The complete lineup for M for Montreal's 2024 Marathon music festival, and our highlights

Wrapping up festival season in Montreal every year as temperatures turn frigid and inviting industry bigwigs from around the world to witness what the local scene has to offer means that M for Montreal isn’t — and never has been — your average local music festival. Details about the four-day fest’s 2024 lineup have now been fully revealed. Though the industry-facing focus of M for Montreal means a number of shows aren’t open to the public, the festival devotes the Marathon portion of their programming to local music fans — and our 2024 edition highlights below reflect that.

Here are our picks for the 2024 M for Montreal Marathon music festival.

KROY

Known also as one half of Milk and Bone, Camille Poliquin aka KROY is Montreal’s so-called “queen of electropop”, and will be at M on the heels of new album Militia. Foufs isn’t the kind of place you expect as a venue for industrial, synth-driven pop music, but she’ll be bringing that as she promotes her first LP s KROY in eight years. With Fleece, Vox Rea and Soleil / Les Foufounes Electriques / Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m.

Cléa Vincent

Similarly, Quai des Brumes is not a place typically associated with DJ sets, but then again, this is Montreal — nothing ever has to be overly conventional. Parisian singer-songwriter Cléa Vincent will be on the decks during a free set on November 21 while she continues promoting her newest album, March’s Ad vitam æternamour, in one of the most intimate of Montreal watering holes. DJ set / Quai des Brumes / Nov. 21, 1 a.m.

Bibi Club

Anyone who’s read my work knows I love this band, and their scintillating tunes shine especially brightest in a live setting. Bibi Club’s jangle pop/avant-pop musical style can range between brooding and joyful, but no less danceable — after all, they are the city’s reigning king and queen of living room party music. With En Stéréo / Fairmount Theatre / Nov. 21, 9 p.m.

Ziak

Now, for something a little rougher around the edges: French rapper Ziak takes influences from UK drill while adding a whole atmosphere of mystique around it. Between the black bandana covering his face (his identity is also unknown) and the heavy use of dark colours in his visuals, expect this to be far from your average spectacle of rap en Français. With guests / MTELUS / Nov. 21, 10 p.m.

Grand Public

Led by former Stills man Greg Paquet, Grand Public are a four-piece composed of Paquet and three of his childhood friends. Their first full-length album Sensations Diversions dropped in April on Lisbon Lux, and musically leans toward shimmering, cerebral indie rock not unlike that of Corridor, with whom they’ve shared stages. With Radiant Baby and Wizaard / Casa del Popolo, Nov. 21, 12:10 a.m.

Claudia Bouvette

This 29-year-old Bromont native has certainly come a long way from her days on Mixmania 2. Singer-songwriter Claudia Bouvette is by now a veteran in both the music and TV/cinema world, with her second full-length album due out this fall, and the breezy summer vibes of songs like “Call Me Back” will make people nostalgic for warm weather as December creeps up quickly. With Naomi and myst milano. / Club Soda, Nov. 22, 10 p.m.

P’tit Belliveau

Acadian folk singer-songwriter Jonah Richard Guimond aka P’tit Belliveau will bring some of that Nova Scotia energy to MTELUS this fall, and his vibrant yet lo-fi style stands out majorly on his newest self-titled third album. Now an independent artist after leaving Bonsound, P’tit Belliveau will be eager to show MTELUS why he’s one of the biggest stars of “chiac and roll.” With Malaimé Soleil / MTELUS, Nov. 22, 10:30 p.m.

Hot Garbage

Despite their name, Hot Garbage are neither extremely bad nor a musically spicier version of Shirley Manson and co. The Toronto quartet and Mothland signees play a dizzying, reverb-heavy mix of krautrock and raw post-punk — the kind you want to hear in a grimy, sweaty, darkly-lit room, but Sala Rossa is just as excellent an environment. With Slash Need, Truck Violence, TVOD, Alix Ferns and Anthony Piazza / la Sala Rossa, Nov. 22, 10:45 p.m.

Shay Lia

Many will recognize her from her features with Kaytranada over the years (“Leave Me Alone” and “Chances” will ring bells), but Shay Lia has always been an absolute force in her own right, both on wax and onstage. Her eclectic, groovy sound can be heard throughout her debut album, October’s FACETS, and Ausgang Plaza is an excellent environment for her to showcase it in. With Junes / Ausgang Plaza, Nov. 22, 11 p.m.

Laraw

Making confessional, guitar-heavy indie pop with a grunge-leaning edge not unlike that of Olivia Rodrigo, Montreal’s own Laraw is one to watch at M this year. The singer-songwriter released her debut LP Quarter Life Crisis on Bravo Musique in May, and her tunes should add even more intimacy to a venue known for it like L’Esco. With MACY / L’Escogriffe, Nov. 22, 11 p.m.

Karkwa

One of Montreal’s most seminal indie rock bands are officially back together, kicking ass and taking names as they continue riding on their comeback album Dans la seconde, their first since 2010’s Polaris-winning Les Chemins de verre. Karkwa’s live shows are excellent as always, and this’ll be one of numerous Quebec festivals they’ll have played this year. With guests / MTELUS, Nov. 23, 8 p.m.

Elliot Maginot

M’s website describes Elliot Maginot’s music as “poignant pop”, which is probably the most accurate and concise descriptor of his music one can dream up. A longtime stalwart of the local scene (and of M for Montreal), Maginot’s fourth album I Need to Stay Here was released in March, and he’s sure to captivate audiences once more in November. With Belle Grand Fille / Beanfield Theatre, Nov. 23, 8 p.m.

Peter Peter

A singer-songwriter dabbling in house music with a distinctly Quebecois touch, Peter Roy aka Peter Peter has shown himself to have the kind of range you wouldn’t expect from someone who made their name as an indie rock artist. With support from Laurence-Anne, Peter Peter will dazzle audiences at Club Soda as he continues promoting his newest LP, April’s Éther. With Laurence-Anne / Club Soda, Nov. 23, 8:30 p.m.

For more on the 2024 edition of the M for Montreal Marathon music festival, and to buy tickets, please visit their website.

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