IRL (Amanda Harvey) is a Villeray-based composer, DJ, and writer whose work bridges the gap between ethereal ambient textures and the low-slung rhythms of IDM.
Natasha Fagant is a multidisciplinary artist whose work bridges the gap between fluffy cheesecake erotica and the sobering grit of performance art. Whether she is recounting the bloody history of Montreal as a ghost storyteller or challenging audiences as the queen of uncomfortable arousal, her work uses physical theatre to explore the visceral friction between technology and the human body.
Jesse Vacarciuc is a multidisciplinary artist, researcher, and advocate who uses writing and music to navigate the complexities of addiction, trauma, and mental health. A survivor and professional based in Montreal, Jesse focuses on breaking taboos and providing a voice for those navigating the unspoken struggles of youth.
Anachnid is an award-winning Indigenous interdisciplinary artist whose work spans electronic music, costume design, and traditional weaving. A celebrated voice in the Montreal scene, they blend intuitive hand-drum textures with progressive electro to create a "captivating and seductive universe" rooted in the land.
On the corner of St Laurent and des Pins lies a tall yet unassuming building that you might recognise from the bold lettering that spells out “HALBRO BLDG.” For the past few decades, its lofts have served as a sort of haven for artists looking to rent studios or find a place to stay.
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.
During a long, lazy, blazing-hot summer day on school break, a group of neighborhood kids and I were shuffled off to a local library’s community room for my first-ever improv workshop.
Behind the unassuming vintage swivel chairs, and the classic blue and red swirling pole of a barber shop lies the long bar, dance floor, and carefully placed stage of the Blue Dog Motel.
If you've ever seen a comedy show at Hurley's Irish Pub, it was probably produced by the World's Smallest Comedy team. With a trivia night, a booked show, and an open mic every week, plus a variety of one-off shows, they're keeping the laughs alive on Crescent Street, and they've been doing it for years.
Tucked upstairs on the ever-touristy St. Paul Street in Old Montreal, is one of the safest comedy rooms in town. Well, sort of. On the surface, Saanya Nanda’s monthly The Heckling Show would be the last thing most people would call safe; the name says it all, and every month comics take the stage knowing exactly what they're in for.
In the back room of N sur Mackay every Tuesday, something special is stirring up. And no, it’s not just the bar’s famous cocktails or the excellent whiskey tastings (though those are worth checking out). It’s Comedy on Mackay, a vibrant new weekly comedy show that’s quickly becoming a staple in Montreal’s comedy scene.
The atmosphere was reminiscent of a high school play, or at least that’s what my date leaned over to whisper into my ear as the lights dimmed. With its knots of young people huddled in their respective corners and coats hung up on wooden pegs near the stage, in a way I did feel transported back to high school, the fun part where I joked around with my friends in the stage wings before a production.
