(New Year’s Eve) Welcome a brand-new year in true Montreal style: the Montreal Buzz Guide to New Year’s Eve in Montreal offers an array of ideas, from five-course meals to pub crawls, family-friendly outings in the Old Port to champagne-fuelled comedy shows, jazz clubs to multi-room parties, and all kinds of late-night dancing. New Year’s Eve in Montreal is a party no matter what your idea of a party is.

(festive food) Montreal has become a destination for feasting on gourmet comfort food, especially for meat eaters, from pork belly to tourtière. The SAT Foodlab throws an end-of-the-world, prix-fixe dinner, Souper Apocalyptique, on December 21. And then there’s the Christmas Day tradition, mostly among people who don’t celebrate Christmas but also among people who just want to eat a lot of good food, of going for a huge Chinese lunch or dinner: lots of duck, hot soup, fried seafood, dumplings and house specialties. Follow it up with sweetness: chocolates, truffles, freshly baked bread, croissants and more, all made in Montreal.

(last-minute shopping) Get one-of-a-kind gifts at the biggest craft and artisinal fair in Canada, Salon des métiers d’art, where over 400 Quebec artists and artisans set up booths full of professionally handmade clothing, toys, home decor, food and much more – at Place Bonaventure only until December 22. Our Holiday Gift Guide is also full of Montreal-made ideas and suggestions for stores to shop for everyone on your list. Of course, picking up a little something for yourself couldn’t hurt, right? Peruse the guides for fashion-forward women and men before hitting the shops.

(super-entertainment on stage) Let Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco blow your mind with gasp-worthy acrobatics, genuinely funny clowning, and feats of strength and stamina, all in one bright, colourful, musical show. What makes this run super special is that it’s the last time Santimbanco – see it until December 30 at the Bell Centre. Also in circus happenings, Cirque Alphonse’s Timber! turns Montreal circus centre Tohu into in a Christmas-y forest populated by lumberjack acrobats, clowns and laughs, on until December 31. And the traditional, balletic holiday fare Les Grands Ballets’ The Nutcracker continues to December 30 at Place des Arts.

(outdoor fun) Even in winter, Montrealers spend time outdoors, burning off steam (and calories) with winter sports or just walking through the city – there’s plenty to see, and this time of year much of it is illuminated. On Saturday night at 8 p.m. and on New Year’s Eve at midnight, the Telus Fire on Ice fireworks explode over the picturesque Old Port, also home to a huge outdoor skating rink. Families will also want to check out Noël sur l’avenue along Mont Royal Avenue east of Mont Royal Park, and the further-east Olympic Park Winter Village, where from December 22-24 and again December 27-31, kids and adults alike can go ice skating and sledding, hang out with Rudolph and the other reindeer, sing Christmas songs and more – there are even fireworks on December 31.

(music nights) In the holiday tradition: hear the Notre-Dame Basilica organ in action on December 23-24 and 28-31 at 2 p.m., join the Arte Musica choral concert Let’s Sing Christmas! at the Montreal Fine Arts Museum on December 28-29, 2 p.m., and listen to choirs at the Montreal Botanic Gardens greenhouse on the afternoons of December 22-23. Less traditional: Party with the locals at the Third Annual Passovah Holiday Special on December 21 at Casa del Popolo, with bands, DJs and good, good people. The Objet Inusité International Summit on Audio Art is on at Eastern Bloc on December 21, with installations during the day and performances at 8 p.m., culminating December 22 with a bang at Sala Rossa with arty, fun music from Valleys, UN, Agor, Orkestar Kriminal ad DJ Matteo Grondini. On December 22, Indie Montréal throws a fab fundraiser Christmas Party at Divan Orange with David Martel , Ainsley McNeaney and Motel Raphaël. And fans of Alexisonfire either already have a ticket to their sold out shows or will be outside at Metropolis December 22 and 23 trying their luck getting one. And long-time UK punk band Snuff make it to Foufounes on December 30.

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(live music) The week is bookended by three great music men and a great music woman: get out on the weekend on Friday, November 23 with Neil Young and Crazy Horse and Patti Smith at the Bell Centre, while Brazilian legend Gilberto Gil plays at Place des Arts, and later in the week, the Montreal-born-and-bred man himself, Leonard Cohen, spends two nights at the same venue, November 28-29. Canadian indie-rock royalty Sloan returns to town on November 23 at Le National and the next night captivating R&B singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé plays Metropolis while hip hop virtuoso Araabmuzik is at the SAT. It’s a school night, but that won’t keep Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen fans away from the Bell Centre on Monday, November 26. On November 28, Titus Andronicus bring their friendly-punk indie-rock to Il Motore and Montreal rock-pop faves Malajube play the beautiful old Corona Theatre, while the next night Kid Koala brings his 12-bit Blues Vinyl Vaudeville show to the venue and the experimental-rock-drone of Six Organs of Admittance transcends space and time at Casa del Popolo on November 29.

