Free Music at POP Montreal
Spent your last dollar on books for the school year? Or maybe some great boots for the fall? Or… um… Plan B when Plan A didn’t go so well. We know, we know. Money never goes far enough. Well, for those of you who blew the budget for September, POP Montreal takes pity and still lets you join in the festival without spending a dime. Every year, the five day music blitz has plenty of free programming. Here is the free music you can catch at POP Montreal while keeping that cash for rent, guitar strings, and poutine.
SEPTEMBER 16
POP Montreal and Mail Chimp music
POP HQ, 3450 ST. Urbain, Sept 16, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.?
No ticket to catch this lineup of bands. Nick Persons, LOC-NAR, Nancy Pants, and Fanfarai and a surprise guest will drop into POP headquarters from 2 p.m. until whenever they decide they’ve had enough. Incidentally, all these bands are playing paid shows later in the week.
POP HQ, 3450 ST. Urbain, Sept 16, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Join the crush of people descending on POP Headquarters, an entire building on St. Urbain. There’s swag, art, BBQ, free beer (repeat, FREE BEER), and of course… free music. Foxtrott hits the stage at 6:20 p.m.
Canicule Tropicale (DJs and food)
Rialto, Sept 16, 7 p.m.-3 a.m.
Get your falafel, couscous, and chocolate cardamon cookies made by Michelle Marek of Foodlab. Every night features a different lineup of guest DJs. Tonight is Philippe Noel and Clement Jehan.
La Vitrola, 4602 ST. Laurent, Sept 16, 9:30 p.m.
Wait a cotton pickin’ minute here… there’s MORE free music? Well, yes there is. Clément Jacques, Barrass, Ariane Zita, Simon Kearney, and Vincent Appelby play La Vitrola. All free. Who said you have nowhere to go on a Wednesday?
SEPTEMBER 17
POP HQ, 3450 ST. Urbain, Sept 17 2 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
The Mail Chimp, Pop Montreal pairing does it again, bringing hip hop to the BBQ today at 2 p.m. On tap are Chuggo, Country, Denitia and Sene, and Samito
POP HQ, 3450 ST. Urbain, Sept 17 2 p.m.
Empire Exchange, 51 Bernard W., Sept 17, 3 p.m.-7 p.m.
Okay you know that clothing and stuff place on Bernard, well, they’ve got a lineup of performers this afternoon. Check out Dreamboy, Luka, The Walls are Blonde, Blunt Chunks
Rialto, Sept 17, 7 p.m.-3 a.m.
Tonight’s eats include bite sized inverted poutine, margarita watermelon, and an itsy bitsy sloppy joe (called a Tidy Joe) your eats by Danny St. Pierre of Q’est-ce qu’on mange pour souper. Every night features a different lineup of guest DJs. Tonight is DJs from Passovah.
Maison Sociale, 5386 St Laurent, Sept 17, 12 a.m.-3 a.m.
In the Mile End project known as La Maison Sociale, DJs and visual artists come together to keep your body dancing. Excalibur and Pascale Project will have the turntables spinning until 3 a.m.
Place Pasteur/UQAM-Montreal, Sept 17, 12 a.m. – 3 a.m.
If you’re in centre ville, check out Technical Kidman, Wizaard, Les Passagers as they light up Place Pasteur at UQAM.
SEPTEMBER 18
POP HQ, 3450 ST. Urbain, Sept 18, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
The combo of music and BBQ strikes again. HeartStreets, Vesuvio SOlo, FLIST!, and For Esmée take over POP HQ and make your afternoon that much better.
Empire Exchange, 51 Bernard W., Sept 18, 3 p.m.-7 p.m.
This one’s gonna be good. Ohara, Alexia Avina, Tamara Sandor, and Commander Clark keep the music coming all afternoon.
Nouveau Palais
Nouveau Palais (281 Bernard W), 5 p.m. – 3 a.m.
Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey. OK, you’re getting up pretty late since this burnch starts at 5 p.m. with DJ Funkminster Fuller and up next expect various member sof Kurvi Tash, Country, Saxsyndrum, and more on the decks.
Rialto, Sept 18, 7 p.m.-3 a.m.
He plays and he cooks. Tonight’s Clubhouse Pop has Jef Barbara spinning with Owen Pallett (yes the musical one) making scotch eggs, monte cristos, vegan cutlets, and more.
180g (6546 Waverley) Sept 18, 9 p.m.
Launching an album at POP Montreal has got to feel like having the biggest birthday party ever, right? Ask Rosie Valland, since she’s launching hers.
Maison Sociale, 5386 ST Laurent, Sept 18, 12 a.m.-3 a.m.
It starts at midnight. Each music artist is paired with a visual one, promising a trippy experience to tak you into the wee hours. First up is tbd. After that, though, get ready… Ariana Molly and Hua Li are on at 1 a.m., Prismhouse does its own audio and visual at 2 a.m.
SEPTEMBER 19
Nouveau Palais brunch
Nouveau Palais (281 Bernard W), 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Eat yer eggs and listen to some DJ joy. Disco via John Lee. Lynn T plays next, and then CJLO broadcasts live.
POP Montreal and Mail Chimp music
POP HQ, 3450 ST. Urbain, Sept 16, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Montreal’s twinniest surf pop twins, the Muscadettes are here, along with Nick Diamonds of Islands. After that Smileswithteeth and the Mild High Club. All free, yo… free…
Divan Orange (4234 St Laurent), 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Thank you Passovah for this line-up of Jenny Berkel, Gianna Lauren, Soft Cone, Commander Clark, and Caro Diaro.
Empire Exchange (51 Bernard O), 3 p.m.-7 p.m.
AE Bridger, Dirtyorgans, Bile Sister, and STranger Familiar take over Empire Exchange. We talked to AE Bridger and are huge fans of this label.
Goethe Institut (1626 St Laurent), 8 p.m.-10 p.m.
Berlin’s underground goddess Mary Ocher is here. Get ready for the German beat.
Rialto, Sept 19, 7 p.m.-3 a.m.
Newfoundland represent tonight. Baloney touton sandwiches and FDGpoutine. No idea what that is. Maybe some fish and chips, all made by Beaver Sheppard of Bethlehem XXX. On the disks: Jeremy Dabrowski, Devin White, Patrick HOlland, and Mason Windels.
Maison Sociale, 5386 St Laurent, Sept 18, 12 a.m.-3 a.m.
Get ready for more DJs and visual artist combinations TOngiht is Girls in Uniform (visuals and audio), Holy Ghosted (visual) with Kitetns (audio), and a special guest.
SEPTEMBER 20
Nouveau Palais brunch
Nouveau Palais (281 Bernard W), 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Rock Camp for Girls and Georgia Campbell bring the breakfast when you really should be eating the lunch. Hang out later for Brian Meagher, and at night, ambient DJs L Ron and Nick Schofield.
Music at Divan Orange
Divan Orange (4234 St Laurent), 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Thank you Indie Montreal for the line up of Debbie Tebbs, Kroy, A Pigeon, and Beat Sexu.
Bluegrass BBQ
POP HQ (3450 ST. Urbain), 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
I heard someone had a ukulele, and wanted to jam? Bring your spoons, your acoustics, your washboards, or really anything… OK, it’s not necessarily a jam.
Not Ready to Quit
Late Night Little Burgundy (Piccolo Rialto), 11 p.m. – 3 a.m.
Yeah, yeah, you want to bring this into Monday. We hear you. The Smiffs and Play Guitar cover Talking Heads. I feel like life gets better and better. Torquil Campbell promises to DJ.
Found $12 in your couch and another $3 in your jeans pocket. You can check out more POP Montreal events HERE.