Saddle up! Gallop on over to Montréal’s western scene

One game changer in the city’s country and western scene was the launch of LASSO by the founders of OSHEAGA and ÎLESONIC, in 2022 — as soon as the inaugural edition hit Parc Jean-Drapeau, they knew they had a winner on their hands. Montréal is now the second-strongest market in Canada for country consumption, just behind Toronto. 

Overlooking the city skyline, the boot stomping, knee slapping, hand clapping LASSO festival presents a killer lineup every August: this year it’s on August 16 and 17 and features Sam Hunt, Eric Church, Brett Young, Megan Moroney, Mackenzie Porter and more — not to mention the LASSO in the City programming to launch the whole rodeo on August 15, at Beanfield Theatre. That opening night stars Brittany Kennell, Andie Therio, Vince Lemire, Guillaume Lafond, Fred Dionne, Savannah Jade and Matt Lang as MC, and it’s all free, including a line dancing class.

Now joining the party, the brand new SHÉRIF festival, launching this year in the Old Port, is another exciting gathering spot for the country community: this simulation of a real western village invites visitors to enjoy authentic Southern grub (spicy chili and grilled corn, yes ma’am) with live country music, bouncy castles (or saloons?), line dancing, a mechanical bull and more. It all goes down on September 19 to 22, 2024, at the Clock Tower Pier.

For a western experience on any ordinary non-festival day of the year, head to the aforementioned Wheel Club, of course, as well as the rippin’ good time of Spaghetti Western, a bar on Plaza St-Hubert where — you guessed it —spaghetti-western flicks play non-stop on TV screens and you can accompany your bourbon cocktails with a heaping plate o’ spaghetti in their cozy saloon-style booths. Barfly, on the Plateau, will regularly have live bands playing bluegrass and country sounds.

Promenade Masson has a fresh arrival on the western front, called the 26-56 Saloon: this country bar awaits you for open mic night, line dancing or just a bucket of Pabst Blue Ribbons shared with friends.

For dancing aficionados, Club Bolo is a not-for-profit LGBTQ+ dance club and school that offers one and all line dancing classes, both for beginners and more advanced two-steppers. Or get footloose at one of the @spursnight line dancing nights, an inclusive theme night that often happens at Champs on the Main. No experience necessary! Though the regulars are intimidatingly good.

Jack Saloon has a new location on Crescent, the busiest street in downtown Montréal, featuring a new twist on a western resto-bar with a yummy Tex-Mex menu (try the pulled pork nachos). Catch live music of DJs who mix country with top 40 hits on weekends.

Check shirts, kerchiefs and a slick pair of boots aren’t de rigueur, but they sure do help get you in the mood. You’ll find all of the above at many of Montréal’s awesome vintage stores, especially Hadio on Avenue du Mont-Royal, where there are more pairs of perfectly aged Levis that you can shake a stick at. The internationally recognized Harricana is comprised exclusively of clothing and objects made in Québec, including Fedora hats. Boutique Indiana is a close contender if you prefer your jeans, boots, hats and other western wear new, while Boulet Boots is THE place for top-notch, hand-stitched cowboy boots. It’s worth the trip to Laval to see the incredible selection of boots and more at Boutique Village Western, and for bespoke cowboy hats made according to the quality of tradition at Montréal’s oldest hat-maker’s, head to Henri Henri.

Welcome to Montrey’all!