Six hospitalised following Angine de Poitrine set at Montreal Jazz Festival

The six people hospitalised following Angine de Poitrine's explosive set at the Montreal Jazz Festival on June 27 are a stark reminder of the high stakes involved in live music. For fans who have been swept up in the duo's meteoric rise to fame, this incident is a sobering wake-up call. Angine de Poitrine's elaborate polka-dot costumes and papier-mâché masks have captivated audiences, but the reality is that their shows come with a price tag, and not just for the festival-goers.

Angine de Poitrine's rapid ascent to fame is evidence of the duo's innovative sound, which combines microtonal guitar, complex drumming, and influences ranging from prog to punk. Their second album, 'Vol. II', released in April, has won over fans like Dave Grohl, and their live shows are now in high demand. But with great success comes great responsibility, and, it seems, a higher risk of accidents. The six people hospitalised after Angine de Poitrine's set were among 10 people assessed by paramedics, with four others refusing transport after being seen by medical teams.

Benjamin Dansereau-Leclerc, head of operations at Urgences-santé, downplayed the severity of the incidents, saying that paramedics did not fear for anyone's life. However, the fact remains that six people were taken to hospital, and some were described as being in a serious condition. The scale of the event, with one of the biggest crowds in the festival's recent history, only adds to the complexity of the situation. As Dansereau-Leclerc noted, responding to a number of incidents at once requires coordination, and the situation was not unusual for an event of that scale.

The Montreal Jazz Festival general manager, Maurin Aux, celebrated the scale of the show on social media, writing that it was a "historic night at the Festival". But while the festival's management may be thrilled with the turnout, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in live music. Fans who have been swept up in Angine de Poitrine's success may be willing to take the risk, but for those who were hospitalised, the consequences are all too real.

As Angine de Poitrine continues to tour and perform, the incident at the Montreal Jazz Festival serves as a wake-up call. Will they take steps to ensure the safety of their fans, or will they continue to push the boundaries of their innovative sound without regard for the risks?