As spring begins on a particularly warm and summery note, Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles, the centre of downtown’s arts and cultural district, becomes the hub of Montreal’s many festivals and free outdoor shows, and a welcome gathering space for Montrealers and visitors alike…

The fun starts on May 17 with a free, all-day outdoor party La Fête de Montréal, celebrating the city’s 371st anniversary with even more entertainment – and food! – in its third official year. Beginning at 11:30 a.m., enjoy performances from internationally acclaimed circus troupe Les 7 Doigts de la Main, rousing folk-rock band Irreverend James and the Critical Mass Choir, choreographer-dancers Jocelyne Montpetit and Manon Oligny, artist Armand Vaillancourt and more. Never go hungry with gourmet food trucks on hand throughout the day – everything from lobster rolls to pulled pork, duck confit poutine to tacos – and happily imbibe at a happy hour cocktail party at 4:30 p.m., followed by a DJ set by Vincent Lemieux at 7:30 p.m., and a multimedia musical event at 9:30 p.m., with state-of-the-art visuals by five Montreal studios teamed up with musicians Ariane Moffatt, Yann Perreau and Jérôme Minière, Louis-Jean Cormier, Plaster, and Poirier with Boogat.

From there on out, the Quartier des Spectacles is action-packed with music, comedy, dance, theatre, circus arts, culinary delights, family and social activities and more. Sainte-Catherine Street will be a pedestrian-only zone from Bleury Street to Saint-Laurent Boulevard until September 1, and until June 2 along de Maisonneuve Avenue, make collaborative music simply by hopping on a swing at the 21 Swings installation.

Public art festival Escales Improbables presents 160 classical musicians in two free outdoor concerts on the Esplanade of Place des Arts, May 11-12 at 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., while on the weekend of May 18-19, check out the pop-punk Pouzza Fest stage at the corner of Clark and Ste-Catherine from noon until evening, and on the eastern edge of the Quartier des Spectacles, the Place Émilie-Gamelin summer program begins May 30, featuring giant chessboards, street furniture, flower stalls, and every Thursday at noon, choose lunch from among six different food trucks while watching an original performance.

Of course, this being Montreal, it’s the festivals that truly reign the Quartier all summer long, beginning on May 22 with Festival TransAmériques, an amazing, cutting-edge international festival of performing arts – this year featuring an outdoor show staring 47 dachshund dogs! – and continuing into electronic music and art festival Mutek, May 29 to June 2, at the SAT  and other venues – and next door to the SAT at Parc de la Paix, go to free evening concerts and films every Wednesday and Thursday evening, July 3 to August 29.

French music fans flock to Francofolies, June 13-22, right before the city’s famed Montreal International Jazz Festival  begins on June 28 with a free outdoor show by Feist and much, much more until July 7. Hot on its heels comes not only comedy fests Just for Laughs and Zoofest, but street performances by top circus acts from the Montréal Complètement Cirque festival. Also in July, sit on the grass and listen to the sounds of the Festival Nuits d’Afrique and partake in the diversity of culture at the Montreal First Peoples Festival. In August, see Montreal photographer Gabor Szilasi’s photography exhibition of portraits of Sainte-Catherine Street in the 1970s. And, as summer winds down in early September, watch and interact with Mégaphone, a community-minded installation by the National Film Board of Canada and multimedia company Moment Factory, projected on the side of UQAM’s Pavillon Président-Kennedy.

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THE DETAILS

La Fête de Montréal , May 17, 2013

Quartier des Spectacles (Quartier des Spectacles is bounded by Saint-Hubert on the east, City Councillors on the west, Sherbrooke on the north and René-Lévesque on the south)

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With the sweet scent of spring blossoms in the air, Montreal begins a new season of activity and entertainment, not to mention plenty to please every mom for Mother’s Day, whether that’s being outdoors, going to the ballet or the theatre, eating fabulous food, taking in some art, or rocking out to live music…

(outdoor days) Montreal makes it easy to spend fun time outdoors with the family: on May 10, head to the Morgan Arboretum for Frog Songs: The Symphony of Spring to discover the nocturnal activities of amphibians. The waterways around Montreal are slowly warming up too and starting May 13, H2O Adventures begins its new season renting kayaks, pedal boats, canoes and other water ways to get out on the water around Montreal, including the St-Laurent River and the Lachine Canal. And even if it starts to rain, see the outdoors while inside at the Montreal Science Centre diving into the fascinating exhibition Planet Shark, with over 100 shark species including a life-size great white whale shark and two frozen specimens, or, on the lighter side of nature, seeing Flight of the Butterflies in 3D at the IMAX Theatre. Or just take mom shopping at La Virée des Ateliers, an open house event featuring the high-quality work of Montreal fashion designers, artists and artisans, May 9-12. Or go check out massive vintage boutique sale Old Wig at Bain Mathieu, May 10-11.

