Nova

ArtsMusic

We’ve got a little something for everyone in this week’s preview so wherever your musical interests lie there’s bound to be something to peak you interest. Alright, let’s get to it.

Blakdenim

If you’re looking for something to do tonight you can head over to L’Escalier and check out Ottawa based Funk/Jazz/Hip Hop/Rock ensemble Blackdenim. This is a free show and a great way to check out a band that might at present be under your radar.

Blackdenim is known for seamlessly combining different genres into fun catchy meaningful songs. There’s something about horn sections and hip hop that always just works well together. Check out this clip or their soundcloud page to see what I mean.

Blakdenim plays L’Escalier, 522 Ste-Catherine Street East, Thursday, March 30th, 9:00pm, free.

 

Paper Beat Scissors + Ambroise

On Sunday Sala Rossa will be hosting a special evening with Paper Beat Scissors who will be re-imagining their songs with the accompaniment of a chamber ensemble. Set to release a new EP in May, this will be a first look at some of the new songs and well as a fresh look at some of the old ones.

Known for singer/songwriter Tim Crabtree’s hauntingly powerful vocals accompanied by acoustic guitar, it will be interesting to hear how this change in the lineup will influence the songs. Opening the evening will be local duo Ambroise whose mix of piano and heartfelt vocals will fit in quite nicely with the vibe for the evening.

Paper Beat Scissors + Ambroise play La Sala Rossa, 4848 boul. Saint-Laurent, Sunday, April 2nd, 8:00pm, $10 through the box office ($15 at the door).

Periphery

Coming to Théâtre Corona on April 3rd in support of their Grammy-nominated album Periphery III will be djent/prog metal monsters Periphery. Around since 2005, these guys are most likely already on your radar if you’re a metal fan, so this is more of a reminder that they’re coming to town.

With Periphery, the live show atmosphere can only enhance the power of their music and the backdrop of the “somewhat Grand Old” Corona seems a perfect fit for giving the show the right aesthetic. Not that there’s anything wrong with rocking out in your bedroom, but now and then you might want to get out a little!

Periphery play Théâtre Corona, 2490 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Monday, April 3rd, 7:00pm (doors at 6:00), $28 through the box office ($33 at the door).

 

Scenic Route to Alaska + Nova

Sunday night Quai des Brumes will be hosting Edmonton-based Indie rock trio Scenic Route to Alaska who are touring their way through the eastern part of the country this spring. With catchy riffs, clever choruses and a laid back vibe, their tunes have that instantly infectious feel where you want to sing along on the first listen.

If you don’t believe me then grab a cold one, kick your feet up and give a listen to the single Love Keeps released last year on their latest EP Long Walk Home. 

Scenic Route to Alaska and Nova play Quai des Brumes, 4481 Saint-Denis, Sunday, April 2nd, 9:45pm (doors at 9:00), $10 through the box office ($12 at the door).

* Featured image of Blakdenim via Facebook

* 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. We can’t be everywhere and can’t write about everything, but we do our best!

ArtsMusic

Playing shows this week in Montreal, we have a singer and violinist from Utah, a Norwegian singer/songwriter/pianist, rockers from Brooklyn and a punk-fueled house party that is a Montreal/Hamilton/Cape Breton collaboration. Let’s get started…

Hannah Epperson + St. Lawrence Warehouse Company + Nova + Omhouse

On Thursday Casa Del Popolo will be hosting a jam packed night of music headlined by Hannah Epperson, a violinist and singer who blends traditional folk styles with contemporary sensibilities into a richly layered tapestry of sound. Her songs seem to build on top of themselves and grow as they progress giving the music a very organic flow and rhythm.

Having just released her debut album Upsweep in September, Hannah has taken to the road in support and to give her fans the treat of hearing these interesting tunes done in a live setting. Joining her will be a trio of performers, St. Lawrence Warehouse Company, Nova and Omhouse making this a full evening experience as well as very student friendly considering tickets are only about twelve bucks.

 

Hannah Epperson, St. Lawrence Warehouse Company, Nova and Omhouse play Casa Del Popolo, 4873 Boulevard St-Laurent, Thursday, November 3rd, 8:45pm (Doors at 8:30pm), $11.85 available through indiemontreal.

 

Aurora + Dan Croll

For those who didn’t get enough this weekend, next Monday Norwegian singer/songwriter/pianist Aurora takes her fall tour of North America to Théâtre Corona with the support of Dan Croll. Her first full length album All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend was released last March and has been picking up steam ever since.

Aside from the immediately interesting album title, what you get is a series of tracks that are one part indie-dance-pop and one part piano driven ballad showing the vast range of this young songwriters already impressive talent. With invites to festival circuits and late night talk shows starting to come Aurora’s way this might be a “remember when” moment where you got to see a big talent in a relatively small venue.

 

 Aurora and Dan Croll play Théâtre Corona, 2490 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Monday, November 7th, 8:00pm (Doors at 7:00pm), $22 in advance through the box office or $27 at the door.

