Montreal gets a new music festival just in time for spring

There’s nothing this city likes better than a festival once the weather starts warming up, and this week there is a festival that should appeal to those who spit in the face of the greedy fucks who are currently in power, and at the end of the week marks the beginning of a fest that dares you to explore the darker reaches of your psyche. Buckle up ’cause this week has it all:

Thursday: Those who live in the East End (or are willing to travel there) can catch the Laurel Canyon strum meets glimmering pop know-how of Sunfields when they play Bar Entre Nous with Tugawar and Zulu Panda. 4557 Papineau, 9 p.m., $10

For everybody who loves there guitars drenched in way too much reverb you can catch the guitar pedal power of Deer Tick with Liz Cooper and the Stampede at l’Astral. 305 Ste-Catherine E., 8 p.m., $25/$28, all ages

Friday: If you are grippin’ those sweet Ramones Sundragon mixes from Record Store Day, you will definitely want to catch the city’s authorities on all things Ramones — Raymonds — at Quai des Brumes with Fast Food Fairies and Dirty Cheetah. Leather jackets are mandatory dress code. 4481 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $10

Local hardcore fest A Cool Move have locked down three nights of hardcore mayhem starting tonight at Casa. This will also be a tour kick-off for Regina’s Stepping Stone and Prowl. Kicking their sorry asses out of town will be Just Ice, Violent State and Windoc. 4873 St-Laurent, 8 p.m., $10

Saturday: If you’re getting horny for the Distorsion Psych Fest (which gets underway on Wednesday), may want to hit up l’Esco for Loviatar, the organ-driven jams of Mountain Dust, the dreamy soundscapes of thisquietarmy and Longhouse. This will be mighty and 4:20-friendly (obvs). 4461 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $12

The tour-hungry monster that is Three O’Clock Train’s Mack MacKenzie will rest his laurels just long enough for a hometown gig before he lifts up stakes and gets back on the road. Tonight will be a solo gig, which he has well honed over the past three months of a tour in the States, so doesn’t miss this talented songsmith.  4062 St-Laurent, 9 p.m.

A Varning festival is still a ways away but with the international acts they routinely pull in, they could use a bit of a helping hand and have set up the first of many benefits to generate some cash. To help the money pour in there will be a show at Katacombes with Asile, NYC’s Extended Hell, Omerta and No War. 1635 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $10

There has certainly been a fair amount of ’90s bands reuniting and hitting the road and one of the best bands of the ’90s (check Pod for proof) is the Breeders, who will pack ‘em in at Théâtre Corona with Melkbelly. When the Deal sisters croon in perfect harmony, the most callous will be reduced to a puddle. 2490 Notre-Dame W., 8 p.m., $38/$43

A Cool Move keeps the circle pit going with not one, but two gigs today. NYC’s Limit, Gazm, Toronto’s Middle Man and Scorpio Rising and Wax hold down Casa (4873 St-Laurent, 1:30 p.m., $10) while just down the street at la Vitrola (4602 St-Laurent, 7:30 p.m., $10) Faze Tortured Skull, Stigmatism, Toronto’s Coke Jaw, Tashme, Baudus and Spacers will keep the hardcore seething.

Sunday: My big pick of the week is the solo gig from guitar looper extraordinaire Steve Gunn who will take you to places thought unknown with a mere brush of his strings at Sala. Opening will be Ada Lea and Andre Charles Theriault. Mr Gunn is sure to dazzle — while he uses current technology, his real gift is in the compositional department. This will be nothing short of amazing. 4848 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $15/$18

Wednesday: The big news is that the Distorsion Psych Fest gets underway and has probably its most packed bill yet. Things start off with a bang when Teke Teke gets things underway at 9 p.m. at their homebase of Église du Mile End. I recently saw this band open for Yamantaka//Sonic Titan a month ago at l’Esco and they owned that room and quite frankly outshined the always-amazing Yamantaka. Do not miss. 5035 St-Dominique, 7:30 p.m., $15 

If you are at the Teke Teke gig, you will want to cool your heels as NYC’s Sunwatchers will razzle and dazzle like only they can. I caught Sunwatchers during the Taverne Tour a year and change ago and their combination of composition and improv was mind-blasting. Best of all, this gig is free! 5035 St-Dominique, 11 p.m., free 

There are a couple of gigs off the Psych Fest path starting with the record release of power poppers Light Bulb Alley with their pals Bad Uncle and Palmetto at l’Esco. 4461 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $10/PWYC

Remember mall punk, where you could just show up at Warped Tour, check out some rad phone plans, not worry about parking or babysitters? Fuck those were the days, huh! Well get ready to leave the car at home and phone up that teen down the street cause the Mad Caddies are back and playing at Théâtre Corona with Cardboard Crowns. Also, if you go to this gig I will be unfriending you on Facebook — you have been warned. 2490 Notre-Dame W., 8 p.m., $28/$32

True, Steve Gunn’s solo gig is what has me hot under the collar this week but there is another show that almost has me drooling as much when death metal warlords Obituary return to Club Soda with heavy as fuck doom openers Pallbearer, the slashing thrash of Skeleton Witch and Dust Bolt and Untimely Demise. Uh, or you could go to the Mad Caddies show — the choice is yours. 1225 St-Laurent, 7:30 p.m., $34.50/$39.50

Current Obsession: Steve Gunn, Sundowner

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com