Jay's List (What's Goin' On?) — February '26
What's happening in the Montreal lit scene this month?
Something about the weather actually being properly cold here in Montreal after last year’s six-month October feels a bit like a reprieve from the climate apocalypse. Now, do I want to be out in this mess? Not really. And yet, this is a city that will show out to things even in the teeth of winter, even for poetry. Let’s see what we’ll be complaining about this month.
As always, if we’re missing something, or you want your event included, please message @discordia.review on Instagram to propose an inclusion.
1 FEB (SUN)
ACCENT OPEN MIC
What: Popular twice monthly bilingual open mic at its new venue. Episode 130 is on the theme of videogames. (Computer, DO NOT play that fucking Lana Del Rey song, play, idk, the menu music from Ecco: The Tides of Time.)
Where: Bar le Record (7622 rue Saint-Hubert).
When: 8 to 10pm.
Who: Whoever has the balls, plus Nathanael Jones and Elissa Kayal.
How Much: Free. (Link)
JENNIFER CHEVALIER: THE WINTER WITCH LAUNCH
What: Ottawa-based CBC journalist launches dark fantasy novel.
Where: Librairie Paragraphe (2220 Ave McGill College).
When: 2 to 4pm.
Who: Jennifer Chevalier.
How Much: Free. (Link)
5 FEB (THURS)
JRG “NO UKULELES” OPEN MIC
What: Rollicking monthly open mic with an absurdist edge, this time featuring lauded fiction writer Paige Cooper.
Where: L’hémisphère gauche (221 Rue Beaubien E).
When: 8pm.
When: Paige Cooper, plus whoever has the balls.
How Much: PWYC (Link)
WRITERS ROOM #5
What: Inject the black poison that is conversation with other writers directly into your veins without the mealy adulterant of watching a literary performance first. Hosted by Sean Michaels using Writers’ Union of Canada money to provide free snacks. BYOB, somehow.
Where: Le Dépanneur Café (204 Rue Bernard O).
When: 7 to 11pm.
Who: Whoever shows up.
How Much: Free (Link)
8 FEB (SUN)
(NOT) FREIDA MCFADDEN: DEAR DEBBIE LAUNCH
What: Boston-based NYT bestselling thriller writer McFadden launches her latest… or rather, the book will be launched in her absence, but with some games and giveaways.
Where: Librairie Paragraphe (2220 Ave McGill College).
When: 2 to 3:30pm.
Who: Freida McFadden, games, giveaways.
How Much: Free. (Link)
9 FEB (MON)
LECTURES LOGOS READINGS
What: The long-running poetry series celebrates Black History Month by opening up two extra slots in its open mic with five minutes of mic time (rather than three) for Black or brown performers.
Where: U.N.I.A. (2741 rue Notre-Dame O).
When: 6:30-9:30pm.
Who: Happie Micha Edwards, Katia Belkhodja, Safa Chebbi, and Jason Joseph, and whoever has the balls.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
11 FEB (WEDS)
A POETRY EVENING AT THE THOMAS MORE INSTITUTE
What: I for one did not know there was a Thomas More Institute in Montreal, and whoever wrote the nebulous Facebook event description has definitely never read any of the four features, but there will be wine and cheese should you choose to go in equally blind.
Where: Thomas More Institute Montreal (3405 Ave Atwater).1
When: 6:30 to 8pm.
Who: Willow Loveday Little, Jerome Ramcharitar, Matthew Rettino and Carolyne Van Der Meer.
How Much: $10, guests encouraged to RSVP in advance. (Link)
13 FEB (FRI)
ZINE EXHIBIT
What: ARCMTL curates a rad/queer/BIPOC zine display at Concordia’s Webster library with a short opening/curator talk.
Where: LB-2 display cases, LB-361 for the opening talk (1400 Blvd Maissonneuve).
When: Opening talk 4 to 6pm Feb 13, display is up from Feb 13 to 17.
Who: Whoever the curator is, and some zines.
