It’s a three-music-festival kind of weekend

Suoni’s last few days, PWYC folk, five reasons to trek to Montebello & more great shows this week

Suoni per il Popolo is coming to a close this week so if you haven’t dug in and tempted fate by just walking into a show blind (ie. seeing a band you had no clue about), this is the true essence of the festival. Although they always book some “name” artists, the real zeal of the fest is taking chances with unknown artists and trusting the great programming.

This weekend also hosts Rockfest, which starts tonight in Montebello. It has been argued that Rockfest was getting a little too big for its britches over the past couple of years and this year they steer clear of the major draws (which might explain why they have been giving away a tsunami of free tix over the past couple of days) but in all of the muck and mire there are at least five bands that may make your wait for the chemical toilet a little easier.

 

Thursday: If you’re making the trip to Montebello Rockfest, this would be a good time to go as you can catch the blistering thrash metal/punk of Propaghandi as well as UK82 legends GBH, who actually still have some hair left. Notre-Dame & St-Michel (Montebello, QC), 4 p.m.–2 a.m., $154 (before tax) for the weekend, day ticket $68.99 all-in

A big night for Suoni should be Godspeed’s Efrim Manuel Menuck, who headlines over the exquisite Jessica Moss with Jerusalem In My Heart’s visual artist Charles-André Coderre. 4848 St-Laurent, 8:30 p.m., $12/$15

Friday: If you dug the daze of the Green Room, the Main Hall, Stilleposte and basement parties, you may remember DIY punkers Devil Eyes, who return to leave some marks at l’Esco with Stars Die and Dates. This should be a good reunion of the old guard. 4461 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $10

If you’ve been holding off on the drive to Montebello, there is one good reason you should make the trek on Friday: Cannibal Corpse. That is all. Notre-Dame & St-Michel (Montebello, QC), 11 a.m.–2 a.m., $154 (before tax) for the weekend, day ticket $100.75 all-in

Saturday: For all of you cheapskates out there, I’ve got ya covered as the Festival Folk sur le Canal is happening at PWYC prices and starts and ends early. Local Americana twang from Three O’ Clock Train and the indescribable Plants and Animals will make you want to get your admission fee’s worth. L’Esplanade du centenaire (St-Patrick & Pitt), 12–10 p.m., PWYC (continues Sunday, same location & time)

The non-folky peeps who are more on the thrash and death metal side of things can make it down to Katacombes for Ares Kingdom, Riotor, Voor and Pathetic. 1635 St-Laurent, 8 p.m., $20

Down Montebello way, you can check out the U.K. party punk from legends the Toy Dolls, then get ready for a pit that should challenge Friday’s Cannibal Corpse show when Municipal Waste put the fun in thrash metal. Notre-Dame & St-Michel (Montebello, QC), 11 a.m.–2 a.m., $154 (before tax) for the weekend, day ticket $100.75 all-in

Sunday: The fine and furry peaceniks from Analogue Addiction are keeping busy this weekend with Italy’s Hakan, CFCQ and those loveable potty mouths the Piss of Ignorance at l’Esco. 4461 St-Denis, 9 p.m., $8

Monday: Analogue Addiction keeps the ball rolling with Supercrush, Holding Hands, Big Bite and Colour Wheel at l’Esco. 4461 St-Denis, 8 p.m., $8

Garage-y hunx in dark garb the Horrors return to town to melt your cold dark heart at l’Astral with Venus Furs. 305 Ste-Catherine W., 7 p.m., $24.75

Wednesday: Although this gig was tailor made to be at Foufs, you can get down to the brutal blast of Brujeria with the politically incorrect punk of Canadian legends Dayglo Abortions, Incite and the criminally underrated Vulgar Deli. This is all happening at Café Campus. 57 Prince-Arthur E., 7:30 p.m., $20/$25

 

Current Obsession: Black Sabbath, The Legendary Soundboard Tapes

jonathan.cummins@gmail.com