There’s a feeling I get every summer I spend in Montreal that has me tickled pink. It starts at the end of June and grows until it reaches the climax the last few weeks of August. It’s the LGBT energy in the air. A feeling of pride, inclusiveness, community and yes, that famous humidity-heat thing. Now that we’re reluctantly being pulled into fall, check out the video for a gander back on some summer highlights in Montreal!

Divers/Cité was “all together different” this year with a big move to the Vieux-Port. And let me say, this festival practically double-rainbows the entire Old Port. Watching world class entertainment with the striking Montreal skyline in the background was a sight to behold. Tourists who would never usually attend such an event found themselves drawn in by the sounds of Divers/Cité’s roster of DJs, the world’s largest drag show Mascara, and live music from Quebec and International artists.

Fierte Montreal Pride 2012 broke records in their 6th year with over 320,000 total spectators! This is definitely attributed to the hard work in adding a variety of programming like the first ever official Dyke March, Kids Day, and the Generation Boomer show. Not to mention classics like T-Dance going to a whole new level with a performance by Shangela (beautifully captured by Montreal Buzz videographer Guillaume) that will knock your socks off.

The Fierte Montreal Pride Parade 2012 under the theme “Our Flag, Our Pride” drew another record crowd of 167,000 people along René-Levesque all thanks to the 3,000 energetic and divers participants! The jury awarded some parade floats in six categories with the “Most Crowd Pleasing Float” going to the Conseil Quebecois des Gais et Lesbiennes, and the “Corporate Float of the Year” going to Loblaws with their awesome rainbow shopping cart explosion:

Another community highlight was Pink Dot, a movement that originated in Asia and has hundreds of people making a giant pink dot in a silent yet powerful statement about global LGBT human rights.

Tourisme Montreal kept the competition fierce and the silliness fresh with the 3rd Edition of Queer of the Year! This was the first edition won by a female, Ivette Gonzalez-Alé and we can’t wait to have her back to Montreal as part of her prize package ! Check out all the QOTY shenanigans that went down here.

We’ll see everyone again next summer for another round of LGBT Pride events that only a place like Montreal could host with such flare and class.

The post MONTREAL’S LGBT SUMMER 2012 IN REVIEW appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

David Byrne and St. Vincent: Pop Montreal is always good at recognizing the more offbeat side of  classic rock, and this year they bring us David Byrne, whose Talking Heads irrefutably changed the weird-rock landscape. Byrne also takes the stage with St. Vincent to play songs from their collaborative new album. September 21 at Église St-Jean Baptiste.

Antibalas and K’Naan with Nomadic Massive: This show, on the fest’s opening night, truly gets the party started with the high-energy Afrobeat sound of NYC’s Antibalas, “Ethio-jazz” hip hop of Toronto’s K’Naan and Montreal’s own, always-fun, community-minded Nomadic Massive. September 19 at Corona Theatre.

Grizzly Bear and Unknown Mortal Orchestra: Grizzly Bear has been getting nothing but hype this year with their new album, Shields, just out and getting rave reviews. Unknown Mortal Orchestra opens with an intriguing, spacey sound all their own. September 23 at Olympia.

Laetitia Sadier: More sounds that from the turn of the millennium become new again as former Stereolab member Laetitia Sadier plays pretty, thoughtful songs from her recent repertoire. September 19 at the Ukrainian Culture Centre.

Dirty Three: Long-time makers of melodic noise-pop and violin-drenched drone, Australia’s Dirty Three return in full form to this year’s festival. September 20 at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre.

Tim Hecker: A visceral experience for ears, mind and body, a show from Montreal’s Tim Hecker is perfectly suited to a church setting, organ music (suitably warped) and all, with openers Julia Holter and Solar Year. September 21 at Church of St-John the Evangelist.

Chilly Gonzales: Take the rock down a few notches with Chilly Gonzales, who plays what’s sure to be a lovely, musically impressive show entitled Piano Vision, with talented multi-instrumentalist and singer Kyrie Kristmanson opening. September 22 at L’Olympia.

Yamantaka // Sonic Titan: Montreal’s rock rising stars Yamantaka // Sonic Titan turn their operatic ways with noise-rock into a full-on show called Opera 33, sure to be a dramatic sonic adventure. September 21 at the Rialto Theatre.

Label showcases: Cheap and packed with as much tried-and-true as up-and-coming talent, record label showcases are always a good bet when it comes to show hopping. Check out Fixture Records, Arbutus (also home to Grimes, who plays a sold-out show on Thursday), Arts & Crafts, Passovah Productions, and dance the night away at The Sofa King Raw Pop showcase, featuring Ango, Black Atlass and more.

Free shows: Pop Montreal likes to give good stuff away sometimes, and we love them for it. Last year it was Arcade Fire and this year it’s Stars and Diamond Rings on September 19, along with free shows (and BBQs!) in the afternoon and early evening in Parc de la Petite-Italie, featuring Mozart’s Sister and many more on September 20 and 21, at store Citizen Vintage and at Mission Santa Cruz (60 Rachel W.) September 19-21.

My bonus pick isn’t a show but the conglomeration of activities that make up the non-music parts of Pop: Film Pop, the Pop Symposium, Art Pop, craft fair Puces Pop, the Record Fair and Kids Pop.

A

THE DETAILS

Pop Montreal, September 19-23, 2012

Photo Credit: Bryan Murray- David Byrne & St. Vincent at rehearsal.

