Where to hear live music in Montréal

Montréal’s history as a musical mecca reaches back to the jazz age, with audiences flocking from across the border and from around the world to experience the city’s infamous nightlife scene’s jazz and blues clubs. American Prohibition kept the audiences coming throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and Montréal remains a hotspot incubator for jazz, blues, hip-hop and contemporary composition. And Montréal has continued to shift and grow with the times—from its role as a bonafide disco city in the 1970s, as the storied home of Leonard Cohen and Oscar Peterson, to the massive all-night raves of the 1990s and its current role as home to one of North America’s most active indie and electronic music scenes. 

Music fans set their annual travel schedule to take in epic all-star festivals like the crowd-pleasing Osheaga, the legendary Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, the experimentally-minded MUTEK and Suoni Per Il Popolo, the unstoppable dance beats of Igloofest and îLESONIQ, the global mosaics of Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, Mundial Montréal, the focus on French-language performers at Francos de Montréal, and the eclectic programming shining a spotlight on your new favourite bands at POP Montréal International Music Festival. And there’s more where that came from too, along with a vibrant live music programme all year long—many scheduled at the following venues each with an emphasis on fantastic sound and brilliant performances. 

The big ones

Place des Arts houses a series of elegant theatres and performance spaces in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles (where you’ll also find the Place des Festivals, main stage to many of the summer’s biggest festivals), including the Maison symphonique de Montréal, home-base to the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and the Orchestre Métropolitain. And both the Bell Centre (also home ice for the Montréal Canadiens hockey team) and Place Bell in Laval regularly host high profile shows from the world’s biggest rock, pop, hip-hop and country music stars.

The classic beauties

The Beanfield Theatre in the Saint-Henri quartier of cool has held performances since 1912 in its stately hall including indie superstars including Slowdive, The Breeders and Stereolab. The Rialto Theatre presents shows throughout the year and acts as POP Montréal’s showcase venue with its beautifully ornate ceilings, glowing stage and iconic marquee. The Village's L'Olympia presents large-scale theatre shows by the likes of Adrienne Lenker and Arcade Fire in front of plush seating and balcony space. Further east down Sainte-Catherine Street, Le National is an indie music hot spot, with performers including Cate Le Bon, The Dears and Sharon Van Etten and great sightline from its sloping wooden floor and balcony. (Le National’s sister venue La Tulipe is temporarily closed at time of writing, but has been home to unmissable performers since the days of Vaudeville recently including Jessica Pratt). 

Rocking and raving

MTELUS, Club Soda, the Society for Art and Technology (SAT) and Foufounes Electriques are all in close proximity in the Quartier des spectacles, near the corner of Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Sainte-Catherine Street, each hosting big shows by the most in-demand musical acts from around the world. The SAT’s venues includes an upstairs dome used for immersive 360 performance experiences and the centre’s programming focuses on a finely curated list of electronic artists. MTELUS and Club Soda’s line-ups range from rock to rap, while the legendary Foufounes Electriques is well-known for its heavy rock and punk shows (including oft-discussed shows by Nirvana in 1990 and 1991).

Intimate spaces

While the halls at Théâtre Fairmount, Le Ministère, Le Studio TD and Phi are far from small, their unique layouts and wide stages provide the sense of more intimate performances. The Old Montréal-based Phi specializes in shows with multimedia and visual components by the likes of La Force and FYEAR, while Théâtre Fairmount has long been a de rigeur tour stop for indie luminaries including Destroyer, Low and Mount Eerie. Le Studio TD is a prime spot to catch some free Jazz Fest programming, while also presenting acts like Blonde Redhead throughout the rest of the year, and Le Ministère’s stage hosts DJs and bands behind a beautiful facade of tall columns.

Eat to the beat

With food menus that taste as good as the music on-stage sounds, Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill, Dièse Onze and Le Balcon specialize in jazz, blues and R&B, each with their own unique flavour. Upstairs is a perfect spot to hear some legendary figures while crossing paths with locals, while Dièse Onze specializes in coziness in its downstairs location in the Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood. And from its historic home in the towering St. James United Church on Sainte-Catherine Street, Le Balcon brings diners to their feet with passionate evenings of soul, Motown, flamenco and unforgettable gospel brunches.

The indie underground

Founded by some of Montréal’s most legendary indie musicians in the 1990s, Casa del Popolo has since been a must-play stage for up-and-comers. Expanding to La Sala Rossa and La Sotterenea across the street, this trio of venues features great programming every night of the week, and in both buildings you’ll find some refreshing and recharging snacks and drinks at their in-house bars and restaurants. Expanding the Casa family, both La Toscadura and P’tit Ours are home to smaller shows, offering a rare chance to experience artists early in their careers.

Rock and punk clubs galore

Based in the vibrant Mile-Ex neighbourhood amongst studio buildings and ateliers, Bar Le Ritz P.D.B.'s calendar is a who’s who of indie stalwarts including This is the Kit and Julie Doiron. In the Plateau l'Escogriffe Bar Spectacle, Turbo Haüs, Quai des Brumes, and Barfly are rocking throughout the week with garage rock, psych-rock, punk, alt-folk-country and dark-wave electro bursting from their stages, and their bustling patios are the perfect spot to discuss that night’s lineup post-show.