Jay's List (What's Goin' On?) — September '25
What's happening in the Montreal lit scene this month?
Fool! Oaf! Another summer has passed you by, and what do you have to show for it?!
Oh, that is a cool rock. You quit/started smoking? You learned to properly roll your Rs? Penetrated the transmundane? Y’know what, I take it back, you’re thriving. Anyways, this is a list of upcoming lit shows, maybe some will be good, I dunno.
As always, if we’re missing something, or you want your event included, please message @discordia.review on Instagram to propose an inclusion.
4 SEPT (THURS)
JRG “NO UKULELES” OPEN MIC
What: Freewheeling literary and anti-literary open mic with an (almost) anything goes mandate. Discordia may be hawking some zines if you’ve got some spare change on ya.
Where: Bar L'hémisphère gauche (221 Beaubien Est).
When: 8:30 to 11pm.
Who: Whoever has the balls, along with features Foster Gareau and darby myr.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
5 SEPT (FRI)
OPEN MIC POETRY NIGHT!
What: The exclamation mark is part of the title, we’re not editorializing. The new Inkwell Writers Society collective debuts with an open mic show at the Tilted Kilt McKibbin’s.
Where: McKibbin’s (1426 Rue Bishop).
When: 6pm to 8pm.
Who: Whoever has the balls.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
HOMEBOUND: JOSH QUIRION BOOK LAUNCH
What: Launching the author’s second collection of (very) short stories. Per the Facebook event’s description, anyone who RSVPs online and then actually shows up gets a free glass of champagne…
Where: Halbro BLDG. (10 Ave Des Pins O).
When: 7pm to 10pm.
Who: Josh Quirion, in conversation with Gina Leola Woolsey.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
6 SEPT (SAT)
DISCORDIA REVIEW PRESENTS: BONFIRE OF THE POETS III
What: The nice thing about running your own event calendar is when you have a big show, you can stick a huge honkin’ poster for it in the middle of the page. Discordia returns to Thrashcan (the former Traxide), home of the original two Bonfire events that helped establish what we do locally. The Poetry Heel will emcee a remarkable array of disreputable talents. Part roast, part burnt offering.
Where: Thrashcan. (Ask a punk / a Discordian)
When: Doors 8pm, show 9pm.
Who: Gwen Aube, Joe Bagel, Alana Dunlop, Mona Gendron, and Zak Jones.
How Much: $10 / PWYC. (Event link)
7 SEPT (SUN)
ACCENT OPEN MIC
What: Popular biweekly bilingual open mic is joined by Jeessi MacEachern plus friend of the press Jess Bebenek, this time on the theme of soft boys/soft girls. (Computer, play “Only the Stones Remain” by the Soft Boys.)
Where: La Marche à côté (5043 rue Saint-Denis).
When: 8 to 10pm.
Who: Whoever has the balls, along with features Jessica Bebenek and Jessi MacEachern.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
9 SEPT (TUES)
CANNON: LEE LAI BOOK LAUNCH
What: Widely published cartoonist Lee Lai launches her second graphic novel at D&Q. Come early, come often, it’s a small space.
Where: Librarie Drawn & Quarterly (176 rue Bernard O).
When: 6:30pm doors, 7pm show.
Who: Lee Lai, in conversation with Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
10 SEPT (WEDS)
SOIRÉE POÉTIQUE VOL. 5
What: A drink and draw event / spoken word night, I’m if nothing else tempted on the basis that it is being held in the sublime Café Gitana. Forget blasting cigs in a punk venue, when was the last time you smoked a cigar at a poetry reading?
Where: Café Gitana (2080 Rue St-Denis).
When: 7pm.
Who: Whoever has the taşaklar.
How Much: PWYC. (Event link.)
WOMEN WHO WOKE UP THE LAW: KARIN WELLS BOOK LAUNCH
What: CBC radio documentarian Karin Wells launches her new nonfiction book on some of the legal cases that shaped contemporary women’s rights in Canada.
Where: Argo Bookshop (1841 Rue St-Catherine O).
When: 7pm.
Who: Karin Wells, in conversation with David Gutnick.
How Much: Free. (But RSVP strongly suggested.)
13 SEPT (SAT)
SQUID @ MON AMIE FRANKEE MARKET
What: I think this is just Squid mag tabling at a maker market thing, but I already started this entry so, sure, it’s an event.
Where: Epiphany Church (4322 Wellington St., Verdun).
When: 12 to 5pm.
Who: Various Squids.
How Much: Free. (Event link.)
14 SEPT (SUN)
POME’S BOOKS BRICK & MORTAR (SIMULATION)
What: Intrepid indie used book merchant Justin, who usually sells at various events more or less out of the boot of his car, will have his full stock displayed in his home (which occasionally doubles as an art gallery). I’m supposed to pick up a Roque Dalton book from him I bought weeks ago! He’s probably very mad at me! But you should be okay…
Where: 4846 Rue St-Urbain.