How Much: Free. (Link).
DIRTY TALK
What: The New York Review of Smut enters the uh velvety vestibule of Librairie Saint-Henri and then like… gloops a discussion of smut culture…and uh, felches poetry readings from… look I’ve never done sex so this one’s kind of out of my element but maybe this show will be where I finally find out where babies go to.
Where: Librairie Saint-Henri (4622 rue Notre-Dame Ouest).
When: 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
Who: Alana Dunlop, Cat Machado, Nicky Taylor, and “Joff Doodlebocki.” Smut book selection curated by the sainted Rachael.
How Much: $25, which includes one dirty martini and a $5 bookstore gift certificate. (Link).
14 FEB (SAT)
CONFABULATION: THE SHORTEST STORY XVII
What: A live storytelling series, seemingly in the tradition of The Moth. This month’s edition presents 30 two-minute short stories. Don’t bother applauding, as in the interest of pacing upon completion of a story each storyteller will be immediately flung off stage (to where, who knows) using a gigantic rubber band.
Where: Centaur Theatre. (453 Rue Saint Francois Xavier.)
When: 8pm.
Who: Various guest storytellers.
How Much: $23 students and seniors, $26 adults. (Link.)
15 FEB (SUN)
ACCENT OPEN MIC
What: Popular twice monthly bilingual open mic at its new venue. Episode 131 is… what’s this I’m reading, an anti-valentines takeover by Encore Poetry Project?2 Wear boots with good grip so you don’t slip and fall on all the entrails strewn about the floor. (Computer, play “Takeover” by Jay-Z.)
Where: Bar le Record (7622 rue Saint-Hubert).
When: 8 to 10pm.
Who: Whoever has the balls, plus the wearied survivors of the aforementioned battle.
How Much: Free. (Link)
NORMAN NAWROCKI: THE EAST END RULES LAUNCH & DANCE PARTY
What: Anarchist activist poet Norman Nawrocki launches a new semi-fictional memoir of his youth in East Van, followed by a ‘60s and ‘70s-themed dance party. I’m told it’s also Norman’s birthday.
Where: Casa del Popolo (4871 Boul Saint-Laurent).
When: 5 to 10pm.
Who: Norman Nawrocki.
How Much: Free. (Link)
17 FEB (TUES)
WRITERS BLOCK NO. 10
What: Come take in some improvised ambient music, intended to help you get into *the zone* and do some free writing. Occasionally your concentration will be interrupted by readings from some of the RODAISUN mag editors. This is the final event in this first volume of the series—contributions from past readings will shortly be collected in a group publication, so shoot your shot now if you want to be part of that.
Where: P’tit ours (5589 ave du Parc).
When: 7pm.
Who: Music by Ivy Boxall and readings from RODAISUN.
How Much: $17.77. (Link)
WRETCHED & BELOVED OPEN MIC
What: For some, every day is Valentine’s. (God that sounds exhausting.) Yiara mag hosts an open mic for those who wanna cry about it.
Where: Barfly (4062 Boul. Saint-Laurent).
When: 8 to 10pm.
Who: Whoever’s got the discount chocolates.
How Much: Free (Link)
19 FEB (THURS)
ERIN MANNING: UNSETTLED LAUNCH
What: SenseLab founder and cultural theorist Erin Manning launches her new book Unsettled, and chats with fellow theorist Brian Massumi. The man they call “Hardbone” Michael Nardone hosts.
Where: Rocket Science Room (204-170 Rue Jean Talon O. [Atlas Building]).
When: 6 to 9pm.
Who: Erin Manning, in conversation with Brian Massumi.
How Much: Free. (Link)
THOMAS WAUGH: WRITING IN THE FLESH LAUNCH
What: Thomas Waugh, an LGBT film scholar who’s probably involved in every significant queer activist movement in Quebec since 1918 or so, launches a new essay collection.
Where: L’Euguélionne (1426 Rue Beaudry).