(dreams & drama) Les Grands Ballets  presents award-winning choreographer Stephan Thoss’ latest work, Dream Away, a highly physical yet surrealistic exploration of “the origins of movement and gesture,” May 16-25 at Theatre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts. Meanwhile, the movement of horses and their riders is given the theatrical treatment in Odysseo, a new show from the makers of the highly popular Cavalia, replete with drama, circus arts, music, a light show and more – starting May 14 in Laval – just look for the custom-made white tents that are home to the show until June 9. And get deeper into mysteries of Sherlock Holmes in a new adaptation, by Greg Kramer, of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle classic, starring Jay Baruchel, at the Segal Centre until May 28.

(art & bubbly) Why not celebrate spring with champagne?  Maison Veuve Clicquot throws it’s first week-long party in Montreal: Yelloweek, May 14-19, is a series of art, food and fashion events, including: an evening of fashion and Veuve Clicquot champagne at Birks jewellery store on May 14; dinners that pair food and champagne at restaurants such as Milos, Ryu, L’auberge Saint-Gabriel, and more; a night of art and bubbly at Galerie 203 in the Old Port on May 15; and the free Yellow Picnic event, marking the opening of the terrace at New City Gas in Griffintown.

(electrifying art) Two new exhibitions at the PHI Centre alter our perceptions of reality and imagined: Cereus Queen of the Night, an interactive video system by artist Philomène Longpré explores “the subversive spirit of the Lettrism movement” by enveloping visitors in its nocturnal world; and Gabriel Coutu-Dumont’s audio-visual Wonders of a Transient Universe uses elements of the electronic arts to create a parallel world from which to look at the visual language of music. Over at artist centre Eastern Bloc, The Sight and Sound Festival is underway, showcasing installations and live performances that blend art and technology, to May 29: this weekend, see and hear works by Nicolas Maigret, Steve Bates, Melissa F. Clarke and Nat Roe, Victor Mazón Gardoqui, Erin Sexton and many more. And interactive music-art installation 21 Swings let’s you go for a swing like no other with family, friends and people you don’t even know, outdoors in the Quartier des Spectacles.

(classical & traditional) Traditional classic music and jazz combine forces at the 18th edition of the Montreal Chamber Music Festival, May 9 to June 1 at beautiful St. George’s Church in Old Montreal. Opening night brings the Boston Chamber Music Society to Montreal for the first time, followed on May 10 by Montreal jazz legend, pianist Oliver Jones, with musicians Eric Lagacé and Jim Doxas and opener, bassist Brandi Disterheft and her quartet. Master cellist Colin Carr performs on May 11, and Saint-Saëns’ chamber music comes to life in three concerts, May 14-16. Meanwhile, the Orchestre Métropolitain concludes its 32nd season with Strauss: 2 Orchestras, 1 Conductor, at the Maison Symphonique at Place des Arts on May 10. Also this weekend, Quebecois, Canadian, American, Belgian, Irish and more traditional music is in the spotlight at the 21st Festival La Grande Rencontre and at the Trad Montréal Conference, with four Grand Concerts, music showcases, workshops roundtable discussions and more at the Gésù Theatre in the Quartier des spectacles, May 9-12.

(more music) On Friday, May 10, UK indie rock band Foals tours their new album, Holy Fire, at Club Soda, while on Saturday night, see Canadian electro-pop artist Lights performing songs from her new album Siberia Acoustic, which is literally acoustic, with Sam Cash opening, at the Corona Theatre or dance hard to dubstep/electro-house producer Kill the Noise at the SAT. On Monday, May 13, Mötley Crüe return to hard-rock Montreal with Big Wreck, at the Bell Centre. Also good Monday options: the funk-soul sounds of Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires at the Corona Theatre; Stockholm, Sweden’s Shout Out Louds, along with opener Haerts, at Sala Rossa, or opt for experimental electro and hip hop with the amazing Flying Lotus  at the SAT. On May 14, it’s Airbourne at the Corona Theatre, and for a real local Montreal experience, check out a live taping of indie talk show Parc Avenue Tonight, featuring music, comedy and more, May 15 at Cabaret Mile End while Montreal klezmer-hip-hop act Socalled releases his new album, The Season, at the Rialto.