(screen stories) Montreal’s film fest season winds down this week as Image+Nation celebrates 25 years of bringing LGBT films from around the world to Montreal – the festival runs until December 2 and this week features Lesbomundo, a series of lesbian-centric short films (November 23-24), Call Me Kuchu a portrait of Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato, David Lambert’s Hors les murs, short-film series Deep End and Queerment Quebec, and many more films, playing at Cinema du Parc. Also this weekend, travel the world in search of exotic fruit in colourful (in all ways) new Montreal-made documentary The Fruit Hunters, playing for a limited time at Cineplex Odeon Forum and Excentris.

(art in the street) Catch the end of the collaborative Montreal/Brooklyn exhibition, with city-spanning shows at several galleries, and long-time art activist group ATSA, who continue their annual installation outside at Place Émilie-Gamelin, this year featuring a 30-minute art video on the construction of Montreal’s metro system, as well as an homage to this spring and summer’s student strikes and community protests for equality, and art works that raise awareness about homelessness.

(comedy & theatre) Fans of Canadian comedy that mixes low-brow humour with dry irony shouldn’t miss The Trailer Park Boys at Theatre St-Denis on November 27, where the boys turn their television show into a live, bawdy affair during their countdown to Liquor Day. On a different note, one more traditionally in-tune and swear-word free, award-winning Broadway musical Mary Poppins floats in to Place des Arts, November 23-25. Get your heart warmed at family-friendly circus, musical and epic adventure show Loucho the Clown at Theatre Ste-Catherine. David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Good People, set in Boston’s working-class Irish “Southie” neighbourhood, continues at the Centaur Theatre to December 6. And stage play Red, based on the work and life of artist Mark Rothko, begins November 25 at the Segal Centre.

(shopping & Santa) It’s the end of November, but Montreal is already lit up for the holidays – and ready for holiday shopping. For traditional and contemporary Quebec-made gifts, from clothing to gourmet food, take a stroll around Le Marché Casse Noisette, also known as The Nutcracker Market, one of many of Montreal’s upcoming craft and artisanal fairs – this one is a non-profit market co-organized by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and held downtown at Palais des congrès, beginning November 29. And downtown shopping mall Complexe Desjardins, in the same building as the Hyatt Regency Montréal, has its Christmas Village up and running until December 24 – kids can visit Santa, burn off some of that candy-cane-fueled energy in the play areas and watch holiday-themed performances throughout each day.

(dance delights) Danse Cité takes over the Les Ateliers Jean-Brillant, a brick factory space refurbished for performances, for Charmaine LeBlanc’s mid-life inquiry Terminus, for six dancers with music and video accompaniment, on November 23. Dance Cité also presents Nancy Leduc’s Projet Harlequin, inspired by reading Harlequin romance novels as a teenager, November 28-December 8 at Théâtre de Quat’sous (100 Pins West). Tangente presents cutting-edge, energetic works by NYC’s Brian Brooks (who mixes formal dance with street and sports moves) and Montreal’s Raphaëlle Perreault, at Monument National, November 23-25. And for those of us with short attention spans, Wants and Needs brings back the popular and often hilarious Short & Sweet show – performances that finish in under two minutes! – at Sala Rossa on November 28.

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(snow globe party) Igloofest is arguably the party of the winter – or parties plural, since the electronic music and dancing extravaganza happens over three weekends. Igloofest brings together thousands of people in one place (the Quay of the Old Port over the weekends of January 12–14, 19–21 and 26–28 – yes, Thursday is part of the weekend now), featuring some of the best in electronic music (like Diplo!). Put on your best parka or dig up that one-piece neon ski suit from the ‘80s and get ready to get down with crowds of Montrealers, young, old and in between. Being outside in winter shouldn’t be this fun, but it is, and I thank Igloofest for it.

(snow city) There’s something fabulous about returning to the luxurious confines of a hotel room after a wintry day wandering a wonderful city. Montreal takes that indulgence a step further with this city’s first Snow Village, located on the shores of the St-Laurent river at Parc Jean-Drapeau. The Snow Village combines an igloo-like hotel with a restaurant, bar, conference centre, maze, ice slide and, for the marriage-minded and God-alert, a chapel. Whatever you go for a drink or for a night, Snow Village Canada seems to be nothing short of a one-of-a-kind Canadian experience.

