This week marks the return of the Montreal Folk Festival with a slew of free shows and a great lineup, the continuation of Suoni Per Il Popolo, and a few standout headliners across the city including Ziggy Marley, tUnEyArDs– and Swans. Time to get your music fix for the week of June 15th to 21st.
Sunday, June 15th, 2014
The Olympia de Montréal welcomes reggae star Ziggy Marley, son of the legendary Bob Marley, for what’s sure to be one of this summer’s highlights. You may want to hit up the Belmont to see Australian indie-rock band The Jezabels promote their new album The Brink.
Monday, June 16th, 2014
Il Motore will be host to a trio of metal bands on Monday night, including headliners BISON, hailing from Surrey, BC, alongside local rockers Hashed Out and Ottawa band BIIPIIGWAN. At $10 a ticket, any metal head should be kicking themselves for missing this.
Tuesday, June 17th, 2014
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is hitting the road to promote its new release Only Run, including a stop at Il Motore at 8:00pm. Or head down to La Sala Rossa for a Suoni Per Il Popolo appearance by electronic duo Fuck Buttons.
Wednesday, June 18th, 2014
Swans’ new album To Be Kind is sure to find itself on more than one “Best of 2014” list, so be sure to be ahead of the crowd and boast having seen them live once they start popping up everywhere on your timeline by year’s end. They’ll be hitting up Le National for what’s guaranteed to be a loud and sweaty gig. The addition of American post-punk group Xiu Xiu to the bill is just icing on the cake. tUnE–yArDs is bringing her quirky brand of pop to La Tulipe, and considering her new album Nikki Nack is arguably a career-best, she’s a pretty safe bet. Another fantastic Suoni Per Il Popolo get is Syrian music legend Omar Souleyman, playing La Sala Rossa at 8:30pm. But if a late night NYC hip-hop show is what you’re looking for, you’re in luck: Manhattan native Le1f, who’s been steadily gaining traction since the music video release of Wut in 2012, will be joined by Roberto Piqueras and Booty Bakery at the Centre Phi in Old Montreal at 10:00pm for a SJU and MOTO co-production.
Thursday, June 19th, 2014
Thursday’s really a toss up, with Blue Skies Turn Black presenting two great shows. First, UK melodic post-punk band Eagulls is playing at the Casa Del Popolo, and with their debut album gaining widespread acclaim, you should catch them before they make it big. But American rock band Perfect Pussy is on a roll right now, and their gig at La Sala Rossa is sure to bring the noise.
Friday, June 20th, 2014
Friday is all about the Montreal Folk Festival taking place from June 18th to 22nd. They’re offering free shows throughout the day, from 4:30pm to 8:30pm, at the Îlot Charlevoix. Friday’s offering includes Winnipeg trio Sweet Alibi and Montreal duo Forêt. Later that evening, the festival is holding a Tom Waits tribute at the Théâtre Paradoxe, including Patrick Watson and Leif Vollebekk.
Saturday, June 21st, 2014
The Montreal Folk Festival continues its free offerings from 2:00pm to 8:00pm at the Îlot Charlevoix, with Saturday’s lineup including Jenn Grant at 5:20pm and The Besnard Lakes at 7:00pm. Or head up to Il Motore to catch American post-punk band Crystal Stilts promoting their latest acclaimed album Nature Noir.
Roundup
Sunday, June 15th:
Ziggy Marley / L’Olympia / 8:30pm / $61.84 (buy tickets)
Monday, June 16th:
BISON / Il Motore/ 8:00pm / $10 (buy tickets)
Tuesday, June 17th:
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah / Il Motore / 8:00pm / $17 (buy tickets)
Fuck Buttons / La Sala Rossa / 8:30pm / $20 (buy tickets)
Wednesday, June 18th:
Swans / Le National / 8:30pm / $29.25 (buy tickets)
tUnE–yArDs / La Tulipe / 7:30pm / $21 (buy tickets)
Omar Souleyman / La Sala Rossa / 8:30pm / $22 (buy tickets)
Le1f / Centre Phi / 10:00pm / $17.25 (buy tickets)
Thursday, June 19th:
Eagulls / Casa Del Popolo / 8:00pm / $11 (buy tickets)
Perfect Pussy / La Sala Rossa / 8:00pm / $10 (buy tickets)
Friday, June 20th:
Montreal Folk Festival / Îlot Charlevoix / 4:30pm / Free
Tom Waits tribute / Théâtre Paradoxe / 9:00pm / $40 (buy tickets)
Saturday, June 21st:
Montreal Folk Festival / Îlot Charlevoix / 2:00pm / Free
Crystal Stilts / Il Motore / 8:00pm / $11 (buy tickets)