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(New Year’s Eve) Montreal’s long-time reputation as a party town is based almost entirely on fact, with a few tall tales thrown in to keep people guessing – and New Year’s Eve always has the potential to be the stuff of legend. Sure, NYE isn’t technically in January, but its after-effects usually continue for at least a day or three, so consider the Montreal Buzz Guide to New Year’s Eve 2012, a key to starting the month out right. Whatever your style, the guide has a suggestion: dinners out, fun with the family, big parties, small parties, dancing and romancing.

[www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Nr5GUPT9g]

(snow city) Montreal’s Snow Village, the first and only of its kind in North America, steps it up another notch this year to bring a bit of New York City into the wintry mix. The Snow Village still has a giant snow slide and other outdoor activities, hot tubs, a heated igloo, a fully equipped hotel and restaurant, and more, but with a few big-city twists. The site, located in Parc Jean-Drapeau just across the water from the city centre, officially opens January 18, but the bar and restaurant, along with many activities – including a train ride and snow sculpture workshops for kids – will be open starting January 4. And there’s more to do in the snow at the outdoor skating rink in the Old Port, open all winter with rentals available on site, and over at the Olympic Park Winter Village.

(on-stage spectacle) Live theatre and dance is big in Montreal, especially during the winter months, with visiting troupes and local companies taking the city’s stages. World-wide award-winning hit Billy Elliot: The Musical comes to Montreal for eight shows January 8-13 at Place des Arts – based on the film of the same name, the show tells the story of a young British boy who dreams of becoming a dancer. Beautiful City Theatre puts on rock-musical classic Godspell, The Musical, January 24-26 and 31 at Centaur Theatre in Old Montreal. On a smaller scale, Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival showcases plays that are a little off the beaten track – and always entertaining – January 3-13. In dance, Danse Danse brings us La Otra Orilla, a new flamenco show from dancer/choreographer Myriam Allard and singer Hedi Graja, at Cinquième Salle January 16-26. Contemporary dance is always on the program for L’Agora de la danse, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Andrew de Lotbinière Harwood’s Discovery bal January 11-12 and choreographer Marie Béland’s Bleu-Vert-Rouge January 23-26.

(spa zone) Warm up in January at one of Montreal’s fabulous spas, such as beautiful Bota Bota, located on a refurbished boat on the St-Lawrence River just steps from Old Montreal, tranquil Spa Scandinave in the heart of the old city, or head over to the thermal waters and Finnish saunas of Strøm Spa Nordic located on Ile-des-Soeurs – they even have a Night Under the Stars late-night spa/nightclub event. Wherever you are in Montreal, there’s a spa close by, whether in Old Montreal, downtown or in the nearby Plateau neighbourhood.

(dancing on ice) Get your groove on at Igloofest, Montreal’s one-of-a-kind outdoor electronic music festival, spanning four weeks this year, with big-name music talent, awesome visuals and crowds ready to dance the night away. Igloofest goes down every Thursday to Saturday night from January 17 to February 9 at Jacques-Cartier Quay in the Old Port, kicking off with none other than Sasha on the main Sapporo stage and running strong from there with house, dubstep and all kinds of electronic music in between and beyond.

(educational fun) Science and music combine in Musik: From Sound to Emotion a cool, kid-friendly, hands-on exhibition about how music works on our minds and bodies, featuring videos from pop-punk band Simple Plan and an opportunity to create a personal composition, at the Montreal Science Centre until March 10. Watch Montreal history unfold and see rare artifacts from Richard Béliveau’s vast collection of samurai armour, weapons and more at Pointe-à-Callière, the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History – where if the temperature drops below zero degrees celsius, visitors get an equal percentage off the admission price throughout January and February!

(out-there art world) Montreal’s high-tech art, culture and education centre, Society for Art and Technology (SAT) opens its state-of-the-art, surround sound-and-image Satosphere to new media artist Rocco Helmchen and composer Johannes Kraas, who show their panoramic symphonic audio-visual show Chaos and Order, every night from January 15 to February 22 – an immersive work of art that uses fractals, geometric forms and chaos theory to blur the edges of reality, mathematics and the imagination.