(arty warm up) Art galleries around town open their doors again in January with new exhibitions – check out galleries on every floor of the Belgo Building (372 Ste-Catherine W.), including Galerie Push, Galerie Pangée, Pierre François Ouellette, SAS, Skol and several other prominent, top-knotch galleries. Meanwhile, over at The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the fun and fabulous and free (yes, free) Big Bang exhibition continues until January 22 – with a room of floor-to-ceiling graffiti art by En Masse collective, a video installation from Denys Arcand and Adad Hannah, photos and furniture inspired by Group of Seven artists, a wall of plush toys and much more.

(park hopping) For extreme and not-so-extreme outdoor winter activity just a hop, skip and a jump away from town (not to mention accessible via the metro), Parc Jean-Drapeau is the place to be this January. Not only is the park home to the new Snow Village Canada, but the Fête des Neiges winter festival offers fun for the whole family, with a tube slide, zip-line, hockey and skating along the river during the weekends of January 21–22, 28–29 and February 4-5. For more outdoor fun, January 7 marks the last night of the Telus Fire on Ice events at the Quays of the Old Port, featuring a fire works show with a Little Mermaid Theme (true!), fire dancing shows starting at 7:10 and 7:40 p.m. and a fab outdoor skating rink.

(take a chance on) Musical lovers and disco divas unite for Broadway hit Mamma Mia!, January 3–8 at Place des Arts. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ musical, performed around the world for years and still going strong, sets the songs of ‘70s Swedish pop band ABBA to a tale of family, friendship and love on an idyllic Greek island. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll sing along.

(strange stage) Walk on the wilder side of theatre at the 15th annual Wildside Festival, January 3–14 at Centaur Theatre in Old Montreal. The notorious fest features independent, affordably priced shows that push the boundaries of traditional theatre: see Montreal theatre star Kirsten Rasmussen’s motivational-speaker-inspired Blink Blink Blink, the bilingual comedy Bifurcate Me, award-winning Countries Shaped Like Stars, A Thousand Paper Cranes and more. Elsewhere in indie theatre, Guy Sprung directs Infinithéâtre’s Ars Poetica, a story of publishing, poetry and cell phones, January 17 to February 12, at Bain St-Michel (5300 St-Dominique).

(dancetastic January) Montreal dance promotion organization Danse Danse does an amazing job this month with sure-to-satisfy shows: internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer Akram Khan’s Gnosis, January 24 – 25, and his Vertical Road, January 26 – 28, both at Place des Arts; and always-engaging Montreal choreographer and dancer José Navas’ Personae, January 11–28 at Cinquième Salle. Dancer-choreographers Martin Messier and Caroline Laurin-Beaucage bring evocative new creation Soak, presented at the 2011 Festival Transameriques, to the Monument National, January 26–29. And for something even more different, Ted Tafel’s Janvier takes us to an old railway building where memories and dreams intertwine in dance, at 661 Rose-de-Lima, January 13–15 and 20–22, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

(whole hog) I’m not going to say that I totally understand this event, but I can say that mega-spectacle Show Harley looks awesome. Not only does Alice Cooper perform (!), along with other rock acts, but fifty custom Harley-Davidson motorcycles rev their engines and generally look cool while a sound and light show goes on in the background. Fans can get up close and personal with the bikes and talk shop with professionals and fellow fans. VIP access to Show Harley includes a back-stage preview starting at 3 p.m. on January 28, while the main show goes down at 8:30 p.m.

(get in the game) I hardly ever talk about hockey in this column, but that’s not because I don’t like it. I mean, as a Montrealer I have to at least watch five Habs games (minimum) a season or I get kicked out of town, and as a person who likes to hang out with friends and drink beer, hockey offers ample opportunity. Tickets for January games at the Bell Centre can still be had (nosebleeds or otherwise), or if the sports bar scene is more your speed, there are plenty of places to partake of our national, competitive winter pastime.

(pop sounds) Pop Montreal may happen in the fall, but the music fest’s programming wends its way throughout the year: on January 6, Pop Montreal presents La Route Chante: A Community Show for Lhasa, much-loved Montreal singer who passed away in early January 2010. The show features the amazing Montreal talents of Plants & Animals, Arthur H, Patrick Watson, Katie Moore, Ariane Moffatt, The Barr Brothers, Socalled and many more who played with Lhasa over the years – at the Rialto Theatre (5723 Parc), 8 p.m. On January 14, keep the Igloofest party rocking at the official after party (starting at 10 p.m.) at SAT with Rich Aucoin (love him!), Lunice, DJ Mini and Francis Oak – yaay! On January 18, indie rockers Real Estate come to La Sala Rossa, on January 19, Swedish metal band Ghost are joined by Blood Ceremony and Ancient Vvisdom at Theatre Corona, and on January 23, krautrock-inspired British band Fujiya & Miyagi play La Sala Rossa. Machine Head , Suicide Silence and more bring the metal to Metropolis on January 28. And British singer Charlie Winston, who won fans at Osheaga in 2010, woos the crowd again on January 28 at the Corona Theatre.

