SHUT UP & PLAY?

Artist Statement

What Is This Project About?

Montreal has long prided itself as a city that never sleeps — a place where music spills out of century-old theatres, where emerging artists cut their teeth in sweaty basement shows, and where the late-night energy of the Plateau is as much a part of the cultural identity as the bagels and the potholes.

But over the past decade, that identity has been quietly — and sometimes not so quietly — challenged. Noise complaints from new residents moving into historically commercial and entertainment zones have triggered police visits, legal battles, and the permanent closure of beloved venues. This website tells that story.

This project was created as a school assignment exploring the intersection of urban gentrification, municipal bylaw politics, and cultural preservation. The goal is to present real, researched events in an accessible, engaging format that reflects the absurdity and sadness of the situation — while keeping things light enough not to ruin your evening.

Consider this a digital eulogy for the venues we've lost, a chronicle of the ridiculous legal saga that unfolded, and a small act of solidarity with everyone who ever danced in a dark room in Montreal and hoped the music would never stop.

It didn't. Not yet, anyway. Long live La Tulipe.