(live music) As always, Montreal has a packed live music schedule. Among the bigger names this month are popular hardcore rock band Quicksand, playing January 8 at at the Corona Theatre, followed at the same venue by the greatness of The Walkmen and Father John Misty on January 15, and All Time Low, Yellowcard and Fireworks on January 16. On January 10, Montreal indie-pop-rock band Purity Ring prooves why they’ve gotten so much hype, with Young Magic, at Le National (1220 Ste-Catherine E.). Wakey Wakey raise the roof with rollicking love songs at Cabaret du Mile End (5240 Parc) on January 24. British electro-pop singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding comes to Montreal with St.Lucia on January 26, while Reel Big Fish brings a good ol’ time to Theatre Corona Virgin Mobile, and The Harley Show revs its engines with motorcycle mania and rock n’ roll at the Bell Centre. On January 28, still going strong in his own special way, Marilyn Manson takes the stage at Metropolis. And rock n’ roll nostalgia is in full force at The Queen Extravaganza at the Bell Centre on January 30.

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(fabulous food) Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a proper feast or three, so if on October 5 you’re  in the area of Olympic Park, wandering through the Botanical Gardens or visiting the Biodome at the Space for Life, stop in at the stadium’s outdoor grounds where their First Fridays event features gourmet food from some of Montreal’s fanciest food trucks: tacos at Grumman 78, burgers at Winneburger, sandwiches, poutine and more from Lucky’s Truck and La Mangeoire, ice cream and sundaes at Monsieur Crémeux, coffee at Café Dispatch, and more, starting at 4 p.m. On October 11, caterer and food enthusiast Nicolina Servello pairs cook books with delicious rustic food in an afternoon event at Indigo Place Montréal Trust, noon to 2 p.m.

(fall film) New feature films, fantastic shorts and experimental video work from around the world all come out to play at Montreal’s Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, October 10-21. Along with plenty of international fare, the fest features some of the best sort of Canadian content in Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, based on Montreal author Yann Martel’s novel, opening films Simon Galiero’s La Mise à l’aveugle and Martin Villeneuve’s Mars et Avril, screenings of work by French singer Albin de la Simone, Sarah Polley’s new film Stories We Tell, Albert Nerenberg’s witty doc Boredom, and many more. As well, the popular Temps Ø program continues this year with off-the-beaten-track features, shorts and documentaries.

(dance party) The Black and Blue Festival is all about making this weekend into a three-day LBGT-and-friends party, culminating in a massive all-night, all-morning, three-room dance party a Palais des Congrès on October 7, with DJs Gareth Emery, Sander van Doorn, David Morales and more. On Saturday afternoon and evening at Palais  des Congrès, get lost in free live music and entertainment event, De-Light, with entertainment from Debbie Tebbs, The Easton Ellises, Donzelle and other great Montreal performers. Of course, there’s also the night-time party rituals of Leather Ball on October 5 and the HardBall on October 6 at Club Soda.

(world-class performance) Les Grands Ballet Canadiens pulls out all the stops October 11-27 with choreographer Jiří Kylián’s Kaguyahime, The Moon, a ballet based on a culturally influential 10th-century Japanese folk tale of beauty, violence and worlds colliding. On a different note, The Segal Centre presents big-time Tony-award winning musical Guys and Dolls, to October 28. At the Centaur Theatre, see family drama August, An Afternoon in the Country by award winning playwright Jean Marc Dalpé. And French circus troupe Akoreacro positively delights with their acrobatic, musical circus Pfffffff, while Montreal-based circus Cirque Éloize blends circus arts with hip hop and breakdance in all-ages show iD, featuring 14 high-energy performers, both at Montreal circus centre La Tohu to October 6.

(art & architecture) Two new exhibitions at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal are both real eye-openers: an amazing retrospective of the work of Montreal painter Pierre Dorion, and intriguing videos focused on far-off places and people by Brooklyn-based artist Janet Biggs – the MACM also holds its monthly Nocturnes music series on October 5, featuring Tanuki, 7 p.m. The Canadian Centre for Architecture opens its exhibition First, the Forests, looking at the relationship between forestry, planning and design. And definitely go to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to see their outstanding Tom Wesselmann retrospective show, which closes this Sunday, as well as their expanded permanent collection. See the Montreal Buzz Fall Arts Guide for more ideas.

(comedy & cabaret) On the stranger side of entertainment – and Montreal’s got a lot of that – comedy show Let’s Do This!, a night of comedy and drinking games, headlined by DeAnne Smith, on October 11 at Mainline Theatre, 9 p.m. On Saturday, October 6, Quality Theatre hosts not only a sing-along to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but a full-on band, comedians and a bevy of sexy burlesque performers, also at Mainline Theatre, 8 p.m.

