to overcome daily undertakings with the utmost commitment.

The main goal of the Shidokan Kendo and Iaido Club is to help students overcome their own limitations offering them the opportunity to experience an ancient Japanese tradition. Join us and unleash the warrior within you...

Website
www.shidokanmontreal.ca

Wushu is a dynamic, explosive and acrobatic martial art, performed both empty-handed and with the use of various weapons. Derived from Chinese Kung Fu, Wushu is often represented by stars like Jet Li & Donnie Yen. Wushu can also be seen in various media, from the movies in the Marvel franchise, to animated hits such as "Avatar The Last Airbender/The Legend of Korra", as well as throughout the Star Wars franchise (movies, TV, and video games).

The Feng Huang Wushu Club is the leading Chinese martial arts club in the Montreal area. Students are notable for their success in national or international competitions, but also for their contributions to the Montreal community. 

Taiko drumming has been part of Japan’s cultural and religious traditions for centuries, where it is frequently featured in celebrations and rituals. This ancient practice has given rise to a modern form of drumming called kumi-daiko, performed in groups. The rhythms of taiko, echoing the beating of the heart, resonate deep in the human soul. INAZUMA, or “lightning”, is the student group of Arashi Daiko, “the storm drums”, founded thirty-two years ago in Montreal. Drawing from a repertoire of traditional pieces as well as more current compositions, they give an energetic performance that hopes to inspire.