A proper music legend is coming to POP Montreal

John Cale

John Cale, a founding member of the Velvet Underground — the iconic grandaddies of glam rock, punk rock and so many permutations of alt music — is coming to POP Montreal this year, playing the Rialto Theatre on Sept. 22. He joins an already impressive line-up of artists playing the festival’s 15th edition, happening at venues all over town from Sept. 21–25.

Previously announced POP 2016 artists include post-punk legends Psychic TV (featuring Genesis P. Orridge), post-blues/punk duo the Kills, filmmaker John Waters (performing his super-entertaining one-man show This Filthy World), electronic shit-disturbers Holy Fuck, Montreal experimental acts Jerusalem in My Heart and Colin Stetson (playing his latest record Sorrow: A Reimagining of Gorecki’s 3rd Symphony with an ensemble) and indie/folk artist Angel Olsen.

Also announced today is the return of the charity basketball game Pop vs. Jock, featuring a number of musicians including Arcade Fire’s Win Butler (“Pop”) playing McGill University’s team (“Jock”), with a gang of prominent musicians (to be announced) performing with members of Arcade Fire at halftime; avant-garde composer and pianist Annette Peacock; singer-songwriter Hayden, marking the 20th anniversary of his album Everything I Long For; country-rock kings the Sadies; hardcore vets SNFU and a stack of great local acts including Little Scream, Ought’s Tim Darcy, Devon Welsh (of disbanded duo Majical Cloudz), Jean-Michel Blais, Solids, Esmerine and Kroy, who will be launching their debut LP.

In August, POP will reveal their complete programming, announcing over 400 more bands who’ll be playing this year’s festival. Here’s their full artist list so far:

69BOYZ – Annette Peacock – Acid Priest – Allah-Las – American Lips – Angel Olsen – Babyfather – Belave – Bellows – Century Palm – Chixdiggit – Circuit des Yeux – Commander Clark – Copcar Bonfire – Cloud Rat – CO/TRY – Cold Specks – Colin Stetson’s SORROW A Reimagining of Gorecki’s 3rd Symphony– Craig Cardiff  – D.R.A.M – Devon Welsh – Diana – Diet Cig – Eskimeaux – Esmerine – Fake Palms – Groenland – Hayden A 20th Anniversary Celebration of ‘Everything I Long For’ – HEALTH – Heathers – Holy Fuck – Ibrahim Maalouf  – Jean-Michel Blais – Jef Elise Barbara’s Black Space – Jerusalem In My Heart – Jesse Mac Cormack – John Cale – John Waters – Kode9 – Les Hôtesses D’Hilaire – Let’s Eat Grandma – Li’l Andy – Little Scream – LVL UP – Michael Angelo – Mourn – Mundy’s Bay – Nancy Pants – New Fries – Nicole Dollanganger – Partner – Princess Vitarah – Priors – Psychic TV – Rodrigo Amarante – Ryley Walker – Sam Coffey + The Iron Lungs – Sebastien Grainger – She-Devils – Slow Mass – SNFU – Solids – Sonic Avenues – Steve Adamyk Band – Tamara Sandor – Tess Roby – The Kills – The Lonely Parade – The Sadies – The Seth Bogart Show – Tim Darcy – Told Slant – TOPS – Un Blonde – Uniiqu3 – Vesuvio Solo – Wally Badarou – Whitney K – Will Mclelland – Wolves in the Throne Room – Wreckless Eric

For more POP Montreal details, including the schedule so far and how to buy tickets and festival passes, click here.