(jazz off) The Montreal International Jazz Festival may get most of the summer jazz hype in this town, but all that jazz and more goes on throughout the year: check out The OFF Jazz Festival, October 4-12, with shows (some of them free!) at several venues around town, featuring traditional and experimental jazz from local and out-of-town musicians and bands, including pianist Baptiste Trotignon, saxophonist Anna Webber, Ironico Orkestra, Jean Derome and many, many more.

(more music) A busy Friday night begins the music week with Swedish folk-pop musician Jens Lekman at Le National, while DJ Shadow plays what’s sure to be a sweet DJ set at SAT, arts and activism group Howl presents eclectic Montreal rock-tinged ensembles Léopard et Moi and Avec le Soleil Sortant de sa Bouche, at Sala Rossa, and How to Dress Well gets Club Lambi electro-hopping. Also on Friday, Montreal Symphony Orchestra conductor Kent Nagano teams up with DJ Champion, while on Sunday he conducts the orchestra through The Rites of Spring. More big tours make Montreal stops at rock venue Metropolis this week: on Saturday, October 6, see Irish indie-rockers Two Door Cinema Club, on October 7 it’s electronic party makers Crystal Castles with openers Health and more, followed on October 9 by ever-popular singer-songwriter Regina Spektor and captivating British singer Joss Stone on October 10, while French trip-hop DJ Wax Tailor (http://waxtailor.com/) spins cinematic electronic grooves at L’Astral that night.

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When you hear the word “Foodlab”, you might naturally think of something sci-fi: Full, nutritious meals deposited in tablets from a machine in the Starship Enterprise onto a brushed-steel lab counter, to be eaten with futuristic postmodern chopsticks. Or worse, what soylent green is made of. But the good news is that Montreal’s newly-opened Foodlab is a “lab” only in the sense that they are open to experimentation and innovation—there’s nothing cold or clinical (or even weird and lab-tasting) about the food.

“[The name] goes with a lot of the other projects at the SAT: the Living Lab, Meta Lab, etc. It is kind of a working name which stuck,” says Michelle Marek, 36, one of Foodlab’s two chefs, who are starting their soon-to-be-legendary kitchen with two secondhand home stoves, which adds a sort of homey, mad-scientist vibe to the place.

Marek (check out An Endless Banquet, the blog she co-writes) and Seth Gabrielese, 33, hail from Laloux up the street, where she was pastry chef and he was chef de cuisine. They made the move to open Foodlab as a “leap of faith,” says Gabrielese, and because they were ready to try something truly community-minded while also having full rein on concept and menu innovation. In the future, they plan to host all sorts of awesome events—chef demos, workshops, vintner’s lunches- the sky’s the limit.

In the meantime, however, they’re keeping it simple with weekly theme menus—last week’s visit was just in time for the Vienna menu (which included their take on mushroom strudel, lardon-and-cheese spatzle, Hungarian goulash and Marek’s heavenly sachertorte). Past themes include Autumn Veg, American Thanksgiving, and The Hunt, and Marek hints that upcoming themes may include smorgasbord, Vietnam, winemakers lunch, Moscow…

This coming weekend promises to be particularly delicious, with Marek and Gabielese fashioning a traditional central-European Wintermarket menu: homemade sausage with homemade sauerkraut, goulash, soups of all kinds and tourtiere. Sweets will be cookies, panforte, possible a cake or two, and possibly kugelhopf, washed down with mulled wine a-plenty. This spread is part of Souk@SAT, a forward-thinking holiday market at the SAT that runs all weekend.

THE DETAILS

Foodlab @ SAT, 1201 Saint-Laurent, (514) 844-2033

Foodlab is open Wednesday-Saturday, 5pm-8pm.

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(operatic love and loss) The Opéra de Montréal brings out the big guns, international cast and all, for Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka (pictured above) November 12–19 at Place des Arts. Its first time on stage in Montreal, Rusalka takes us through the anguished tale of a sea-dwelling woman who falls in love with a prince, becomes human with the help of a witch’s spell, capturing the prince’s heart only to be betrayed by him – the stuff opera was meant for. Meanwhile, over at the Maison Symphonique de Montréal, conductor and director Kent Nagano’s Montreal Symphony Orchestra takes on Bach’s St-John Passion, November 10–11.