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Patti Smith at Eglise St. Jean Baptiste, 2007

The legendary Patti Smith was a shining light of the 2007 Pop Montreal lineup. I remember the frantic rush for tickets and the fever that over took the city that night in anticipation of the musical and cultural icon. Patti Smith played in Montreal’s St. Jean Baptiste church, which lent an atmosphere of reverence to the occasion. The architecture of the church perfectly complemented the mood of her dark, rock and roll poetry. It was an intimate performance where she played old favourites as well as songs from her most recent album, Twelve. Her crowd-pleasing covers included The Beatles’ Within You Without You, a Hendrix cover, Neil Young’s Helpless, Lou Reed’s Perfect Day, Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit and then she recited Ginsberg’s footnote to Howl. If that’s not enough, Patti Smith played two encores. For one, she even ripped the strings off her guitar. A true performer, Patti Smith embodied the raw spirit of Pop Montreal.

Sister Nancy (& Mossman Soundsystem) at Club Lambi, 2008

Although the show got off to a late start, those who stuck around were rewarded by one of the wildest shows Pop Montreal has seen. Reggae legend Sister Nancy hit the stage around 1am, which happens to be prime Montreal party time, accompanied by Mossman Soundsystem and played her raucous reggae anthems full of authentic energy for an adoring crowd that danced the night away.

Joanna Newsom at Ukrainian Federation, 2006

On a drizzly and cold night, Joanna Newsom played the Ukrainian Federation which was the perfect venue to house her impish and shy persona. This show happened to coincide with a pivotal moment in Joanna Newsom’s career, as she was on the brink of releasing her seminal album Ys. During the show she played some favourites off of Milk Eyed Mender, the album that launched her into the public sphere. This show would be the first time that audiences heard her the new material that dictated the polyrhythmic style she would later adopt on subsequent albums. But the real treat was when she played Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie for her encore and forgot the words, but the audience didn’t. They lovingly shouted them to her from their seats and with their help she finished the song. David Byrne was also there, which I assume is the mark of a great show.

Irma Thomas @ Ukrainian Federation, 2008

The great Irma Thomas graced the stage at the Ukrainian Federation for an evening of classic rhythm and soul. Unlike other singers of her time, Irma Thomas has managed to endure the test of time and is still releasing albums and singing songs. During the show she addressed this marvel and attributed it to “having a good man” who makes her feel like “a queen”. He also happened to be there that night. She asked the audience to have some patience and listen to her new stuff before she got down to the old favourites. They graciously accepted her request and fell in love with her all over again. Of course, she sang her hit Time is On My Side and it launched her into the archives of the best Pop Montreal shows of all time.

Lee Fields & The Expressions at Sala Rossa, 2009

The night that Lee Fields & The Expressions played at Sala Rossa they basically converted the entire crowd to their church of soul. “Junior JB” charmed and thrilled the crowd with a showmanship that few had seen before and the band, as tight an ensemble as Pop has ever hosted, almost brought down the roof at Sala. About 20 different times.

The Persuasions @ Portuguese Association, 2008

Before The Persuasions played Pop, they announced that they were accepting requests. For their set, they sang a generous repertoire of old and new songs alike, including a doo-woopified version of U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, The Grateful Dead’s It Must Have Been the Roses, a Zappa song as well as classics like Duke of Earl and In the Still of the Night. The acappella crooners were in top notch form, but it was the spirited mood and crowd participation that made the night, especially during their rendition of Under the Boardwalk.

Socalled and Fred Wesley at Sala Rossa, 2007

Socalled, one of Montreal’s brightest lights (aka Josh Dolgin) performed with Fred Wesley who is a jazz and funk trombonist best known for his work with James Brown and the Count Basie Orchestra. During the songs they collaborated on you could sense the sheer joy they had on stage together. Josh Dolgin’s diverse musical talents were the perfect complement to Wesley’s melodies. They jammed the night away for an eager crowd who were grateful to witness one of Pop Montreal’s greatest collaborations.

Swans at Theatre National, 2010

After a 13-year hiatus, Swans played Pop Montreal with a performance that was the stuff of legend. It began with a taped drone at a dizzying volume. And they hadn’t even started playing yet. Swans raged through their two hour set, packing punches and playing the way they always do, with a relentless awe-inspiring power.

Burt Bacharach at Eglise St. Jean Baptiste, 2008

When crooner Burt Bacharach was confirmed as a Pop Montreal performer, people were slightly incredulous but mostly bewildered and excited. What lent the show its charm was how he incorporated new musicians like Julie Doiron, Owen Pallet of Final Fantasy and Katie Moore among others. His set was over two hours long bookended by a beautiful rendition of What the World Needs Now. For his encore he played Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head and managed to transcend generations and unite cotton tops and kids for one stellar show.

