(go green) Whether you’re here this week to relax, party or keep the kids entertained at the tail end of March Break, Montreal’s Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations have something for everyone. The massive parade begins on Sunday, March 17, at noon and moves east for blocks but throughout the weekend many pubs, bars and restaurants, whether they’re officially Irish or not, offer up special St-Patty’s drinks and dishes.

(sugar shack fun) Sugaring-off season is upon us and with it the return of fatty, syrupy sugar shack fare, done in traditional and gourmet styles or a mix of the two, such as at La Cabane, conveniently located in the Old Port, where you’ll also find outdoor activities like ice skating and ice fishing. Or get the real maple-syrup deal at the Montreal Botanical Gardens, where families can sample syrup on snow and find out where the sugary stuff comes from.

(on-stage spectacle) While March 16 brings UFC welterweight champion and local legend Georges St-Pierre to the Bell Centre along with six other UFC welterweight fighters in what’s sure to be one kind of grand spectacle, there’s also Rabbit in a Hat Productions’ boxing-centric Cornered, on at Bain St-Michel to March 17. Les Grands Ballets Canadiens presents Danz + Toot, a high-energy, highly contemporary program, March 14-23, the true story of Dead Man Walking is put into song by Opera de Montreal on March 16, and the true story of the “Queen of Gospel” is told in The Mahalia Jackson Musical, starring Montreal sensation Ranee Lee, at the Segal, to March 24. See contemporary dance Montreal-style at Agora de la Danse March 15-16 as choreographer Isabelle Van Grimde works with dancers, composers and musicians in Les Gestes. And lovely, luscious ladies from Montreal and across North America perform sexy, funny, circus-y burlesque of all sorts at cabaret Le Grand Burlesque Show, March 21-23 at Club Soda.

(film & art) The International Festival of Films on Art, March 14-24, screens documentaries, shorts and experimental films that focus on all forms of the arts: painting, sculpture, architecture, writing, dancing, music and more. Also check out free events such as the Zon’Arts exhibition at Place des Arts, where Diane Obomsawin’s animated films Fleur (2012) and Machine (2012) are being projected. For the full FIFA schedule and to buy tickets online, see the FIFA site. It’s also the last weekend to wander through Montreal’s underground city, connecting metro stations, office buildings and malls, to see the corridors adorned with intriguing art for Art Souterrain.

(music for march) The weekend opens with Montreal favourites Stars playing two magical nights at the Corona Theatre, March 15 and 16. Also on Friday, another Montreal favourite, Jerusalem in My Heart brings their unique, dramatic sound to Le National, and dance the night away to electro-beat of Mr. Oizo, A-Rock and Cherry Cola, at SAT. Saturday night is all disco all the time with the legendary Village People at L’Olympia. On Sunday night, mega-star Rihanna visits the Bell Centre on her Diamonds World Tour, with A$AP Rocky. On Tuesday, March 19, see Randy Bachman on his Vinyl Tap Tour, playing music and telling stories about the Guess Who and BTO, at Theatre Corona. Canadian rocker Matt Mays comes to Cabaret Mile End with with openers July Talk on March 20, while New York prog-rock-punk band Coheed & Cambria  and A Place To Bury Strangers are at Club Soda.

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Bonobo: This Ninja Tune veteran has long been making some of the best, most musically complex downbeat out there, so prepare to kick back in style on November 6^th at the National.

Michael Franti & Spearhead: Though he founded The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy before creating Spearhead, the group he’s now touring with again, it’s Franti’s uplifting poetic voice that will pack Metropolis on the 10^th.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show: If you missed out/didn’t get your fill of Pink Floyd during October’s Roger Waters show, it’s back at the Bell Centre on the 12^th and now has WAY MORE AUSSIES.

DJ Shadow: Fans of Bonobo might as well just go ahead and buy tickets now to see one of the most influential instrumental hip hop DJs and producers in the world, who touches down on the 13^th at Club Soda. His cinematic soundscapes will be accompanied by an opening set from Pigeon John.

The Barr Brothers: Just trust me and go see The Barr Bros on the 13^th at Sala. I think they’re one of Montreal’s most musically talented and effortlessly timeless bands and I think the video below will back me up.

THE BARR BROTHERS – Lord I Just Can’t Keep From Cryin’ from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

Land of Talk, Snailhouse and Braids: The 18^th of November boasts a very cool lineup of local talent playing a new-ish venue, Cabaret du Mile End, that’s been booking lots of great shows recently.

Marie-Mai: Playing the Bell Centre on the 19^th, this massive Quebecois star actually records in both French and English, so I now have to confess to not having heard her in two languages.

Justin Bieber: The Biebs needs no introduction nor do I feel the need to anger any of his rabid fans by saying something bad about him. November 22 at Bell Centre.

Ozzy Osbourne: Now sober, the legendary Dr Ozzy will still wipe any residual cuteness leftover from the Beiber show when he takes over the Bell Centre the next day.

KT Tunstall: KT Tunstall is a singer-songwriter from Scotland that most will know as the person who sings “Suddenly I See”, which is played basically every time a woman does something uplifting in a TV show or movie. Why not use her show on the 25^th at Club Soda: to hear some of her other stuff?

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Since we’re already more than a week into October, let’s get right into what this month’s concert schedule has in store for you. With shows from Joan Baez, Massive Attack, Phoenix, Ryuichi Sakamoto and so much more, October is as musically stacked a month as Montreal has had in a while…

Joan Baez: On October 15^th at the Theatre St-Denis, one of the true legends of folk music plays an intimate show for fans both young and old. This singer, songwriter and incredibly active activist is going to sell out the place very soon, so get your tickets ASAP or sooner.

Blonde Redhead:  The trio’s Simone and Amedeo Pace may have grown up in Montreal, but their artful take on indie rock has garnered a truly international following. They play Metropolis on October 16^th with Pantha Du Prince

Gwar: It makes me happy that a group as totally insane as Gwar exist and are touring- they’re like Kiss dipped in a horror movie and Dungeons & Dragons. Watch them weird up the Telus Theatre on Oct. 17^th.

Massive Attack : A show that seems like it jumped out of a time machine from 10 years ago, when trip hop was king. The addition of Thievery Corporation for this Bell Centre show on October 18^th seals the deal.

Roger Waters: The Wall Live: All the members of Pink Floyd may not be involved in this tour but the group’s trademark over-the-top theatrics and pyrotechnics will be certainly be on hand during the 2 night (19^th and 20^th) run at the Bell Centre.

Phoenix: This show at Cepsum on October 21^st is going to be massive and not just because the place holds 5000 people. Not only are Phoenix one of the more exciting live acts around, but the cool lineup of opening bands- Tokyo Police Club and Wavves- are absolutely worth showing up early for.

Ryuichi Sakamoto: If you’re not aware of Sakamoto’s music, then a cozy show on October 22^nd at the beautiful Theatre Outremont would be the perfect opportunity to get better acquainted with the classical/experimental/new-age composer and pianist.

Die Antwoord: Are they a joke or are they serious or are they just totally insane? I’m not sure even sure these rave rappers from South Africa even know, but last time they came to Montreal they played a much smaller venue than this time around when they take over Metropolis on October 25^th.

Wintersleep and The Besnard Lakes: Let’s wrap up the month on October 30^th with what will be just a straight-up-solid Canadian rock show at Cabaret du Mile End, featuring Montreal’s beloved psych-rockers Besnard Lakes

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