(made in Montreal) Not as massive as Pop Montreal, but just as full of local flavour and fun, the M for Montreal music festival (November 16–19) puts the spotlight on Montreal bands and DJs. This week, see power pop band Creature on November 16 and Edmonton’s poet laureate (who loves Montreal so much he spends a ton of his time here) Cadence Weapon on November 17. But there’s more! See the M for Montreal site for the full schedule. Montreal’s francophone culture is in full effect this week too with Coup de Coeur Francophone, November 3–13, featuring music ranging from folk to metal and a tribute to Montreal musician Lhasa, who passed away last year – musicians and dancers join talents in the serene Danse Lhasa Danse, November 12 at Cinquième Salle in Place des Arts. And for lovers of French literature, check out Salon du Livre de Montreal, starting November 16 at Place Bonaventure.

(film life) This week’s focus on Francophone culture also extends to the film world: Cinemania brings talents from Quebec, Canada and around the world to downtown’s Imperial Cinema (1430 Bleury), to November 13 – see Gilles Legrand’s Tu Seras Mon Fils, Olivier Marchal’s crime story Les Lyonnais, Pierre Schöller’s award-winning L’Exercice de l’état, and many more. Go from fiction to fact with international documentary film festival RIDM, to November 20, with films like Canadian-made documentary The Future Is Now!, starring Quebec actor Paul Ahmarani. And on November 14, Montreal-based short-film festival Prends Ça Court! celebrates 12 years of building a community for film creators from around the world with screenings of 10 recent short films, including 2011 Cannes and Toronto International Film Festival selections, screening at Monument-National (1182 St-Laurent), 7 p.m.

(theatre and more theatre) The theatre calls this week to those looking to get cozy indoors but not necessarily too comfortable… Travel to debauched 1920s vaudeville in tragi-comedy The Wild Party (pictured above), at MainLine Theatre, to November 12. Ferenc Molnár’s dark comedy The Play’s the Thing, wherein love and theatrics combine, bounds into the Segal Centre, to November 20. Tony Award-winning comedy God of Carnage pits yuppie parent against yuppie parent, at Centaur Theatre, November 8 to December 4. Bilingual Broadway song-and-dance show Simplement Broadway, November 12 at the Rialto Theatre. And Montreal actor and writer Johanna Nutter’s award-winning play My Pregnant Brother, questions sex, gender and identity, at Petite Licorne, with English-language shows November 11, 18 and 25 at 8 p.m.

(dance traditions and experiments) In her first visit to Montreal, brilliant Indian dancer and choreographer Shantala Shivalingappa, who has danced for Pina Bausch, Maurice Béjart and Peter Brook, presents two different programs: Gamaka, a suite of five pieces in the Kuchipudi tradition, with four musicians on stage, November 16–20, and Namasya, featuring contemporary works by by Pina Bausch, Ushio Amagatsu and more, November 22–26, both at Cinquième Salle. Experimental dance and performance festival Artdanthé, continues with Bulgarian choreographer and dancer Ivo Dimchey, November 11–12, and November 15–17, challenging Montreal performance artist Julie Andrée T, at Theatre LaChapelle to November 20. And November 16–18, Lucie Grégoire, who has studied butoh and worked with Merce Cunningham, pairs up for the third time with choreographer Yoshito Ohno for new work In Between, at L’Agora de la Danse.

(wide arab world) The diversity of music, dance, art and cinema that the 12th Festival du Monde Arabe highlights, from artists here in Montreal and from much further away, is truly something to witness. While entertainment is a priority for the festival, so is fostering an open dialogue between differing views, realities and creative pursuits. On November 11, see French-Algerian musician Baâziz, known as a subversive rebel and an engaging singer-songwriter. Les Trois Magnifiques, a captivating trio of citar, flamenco guitar and percussion, stop in on their Canadian tour on November 12. And on November 13, traditional and modern meet in the festival’s music, dance and multi-media closing show Charabia. All shows at Theatre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts.

(360-degree travels) Because it’s so cool and high-tech and arty, experimental film Six mil Antennas sees its run extended this week. Made specifically for the Satosphere, a dome-like 360-degree immersive surround-sound-and-screen theatre at the Society for Arts and Technology. The film, one of the first public events at the brand new Satosphere, is a creation that integrates coding, design and photography. At the SAT (1201 St-Laurent), November 9–12, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., $15.

