POP Montreal is back! The international music festival is celebrating a decade of eclectic pop music, crafts, visual art, food and film. POP’s jam-packed schedule – over 570 bands, performers and artisans in five days – means you’ll have to plan strategically. To help you out, here are our picks for POP:
Thursday September 20
9pm. Sweet Nothing w/ SUUNS live! @ Red Roof Church (St John the Evangelist). Film POP and Aux present a screening of Sweet Nothing, a rock film/travelogue about Montreal rock band SUUNS, followed by a SUUNS live performance.
Friday September 21
8pm. An Evening with David Byrne & St. Vincent @ L’Eglise St-Jean Baptiste, 301 Rachel Est. Legendary Talking Heads frontman David Byrne and American singer-songwriter St. Vincent join forces for a show at St-Jean Baptiste church in support of their new album, “Love This Giant.”
9pm. Yamantaka//Sonic Titan @ Théâtre Rialto, 5723 Avenue du Parc. Mtl/TO pop-noise experimentalists Yamantaka//Sonic Titan will a debut a 33-minute-long rock opera entitled “33 // 渦.” The comedic and macabre rock opera features ancient Asian and North American mythology, aging drag queens, desire, fame, jealousy and murder. With Ramzi.
Saturday September 22
8pm. David Byrne + Win Butler: How Music Works @ Ukrainian Federation, 5213 Hutchison. A conversation between two musical visionaries: David Byrne and Arcade Fire’s Win Butler. They’ll discuss Byrne’s new book “How Music Works” in the context of their own personal and professional experiences. Tickets sold out online, some still available at Librairie Drawn & Quarterly, 211 Bernard Ouest.
Saturday September 22 & Sunday September 23
11am. Puces POP Craft & DIY Fair @ L’Eglise St-Michel, 105 St-Viateur Ouest. Puces POP’s fall craft fair is the best place to shop for locally made clothing, jewellery, ceramics, stationary, home decor and food. Buy direct from over 100 local artists. Check out Jack Dylan’s posters, visit Objets Mechaniques for hand crafted wood products, and stop in at local food purveyor 100% Ferments, because you need more pickles in your diet. Till 6pm.
Sunday September 23
8pm: Grizzly Bear @ L’Olympia, 1004 Ste-Catherine Est. Grizzly Bear brings their exquisite orchestral pop to Olympia. Their latest album “Shields,” is out this week, but the NYC quartet’s vocal harmonies are even more impressive live. Can’t miss. With Unknown Mortal Orchestra.