Fested interests About two years ago, UK's Tribal Gathering shifted from being a marginally respected "big rave" to a give-Glasto-a-run-for-its-money. Bands like Black Grape signed on. Writers got sappy about how muddy knees are defining a generation (again), and 40,000 pairs of knees came in this year to get soiled in the name of Brit youth culture. There have been a zillion threats of "techno festivals" coming into Montreal this summer, the largest being the travelling Big Top event featuring everyone from 808 State and Moby to Grooverider and Ed Rush. It's not coming (surprise, surprise!), but promoters Shock say they are planning something else instead, "the biggest dance music festival ever in Montreal," (of course). At Jarry Park for the end of August. Right-o. But what's the difference between 6,000 at Jarry Park dancing to DJs at a festival and 6,000 at Jarry Park dancing to DJs at a rave? Maybe just creative packaging. On Aug. 9, an event called The Arrival hits the city as "the biggest underground music festival in Montreal" (at that very minute? Yes, I suppose...), with a plain ol' ravey-davey lineup, a Bus Company-era "hello police, this is for charity" cause (Manitoba flood victims) and nothing remotely festival-like except that it starts at 9 p.m., not midnight. Info: 859-9040. Some other "festivals" of interest this week: New York hard house bad-ass Lord G. plays the Sona Festival this Saturday, July 26, $15 * Storm throws a Twisted Records Festival on the same night with Size Queen's (you know his "walk, walk, walk, and walk!" track) Peter Rauhofer, $15 * Ninja's DJ Food plays the Storm/Groove Festival on Friday, July 25, $8 before 1 a.m., $15 after * Experience throw a Festival of psychedelic trance called Chameleon Saturday, July 26, with guru Tip Bansi, etc. Support! Info: 859-9066. * * * Copyright Liberation Front: Highly illegal mixed tape of the week! New blood! DJ Phil Larochelle's "Un après-midi" has "favourite summer comedown" written all over it: an early-morning mix of burbling downtempo house (like D. Carter's low remix of Cajmere's "Only for You"). No peaks and valleys. Could put you to sleep if you're too far gone. Available at In Beat, 499-2063.