(sounds of music) The live music week starts strong with popular Quebecois rock n’ roller Jean Leloup, playing with his band The Last Assassins at Metropolis, November 12. The same night, one of Montreal’s best singer-songwriters, Katie Moore, warms hearts and spirits at Théâtre Outremont, and Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman, members of legendary prog group Yes, play new songs and old, at St-Denis Theatre. And, one more for that night: underground electronic band Emeralds member Steve Hauschildt plays his solo imaginings at Casa del Popolo. The next night, for all those who revere Fugazi, bass player Joe Lally makes a rare appearance in town at Casa del Popolo, November 13. On November 14, the silly antics of electro-pop rock stars LMFAO rile the crowd up at the Bell Centre. On November 15, Brooklyn indie-rockers High Places are joined by locals d’Eon and Solar Year, at Il Motore (179 Jean Talon W.). And on Thursday, November 17, Montreal singer-songwriter Jason Bajada plays lovely songs at the lovely Corona Theatre.

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The SAT, or Society for Arts and Technology, is one of Montreal’s most dynamic and innovative spaces. Home to everything from cultural happenings to DJ nights (including many of the Mutek festival events over the years), it’s an impressive venue with a tech-centered, cutting-edge mandate. What they’ve added recently speaks directly to this point: the Foodlab, a guerilla kitchen with an eye towards experimentation, and the Satosphere, a 360-degree immersive environment filled with projectors and over 150 speakers. We sent our cameraman to give you a sneak peak but make sure you check it out for yourself. Society for Arts and Technology, 1201 Saint-Laurent, (514) 844-2033

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(street fare) Every summer, the St-Laurent Street Fair turns the Main into one big party, with food, drink, shopping, music, art, performances and more for blocks upon blocks – and right now, the last hurrah of summer is upon us. The Mix’Arts street fair, August 25–28, from Sherbrooke to Mount-Royal Avenue, focuses on entertainment – free shows by talented artists augment the two-kilometre open-air market and Parc des Amériques (corner of Rachel and St-Laurent) becomes an outdoor amphitheater for local bands and an activity and art centre for kids and families. For something even more different, stop by artist-run gallery La Centrale (4296 St-Laurent) for their multidisciplinary event Boom-Chix-a-Boom and sidewalk sale, with performances all afternoon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

(experimental foodies) Technology meets food meets culture at the Society for Arts and Technology Marché du Foodlab starting this Thursday, August 25, all afternoon at Place de la Paix (next to the SAT at 1201 St-Laurent Blvd.), in the Quartier des Spectacles. Fresh, organic food made by local chefs in collaboration with “culinary designers” makes its comeback after debuting to much acclaim at the Mutek electronic music festival in June. The lab, also featuring workshops, talks and experiments open to the public, is active from Thursday to Saturday until October 1.

(world on film) Find some respite from Montreal’s busy streets this weekend at the 35th Montreal World Film Festival. Stars of stage and screen classics A Chorus Line and Hair meet the stars in the sky at film festival  at the fest’s outdoor public screenings at Place des Arts, also highlighting the work of Catherine Deneuve, as well as classics of Bollywood cinema. The outdoor program continues until August 28 alongside dozens of indoor film screenings of recent and new films from around the world.

(burlesque babes) Montreal’s so sexy, it really doesn’t need to argue the point, but a festival dedicated to disrobing couldn’t hurt our rep, eh? The third annual Montreal Burlesque Festival, August 25–28, at Club Soda (1225 St-Laurent), answers the call of a nostalgic niche market of teasing and tantalizing. Each night of the fest features a different showcase of dancers, beginning on Thursday with an all-Canadian showcase, followed by Friday’s international show and Saturday’s gala night. Earlier in the day, take part in burlesque-themed workshops and classes and wander the burlesque market – vintage fashion, live painting, pin-up art, clothing, corsets, books and more, starting at 7 p.m. each evening.

(living art) Live art and music seem to pop up in every corner of the city all the time, often in unexpected ways. In the neighbourhood of Notre-Dame-de-Grace, just west of downtown, NDG Arts Week continues with Friday’s Off the Wall Film Festival, featuring short films by local directors screened outdoors in Girouard Park (Sherbrooke West at Girouard), Saturday’s Art Walk, with live painting by over 50 artists on Sherbrooke between Melrose and Wilson, and Sunday’s famous Country En Ville, a country and folk music and arts festival in Girouard Park. Meanwhile, downtown in the art-packed Belgo building, see Déclic 70, a group show of documentary photography in Quebec in the 1970s, with opening night on August 25, 5:30 p.m.at Galerie SAS (#416–372 Ste-Catherine W.).