Cody ChesnuTT at Theatre National, 2007

The smooth soul singer most famous for his collaboration with The Roots on the song The Seed 2.0 charmed Pop Montrealers in 2007. That night the Florida-born soul singer stole the hearts of many and wore a regal red robe with gold trim. He played guitar and sang soulfully while inviting the eager audience to participate in his show. His show was filled with tracks off the album he was working on, The Live Release, giving fans a taste of his new songs. Always a giver, he stayed after the show and talked with fans. Reportedly some people even got hugs from the man himself so it’s no surprise that his was voted one of the best shows of the festival.

Photo Credit: Patti Smith ©Gordon Isnor, Swans ©LP Maurice

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(free pop) Music lovers have been flocking to the Pop Montreal festival for the past 9 years – and now we’re celebrating 10 whole years of the little fest that could! While most of the shows aren’t free (they’re pretty cheap though!), there’s plenty that is. The biggest free ticket is the outdoor Arcade Fire show at Places des Festivals on September 22, of course, but free shows are scattered here and there throughout the fest (at venues like Divan Orange, Le Pick-Up, Santropol and the Notman House), and there’s also an entire Pop Symposium free for the learnin’, with music and industry related talks and workshops throughout the fest, as well as Art Pop, including art from The Raincoats and Marcel Dzama, at POP Quarters (3450 St-Urbain) and at the SAT (1201 St-Laurent).

(outside art) Art and performance festival Escales Improbables launches its 8th edition on September 7 with a wide selection of music, dance, theatre and art installations at the Quays of the Old Port every day until September 11. Take an audio stroll around the world in installation La Babel Sonore, watch the live painting of Collective RGB, witness L’Ensemble Karel’s urban soundscape sculpture, listen to Nozen’s blend of jazz, modern music and traditional Jewish music, and more.

(photo op) Working with the theme of lucidity, the 12th edition of Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal (September 8 to October 9) sheds much-needed light on these dark times and shows us the world in all its shades of grey and bright colours alike. The international biennale event pushes the boundaries of what photography is capable of in its 25 solo exhibitions, outdoor installations and group shows by artists from Canada and around the world. Le Mois de la Photo launches with a free party and exhibition for all on September 8 at Arsenal (2020 William – corner of Canning and Notre-Dame W.), 6 p.m. and continues there and at local galleries, including several in downtown Montreal, Dazibao in the Cinematheque Quebecoise and, in the Plateau neighbourhood, Articule, Clark and Maison de la culture du Plateau-Mont-Royal.

(latin quarter flavor) OUMF, Montreal’s newest music, film and arts festival, takes place in the city’s Latin Quarter (on and around St-Denis between Ste-Catherine E. and Sherbrooke) until September 10. Along with public art installations, film screenings at the Cinémathèque Québécoise and National Film Board’s CinéRobothèque, every evening from 4 p.m. until late, there’s music in the street from local bands like We Are Wolves, Parlovr, Valleys and Random Recipe, and in the metro from Regroupement des Musiciens du Métro de Montréal. Also check out the urban-inspired work of graduate design students at UQAM’’s Place Pasteur. A few days later, on September 15 at noon, UQAM presents an outdoor performance by sound artists Jean-Pierre Gauthier and Mirko Sabatini at Place Émilie-Gamelin.

(literary minds) For lovers of both the French language and literature, Le Festival International de La Littérature has arrived, with readings, discussions, film screenings and more from Montreal, Quebec and around the world, September 16–25. While most of the festival’s literary events are reasonably priced to begin with, a handful are just plain free. From September 16-23, from 5–7 p.m. at the Cabaret des Terrasses Saint-Sulpice, there are poetry readings MC’d by José Acquelin and accompanied by live music. Le Grand Bibliothèque screens documentary films about major Quebec writers: Gallimard on September 18 and Gaston Miron on September 24. And on September 22 in the foyer of Place des Arts, choreographer and dancer Paul-André Fortier begins his 30-day in-situ work, Le Solo 30×30, with new contributions from 30 invited writers, taking place every evening at 5:15 p.m. until October 21.

(all that jazz) The Montreal Jazz Festival isn’t confined to a few fabulous summer weeks this year: starting September 16, the Bistro Le Balmoral turns into a late-night jazz club every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m. The first four weekends are like a mini jazz fest: Jean Félix Mailloux and Jérôme Beaulieu on September 16 and John Roney on September 17, the gypsy jazz of the Christine Tassan trio on September 22, Martin Tremblay on the 23 and Lou Boustani on the 24, a weekend of blues with Dan Livingstone on September 29, bassist Stephen Barry and guitarist Andrew Cowan on September 30.

