About | Le Phoque OFF

"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!

The music environment is a big family and Le Phoque OFF festival is our Christmas.🩷"*

- Patrick Labbé, General Manager

History

Le Phoque OFF was born to a great need of the french-canadian emerging and alternative environment to be heard by broadcasters. Those occasions, easily accessible to the big players, were rare to those who started their career or went for different music styles.

And so, in 2015, Yanick Capuano and Patrick Labbé developed the first night branded Le Phoque OFF. Caravane, Sandveiss and Les Marinellis took the Pantoum stage. Le Phoque OFF then experienced a dazzling growth from year to year and even managed to present more than a hundred artists during its sixth edition, which also won « Festival of the year » at 2020 GAMIQ. During those years, the festival hosted artists at their beginning like Jérome 50, Hubert Lenoir and Ariane Roy. 2021 marked a special year for the Phoque OFF as their 7th edition is forced to be online. Phoque OFF armed itself with creativity by creating tools to present an event as wild as usual, notably by presenting quality showcases and by creating networking moments in different virtual worlds.

Back on track in 2023, Le Phoque OFF exploses. The venues are full and the PRO component is more popular than ever, with a 1000 professionals participating, including an international pro delegation for the first time. One thing is certain : what started out as a small showcase for three artists is now one of Quebec's must when you work in the music industry. More shows, more showcases, more networking, more panels, but always with the same goals : bringing people together, putting the alternative scene forward, and promoting discoveries.

Le Phoque OFF is a presentation of Centrale Alternative.