Jay's List (What's Goin' On?) — August '25
What's happening in the Montreal lit scene this month?
Summer’s like 2/3s done already. HOW DOES THAT FEEL? You’ll find no shelter here from that knowledge, but look uh, buncha lit events down there and such. Go tell people your feelings if you need to, you can read at any reading as long as you’re willing to grab the mic and defend it.
As always, if we’re missing something, or you want your event included, please message @discordia.review on Instagram to propose an inclusion.
And if you’re on desktop, you can click the bar on the left to see all the dates and navigate around said dates. This list will expand as items are added.
2 AUG (SAT)
VIOLET HOUR BOOK CLUB: I REMEMBER LIGHTS
What: Queer book club reads the latest from Ben Ladouceur.
Where: Espace des Possibles dans La Petite-Patrie (6450 ave Christophe-Colomb).
When: 3 to 4:30pm.
Who: Hosted by Christopher DiRaddo.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
LITERARY PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP
What: Local theatrical impresario, event hustler, and cult leader Andrew Jamieson offers a one-day intensive workshop on performing your writing less terribly using his patented Practical Integration Method (PIM).
Where: Parc Jeanne Mance.
When: 1 to 6pm. (Also offered Sunday Aug. 3.)
Who: Andrew Jamieson.
How Much: $40. (Registration Link)
3 AUG (SUN)
ACCENT OPEN MIC
What: Popular biweekly bilingual open mic, this time on the theme of “Desire Paths.” (Computer, play Desire Pathway by Screaming Females.)
Where: La Marche à côté (5043 rue Saint-Denis).
When: 8 to 10pm.
Who: Whoever has the balls, along with Meryem Yildiz, A. Daniyal, and Joseph Kidney.
How Much: Free. (Event link TK)
LITERARY PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP
What: Local theatrical impresario, event hustler, and cult leader Andrew Jamieson offers a one-day intensive workshop on performing your writing less terribly using his patented Practical Integration Method (PIM).
Where: Parc Jeanne Mance.
When: 1 to 6pm. (Also offered Saturday Aug. 2.)
Who: Andrew Jamieson.
How Much: $40. (Registration Link)
5 AUG (TUES)
NO PRIDE IN GENOCIDE: READING AND FUNDRAISER
What: Can’t knock the cause: raising funds for the Sameer Project, which continues to do all-important work on the ground in Gaza. Readings plus a raffle, details TK.
Where: Star Bar. (4671 Blvd Saint-Laurent).
When: Doors 6:30, 7 to 9pm.
Who: Harar V.A. Hall, Naja Kassir, Lauren Doyle Déan, Nour Symon, hosted by Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch.
How Much: Free, but you should probably give them some money. (Event link)
12 AUG (TUES)
THE DILEMMAS OF WORKING WOMEN BOOK LAUNCH
What: Women probably can’t have it all, but you can have this book by Fumio Yamamoto, newly translated by Brian Bergstrom, if you can get your pants on and go to Argo.
Where: Argo Bookshop (1841 Rue Ste-Catherine O).
When: 7pm.
Who: Brian Bergstrom, in conversation with Dr. Cecily Raynor.
How Much: Free. (But RSVP strongly suggested.)
13 AUG (WEDS)
WRITER’S BLOCK NO. 8
What: Do some live stream of consciousness writing while listening to soothing smooth improvised experimental jazz. Apparently the last edition of the series.
Where: Le Système. (7119 Rue St-Hubert)
When: 8pm doors, 9pm show.
Who: Rodaisun, Kevin Lafleur, Chuck Mangione, Claire Devlin, Raiden Louie.
How Much: $15.52. (Event link.)
14 AUG (THURS)
TURRET HOUSE / NOTRE DAME DES ARTES POETRY NIGHT
What: “Local poets and performers will take the stage and share their voices and personal expression through spoken word,” per the event description. Please, oh please, I beg the organizers, reveal their identities so my sleep is no troubled no more by feverish wondering.
Where: Café 92 degrés (6701 Rue Sherbrooke O).
When: 6 to 8pm.
Who: Sharon Olds, Louis Zukofsky, Sappho… it could be anyone!!!
How Much: Free. (Event link.)
16 AUG (SAT)
YOUNG ADULT CLIMATE FICTION PANEL
What: A variety of young adult fiction writers discuss how to tell stories about our forthcoming climate apocalypse to the youth without succumbing to despair or simply printing the addresses of CEOs and elected officials and instructions for making pipebombs.
Where: Argo Bookshop (1841 Rue Ste-Catherine O).
When: 6 to 8pm.
Who: Lea Beddia, Mary Jennifer Payne, and Allister Thompson.
How Much: Free. (Event link.)
17 AUG (SUN)
ACCENT OPEN MIC
What: Popular biweekly bilingual open mic, this time on the theme of “Snakes.” (Computer, play “The Spot” by Snakefinger.) It also appears to be a farewell to the series’ occasional co-host Jade Palmer, who has packed a variety of special guests in her bindle.
Where: La Marche à côté (5043 rue Saint-Denis).
When: 8 until 10pm.
Who: Whoever has the balls, along with Jade Palmer, Rebecca Lawrence Lynch, Inuya Schultz, Alana Dunlop, Gwen Aube, and Misha Solomon.
How Much: Free. (Event link.)
19 AUG (TUES)
JRG “NO UKULELES” OPEN MIC
What: Freewheeling literary and anti-literary open mic with an (almost) anything goes mandate.
Where: Bar L'hémisphère gauche (221 Beaubien Est).
When: 8:30 until 11pm.
Who: Whoever has the balls, along with features Liz Howard and Riquita Lea. (Yes that Riquita Lea.)
How Much: Free. (Event link)
20 AUG (WEDS)
THISISNOTASAFESPACE
What: The 2010s-era DIY series returns, with original impresario Andrew Jamieson joined in the organizing cabal by longtime collaborator Tara McGowan-Ross. Borrowing from the pop-up mentality and questionable legality of underground rave culture, TINASS1 is building its whisper network ahead of this first show.
Where: Location drop day-of.
When: 9pm.
Who: IYKYK. (We don’t know.)
How Much: Free. (No event link; you’ll have to go hunting...)
26 AUG (TUES)
GRAPHIC NOVEL BOOK CLUB: BLACK COHOSH
What: D&Q co-owner Tom Devlin hosts a book club looking at the press’s recent book Black Cohosh by Eagle Valiant Brosi.
Where: Librarie Drawn & Quarterly (176 rue Bernard O).
When: 7pm.
Who: Hosted by Tom Devlin.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
31 AUG (SUN)
ACCENT OPEN MIC
What: Popular biweekly bilingual open mic, this time on the theme of…God only knows.
Where: La Marche à côté (5043 rue Saint-Denis).
When: 8 until 10pm.
Who: Whoever has the balls, along with some features TBD.
How Much: Free. (Event link TK)
And looking ahead to September…
Stuff. We’ll fill this in as things come up.
In memory of Jay Gobuty, who was Outrageous.
IN OTHER LOCAL ARTS NEWS
Also my nickname in high school. (Don’t ask.)