When: 6 to 8pm.
Who: Thomas Waugh.
How Much: Free. (Link)
PIXIE LITERARY 4.1 LAUNCH
What: The organizers request sparkly attire. Failure to blind could have serious social consequences.
Where: Rockette (4479 Rue Saint-Denis).
When: 7 to 10pm.
Who: “Readings, tarot, dancing, and more fun surprises!”
How Much: $5/PWYC. (Link)
WHY WE MAKE FUCKING MAGAZINES
What: We, and at least some of the 33 other lit mags in town, have been wondering that ourselves. Perhaps this event, a conversation between the editors of Elastic (“the print magazine of psychedelic art and literature”) and A Fucking Magazine (“the print magazine of getting absolutely railed crazy style”), will shed some light.
Where: Bar de Courcelle (4685 R. Notre Dame O).
When: 7 to 11pm.
Who: Editors Hillary Brenhouse and Haley Mloktek in conversation with Arjun Basu, plus a bao popup and Cidoine on the boards.
How Much: Free. (Link)
20 FEB (FRI)
NOAH SPARROW: SPECTACLE/SPECTATOR LAUNCH
What: rob mclennan continues his scouting project of younger Montreal writers with this debut chapbook from Noah Sparrow. To what dark ends does mclennan plot? The mind quails, and also pheasants.
Where: Mes Pants de Queer (2025 Rue Parthenais).
When: 7pm.
Who: Noah Sparrow, Foster Gareau, Jessica Bakar, Alex O’Neill, hosted by Misha Solomon.
How Much: Free. (Link)
27 FEB (FRI)
PASTICHE V LAUNCH
What: Pastiche mag decamps to cherished local cafe/rave spot Parquette for readings and music from an unfamiliar-to-me but exquisitely monikered cast (Boris Leonardo!) of artists. $10 for tix, but Bring Your Own Wine encouraged.
When: 7 to 11pm.
Who: Readings by Ryan Akler-Bishop and Félixe F., music from Boris Leonardo and Mickey Dagger.
How Much: $10 (Link)
RODAISUN & ARIEL RESNIKOFF
What: Busy month for the RODAISUN girls as they’ll also be doing a set alongside well-travelled poet and translator Ariel Resnikoff, and Andrew Whiteman’s Poets’ Workout Soundsystem, in which viewers are invited to sit down and watch A. Whiteman work out.
Where: Rocket Science Room (204-170 Rue Jean Talon O. [Atlas Building]).
When: 6 to 9pm.
Who: Resnikoff, RODAISUN, Poets’ Workout Soundsystem.
How Much: Free. (Link)
TWO READERS AND MUSIC
What: yolk’s monthly apartment reading and sounds series is probably already sold out by the time you read this, but given the social overlap between the three events tonight you can assume you’ll be encountering someone you vehemently dislike no matter which one you attend.
Where: RSVP for location.
When: Doors 7pm, show 8pm.
Who: Readings from Aryn Kyle and Gladwell Pamba, music from Chris Hoather.
How Much: Free (but RSVP required).
28 FEB (SAT)
BRIGADE DE LA POÉSIE
What: The poetry brigade is here to beat the love of verse into you with a metrical thudding of its truncheons. Six poets will be wandering around outside from 10pm to 2am during Nuit blanche reading and disseminating poetry. Christ I hope they’re getting paid.
Where: “Near” Places-des-Arts metro.
When: 10pm to 2am.
Who: Hélène Bughin, Jonathan Charette, Nathanael Jones, Princesse Lamarche, Willow Loveday Little, Rowan Mercille, and Hector Ruiz.
How Much: Free. (Link)
And looking ahead to March…
Accent (March 1, Bar le Record), JRG Open Mic (March 12, Hemi G), Accent (March 15, Bar le Record)
In memory of Jay Gobuty, who was Outrageous.
IN OTHER LOCAL ARTS NEWS
Ah, so that’s where it is.
Picture me mouthing “Who?” here.