 

DIIV

On Saturday you can head over to Théâtre Fairmount where Brooklyn based rockers DIIV will be bringing their post-punk/shoegaze brand of indie rock out on full display. With soaring space rock inspired guitar melodies a driving rhythm section and catchy vocals these guys know how to craft some memorable tunes.

DIIV play Théâtre Fairmount, 5240 Avenue du Parc , Saturday, November 5th, 9:00pm (Doors at 8:00pm), $20 available through the box office.

 

Heroin Hayride + Frankie & Jimmy 

It seems a little odd to preview a house party but if it’s got live music, good bands, beer, wine, food and it’s all at a reasonable price then why not! Saturday night local talents The Heroin Hayride will be teaming up with Hamilton’s own Frankie & Jimmy for evening of foot stomping blues and country that is the epitome of a DIY type of music show.

The organizers would like to point out that they have neighbours so the show will start promptly at 9pm and end by midnight. Those of you familiar with a “Montreal 9” (a.k.a the I’m so cool because I showed up late) might want to rethink your plan this time around.

 Heroin Hayride and Frankie & Jimmy play, 1462 Avenue Laurier East, Saturday, November 5th, 9:00pm (Doors at 8:00pm), PWYC (suggestion $5).

* Featured image of Hannah Epperson via themostdefinitely.com

* 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. We can’t be everywhere and can’t write about everything, but we do our best!

ArtsFestivalsMusic

I hope everyone’s saved up a little money and a lot of energy because tonight marks the beginning of the most frantic week of concerts this year, a.k.a. Hipster Christmas, a.k.a Indie Music Mayhem, a.k.a. the 2016 installment of Pop Montreal. From September 21st to the 25th most (if not every) small and medium sized music venue in and around the Plateau/Mile End will be hosting an unbelievably large and varied collection of artists.

To preview this fest in all its diversity is altogether impossible so we haven’t tried to. These are simply a few options that stick out as highlight to us at FTB. You might want to go check out the full schedule and reach your own conclusions but be warned, if you have option paralysis this might be your worst nightmare.

There’s just so much to do and so little time to do it in. My advice to newer fest goers is to pick something and stick to it, you could spend half the night walking back and forth trying to find the right show.

I know you want to find the “it” show but at Pop there’s actually several “its” going on simultaneously, so just get out there and pick one. To not overwhelm you, here’s three to get you started on your search.

IMTL Day Party and Brunch with Lakes Of Canada + Fleece + Nova + KyAzma

One of the more unique shows that happens at Pop takes two things that aren’t normally known to work in tandem, Sunday brunch and rock concerts, and for the fifth year in a row ignores convention and puts them together. An all-you-can-eat buffet for $7 is a steal in its own right but then you add performances by Lakes Of Canada, Fleece, Nova and KyAzma, who will be debuting their latest music video for  The Circle, and this becomes a highlight show in this year’s fest.

Indie Montreal allows you to buy tickets in advance through their website and I strongly suggest that if you plan on attending you do that. It’s not hard to foresee this show selling out, the lineup alone should bring a lot of interest and when you combine that with the best brunch deal on The Main you’ve got packed venue written all over this.

Lakes Of Canada, Fleece, Nova and KyAzma play Divan Orange, 4234 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Sunday, September 25th, 12:00pm (Doors at 11:30am), $7 in advance and at the door, ticket through indiemontreal.

 

Nanimal + Girl Arm + Pins & Needles + Laureate

If you’re looking for a great rock show at the best dive rock bar in town then head down to Barfly on Thursday night and check out Nanimal, Girl Arm, Pins & Needles and Laureate. This concert should be a hot sweaty mess of tightly packed individuals, like most Barfly events are, so save the fancy outfit for another night and wear the jeans, t-shirt and dancing shoes to this one.

This show is on our highlighted list for a second reason, my “sources” inform me there might be a special guest appearance during Nanimal’s set. Someone who can certainly be considered part of Montreal’s indie rock royalty might be hitting the stage right before your eyes.

Nanimal, Girl Arm, Pins & Needles and Laureate play Barfly, 4062 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Thursday, September 22nd, 9:30pm (Doors at 9), $10.

CJLO BBQ with Wiklow + No Aloha + Joyce N’sana + Guy Madonna

If you liked the idea of combining food and music but think Sunday morning’s a bit too groggy a time for that then perhaps you’d prefer Thursday afternoon’s free BBQ over at Quartiers Pop. This event is being put on by the good people over at CJLO, begins at 2pm and features Wiklow, No Aloha, Joyce N’sana and Guy Madonna.

Before people start going crazy over the “free BBQ” aspect it’s important to point out that the entrance and music is free, I’m pretty sure you’ll have to pay for your own beer and hot dogs. There’s no such thing as free beer, you know this, accept it, move on, you still get to see four great acts for free.

 Wiklow, No Aloha, Joyce N’sana and Guy Madonna play Quartiers Pop, 3450 Rue Saint-Urbain, Thursday, September 22nd, 2:00pm, free.