FME 2025: A Review

September 26 2025 // Robert Portnoff // Magazine // Features

  Sunday, alas Sunday, the final day of the festival, filled with ominous dread, the end of FME for another year. To help soothe the soul, there was an afternoon concert by Vancouver’s Empanadas Illegales. With their jammy salsa cumbia rhythms and infectious grooves, the sextet provided the perfect musical backdrop for a lovely Sunday afternoon in a park. Or in this case, the city's botanical gardens.

Frankie Cosmos, Moontype, and Fantasy of a Broken Heart; the perfect show for music lovers

September 20 2025 // Beatrice Pelletier // Magazine // Concert Reviews

Frankie Cosmos gave Montreal's music lovers a memorable night. On September 16th, at the intimate venue Bar le Ritz, Frankie Cosmos performed with opening bands Moontype and Fantasy of a Broken Heart. I have never attended a concert where every band impressed me so much. With every artist, I felt as if I was discovering a new favourite, as they each showcased unique and impressive musical talents.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre Rule, Okay?

September 20 2025 // Angelica Calcagnile // Magazine // Concert Reviews

In the pantheon of great indie rock beefs, The Brian Jonestown Massacre versus The Dandy Warhols looms large, mostly due to its thorough documentation in the highly acclaimed 2004 rock doc Dig! If you know, you know, and you probably have already picked a team. I have been and remain Team Dandys, and have seen them live many times, most recently this past March. 

Massacre in Montreal! The Brian Jonestown Massacre hits Théatre Beanfield

September 18 2025 // Sophie Alexander // Magazine // Concert Reviews

The sweet September air is ripe with the promise of magic, whimsy and enchantment, none of which will ever be as palpable as it was in the walk over to the Théatre Beanfield. As I headed there in my beat-up platform Jordan Doc Marten boots (a concert staple), my wired headphones beamed The Brian Jonestown Massacre straight into my ears in preparation for the show I was en route to see.

McKinley Dixon’s Magic, Alive! Tour will revive you

September 17 2025 // Ingrid Riccius // Magazine // Concert Reviews

Heading to the McKinley Dixon show on Monday, I was so tired. I mean, it was a Monday. Mondays are typically reserved for reconciling the weekend and doomscrolling. Despite the fatigue hanging on my body, I knew McKinley Dixon would be unmissable. So I stumbled to La Sala Rossa, somewhat revived from a Trip de Bouffe sandwich and my curiosity for the show ahead. Dixon is touring for his latest album, Magic, Alive!, which was released this past June.

The Pogues Ignite MTelus with a Raucous Celebration of Shane MacGowan

September 16 2025 // Donald Roberge // Magazine // Concert Reviews

Who knew Boomers could jump four inches into the air, repeatedly? Anyone caught in the ebullience of The Pogues’ high-energy set at MTelus on September 12th would have witnessed elders defying their years, pogoing, bobbing, hooting, and expressing genuine glee for a legendary band whose return to our city was highly anticipated.

Willow Avalon Rides High in Montréal

September 16 2025 // Taina Nijimbre // Magazine // Concert Reviews

Walking into Studio TD on that warm August night felt like stepping back into Leopold’s Tavern back home in Regina. It’s cozy without being cramped, and the kind of room where a whisper can carry just as far as a scream - which is exactly what Willow Avalon’s music calls for. 

Eastern Promises in discussion with Marc McLaughlin

September 8 2025 // Donald Roberge // Magazine // Interviews

Eastern Promises’ host Donald Roberge spoke with Fredericton, New Brunswick-based singer-songwriter Marc McLaughlin, ahead of his September 11th performance at Mai/Son, in Montreal.

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In the Shadows: Hotline TNT’s Path of Totality Tour

August 27 2025 // Ceylan Borgers // Magazine // Concert Reviews

A little over one month into their The Path of Totality tour, which celebrates the release of their latest album, Raspberry Moon, the beloved New York shoegaze band, Hotline TNT, shows no sign of slowing down.

Exeunt: Lulu LaMontagne

August 26 2025 // Juliette Zoni // Magazine // Concert Reviews

Third time’s the charm. At the end of the winter semester, my friend had convinced me to come see her friend’s band play at Casa del Popolo—not knowing at all what their sound was, except for the fact that this friend had said the band was “glam-rock esque.” I had immediate visions of Kiss, with their loud makeup and frequent tongue protrusions. I remember not knowing what to expect; the unknown lay before my ears, and I was vaguely uncomfortable. We were preparing for a certain amount of wincing and had hung close to the wall.

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