Thursday, July 23

* Orientalys Festival in the Old Port
* Vice mag’s The New Photojournalism vernissage at Phi Centre
* Martha Wainwright plays a free show at the ARTV studio
* Naïve Melodie party inaugural edition at Salsathèque
* MEG festival begins with Doldrums, Secret Secret Girl and Dear Criminals
* Future Daily Show host Trevor Noah hosts a Just for Laughs gala

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Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah
 
The Old Port’s Quai Jacques-Cartier comes alive this week with the Orientalys Festival, featuring music and dance performances, food, workshops, an artisan market and more activities that celebrate the cultures of the Middle and Far East. Stop by this evening to see performances of Chinese lion dancing, sensual Baladi belly dance and dabkeh, a Palestinian folk dance. Quai Jacques-Cartier, 6–11 p.m., free. Runs to Sunday.

Vice magazine celebrates the launch of their annual photo issue with a special photography exhibition at the Phi Centre. The show, The New Photojournalism, is co-curated by award winning Canadian photographer Larry Towell and opens with a vernissage tonight. 407 St-Pierre, 7–10 p.m., free

Impressively pedigreed, gifted chanteuse/songwriter Martha Wainwright is playing a free show at the studios of local TV station ARTV. Space is limited, so be smart and arrive early if you want in. 1600 St-Urbain, 8:30 p.m.

Check out the inaugural edition of Naïve Melodie, a monthly party conceived by Win Butler and Régine Chassagne from Arcade Fire, promoter and Cult MTL columnist DL Jones and Moonshine party cofounder Herve K  — at downtown mecha-tropical disco Salsathèque. See more information about Naïve Melodie here. 1220 Peel, 9 p.m., $10 (all proceeds go to Haiti charity foundation Kanpe)

The MEG music festival begins with a night of dark dance music featuring Doldrums, Secret Secret Girl (Beaver Sheppard and Pascal Oliver) and Dear Criminals — a pretty airtight line-up of Montreal bands. La Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent), 9 p.m., $20

Tonight’s exciting Just for Laughs gala is hosted by South African comedian Trevor Noah, who’s just over a month away from taking the reins of The Daily Show from Jon Stewart. Among the gala’s guest comics are roastmaster Jeff Ross and Artie Lange (Mad TV, The Howard Stern Show). Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (175 Ste-Catherine W.), 9:45 p.m., $33.78–$73.27
 
See our round-up of vernissages and other art events, plus full gallery and museum listings, in Art This Week, here.

Check out our complete listings for more concert, nightclub, theatre, comedy and art events.