(classical autumn) The Montreal Symphony Orchestra has a brand new home! Doors open September 8 at 2 p.m., with free guided tours of the concert hall and performances by emerging pianists, throat singers, a string orchestra, a contemporary ensemble as well as duos and trios from around Quebec. Tours and concerts continue September 9 at 12:30 p.m. and September 10. at 2 p.m. And the 13th Orgue et Couleurs Fall Festival of classical organ music runs September 23 to October 2, featuring free lunch-time concerts and reasonably priced evening concerts at churches, music venues, cultural centres around town.

(walk and run) Cheer on participants or be a participant yourself in Ca Marche, a walk to benefit people living with HIV and AIDS and break down social stigmas. Proceeds go to local organizations dedicated to the overall health and welfare of Montreal’s diverse communities. And on September 25, see the Oasis Marathon de Montreal, with long-distance runners from Montreal and around the world. The marathon starts at the Jacques-Cartier Bridge in Parc Jean-Drapeau at 8:30 a.m. and follows a winding course to Parc Maisonneuve, home of the Olympic Stadium and Montreal Botanical Gardens. If you’re an avid runner yourself, check out the Expo Marathon exhibition and market place at Place Bonaventure, September 22–24.

(open culture) At the very end of September comes Journees de la Culture (September 30 to October 2), a weekend of free activities around the city, celebrating the arts in Montreal, in tandem with celebrations across the province. Now in its 15th year, the community-driven festival promises even more, including an open invitation to musicians to play John Cage’s 4’33 outside at McGill’s Queen Victoria statue, a exhibition by Hans-Peter Feldmann at Cinémathèque québécoise, performances and workshops in art, dance, theatre, music and writing, and as always, open doors to almost all of the city’s galleries and museums.

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Although Osheaga (July 29-31 at Parc Jean-Drapeau) features chart-topping musicians from all over the globe, they couldn’t forget the world-class talent born and bred in their own backyard. Here’s some of that talent that you should make sure your festival schedule includes…

Karkwa is playing Osheaga on Saturday, 5:40-6:30. The band formed in 1998 and have been together ever since, garnering acclaim from fans and critics alike along the way. Persistence paid off for the band last year when they took home the highly-coveted Polaris Music Prize for Les Chemins de verre. If you’re a fan of cinematic folk rock, do yourself a favour and head to Osheaga to see the Kark.

Braids moved to Montreal from Calgary in 2008. The band made a splash with their album, Native Speaker, that was short-listed for this year’s Polaris Music Prize, a serious honour in Canada. It’s an award judged by a panel of critics and solely based on artistic merit, not record sales. Based on that criteria, it’s no surprise that Braids are contender for the prize. Braids play music the way a lot of people should play music. They’re experimental, atmospheric pop that is sincere but still fun. They play Saturday, 3:10-3:50.

Malajube is yet another French band from Montreal playing Osheaga. They might sing in French, but that hasn’t stopped the band from branching out of Quebec to achieve Canada-wide acclaim (yes, another Polaris nom was involved). Maybe their success has something to do with their album, Le Compte complet, being produced by Martin Pelland of The Dears. Or maybe it’s just the pure charm of their infectious pop sounds. They hit the stage on the final day of the festival, Sunday, 5:10-5:50pm.

The Barr Brothers are playing a small stage at Osheaga on Friday, 9:10-9-55. They’re the kind of band that will surely be filling up arenas in the near future, so catch them while you can. The raw onstage energy of The Barr Bros is what launched them into the category of best live band in Montreal right now. Well, that and Brad Barr’s virtuosic guitar playing. If you think The Black Keys sound too much like a beer commercial, you’ll love rustic and bluesy Americana sound of The Barr Brothers.

Galaxie play the fest Sunday, 10:20-11:00. They’ve been playing their Franco garage rock since 2002 and throughout their reign they’ve received help from collaborators like Groovy Aardvark and members of Karkwa. Their latest album, Tigre et Diesel, had made a big enough splash to be awarded with a spot on this year’s Polaris short-list. A wise man once told me that you can determine how good a song is if the song would be cool to play while driving around in a ‘78 Camaro. Galaxie passes the Camaro test, which is no easy feat. But you should go see for yourself.

Jacques Greene offers a bit of a change of pace from what I’ve been writing about. He’s a Montreal DJ with Night Trackin’ and he has been making waves as a producer with the release of his solo EP, The Look . If you’re into house and R&B vocals check him out Saturday, 6:30-7:45. If it’s good enough for Thom Yorke, it’s good enough for you, yes?

