Youth-led concert returns to Gatineau to fight food insecurity through music

Tashi Farmilo

Spectacle sans faim returns for its third edition on January 16, promising an evening of original music, youth leadership, and meaningful community engagement at the Auditorium Alphonse-Desjardins du Cégep de l’Outaouais in Gatineau. The concert will showcase 15 original performances by nearly 40 young artists from across the region. Entirely organized and performed by youth under 25, the event is as much about empowering the next generation as it is about addressing a critical social issue: food insecurity.

Led by Rosalie Fillion, founder and president of the newly established non-profit that now supports the initiative, this year’s edition represents the most ambitious effort yet. "Food insecurity is rising," said Fillion in an interview. "We wanted to combine our passion for music with something that creates a tangible impact in our community." In choosing Moisson Outaouais as the event’s beneficiary, the team made a deliberate decision to support a trusted, long-standing organization already active in addressing hunger across the region.

Since its inception, Spectacle sans faim has grown not only in scale but also in structure and vision. Last year’s concert was held in a 250-seat venue. This year’s venue can accommodate up to 670 audience members, with a strong push underway to sell out the floor level. But the experience offers more than just a seat at a concert. It provides a chance to witness the creative energy of young people taking collective action through art.

Audience members can expect a diverse lineup of performances that span musical genres, styles, and arrangements, from solo acts to full bands and group collaborations. This year’s show will be composed entirely of original songs, created and interpreted by the artists themselves. The event culminates in a large-scale finale where all the performers join together on stage, creating what has become a signature moment of shared artistic expression.

For many attendees, the experience goes beyond entertainment. As Fillion and others noted, the audience often includes not just family and friends of the performers, but members of the community who are moved by the event’s cause and energized by its spirit. "You don’t come to Spectacle sans faim just to hear music," said Cloé Pedneault, a longtime performer who now also contributes to the event’s organization. "You feel the heart behind it. You see how much it matters to everyone involved."

Pedneault recalled one of the most powerful moments from last year’s event: a spontaneous, last-minute group performance by all the artists on stage. "We had maybe five minutes to rehearse," she said. "But somehow it just came together. Everyone was in, and it became one of the most emotional parts of the night."

The initiative now involves over 60 young people behind the scenes, working in areas like sound, lighting, promotion, stage management, photography, and graphic design. "It’s not just the performers," said Pedneault. "There are so many roles. Everyone finds a way to contribute through their own interests and skills."

For Fillion, that diversity of involvement is essential to the mission. "The experience has taught me how passionate and capable youth really are," she said. "We’re running this while studying, while working part-time, and we’re doing it because we believe in the purpose behind it. This is about giving young people the space to lead, to create, and to support something bigger than themselves."

Tickets are available now at lepointdevente.com. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the show runs from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. The event offers a unique opportunity to experience emerging talent, support a vital cause, and witness a community coming together through music and purpose.