THURSDAY JULY 5

6pm. Walter Scott: Wendy Comics Vernissage @ Citizen Vintage, 5330 St-Laurent. A vernissage for Montreal-based artist Walter Scott’s comic series “Wendy” “the fictional narrative of a young woman living in an urban centre, whose dreams of contemporary art stardom are perpetually derailed by the temptations of punk music, drugs, alcohol, parties, and boys.”Vernissage features special guest DJs Dead Wife, DJ Linda Blair, and DJ Taylor Momsen, as well as performances by A Mary Tramdack Brand Consultation, Rodna and Cecc and Mel. Comics and posters will also be for sale, and, through July 31st, Wendy comics will be on display for the first time in 3D!

11pm. Nobody Beats the Drum @ Society for Arts and Technology SAT, 1201 St-Laurent. Dutch trio Nobody Beats the Drum performs a late night show at SAT as part of the Montreal Jazz Fest. DJs Sjam Sjamsoedin and Jori Collignon and visual artist Rogier van der Zwaag will rouse and awe the dance floor with their banging electro-hiphop and hallucinatory visuals. Tickets $32, available here.

FRIDAY JULY 6

6pm. Bridget Moser – Woman of the Hour(s) @ W WTWO, 170 Jean Talon Ouest, Unit 206. Montreal artist Bridget Moser’s “durational performance” in Woman of the Hour(s) promises “objects, concepts, and miscellany… ceremoniously slow-roasted.” Plus there’s a reception! Till midnight.

9:30pm. Timber Timbre @ Théâtre Maisonneuve – Place des Arts, 175 Ste. Catherine Street West. Montreal’s Timber Timbre brings its eerie blues-indie to Théâtre Maisonneuve to play Jazz Fest for the first time. Tickets $43, available here.

SATURDAY JULY 7

9:30pm. Chromeo Free Outdoor Show @ Scène TD de la Place des Festivals (corner of Maisonneuve and Jeanne-Mance). As part of closing events for the Jazz Fest, Montreal electrofunk duo Chromeo will play a free outdoor show to what is sure to be a huge, sweaty, madly-dancing hometown crowd. Show up early if you want a good view of the stage, and dress for hot and sticky dancing! Did we mention it is FREE?

SUNDAY JULY 8

2pm. Battle of the Bands: The Duke Ellington Orchestra vs. The Count Basie Orchestra @ Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier – Place des Arts, 175 Ste-Catherine West. As part of closing events for the Jazz Fest, Place des Arts will host an orchestral battle of the bands between two legendary big bands of 1930s and 40s, reconfigured for 2012. The Duke Ellington Orchestra (led by Paul Mercer Ellington, Duke’s grandson) will face off against the Count Basie Orchestra (conducted by Bill Hughes) for the very first time. A must for lovers of swing, big band and orchestral jazz. Tickets $85, available here.