"More than just a festival, Phoque OFF is now a central hub of Quebec’s emerging alternative music scene. This festival made for and by the artists mold what is and what will be the music and its industry! We take everything that is bold, avant-garde, artistically wacky to fill you with new releases, ideas, experiences, emotions and friendships!
Known as a festival of alternative broadcast, it now fills a social and cultural mission by breaking barriers that separate different alternative actors and by putting an end to independent artists’ isolation. In every edition, our goal is to make their potential shine, as well as giving them access to tools and major actors of the industry!"
- Patrick Labbé, General Manager
Le Phoque OFF
Le Phoque OFF was first born from listening to the urgent need of the emerging and alternative Quebec and Franco-Canadian music scene to be heard by presenters. While opportunities existed for major players, they were rare for those who were just starting their careers or who chose different musical styles.
Thus, in February 2015, Yanick Capuano and Patrick Labbé, armed with boldness, creativity (and sheer determination), launched the very first event branded Le Phoque OFF. Caravane, Sandveiss and Les Marinellis took the stage at Le Pantoum while a pole danced in the middle of the room. From that point on, Le Phoque OFF experienced meteoric growth year after year, eventually presenting to industry professionals and the public nearly one hundred artists in showcases during its sixth edition, which also won the 2020 GAMIQ award for “Festival of the Year.” During those years, the festival welcomed artists at the very beginning of their careers, including Jérôme 50, Hubert Lenoir and Ariane Roy.
2021 marked a turning point, as the seventh edition was forced to take place entirely virtually. Determined to fulfill its mission no matter what, the Phoque OFF’s space-cowboy team built platforms and tools that allowed the programming to be presented in virtual worlds, even inviting participants into the metaverse in 2022.
Le Phoque OFF and Le Phoque OFF PRO are initiatives of Centrale Alternative.
Our Team
General Manager
Patrick Labbé
Booking
Yanick Capuano
Executive assistant
Jade Robitaille
Marketing
Ophélie Lavoie
PRO Component
Joanie Moreau
Digital Projects
Ulysse Ruel
Production
Marie Bellerose
Technical Director
Olivier Garant
Communications
Marion Loiselle
Communications
Jenny Barbeau
Ticketing & Administration Manager
Marc-Antione Bastien
