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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.