(sing it loud) Experience both professional-level opera and the adorable encalve of the Outremont neighbourhood as Montreal’s new professional opera company, Opera Piccola, founded by opera lovers Taras Kulish and Anne-Marie Trahandebuts, debuts at the Théâtre Outremont, August 25 and 27 at 8 p.m. Suprano Mariateresa Magisano, mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah, tenor Luc Robert, baritone Alexander Dobson and incredible musicians dramatically entertain with excerpts from operas and operettas such as La Bohème, Madama Butterfly, The Merry Widow, Rigoletto, The Tales of Hoffmann, Fledermaus and others.

(music melange) On Friday, August 26, much-lauded locals Little Scream, Reversing Falls, Roma Carnivale and performance artist Catherine Kidd play Cabaret du Mile-End (5240 Parc), 8 p.m. On Saturday, August 27, The 2nd annual St-Ambroise Funk n’ Jazz Fest takes over Terrace McAuslan (5080 St Ambroise, in the neighbourhood of St-Henri), from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. – and it’s all free! Later on Saturday night, the 2Pac Tribute Show features many, many different live performances and more in tribute to Tupac Shakur, at Théatre Telus , 8 p.m. On Monday, August 29, some of the outstanding performers from the musical The Lion King, currently playing in Montreal at Places des Arts, put on a benefit concert for South Africa – Simunye (We Are One) – at Club Balattou (4372 St-Laurent), 8 p.m., with all proceeds going to The Sikakane Rebuilding Fund. And on Tuesday, August 30, avant-garde folk-country legend Kath Bloom brings her unique sound to Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent).

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Godfather of world music and renowned musician Manu Dibango will open the festival on July 13 at Metropolis. But before that, you’d be remiss not to check out the Plaatjies Ibuyambo Ensemble kick off the festival on July 12 at 9:00pm at the Lion D’Or. Dizu Plaatjies is from South Africa and the former leader of the group Amampondo. His musical style is hard to crystallize; but suffice it to say that he has mastered a variety of instruments including drums, flutes, mbira, Ugandan harp and antelope horns. The musicians all wear body paint and traditional costumes from all over Africa. It promises to be an exciting show from one of the best African musicians.

On July 19, Grupo Fantasma will take over the Cabaret du Mile-End. Tickets are 30 dollars but it’s well worth it to see the band that toured with the artist formerly known as Prince! Grupo Fantasma are known for their wild breed of Latin funk, Salsa, meringue, cumbia and hail from none other than… Texas. Expect some psychedelic vibes, wild guitars and accordions. Why don’t you go see what makes Prince all hot and bothered?

On July 21, check out Meiway and Le Zo Gang at 9:30pm at the Parterre du Quartier Des Spectacles and see why he’s been called Africa’s dancefloor king. It might have to do with the fact that Meiway has honed his chops playing worldwide for 30 years. He comes from Africa’s Ivory Coast and is best known as a purveyor of Zoblazo, which has an up-tempo beat, featuring high tech instrumentation with traditional and folk rhythms. People dance to this style of music with a white handkerchief to signify joy and purity, so get pure and get down.

Dramane Koné will be heating it up at the Parterre du Quartier des Spectacles on July 24. He’s a percussionist and comes from a long line of musicians in Burkina Faso. He plays the djembe and in addition to being a talented musician, he’s a teacher and an actor and a sensational performer.

The extremely talented Gotta Lago will be closing the festival at Club Balattou on July 24. He’s the king of the Montreal world music scene and a gotta-see-to-believe performer. Expect great rhythm and special guests for an evening full of surprises.

A

THE DETAILS

Festival International Nuits D’Afrique, July 12-24

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The 12th edition of Mutek has just finished and, before we catch up on some much-needed sleep, we’ve got a pretty cool video to show you…

In the leadup to Mutek, Montreal’s amazing digital music, sound and audio-visual art festival, we poured over the program and chatted with Richie Hawtin. We here at the Montreal Buzz LOVE MUTEK. What’s amazing about Mutek is that, every year, it manages to further push the notion of what this area of the arts is capable of. Mutek is small, experimental and intellectual shows, but it’s also massive, dance-all-night parties, as the video above shows. Oh, and one final thing: THE AMON TOBIN SHOW WAS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS THIS CITY HAS EVER SEEN.

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