Rejoice, Suoni per il Popolo is here

Well the big news is that the Suoni per il Popolo festival is taking over the month of June and will be putting down stakes at its regular homes of Casa, Sala and la Vitrola as well as a few off the beaten path venues. If you’re as much of a music fan as I am, you’ll be satiated with the programming, which as usual reflects the festival’s grassroots objectives of providing challenging and truly progressive music while continuing to let the event grow at a nice rate that has nothing to do with cell phone service providers.

Things start up this week for Suoni, so continue to check this column throughout the month for my personal picks, and check out Cult MTL’s recently published picks here.

Thursday: Just before the two big fests this week get underway, you can make it to la Vitrola to catch the record release party and Canadian tour kick-off of Pussy Stench with Charogne and Feed at la Vitrola. 4602 St-Laurent, 8 p.m., $10

Friday: One of the things I hate tapping out here is when bands get their equipment stolen, especially if it’s on the road. (And I’m not even talking about what happened to the Brains in California, as recently reported by Cult MTL.) Blood and Glass got their gear nicked during their European tour, and a benefit has been set up at Brasserie Beaubien, with Klaus and Black le Gary providing a mind-bending set to help get some coin together for them. Bummeroo, but this gig will be awesome. 73 Beaubien E., 8 p.m., $15

If you’re digging the walkin’ on sunshine sounds of ’80s new wave, you will definitely want to be at Barfly for Tinatrons with Barfly regs Half Measures. 4062 St-Laurent, 9:30 p.m., free

If you’re a fan of Limp Wrist (keep yer eyes here for their upcoming show this month) and Los Crudos, or are just a fan of queer-informed hardcore, you’ll want to get to Casa for an exhibition of photos by Limp Wrist singer Martin Sorrondeguy. These photos will be up during the Suoni festival, but to make this opening even more tempting, DJs Linda Blair and Boris Leonardo will be cranking up the full punk rock blast. 4873 St-Laurent, 5-9 p.m., free

Suoni starts slugging right out of the gate with a solo performance from Voivod’s drummer and artist Away as he shows a unique musical side of himself. Opening are the soundscapes of thisquietarmy and the droney drones of Tempesta. La Vitrola (4602 St-Laurent), 9 p.m., $10/$13

Suoni may be the big fest in town throughout the month, but if you’re into grind, power violence and death metal, you’ll definitely want to tracks down to the third edition of Earslaughter at Katacombes. Like the previous Earlslaughters, this starts at an ungodly hour so check the Katacombes site for specific times. The line-up (in order of appearance) features Exotoxic, Ultrarat, Flash Out, Existench, Sulfuric Cautery, Six Brew Bantha, Chthe’ilist, Funebraum, Nunslaughter and Earache-era ultra thrash legends Terrorizer (!!!!!). Yep, this is my big pick of the week. 1635 St-Laurent, 6 p.m., $46.14

Saturday: If you aren’t completely deaf from the first Earslaughter night and Terrorizer didn’t wring you out like a dirty sponge, you can still get your grind on with a screening of the doc Slave to the Grind, followed by mid-afternoon sets from Kickxassxviolence Vs, Mortlach, Chepang, Escuela, Backslider, Organ Dealer, Test, BrucexCampbell, Anarchus, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Subline Cadaveric Decomposition, Viscera Infest and Wormrot. This of course continues at Katacombes. 1635 St-Laurent, 1 p.m., $46.14

Those of you who like your gas-guzzling rawk ’n ’ roll can help celebrate the EP release by Dangereens at l’Esco with the Fuzzy Overtones and Green Cup. 4461 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $8

Sunday: Now this is a feather in Suoni’s cap: an appearance from indie rock legend and musical provocateur Eugene Chadbourne, with Jason Kahn and Wendy Eisenberg, at the intimate and cozy side of Casa. 4873 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $12/$15

Monday: If the idea of the Earslaughter fest leaves you feeling troubled, you can burrow into the gentle strum of la Luz with Gymshorts and Chacal at l’Esco. 4461 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $13/15

Tuesday: Another guaranteed highlight of Suoni happens in the festival’s first few days: the ensemble opera It’s All True by New York collective Object Collection. When Discord Records released all of the live Fugazi tapes on their website a few years ago, the occasional stuffiness and hilarious between-song banter and heckling was a pleasant bonus for those of us who have an odd sense of humour. Object Collection reinterpret this material, casting them in a new light while using a full band with two drummers who quote between-song incidental music. Anybody who keeps a straight face during this is probably a dick. 4848 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $15/$18

On a different tip, you can make the weekly DM DIY showcase at Rockette to catch the noisey rock of Nuage Flou and Boar God. 4479 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $5/PWYC

Wednesday: Anyone still digging into shoegaze should catch Toronto’s Iris with local soundscapers Aim Low and Still Kicking at Brasserie Beaubien. 73 Beaubien E., 8:30 p.m., $8

Current Obsession: The Ventures, Where the Action Is

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com