Les Foufounes Électriques

Les Foufounes Électriques is a club and concert venue located at 87 Saint Catherine Street East in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada in a neighbourhood known as the Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter).[1][2] It is a multi-level establishment with two concert spaces and a dance floor.[3][4] The club opened in 1983 and became a centre for underground music, underground art, and culture in Montreal.[5][6][7][8][9]

Les Foufounes Électriques
Foufs
Entrance
Location87, rue Sainte-Catherine Est
Montreal, Quebec
H2X 1K5
Coordinates45.511°N 73.563°W / 45.511; -73.563
TypeClub and concert venue
Genre(s)Punk rock, alternative rock, metalcore, hardcore punk, underground, grunge, hip hop
Opened1983
Website
www.foufouneselectriques.com

Known as "Foufs" by the locals, the club is the oldest alternative rock venue in the city.[10][11]

History

In 1983, Norman Boileau, François Gourd and Bernard Paquet, 3 friends from the same musical theatre group, decided to open a bar which would also serve as a place to showcase burgeoning alternative musicians and different types of art.[5][6] Some of the more notable early art performances included applying paint to human canvasses as well as the walls of the club itself - these sessions were known as "Peinture en Direct" (live painting).[6] The club's inner decor includes graffiti covered walls and strange sculptures.[8][12] According to Gourd, the bar did not turn much of a profit and he sold his share in the club after 5 years. By the end of the 80s, Boileau was the only remaining owner.[5][6]

The name "Les Foufounes Électriques" in Quebec French literally translates to "the electric buttocks".[1][10][11][13] According to a 2008 article which appeared in The Guardian the name originated from "its founders' habits of exhibiting their painted derrieres in old TV sets."[14]

During the 80s the club became a centre for the punk and gothic subcultures of Montreal, however the club has also been home to many varieties of underground and alternative styles of music, including new wave, reggae, ska, industrial, grunge, and hip-hop.[2][7][12][15] The club tends to attract a younger punk/alternative rock crowd in addition to and including students from one of Montreal's many colleges and universities.[11][15][16]

Some of the more well known international artists who have performed at the venue include Nirvana, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age, Mano Negra, The Dickies, William S. Burroughs and Marianne Faithfull.[7][10][17] In addition to live musical performances and various DJ shows, the venue has also hosted a variety of non-musical events, including barbecues, art shows and sideshows.[7]

References
  1. Legaspi, Andre, Frommer's Montreal Day by Day, Frommer's, 2007, p 107. Last retrieved June 17, 2010
  2. Bowden, Arabella, The Rough Guide to Montréal, Rough Guides, 2004, p. 175. Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  3. Davidson, Hilary, Frommer's Canada, John Wiley and Sons, 2006, p. 267. Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  4. Bar Secrets Montreal. Deck of Secrets. 2010. ISBN 978-0981225401. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  5. Barry, Chris, "Anarchy and assholes", Montreal Mirror, Oct 20-26.2005 Vol. 21 No. 18. Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  6. The history of Les Foufounes Electriques on the club's official website. Archived 2010-03-30 at the Wayback Machine Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  7. Musgrave, Sarah, Resto a Go-Go: 180 Cheap and Fun Places to Eat and Drink in Montreal, ECW Press, 2003, p. 227. Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  8. Kokker, Steve, Québec, Lonely Planet, 2002, p. 125. Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  9. Legtenyi, Patrick, "In memoriam: Five Mirror cover subjects who have since passed on", Montreal Mirror, Oct 20-26.2005 Vol. 21 No. 18. Archived 2007-05-05 at the Wayback Machine Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  10. Klein, Rachel, Fodor's Montreal & Quebec City, Random House of Canada, 2010, p. 93. Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  11. Jepson, Tim, The Rough Guide to Canada, Rough Guides, 2004, p 257. Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  12. Zimmerman, Karla, Canada, Lonely Planet, 2008, p. 285. Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  13. wiktionary:foufoune
  14. Gittins, Ian, "Can M for Montreal predict pop's future?", The Guardian, Dec 2, 2008. Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  15. Papineau, Philippe, "Attaque locale aux Foufs", Le Devoir, May 4, 2007. (French text.) Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  16. Whyte, David, Scotland, Hunter Publishing, Inc, 1998, p. 187. Last retrieved Jun 17, 2010
  17. Béland, Kathy, "Les griffes de la nuit", Voir, Jan 6, 2011. (French text.) Last retrieved May 20, 2012
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