When: 11 to 5pm.
Who: Not who, what: books!
How Much: Free. (Event link.)
18 SEPT (THURS)
WE LOVE YOU, BUNNY: MONA AWAD BOOK LAUNCH
What: Montrealer Mona Awad’s become a rather successful novelist over the past nine years, and she’ll no doubt get a hero’s welcome at D&Q. Come early, come often, it’s a small space. uh this one’s at La Sala Rossa actually, so come whenever, come once I guess.
Where: La Sala Rossa (4848 Blvd Saint-Laurent).
When: 6:30pm doors, 7pm show.
Who: Mona Awad, in conversation with Heather O’Neill.
How Much: $14.22 sans livre, $49.74 avec livre. (Event link)
BACKBONE: MERYEM YILDIZ BOOK LAUNCH
What: And the hipbone’s connected to the, backbone, and the backbone’s connected to the… where was I? Meryem Yildiz ushers her first collection into the world, with support readings from a few friendly guests.
Where: Pulp Books (3952 Rue Wellington).
When: 7pm.
Who: Meryem Yildiz, Misha Solomon, Carolyn Marie Souaid, and Madeleine Caritas Longman.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
ARGO’S JAPAN BOOK CLUB
What: Argo Bookshop hosts a discussion of The Master of Go by the great Yasunari Kawabata. In-person or online, apparently you can come without having read the book (though that sounds like a patently insane thing to do, unless you are very curious about the advertised “Japanese snacks” that will be on hand).
Where: Argo Bookshop (1841 Rue Ste-Catherine O).
When: 7pm.
Who: Whoever has the (books).
How Much: Free. (Event link.)
19 SEPT (FRI)
ALL KIDDING ASIDE: JEAN-CHRISTOPHE RÉHEL BOOK LAUNCH
What: The exceedingly prolific Neil Smith translated Montreal novelist Réhel—and so this launch will transpire.
Where: Librairie De Stiil (351 Ave Duluth E).
When: 7pm.
Who: Neil Smith, for one.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
20 SEPT (SAT)
THE PIT ISSUE 6 LAUNCH
What: Was it these guys who did the carnival themed launch last time?1 Anyway, this one’s garden-themed, no readers announced but there’s music by someone who looks like they probably enjoyed Scorpio Rising and a jewelry merchant.
Where: DM one of the Pitters for the address.
When: 6pm.
Who: Jared St. James, some poets.
How Much: $20, includes issue. (Event link)
21 SEPT (SUN)
ACCENT OPEN MIC/CACTUS PRESS LAUNCH
What: Popular biweekly bilingual open mic, this time on the theme of…uh, cactuses I suppose, as the titular press issues two new chapbooks. (Computer, play that time Cactus Jack piledrove Triple H through a table.)
Where: La Marche à côté (5043 rue Saint-Denis).
When: 8 to 10pm.
Who: Whoever has the balls, along with Kirsten Shute and Matthew Rettino.
How Much: Free. (Event link.)
23 SEPT (TUES)
MAYBE: ISSUE #3 LAUNCH
What: MAYBE mag has a regularly irregular publishing schedule, but with co-publisher Gwen Aube temporarily back in town, it stands to reason another issue (guest edited by Alana Dunlop) is now seeing the light. It’s unclear exactly who is performing, but as both Aube and Dunlop read at Discordia’s last Bonfire show, we’ll probably go see what’s up.
Where: Ping Pong Club (5788 Blvd Saint-Laurent ) L'idéal (151 Rue Ontario Est) L'Hémisphère Gauche (221 Rue Beaubien E) PICK A FUCKEN SPOT ALREADY GOD
When: 7pm doors, 8pm readings.
Who: TBD.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
THE LONGEST WAY TO EAT A MELON: JACQUELYN ZONG-LI ROSS LAUNCH
What: While I’m almost certain I can think of a few longer ones, I’m willing to be surprised. Book launch chat with an opening reading.
Where: Rocket Science Room (204-170 Jean Talon O [Atlas Building]).
When: 6:30pm doors, 7pm show.
Who: Jacquelyn Zong-Li Ross in conversation with Carmen Faye Mathes, plus Jacob Wren.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
24 SEPT (WEDS)
SENTENCE: MIKHAIL IOSSEL LAUNCH
What: Longtime Concordia creative writing prof Mikhail Iossel has also been known to pen a book on occasion. Today is such an occasion.
Where: Bar Kabinet (98B Av. Laurier O).
When: 5 to 7pm.
Who: Mikhail Iossel.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
LECTURES POP READS
What: A bilingual reading associated with Pop Montreal fest, organized by Expozine curated by the francophone Les Éditions de Ta Mère and the Anglo Metatron Press. With luck, some people will show up expecting music and be too embarrassed to leave.
