THURSDAY AUGUST 9 TO SUNDAY AUGUST 19

Pervers/Cité @ city-wide locations. Pervers/Cité presents the self-proclaimed ‘underside of pride’ (Montreal Pride actually begins on August 13). This alternative fest’s program includes concerts, workshops, art shows, readings, marches, a zine fair and much more. Check out the full calendar here!

FRIDAY AUGUST 10 TO SUNDAY AUGUST 19

Montreal Italian Week @ city-wide locations. Montreal’s Little Italy actually explodes for one week every year in celebration of the city’s huge Italian community, and one of the most interesting and beautiful countries in the world: Italy (in my humble opinion, even though I’m German). A series of multimedia presentations will take place throughout the week at the Little Italy Community Centre (505 Jean Talon East), and from August 17 to 19, a stretch of St-Laurent will be transformed into an outdoor museum of good food, beautiful artwork and hot Italian cars. The full program is available here!

FRIDAY AUGUST 10

8:30pm POP Lafontaine @ Theatre Verdure, Parc Lafontaine. Enjoy (somewhat) cooler August evenings in Parc Lafontaine to the tune of several bands, as POP Montreal presents a great line-up of acts for POP Lafontaine. On Friday, accordionist Sergiu Popa takes the stage, followed by French musicians Canailles (9:30pm). Catch more great music on Saturday August 11, as The Luyas perform along with Hangedup. Admission to all performances is free!

SATURDAY AUGUST 11 TO SUNDAY AUGUST 12

Heavy MTL @ Parc Jean-Drapeau, Île Saint-Helene. This is Montreal’s hardest weekend of the year: Heavy MTL, in which dozens of extremely wicked heavy/death metal and punk bands rock out for 48 hours. The likes of System of a Down (swoon), Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Deftones, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Trivium and something called a href=”http://www.fleshgodapocalypse.com/”>Fleshgod Apocalypse (you’re welcome) are among the many bands expected this year. Headliner Lamb of God had to cancel because their lead singer was arrested in Czechoslovakia for manslaughter: hard as fuck! Anyway, bring a mouth guard and a sense of aggressive urgency – the mosh pits (‘Let’s open this pit uuuuuup!’ or something) will be unreal. Heavy MTL is Osheaga’s grungy but still pretty-hot-in-a-sleeveless-shirt older brother. Tickets here. Program here.

SATURDAY AUGUST 11

12pm. Matsuri Japon @ Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre of Montreal, 8155 Rousselot. This is the 11th edition of Montreal’s Japanese festival, a day-long event that presents Montrealers with musical, gastronomical and artistic highlights of Japanese culture. Martial arts demonstrations, archery and traditional Japanese clothing exhibits will also take place. Until 9pm.

SUNDAY AUGUST 12

8pm. A Little Birdie Told Me … @ Sparrow, 5322 St-Laurent. Wind down with a trivia night at our favourite Mile End hotspot, Sparrow. Their website includes a variety of fun facts in the interim. Grab your friends and study up, there are prizes to be had!