Osheaga, Heavy Montreal promoter goes to court over noise

The suburb of St-Lambert wants to force concert promoter Evenko to turn down the volume at Parc Jean-Drapeau for festivals such as Osheaga and Heavy Montreal.

• Montreal's South Shore residents fed up with noise at Parc Jean-Drapeau
• Osheaga hopes better sound quality will cut noise pollution
• Osheaga 2015 lineup

Representatives from the South Shore community ofSt-Lambert werein Quebec Superior CourtWednesdayseeking anemergency injunction forcing concertpromoters to turn down the volumeafter7:00 p.m.

The group arguesthe noise from concerts is making life difficultfor people wholive across the water from the festival site.

The first event of the season, an electronic dance music festivalcalled Full Flex Force Tour with headliner DJ Skrillex,is set tobeginFridaynight.

Superior Court judge Chantal Corriveau has promised to rule on theinjunction before then.

Meanwhile, last year after St-Lambert residents began complaining about the noise levels, Osheaga festival director JacquesAubtold CBC/Radio-Canada that organizers had spent $150,000 on measures to better control the sound.

"We invested intechnology to improve the quality of the sound at the site,"he said last summer, adding that the measures would help with the reverb making its way across the water to St-Lambert.

Alain Chevrier, the lawyer representing the city of St-Lambert,presented affidavits from residents incourtWednesdaymorning.

Residents say earplugs not enough

Chevrier told the court that people in St-Lambert say it'simpossible to sleep because of the noise, even with their windowsclosed and with earplugs.He said some people can only hear their TVsets by wearing headphones, and that their windows and doors rattlefrom the throbbing music.

Chevrier said a neighbour would never be allowed to cause such a ruckus.

Parc Jean-Drapeau is managed by the City of Montreal, and most of theconcerts there are organized by Evenko.

The city and Evenko are expected to present theirarguments laterWednesdayor possiblyThursday.

Evenko president and CEOGeoff Molson, who also owns the Montreal Canadiens, wasin the courtroomWednesdayfor arguments.