Where: Théâtre Rialto (5723 Ave Parc).
When: 6 to 8pm.
Who: Marie Darsigny, Sara Sutterlin, Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch, Ashley Obscura, Alexandre Dostie, Baron Marc-André Lévesque, Maude Jarry, Olivier Lussier.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
RODAISUN: CELEBRATING 50 ISSUES
What: Wait, Rodaisun has published fifty issues? Excuse me while I stumble around nude accosting random pedestrians, demanding to know what day is it! The date! What year?! Anyway, that’s a lot of issues, so they’re having a party.
Where: Sans Soleil (1002 Rue St-Urbain).
When: 9:30pm doors till late.
Who: Vinyl, cocktails, 50 issues of the magazine.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
25 SEPT (THURS)
THISISNOTASAFESPACE: BACKINTHEHABIT
What: Tara McGowan-Ross and Andrew Jamieson don wimples for this second edition of the resurrected TINASS, which presents a multi-disciplinary lineup of performers in an unusual pop-up location. Rave style day-of location drops by text for those on the list.
Where: Who can say?
When: 9pm.
Who: IYKYK. (We don’t know.)
How Much: Free. (No event link; you’ll have to go hunting...)
POP MONTREAL: TUKAN/POETS’ WORKOUT SOUNDSYSTEM
What: A guy wearing Majora’s Mask dances enthusiastically to sliced up clips of Alice Notley and such while Burning Man electronica bumps over the PA. And there’s a Belgian post-rock-ish band also.
Where: Bar le Ritz (179 Jean Talon O).
When: 8:30p.m.
Who: Poets’ Workout Soundsystem and TUKAN.
How Much: $18. (Event link.)
27 SEPT (SAT)
SALON DU LIVRE ANCIEN DE MONTRÉAL/MONTREAL ANTIQUARIAN BOOK FAIR
What: Always a charming event, the Antiquarian Book Fair is a lovely opportunity to ogle some of the treasures of the Northeast coast’s finest print ghouls.
Where: McConnell Pavilion, Concordia. (1400 boul. de Maisonneuve O.)
When: Opens 10am (both Saturday & Sunday), closes at 4 or 5pm probly.
Who: Picture varyingly friendly versions of the Crypt Keeper.
How Much: $10, one ticket gets you in both days if you wish. (Event link.)
CONFABULATION: BOOKMARKED
What: A live storytelling series, seemingly in the tradition of The Moth. This month’s edition celebrates 50 years of beloved bookshop The Word.
Where: Centaur Theatre. (453 Rue Saint Francois Xavier.)
When: 8pm.
Who: Various guest storytellers.
How Much: $23 students and seniors, $26 adults. (Event link.)
MIC’D UP: CELEBRATING THE CULTURE
What: Slam series celebrates third anniversary.
Where: Afro Musee (533 Rue Ontario E)
When: 7:30pm.
Who: Whoever has the balls.
How Much: $20 (Event link.)
28 SEPT (SUN)
OPEN MIC POETRY NIGHT!
What: The exclamation mark is part of the title, we’re not editorializing. The new Inkwell Writers Society collective returns with its second open mic show at the Tilted Kilt McKibbin’s.
Where: McKibbin’s (1426 Rue Bishop).
When: 6pm to 8pm.
Who: Whoever has the balls.
How Much: Free. (Event link)
And looking ahead to October…
JRG Open Mic w/ Jessica Bebenek & Miles Forrester (October 2, Hemisphere Gauche), Kathy Kennedy: Vowel Jams (October 3, Casa d’Italia), Throw! Slam (October 4, 8 p.m., Le Basement), Billy Ray Belcourt w/ Writers Read (October 6, 7pm, 9th Floor Molson Building), A Smile Split By the Stars: An Experiment (October 8, 1 p.m., 4th Space), Soliloquies Open Mic (October 9, 7 pm, Mes pants de queer), Black Queer & Trans Open Mic (October 10, Black Healing Centre), Jaap Blonk and Co. (October 14, 8pm to 11pm), Madpoetix slam (October 19, 6:30 p.m., 429 Viger), Lectures Logos (October 20, 6:30 p.m., UNIA), Rachel Kushner w/ Writers Read (October 23, 7pm, York Amphitheatre), La somptueuse bilingual slam (October 23, 7:30 p.m., Bar Milton Parc), Mic’d Up Open Mic (October 25, 7:30 p.m., Afro Musee), Lynn Kozak w/ Writers Read (October 30, 1pm, 4th Space)
In memory of Jay Gobuty, who was Outrageous.
IN OTHER LOCAL ARTS NEWS
It was, I belatedly realized I could just scroll down their IG and look, but I’m too hungover to come up with a new description for this show.