MONTREAL ELECTRONIC MUSIC SCENE: I LOVE NEON

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In London, the Ministry of Sound became a legendary nightclub in the 1990s, basically the British equivalent to New York’s Studio 54. They quickly gained popular attention and contributed to redefining the sound of the 90s, radically changing the music scene at the time. Kitsuné was created in 2002 in Paris. It’s more than a record company — it’s also an avant-garde fashion label that has introduced the world to a lot of cool electronic bands such as Hot Chip, Simian Mobile Disco and La Roux. Well, in Montreal, we also have our own influential local music collective: it’s called I LOVE NEON. Read the full story to find out why it’s like nothing else you’ve ever seen before. … More

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MONTREAL THEATRE: SUBURBAN MOTEL AT THE MAIN LINE

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The theatre scene in Montreal is considered quite innovative and is always looking for new ways to revisit the catalogue of local, national and international playwrights. If you’re an avid theatre-goer, or just want to do something different while you’re in town, you can see a classic play, or perhaps try something a bit more experimental.

 Read the full story to find out more. … More

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AKOUSMA 6: CLASSICAL MUSIC IN THE DIGITAL AGE

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Some people think classical music hasn’t evolved very much since Mozart and Bach, but as soon as you hear a few notes of a modern composition, you will quickly understand how much it actually has changed over the years. HERE’S A SAMPLE. This beautiful, yet insane creation is from Tristan Perich, a New York-based artist who was recently in town for Elektra_Lab 2, a contemporary cabaret dedicated to the electronic arts. If you’re in Montreal this weekend and want to hear some contemporary classical music, check out AKOUSMA 6, a music festival dedicated to experimental creations in the digital age, held from November 18-22, 2009.

Come and see how Montreal celebrates electroacoustic music — read the full story to find out Who Has the Biggest Sound. … More

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RIDM: A DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL WITH AN EDGE

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In recent years, with the commercial and critical success of Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine and R.J. Cutler’s The September Issue, the documentary film has managed to gain considerable recognition and much wider appeal. Every year, MONTREAL’S INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL (RIDM), which stands for Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal, showcases the best documentaries made over the past year. For twelve years in a row, RIDM has lined up 100 movies from over 30 countries.

Read the full story to find out more about a film that focuses on a particularly bizarre aspect of the porn industry in Israel. … More

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MONTREAL PAPERS: LIFESAVERS FOR LATE NIGHT CHANGES

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When you’re travelling, you often end up in a restaurant or bar, wondering what to do next or where to go out that evening. Sometimes when you need information about movie schedules or happy hour specials, and you don’t have your laptop handy, blogs may not always be the solution. But there are other options. If you find yourself sitting around in a pub or a bar in Montreal, and you want to find something to do, check out the free papers and entertainment guides that are found all over town.  Here’s my list of favourites for last-minute ideas or impromptu outings. … More

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EXPERIENCE THE INTENSITY OF MARIE BRASSARD

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MARIE BRASSARD is probably one of Quebec’s most renowned artists, who gained recognition after spending several years touring with another famous Quebec artist from the theatre world, Robert Lepage. She ended up founding her own company, INFRAROUGE, which also produces her shockingly beautiful performances. Brassard’s work is quite abstract, and she clearly doesn’t focus on narratives; her work goes well beyond simple theatre. She dismantles the rules of playwriting, demonstrating that she’s been influenced by dance, literature and music. She puts all of these elements together onstage, often in a novel, provocative fashion. One could easily say that Marie Brassard is one of the most interesting avant-garde artists in the Montreal cultural scene today. … More

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FRENCH MUSIC IN MONTREAL: COUP DE COEUR

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I think there’s a certain pleasure in listening to local music when you travel. If I had the choice between seeing Lady Gaga in Prague or hearing some Czech jazz musicians, I would definitely go for the second option, since it’s a unique experience to see local artists that might never make it to Montreal. The same applies for visitors coming to Montreal for the first time. Even if you don’t speak French, seeing a concert in French is a great way to discover the city’s arts and culture scene. If you’re visiting Montreal and want to check out some local music and see what the French music scene is like, then don’t miss Coup de coeur francophone.

Read the full story to find my picks for this year’s edition. … More

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DHC SESSION: AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF MODERN ART

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For art lovers, there’s nothing more exciting than a group show. In Montreal, with its thriving arts scene, we are quite fortunate to be able to discover new artists all the time. Group shows are fun because you can explore artists from various backgrounds, and learn about different kinds of art forms, whether it’s painting, sculpture or video, and see it all in the same space for a limited time. Either way, you have access to an array of original creations, giving you a chance to experience them all at once and meet other people into the arts scene. Last year, for instance, Montreal’s Contemporary Art Museum presented the first major retrospective of up-and-coming Quebec artists, and it quickly became one of the museum’s most successful events.

Read the full story for more details about this exceptional contemporary art happening. … More

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MONTREAL'S ALTERNATIVE CLASSICAL MUSIC SCENE

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Who said classical music is not accessible? In Montreal, you can take in some great concerts at very affordable prices that won’t cost as much as a major symphony orchestra ticket. Although I’m not an expert, I do like to discover some precious gems in the classical repertoire, especially when performed in smaller, lesser-known venues.

Read the full story to find out how you can hear something a little different than Beethoven or Mozart while you’re in town. … More

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WARNING: LA CHAPELLE CAN BE ADDICTIVE

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Montreal is full of interesting art galleries and performance spaces, but they’re not always easy to find simply by strolling through the streets.  However, if you keep your eyes peeled, you just might stumble upon La Chapelle, an alternative venue in the Plateau that focuses on experimental performances in a variety of disciplines and languages.

Read the full story to find out how to catch a provocative puppet show inspired by Dennis Cooper’s infamous story of a serial killer. … More

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