It’s the time of year where we get on our BIXIs and bike as fast as possible, to as many shows as possible, in the Mile End and Plateau. POP Montreal has begun! As we rip around the festival once again, we thought we’d share our list of must-see acts with the general public, accompanied by a curated playlist, of course.

Check out our top POP Montreal 2023 top picks, and grab your tickets to the festival below.

Wednesday, September 27th

POP Montreal Opening Party

Starting off strong, AWAL is presenting POP Montreal’s FREE opening party this year. Emma Beko will be DJing, alongside sets from Planet Giza and Jesse Futerman from 5PM-8PM.

Dresser will be opening for Islands, alongside Blurry at La Sotterenea. Expect lyrically-locused art-rock and a caring crowd vibe.

Contending for the craziest combination of band names on one bill, Hot Garbage are expected to get grungy with Frankie and the Witch Fingers, and Iguana Death Cult. There will be no iguanas, but there will be dark post-punk and motorik krautrock tunes shining through the evening for you to mosh to.

Possibly Montreal’s greatest popstars, Fireball Kid and Ura Star, will be sharing the Diving Bell Stage with Crushhh, Sahati, and Stepahnie Frances Lawrence. They’re the best friends you’ve always dreamed of, and they’ll be sure to get you grooving with their starry-eyed pop.

Thursday, September 28th

Recent guests of the Also Cool Sounds Like podcast, OMBIIGIZI plays La Sotterenea, alongside Pony Girl, blackwinterwells and MAGELLA. Listen to our interview with OMBIIGIZI (hosted by Tash of Love Language, who is also playing POP), here!

Sasha Cay celebrates the launch of her album Spin, with Sunforger, SAMWOY, and Alphonse Bisaillon at l’Escogriffe Bar Spectacle. “Spin took form in two stilted and warped years, heavy with this profound seasickness of being both empty and full,” says Cay. Listen to Also Cool’s interview with Cay on our podcast, Also Cool Sounds Like.

If you’re looking for your indie pop fix, Men I Trust will be playing the first of several shows with Twin Shadow at MTELUS. Easy to love, and perfect to bring a cute date to, doors open at 8:30PM.

Friday, September 29th

Montreal’s TikTok sweetheart Emilie Kahn will be singing her heartfelt songs at Le Quai des Brumes, with POSTDATA, Yawn, and Isaac Vallentin. For fans of Olivia Rodrigo, Lana Del Rey, and the act of transforming your heartbreak into something beautiful.

The love child of Lily Allen and Ashnikko, and a TikTok star in her own right, Madelline is hitting the stage this Friday at Le Ministère. She’ll be playing with a few friends of Also Cool, including Lola 1:2 and Pretty Privilege, as well as Benja and 8485.

Karma Glider will be headlining an incredibly stacked show at l’Escogriffe Bar Spectacle, rocking with Mother Tongues, Nyssa, and Alix Fernz (FKA BloodSkin). We were lucky to catch Karma Glider play at FME, backlit by a beautiful sunset, and look forward to watching them rock again.

Closing out Saturday night, Sled Island takes over Piccolo Rialto with a rambunctious lineup. Headlining is New York’s brazen alt-rap princess, Junglepussy, along with Montreal’s own daring lyricist Fraud Perry. Twirling humour and truth between their hard-hitting flows, these two commanding forces in contemporary hip-hop guarantee a fiery performance that’s not to be missed.

Saturday, September 30th

Is it any surprise that we’re excited for La Sécurité’s set yet again? They’ll be playing an early show at L’Entrepôt77 with Pypy, Barber for the Queen, Love Language, Worry, Thunder Queens, and Doctor Mother Father.

Saturday evening, Hand Habits graces the Rialto Hall with their delicate devotional-folk. The project is the brainchild of Los Angeles-based Meg Duffy, who’s latest album, Sugar the Bruise, saw the musician’s Americana-leaning songwriting emboldened to new frontiers.

Saturday night promises an all-star lineup. Get ready to rally and hit Espace Sans Luxe for an energetic blend of hyper and glitch pop from Montreal dancefloor royalty Sarah Feldman and Sam Blake, joined by Los Angeles’ Ravenna Golden, with deck takeovers from local DJs Digital Polyglot and Destiny. Grab a yerba mate and you’re set, doors are at 10:30PM.

Sunday, October 1st
Midday gig at L’Entrepôt77? Count us in. Hometown hero Gayance will get the blood flowing with her jazz-infused house, joined by Ukranian electro-pop trio Balaklava Blues. Listen to the Also Cool Sounds Like episode featuring Gayance here.

Montreal singer-songwriter Vanille illuminates La Sala Rossa Monday evening with her sunny pairing of 60s folk and French chanson. Her most recent album, La clairière (arriving this past February via Bonbonbon), invites a dreamlike atmosphere, “decorated with lush arrangements and timeless melodies.”

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