© POP Montreal International Music Festival, Stacy Lee

Discover your next favourite band at Pop Montréal!

Mark Hamilton

Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, an internationally-touring musician with his projects Woodpigeon and Frontperson  and a graduate studies student of history researching LGBTQ+ activism in the city. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.

For the past two decades, Pop Montréal has programmed the freshest faces and most legendary acts in indie music, its finger firmly on the pulse of who’s set to be the next big thing. This year, Pop (as it’s affectionately known to locals) celebrates its 20th anniversary with another groundbreaking lineup featuring local favourites and up-and-comers ready for their close-up.

A who’s who of indie

For its 2021 edition running September 22 to 26, Pop Montréal features must-see performances by 2020 Polaris Prize winner Backxwash, legendary hometown heroes The Dears (who performed at Pop’s first edition in 2001), psych-rock stunners SUUNS, queer rapper Cakes da Killa and the debut performance by Montréal supergroup ALL HANDS / MAKE LIGHT fronted by Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s Efrim Manuel Menuck and Ariel Engle of La Force. Be sure not to miss performances by new kids on the block Vanille, Laura Niquay and Aiza – and revel in the right to say you saw them first.

© POP Montreal International Music Festival, Jean-Philippe Sansfacon

Let’s go POP!

Montréal’s place as one of the world’s leading cities for indie music (check out our MTL Indie 101 here, and listen along to our MTL Indie Spotify playlist!) has long been intertwined with Pop Montréal’s activities both as a festival and show promoter in the city. More than just a music festival, Pop Montréal’s programming stretches throughout the year, including Art POP exhibitions, the Puces POP artisanal market, Film POP screenings at Cinéma Moderne and L’Entrepôt77 and Kids POP events for the littlest indie rockers too. And to celebrate this most important of anniversaries, there’s even a Pop Parade winding through the Mile End. Happy Birthday, Pop!

Mark Hamilton

Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, an internationally-touring musician with his projects Woodpigeon and Frontperson  and a graduate studies student of history researching LGBTQ+ activism in the city. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.

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