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Before everything got started we did a festival preview that gave you some helpful tips on who not to miss. During the fest, our writers reviewed shows put on by Trombone Shorty, Bootsy Collins, Mark Berube, Ernest Ranglin, Steel Pulse, Return to Forever IV, Hugh Masekela, Theophilus London, Men Without Hats and Nikki Yanofsky. We did great interviews with Misteur Valaire, Madeleine Peyroux and Bootsy Collins. Honestly, I’m not even totally sure what Bootsy was talking about at several points in the interview, but man, did it ever sound awesome. We even managed to grab something to eat in-between shows…

And with that, on to the next fest: See you at Just for Laughs!

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July 8: Jolie Holland, whom fans will have loved since her work with the lovely group The Be Good Tanyas, provides a smooth, easy entry into the month, bringing her mildly twanged blend of roots, jazz and blues to the Cabaret Mile End.

July 8-9: U2 at the Hippodrome. The 2-night concert run so big they had to build it its own outdoor stadium. Seriously- I drove past it the other day and the structure itself is worth the price of admission. And if you thrown in the fact that some small rock outfit from Dublin is going to play a couple tracks you might have heard before, well, it seems like it might just be kind of a fun time.

July 11: A short time ago, The Black Keys were a group that music nerds loved but the world in general knew little about. 3 Grammy awards later (for their great album Brothers), the world caught on that this duo from Ohio was making some of the toughest, smartest rock out there. Befitting this audience embiggening, they play the Bell Centre. In my mind, this is the biggest concert of the month.

July 14: Taylor Swift is a teenager who writes and sings sweet country pop songs. Which would make you think that this show at the Bell Centre would only be on the radar of a select group of teens. But, as many grownfolk who listen to entirely respectably intelligent music have noticed, Swift is a skilled songwriter. Kanye didn’t want to let her finish and she appears not to be done by any stretch of the imagination.

July 23-24: Heavy MTL. Some people will see this as a Kiss concert with a lot of angry bands playing before them. Others will see this a Motorhead, Anthrax, Disturbed, Billy Talent and Gobsmack concert with some guys playing dressup after it. I wouldn’t want to get in the middle of those two groups.

July 23: Every month there seems to be two simultaneous concerts that seem to exist in diametric opposition to the other. This month, it is Heavy MTL happening at the exact same time as the Oprah-approved Josh Groban serenades your mom at Bell Centre.

July 26-27: Sir Paul McCartney, who plays the Bell Centre for two nights, explained recently that an ex-manager suggested he retire at age 50, almost 20 years ago. Instead of throwing in the towel, this timeless Beatle released 11 new albums and continued playing shows around the world.

July 27: The Glitch Mob are an electronic outfit from LA who put on a pretty incredible live show. They’ll be kicking off the Osheaga en Ville (“Osheaga in the city”) series at the SAT.

July 28: I first saw Gobble Gobble at Pop Montreal. It was a bunch of dudes running around in grass skirts and a dude with angel wings on the mic. And then it got weirder. And kind of awesome. They play with Grimes and Pat Jordache at Sala Rossa.

July 29-31: Osheaga. Eminem, Elvis Costello, Janelle Monae, Sam Roberts, Bright Eyes and much more. Obviously, we’ll be all over this.

July 30: DFA founder and LCD Soundsystem‘s James Murphy always puts on amazing show and his gig with fellow LCDer Pat Mahoney at Olympia is going to be the perfect party to shut down the month of July. Though none of The Muppets in the video below will be in attendance, this video makes me super happy.

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(jazz fest finale): I give a lot of leeway to the Montreal Jazz Fest’s definition of jazz because the influential fingers of jazz are everywhere, and hey, it’s summertime and fun is fun, but even this one raised my eyebrow: Poirier Sound System (June 30 at 10 p.m. on the TD Stage). I love these guys; they’re guaranteed to get your bump n’ groove on, but jazz? I guess we’ll see! Also June 30, see Colin James, Montreal’s great The Dears, Holly Cole, Katie Moore, plus none other than Sade at the Bell Centre. July 1 (Canada Day!) go for Norwegian Ninja Tune artists Jaga Jazzist, Montreal rock stars of the 80s and beyond Men Without Hats, or the classic crooning of Tony Bennett. On July 2, Afrodizz heats up Club Soda, on July 3, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones drop some science on us at Theatre Maisonneuve.

On July 4, showing that even us Canadians can’t help but celebrate American Independence Day, we’ve brought in Georgia’s B-52s for a massive, free outdoor show with the always fun Rich Aucoin joining the party on the smaller nearby stage. And the indoor options aren’t too shabby either: Blue Rodeo, Marianne Faithful and Ron Sexsmith.

