Saturday, Sept. 26

Alabama Shakes

Laval is the place to be today, as the MRCY festival presents some heavy-hitting hip hop and rock talent: Mac Miller, Alabama Shakes, Angel Haze, Alaclair Ensemble, Local Natives, A$AP Ferg, Battles, Kodaline, the Joy Formidable, July Talk, Misterwives and Safia Nolin. Espace Montmorency (adjacent to the metro exit), doors at noon, show at 1 p.m., $60/$100 VIP

Bibliophiles will want to head to Concordia’s Hall building for this weekend’s Antiquarian Book Fair, which this year has a special focus on books on photography. On display (and for sale) will be rare books, first editions, examples of special bindings and more curiosities on the printed page. 1455 de Maisonneuve W., 12–6 p.m., $6 entry. Continues Sunday 11–5 p.m.

We’re totally on board with the current trend of cafés offering special menu nights, and two of them will happen tonight in different neighbourhoods. At Villeray’s Café Ferlucci (432 de Castelnau E., from 5 p.m.), guest chef Marco Tafuri (L’Gros Luxe) will prepare steak and fig paninis and smoked salmon salad, and over in Mile End, Chez Boris After Dark (5151 Parc, from 6 p.m.) offers a special hand-rolled sushi menu with fish or veggie maki and tempura with all the fixins. Both spots will be screening special films during the evening.

International journalist and author Robert Fisk, who has covered the middle east region for British newspaper The Independent for over 25 years, will speak in Montreal tonight on the topic of ISIS and the Syrian civil war in an event organized by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East. St. James United Church (463 Ste-Catherine W.), 7 p.m., $20/$15 in advance / $15/$10 in advance for students

Don’t miss your last chance to see comedian Andrew Searles in his solo special C’est Moi! C’est Papa Chocolat! at ComedyWorks, also featuring openers Franco Taddeo, Gino Durante, Stephen Spinola and Jon Selig. Earlier shows have been selling out, so get your tickets early! 1238 Bishop, 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. shows, $15

If you missed enigmatic Canadian electro-pop chanteuse Allie X when she played the Phi Centre back in March, you’ve got another chance tonight. (Bonus: the opener is Iris.) For more on Allie X, see our interview with her (and two of her music videos) here. 407 St-Pierre, 8:30 p.m., $22.50/$25

For more hip hop event recommendations, see The Shine.

For more rock/punk/metal/noise show recommendations, see Hammer of the Mods.