A special weekend awaits you in NDG as the the neighbourhood known for its shady peaceful streets and green sprawl once again hosts Porchfest.
Porches, front lawns and even rooftops transform into stages where local musicians play music and everyone is invited to share in the experience. The informal setting has proven to be quite a hit and the festival has attracted a ton of spectators since its first edition in 2015 due to its original concept.
Here are just a few of the acts you should check out today and tomorrow:
* (Please Note: After this article was written, rain became a real possibility and Porchfest announced that most of their Saturday shows may be moved to Monday, so please consult their site and Facebook page for schedule updates)
Skidoos Jaunes
Professional cover band Skidoos Jaunes will rock out with some well known tunes. The five-piece has been playing together for years. They usually do rock covers but they will be doing a toned down set for Porchfest and rocking out acoustic style.
Their performance will include interpretations of some famous rock songs ideally suited for the NDG porch environment, but for this special show they will be even adding a hint of country and blues to the set list. Children are more than welcome as the band has reserved a few songs that will be very appealing to the younger generation.
They will be playing their set on a back porch which means that there will be extra room for people to come and sit down and avoid the sound of passing traffic. Remember to bring your own chairs!
Sunday, 2pm, 3784 Melrose (entrance through the alley)
Crackers & Jam
This self proclaimed Slacker Lounge Act likes to party and they are full of melancholy. Come see a fantastic soul/rock band that has an energetic and immersive sound.
What’s cool about this outfit is their unforgettable visual performance. They combine a 70s groove, the 21st century sounds of techno and the everlasting sounds of strings from the days of Mozart till today.
They will get us dancing with their pop tunes and a heaping spoonful of bravado.
Saturday, 5pm, 4049 Hingston
Siamsa Montreal School of Irish Music
This awesome school’s MO is all about promoting Irish music, culture and a sense of community. So you don’t have to wait for next St Patty’s Day to get your Irish Fix. The school holds classes open to the public and hosts workshops and even dances. They will be putting on a fantastic show during Porchfest so come and check the show out to find out what this unique school is all about.
Saturday, 4pm, 4413 Montclair
King Shadrock
King Shadrock is all about equal rights. His soulful reggae voice has earned him the name Little Buju which refers to reggae godfather Buju Banton.
He’s got that husky powerful voice. He’s influenced by the king himself, Bob Marley, as well as Sizzla and Lenny Kravitz. He loves entertaining people and will give you a great performance full of love and soul.
Sunday, 5pm, 6650 Cote-St-Luc (official closing show)
This is really just a smattering of what you can enjoy today (Saturday) and Sunday at Porchfest NDG (rain day is Monday). You can check out the full schedule or just head down to NDG and walk around.
* Know a band or an artist that should be featured in Shows This Week? Maybe a show FTB should cover, too? Let us know at music@forgetthebox.net. Our week goes from Thursday to Wednesday, so let us know by the preceding Sunday, though not too much in advance, or you may get lost in the shuffle. We can’t be everywhere and can’t write about everything, but we do our best!
