Here’s what to see at this year’s M for Montreal festival

Festival fatigue may be settling in for Montrealers by this time of the year, but M for Montreal has plenty to offer this week before the festival season winds down for the end of the year (before starting right back up in January). As usual, the festival is primarily focused on showcasing Montreal acts for delegates (agents, press, record labels, marketing folks) from around the world, but on the flip side, there is also a strong contingent of international music being presented to the Montreal audience over the next few days. There are also a number of free conferences open to the public, focused on topics including “Mental Health in the Music Industry” and “Breaking into M.E.N.A (Middle East/North Africa).”

Below you can check out our picks for what to catch this week as M for Montreal takes over the city from Wednesday, November 20 – Saturday, November 23. For the full schedule and ticket info visit the official M for Montreal site.

Wednesday, November 20

Up-and-coming Montreal rapper Naya Ali hits Sala Rossa with Québécois pop singer Lydia Képinski, which should make for a unique bill. Across the street, Saskatoon’s Close Talker bring their widescreen indie rock stylings to Casa del Popolo with R&B singer-songwriter Sebastian Gaskin, the low-fi psych rock of BC’s Loving, and the Alt/Pop performer Alex Bent + the Emptiness.

Thursday, November 21

This 6-band bill at Café Cléopâtre is one of the best of the festival, and is also entirely free! The all-Canadian showcase includes Wake Island, Mind Bath, the unclassifiable TEKE::TEKE, the politically-charged dance-punk of N0V3L, Bodywash, and Antony Carle. Over at Club Soda, the dance floor will be shaking to the electro-soul of Montreal’s beloved Busty and the Bass, along with support from Soran and Claudia Bouvette.

Friday, November 22

Casa del Popolo hosts a stacked free show on Friday night featuring a trio of acts from Ireland (Jealous of the Birds, Just Mustard, and Ciaran Lavery) with South Korean synth-pop act TRISS closing out the night. Across the street at Sala Rossa, there’s another free showcase featuring three acts from France: Blick Bassy, Silly Boy Blue, and Merryn Jeann. New Sub Pop-signees Corridor celebrate the release of their great new LP with a show at Le National, with Absolutely Free opening up the night. Montreal hip hop crew Nomadic Massive will get the dance floor at Theatre Fairmount going with their 10-piece live band, which should be a killer way to close out the night.

Saturday, November 23 

You’ll want to get to L’Esco nice and early for a free show featuring Foreign Diplomats, Clay and Friends, and Ponteix. Expect this to fill up fast. Quebec rapper Maybe Watson takes over Club Soda with support from Vendou, while the Mothland booking crew offer up two bills: Atsuko Chiba, Israel’s Gladys Lazer and guests at La Sala Rossa, and Montreal’s synth-pop champion Xarah Dion headlining a late show at La Sotterenea.

M for Montreal runs from Wednesday, November 20 – Saturday, November 23. For the full schedule and ticket info visit the official M for Montreal site.