Local Stage, Global Sound
Plateau Dive Barfly is a Safe Haven for Musicians
This feature is part of Forget The Box’s MTL Venue Series.
Before I even stepped into Barfly, I was greeted by the crowd spilling out into the streets of St. Laurent. I walk past the vivid, brightly painted fly mural on a weekly basis, and I have to say I was more than a little thrilled to finally peek behind the curtain and enter the iconic bar. I weaved my way through the sea of people on the sidewalk and stumbled into the dimly lit interior to be immediately welcomed by even more people inside.
After exchanging smiles and thank yous with the staff who greeted us, I found myself making a beeline for the barstools. I wasn’t sure what to focus my attention on—the walls lined with hockey memorabilia, the photos and autographs hung up behind the bar, the chalk signs boasting their drink specials. The only things more eclectic than the decoration are the groups gathered around in various corners of the bar, chatting over drinks or playing pool. I spotted a group of university students who couldn’t be over 20 right next to a table of older women in matching denim jackets who looked like they’d been coming here every week for years.
Even as a first-time visitor, sitting by the bar felt like slipping on an old glove. Everything about Barfly seemed lived-in and familiar—they’ve been around since 1996, before some of their patrons were even born, and the past three decades have definitely fortified the space as a stronghold for dive bars in Montreal. My eyes kept jumping from one thing to the other, waiting excitedly for the musicians on stage to finish setting up before kicking off the show for the night. One of my more extroverted friends struck up a conversation with one of the regulars at the bar while I tried to take in everything around me.
I luckily had the chance to speak with Gwendolyn Gauthier, one of the co-owners of Barfly, about the bar’s history and its journey so far. “Our mission has always been hockey, beer, and music,” she told me with a smile. Looking around at Barfly, you’ll find these three tenets embodied in every aspect of the space. There’s always a game playing on the screens, cheap beer on tap, and talented local musicians lined up to perform almost every night.
Since the bar has been around for so many years, I asked if there were any stories she had from her time at Barfly that particularly stood out. “There’s been so many important moments by now that I could probably keep going for hours,” Gwendolyn said, laughing. “But recently, I spoke with a woman whose kid was performing on our stage. The bar was full of a lot of young people that night, and she told us how grateful she was that there was a space like Barfly that offered kids a chance to perform.”
She’s not the only one. A lot of people are grateful for the platform that Barfly provides to the local music community. Gwendolyn mentioned that they especially received a lot of messages after the pandemic, when the bar was able to set up again and be fully functional after quarantine restrictions were lifted. People thanked them for still being there after so long, despite all the struggles. “It’s really rewarding to hear from the community and know we’re making a difference,” she remarked.
Barfly’s stage is open to any and all folks regardless of the kind of music they make. There’s usually something for everyone—the genre changes drastically depending on the night, since they’re not restricted by a specific sound or vision. Last week, the music ranged from country to heavy metal and rock, with even some jazz sprinkled in for good measure.
“We’re not interested in curating a setlist,” Gwendolyn explained. “The musicians aren’t there to just entertain the customers. They’re here to perform, and we’re here to give them that platform.”
The musicians really are at the heart of the bar, which became more and more evident throughout the night as people gathered around the stage and formed a crowd to cheer on the artists. The lineup for the night featured a wide variety of folk punk artists, all armed with their banjos and guitars and violins. I watched from my seat at the bar as the first act, Chloe Defector, immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention with her voice sweeping over the entire space. She’d come to perform all the way from New York; another act, Michael Turnini, had made the journey from Texas. Seeing how everyone embraced the new music with open arms, it’s clear why Barfly is such a beloved establishment for performers from all around the continent, not just Montreal.
Over the years, the bar’s programming has expanded to include more than just the unique musical sets that everyone has come to expect from them. Their weekly bar quiz takes place every Monday at 7:30 PM, followed by their open mic hosted by Roberto at 10:00 PM. One of Barfly’s only recurring music events is the Bluegrass Jam every Sunday night at 10:00 PM, which is a favourite among regulars and any artists looking to join jam sessions in the city. They also proudly boast a free pool table.
The lineup of artists set to perform is different each week, and they upload an Instagram post every Monday with a schedule of all the musical acts set to perform on each day. It gives patrons a chance to look up the bands and singers on their own time before showing up. Although it’s mostly fresh acts, they do have a few friends of the bar who do repeat shows every once in a while. Any bands or artists interested in finding a space to perform can book the stage by contacting Barfly at barflymtl@live.com.
“We try to make our space as accessible as possible for everyone,” Gwendolyn noted, and the sentiment is embodied through just how diverse the crowd is every night. The bar welcomes people from all walks of life. There is no cover charge, with free entry on most nights. Some performances have a small Pay-What-You-Can fee to help support the musicians, but no one is turned away for lack of funds.
When I asked Gwendolyn what their vision for Barfly’s future is, she just shrugged and said simply: “We want to keep doing what we’re doing.” Barfly’s greatest strength for the past three decades has been its consistency. It’s what keeps their regulars coming back, and what makes them such a safe haven for local musicians. Everyone at Barfly is there to uplift new artists and embrace their sound without any judgement. All of these things have made the space a cornerstone of Montreal’s music community—they’re providing a valuable platform and they’re having fun while doing it.
As Montrealers, we’re lucky to live in a city that’s filled with artists and creators just waiting to be discovered. Spaces like Barfly allow us to strengthen this sense of community by giving artists a place to be heard, to find their footing among like-minded people and gain confidence in their craft. If you’re looking to discover some great music within the city, look up your local bands and go to a show: you might just end up surprising yourself.
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