(party like a canadian) Canada Day! If we are to believe the advertising hype, most people in this country are firing up barbeques and cracking open cans of Molson, but here in Montreal, July 1 is also known as Moving Day. This is not only the day to celebrate Canada being an independent nation, save for one or two of Mother England’s apron strings, but the day when a majority of rental leases are up. Why this logistical nightmare is still allowed to happen remains somewhat of a mystery, but since it’s basically tradition now, all tourists to the city should feel free to sit back and watch the parade of U-Hauls, blood, sweat, tears and the inevitable end-of-day beer, pizza and friendship break-ups. But it’s not all moving mayhem, I mean, there’s a real parade for Fête du Canada, starting at Fort and Ste-Catherine at 11 a.m., marching down to the Quays of the Old Port, with activities (like music, games, yoga and dancing!) and, of course, fireworks.

(the royal we) Yes, hot on the heels of our nation’s birthday and the wild-mannered celebrations thereof, comes a visit from our previous rulers. On July 2, the British monarchy swings by Montreal in the much-celebrated form of newlyweds Prince William and Kate Middleton. In town for a stop on their North American tour, the Royal couple will visit Ste-Justine Hospital and learn how to whip up Quebec-style French pastries at the Quebec government’s Hotel and Tourism Institute. There will be waving from afar.

(guitars galore) If the Jazz Fest isn’t quite specific enough for your musical tastes, maybe the 5th edition of the Montreal Guitar Show will sate your appetite for licks and riffs and pedals and whatever it is the guitar-obsessed are into these days. (I am into distortion, just fyi.) The fest-within-a-fest (because what isn’t a part of the Jazz Fest right now?) starts Friday at the Hyatt Regency Montréal and runs until July 3, with concerts, workshops and discussions from luthiers and other specialists from around the world. Just try not to drool too much over the 500 acoustic and electric guitars on display, unless you plan to purchase, then by all means drool away.

(teenage spirit) Sometimes the best thing to do with teenagers is put them in a massive room with other teenagers and a whole lot of hip hop. That’s what Montreal Teenfest organizers Music with Meaning think anyway – and they’re right in this case. The one-day fest and fundraiser (July 2, noon to 10 p.m., at Palais des Congres de Montreal) pairs musicians such as Gudda Gudda, Jae Millz, and Short Dawg (from Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment label), Danny Fernandes, Poirier, M’City Solo and more with a job fair and workshops on issues facing teens, from staying in school, to bullying to finding jobs and figuring out what the future might hold in the best sense possible.

(celebrity skin art) The newest exhibition at DHC/ART, two solo shows from two stars on the international art scene, is both a delight and a challenge. A chronologically set up show by American painter John Currin takes us through his evolution as a painter tackling certain obsessions – with media images, relations between men and women, and painting itself. Belgian sculptor Berlinde De Bruyckere tackles issues of life, death and love in her life-size sculptures of deformed – in a poignant way (just go if only to see whatever it is I mean by that) – horses, human bodies and trees. Both shows are controversial in their own ways, but ultimately thoughtful and thought-provoking.

(summer sounds) The Jazz Fest once again dominates the music picks for this week, but there’s always something going on in the realm of rock in this town. More pop than rock, on July 2, Katy Perry dreams a teenage dream at the Bell Centre. Or opt for something a little lower-key with the pop-folk of Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees, with locals Sean Nicholas Savage and Hexes & Ohs at Divan Orange. And the one-and-only The Roots dig deep at Metropolis as part of the wind-down to the Jazz Fest. Sunday, as always is all about Piknic Electronik, though headliners at last year’s Osheaga festival Weezer might make a trip to  to the Bell Centre worthwhile.

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William Earl “Bootsy” Collins is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is, on stage and in person, funk personified. At age 20, his band The Pacemakers (eventually known as The Pacesetters) became James Brown‘s backing band and were renamed The J.B.’s. Though there were many incarnations of the group, as the first to do it to it, this lineup is always referred as The “original” J.B.’s- contributing to such monsters jams as Super Bad and Sex Machine. Bootsy’ signature space bass groove then made it’s way over to a little outfit called Parliament/Funkadelic and he played with George Clinton‘s groove army before taking on funktacular frontman status.

Along the way, he’s also collaborated with Dee-Lite (on Groove is in the Heart), Keith Richards, Bill Laswell, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Snoop Dogg and Chuck D. He’s also released a series of albums and singles (like his Rubber Band’s #1 hit Bootzilla) that fundamentally altered this planet’s groove. He’s back on the road after an all-too-long hiatus with a new album, Tha Funk Capital of the World, and his show at the Montreal Jazz Fest is going to be out-of-sight. I’ve interviewed a lot of musicians over the years, but hanging out in Bootsy Collins’ dressing room was almost too much for me to handle.

THE DETAILS

Bootsy Collins at Montreal International Jazz Festival, June 28, 2011

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