ontreal is a busy place. With restaurants and bars opening and closing every day, concerts being performed nonstop, and news developing faster than it can be reported, it's hard to stay afloat. You need a guide. Martiniboys is here to help. Keeping our ears to the ground and our eyes to the blogs, we've collected all the hot buzz that you need to stay informed about your fair city. Whether it be a hot new band or a shocking political scandal, you'll find it here. There's no need to thank us, we're just doing our jobs. Okay, you can thank us.



Since Montreal is such a musical Mecca, there is a lot of competition for the title of best music festival. My vote goes to Pop Montreal. With more than 200 acts playing in over 20 venues, the festival isn't only a chance to check out some fantastic artists, but also a chance to see the city transformed into a giant drunken club-hopping celebration. Of course, with a combination of emerging artists and well-established powerhouses, the music ain't bad either. This year's line-up has just been announced, and it's definitely nothing to scoff at. Leading the list of established elite are freak-rockers Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, avant-punkers Wire, and songwriter extraordinaire Burt Bacharach. That's a tough bill for the young whippersnappers to top, but this is Montreal; they'll certainly try. Jason Collett, Crystal Castles, the Black Lips, Julie Doiron, Wintersleep, Woodhands, Dan Deacon, Great Lake Swimmers, and You Say Party! We Say Die! aren't a bad start (understatement of the year). If you don't go to at least one show, you should be forced to move. I hear Saskatoon has got some space.