Montreal is in the midst of a music festival three-way

In all of the years I have been banging away on my keyboard about the gigs of the week, I have never written up two huge fests going head to head with another festival waiting to carry the torch after the weekend hits. This week there is not one, not two but three fests happening in the city.

The one that definitely put our fair burg on the map — POP Montreal — one of the best punk rock festivals happening in the underground A Varning From Montreal and the new corporate kids on the indie block Red Bull Music Academy. Due to the sheer amount of shows this week and my lack of space please click the links above for the complete schedules. Phew, better put my digits to work.

Friday: A Varning From Montreal have cooked up a matinee at TRH Bar with Eel, Triage, F.I.T.S. and Gazm. The pit gets started at 2 p.m. 3699 St-Laurent, 2:15–4:35 p.m., $10

Afterwards you can move it down the hill to Katacombes for the Varning night show featuring Slowmotions, Sadicos, PMS 84, Pox, Chloroform, Durs Coeurs, Pok Gaj, Lacerate and Defensive Mindset. 1635 St-Laurent, 6:30 p.m., $20/$25

Off of the festival beaten path at Piranha is Death Proof, the Bombs, the Cathartics, Pussy Stench and RatchetKill. 680 Ste-Catherine W., 9 p.m., $10

Two solid POP Montreal gigs are happening tonight, starting with the incredible Colin Stetson with Caroline Gelinas and Martin Dube at the Ukrainian Federation. 5213 Hutchison, 8 p.m., $30

One of the most anticipated POP shows would be Genesis P. Orridge’s glorious mind fuck Psychic TV who lay down stakes at Théâtre Fairmount with Co/ntry, Lungbutter and Drowzy. 5240 Parc, 9:30 p.m., $25

Saturday: You can start things off at the Varning matinee at Katacombes with No Time, Shotcallers and Tomrnet at 1 p.m. and then stick around for Savage Heads, Secret Prostitutes, Green Beret, Concealed Blade, Pollen, Video Filth, Croche, Cloaca and Ultrarat. 1635 St-Laurent, 9:30 p.m., $25

The king of sleaze John Waters will be hosting an evening at Rialto.  5723 Parc, 8 p.m., $65

Montreal nu grunge trio Solids will join forces with Slow Mass, Mundy’s Bay and Slight at la Vitrola. 4602 St-Laurent, 9:30 p.m., $13

One of Canada’s most important bands, the Sadies, move their twang up the 401 to Théâtre Fairmount with Li’l Andy and Charlotte Cornfield. 5240 Parc, 9:30 p.m., $18

Sunday: My big pick of the week would definitely be Wolves in the Throne Room at Sala with Cloud Rat and Dark Circles. Do Not Miss!!!! 4848 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $20

Giving the Wolves some serious metal competition down the street at la Vitrola is Funebrarum with Toxicology, Oath Div. 666 and Profane Order. 4602 St-Laurent, 9:30 p.m., $10/$13

Monday: One of punk rawk’s true greats, the Buzzcocks, will put the harmony in your head, alongside Residuels and the Sick Things at Théâtre Corona. 2490 Notre-Dame W., 8 p.m., $32/$37

See the godfather of punk Iggy Pop in conversation with music writer Carl Wilson at Monument-National, presented by the RBMA. 1182 St-Laurent, 8 p.m., $23.50

Death Valley Girls will win new friends at l’Esco with Pale Lips and Penny Diving . This is Analogue Addiction’s 100th show — hats off champs! 4467 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $10

Tuesday: There will be a screening of the 2011 film MTL Punk: The First Wave with a performance by Montreal’s longest running post-punkers, the American Devices, at Sala. 4848 St-Laurent, 6:30 p.m., $10

Dopethrone will doom it up with potty mouth punkers Vulgar Deli at Katcombes. 1635 St-Laurent, 7 p.m., $10

Deadly Mardi keeps things turning at Rockette with City Lake. 4479 St-Denis, 10 p.m., $5/PWYC

Wednesday: Fucked Up will prove they’re still relevant at their RBMA show with Tanya Tagaq, Emma-Jean Thackray and the Venopian Solitude at la Tulipe. 4530 Papineau, 9 p.m., $24.50

We Are Wolves release their new jammer Wrong at Matahari Loft with Void Republic. 1673 Mont-Royal E., p.m., $10/$20 with CD in advance, $15/$25 at the door

Finally, one of true modern psych warriors the Legendary Pink Dots will fuck with your cranium at Sala with Orbit Service. 4848 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $25/$28

Current Obsession: Wolves in the Throne Room, Malevolent Grain

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com