The post 10 POP MONTREAL 2012 SHOWS YOU SHOULD SEE appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

In the winter months, there’s Igloofest and Montréal en Lumière and, as the snow starts to thaw and maple syrup starts gushing out of the trees, the Cabane a Sucre season takes over. By the time the summer rolls around we’re all so hopped up on maple sugar that we frolic around Mount-Royal, scour for the best terraces and hit up F-1, Jazz Fest, Just for Laughs, FrancoFolies, Divers/Cite, Pride and more!

February

MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE (February 16-26): One of the largest winter festivals in the world, the High Lights festival (as it’s known in English) invites 900,000 visitors each February to get out of their winter funk and enjoy the best gastronomy, art, music, performances and culture in Montreal. The 11-day festival culminates in one of my favourite nights of the year: Nuite Blanche! On February 25, Montreal comes alive for the night owls. Staying open to the wee hours of the morning for 180 mostly-free activities. Take a tour of the Reso (the underground city) converted into an art exhibition, or take a midnight dip in the Olympic swimming pool! Metros and buses run all night to connect all the late night cultural activities!

March /April

MICHAEL JACKSON’S IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR: (March 20-22): See the King of Pop live on in the ultra extravagant musical tribute by Cirque du Soleil. With state of the art puppetry and a massive moving “giving tree”, this is a spectacle that does justice to the late larger than life pop star.

MONTREAL IMPACT (March 17-October 22): The Montreal Impact‘s 2012 season will be its first as a Major League Soccer team. They play at Saputo Stadium, which is right next to Montreal’s iconic Olympic Stadium. This will be an exciting season for the Impact as they tackle the best teams in the world, and it is still a relatively cheap activity to do!

AMALUNA BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL (April 19-June 11): Details are scarce on Cirque du Soleil’s newest touring show Amaluna, set to premier in April. All we know is that it tells an emotional love story set on a mysterious island governed by goddesses and guided by the moon. Yep, sounds very Cirque du Soleil. Like the many shows before it, this one is sure to wow.

May / June

ELEKTRA (May 2-6): Electronic music, lasers, robotics and all things digital come together for one week and will blow your mind in a harmonic fusion of technology and art.

FESTIVAL ACCES ASIE (May 3-19): This festival celebrates the culture of Asia and invites people to learn, engage and be entertained by the music, art, films, dance and cuisine. Become apart of the sacred rituals and ancient history of Asia!

THE LITTE PRINCE BY LES GRANDS BALLETS (May 3-5, 10-12): A creation by Didy Veldman for Les Grands Ballets of a story we all recognize and have been touched by.

GRAND PRIX DU CANADA (June 6-10): The best Formula-1 drivers from around the globe, along with 300,000 race fans, meet at Parc Jean-Drapeau to watch the showdown on the Gilles-Villeneuve Circuit. One of the busiest weekends in Montreal for tourism, commerce and partying.

July / August

FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE JAZZ DE MONTREAL (June 28-July 7): One of the largest Jazz festivals in the world. People travel from across the globe to take in the 370 free outdoor concerts, 650 shows and the hundreds of related festivities.

JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVAL (July 12-29): Get your LOL on at Just for Laughs. Gala performances, theatre shows, club acts and outdoor shows will get your ROFLING on the floor. Was that redundant?

DIVERS/CITE 2012 (July 30-August 5): Seven days of cultural activities all pulsating in Montreal’s core. Stage events, drag queens, live music, dancing and fun for the whole family.

MONTREAL FASHION & DESIGN FESTIVAL (August 1-4): McGill College Avenue goes from being “the road with the Starbucks on it” to the epicentre of Canadian mode, design and fashion. Outdoor fashion shows, live performances and after parties galore.

OSHEAGA (August 3-5): The largest music festival of its kind in Canada. If music is your religion, then Osheaga is the Sunday sermon. 5 different stages, and more than 80 world renowned musical acts. This is a weekend for the Instagram.

MONTREAL PRIDE CELEBRATIONS (August 14-19): Community Day, and the massive gay pride parade! A weekend to celebrate diversity, acceptance, and let your rainbow colours fly. Don’t miss the crowning of 2012′s Queer of the Year!

September / October

POP MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL (September 19-23): 50,000 fans will enjoy 600 artists at POP Montreal. Independent music in alternative venues, POP Montreal is the perfect way to discover new music and the city.

BLACK & BLUE FESTIVAL (Thanksgiving Weekend, October): More than 60 activities for the gay community and their allies. All culminating in the massive rave at the Olympic Stadium that goes from dusk till dawn. Need a visual? Check it out here.

THE MAGIC OF LANTERNS (September 9-October 31): Montreal’s stunning botanical gardens live on into the fall months by hundreds of handmade silk lanterns. One of the most enchanting evenings you can have in the fall. Grab a hot coffee (with a touch of Bailey’s) and be transported into another world.

November / December

LA GRANDE DEGUSTATION DE MONTREAL (November 8-10): La Grande Degustation de Montreal translates roughly to The Big Taste of Food & Drink of Montreal. So that’s exactly what it is. Under one roof you’ll find 1500 products and 250 vintners, distillers and brewers from around the world.

SALON DES METIERS D’ARTS DU QUEBEC (December 7-23): Since 1955, this event hosts some 400 exhibitors as they show off their artisan crafts for the public. The perfect place to get a special holiday gift.

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