Moonshine (music collective)

Moonshine
Formation2014
TypeArtist collective, record label, event series
Location
  • Montreal, Canada
Websitemoonshine.mu

Moonshine is a Montreal-based artist collective, event series, and record label founded in 2014 by Congolese-Canadian singer and DJ Pierre Kwenders, creative director Hervé Kalongo, musician and software developer Félix Noé, stage designer Steven Michel and DJ and visual artist San Farafina.[1][2][3][4]

History

Moonshine began in Montreal in 2014 as a monthly warehouse party spotlighting contemporary African and Afro-diasporic sounds.[5] The collective is known for late-night club events announced by text message and typically scheduled on the Saturday after each full moon.[1]

By the late 2010s the parties expanded to cities such as Paris, Los Angeles, Lisbon, and Kinshasa.[6] The collective also launched an apparel brand and a music label, releasing collaborative albums under the SMS for Location title,[7] and worked with cultural institutions such as Pride Toronto[8] and Boiler Room.[9]

Reception

Moonshine has been profiled by international outlets including Vogue and BET for its role in amplifying Afro-diasporic sounds worldwide and reshaping Montreal’s nightlife.[1][7] It got nominated at the Juno Awards in 2022 and 2024.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Moonshine Is the Inclusive Party Series Creating a Space for the African Diaspora in Montreal". Vogue. 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  2. ^ Writer, Staff (2021-05-28). "Congolese Canadian crew Moonshine go global". Voice Online. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  3. ^ "Moonshine Brings Diversity and Inclusiveness to Montreal'..." Complex. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  4. ^ "How Moonshine Went From Underground Montreal Party to Glo..." Complex. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  5. ^ "10 years of Moonshine as Montreal's federation of noise". Cult MTL. April 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Moonshine, la fête secrète la plus folle de Montréal débarque à Paris". Télérama (in French). 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Unboxed Vol. #39: Moonshine Is On a Mission to Celebrate the Music of the Afro-Diaspora". BET. 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  8. ^ Rancic, Michael (2019-06-19). "Montreal's Moonshine party comes to Toronto for Pride - NOW Magazine". NOW Toronto. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  9. ^ "Boiler Room Returns To Montreal A Decade After Kaytranada's Legendary DJ Set | Billboard Canada". Billboard Canada. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  10. ^ "Past Nominees + Winners". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
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