WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16 TO SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19
M for Montreal @ several venues across the city. Founded in 2006 and recognized for its wonderful showcase of up-and-coming local acts, the M for Montreal Festival enters its sixth year with an incredible line-up of bands and musicians, playing at some of our favourite, intimate Montreal venues. Notable acts include Ariane Moffat, Bran Van 3000, M83, Misteur Valaire and so many more. Check out the full program here. A $50 4-day badge enables you to see a total of 40 bands ($2 per band = DEAL). Otherwise, ticket prices vary by venue/show.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16 TO MONDAY NOVEMBER 21
Salon du livre de Montréal @ Place Bonaventure, 800 De La Gauchetière Ouest. Calling avid readers, writers, and holiday-shoppers: Montreal’s incredible 2011 Salon du livre/book fair takes place this week, bringing the written work of over 1600 Canadian and international authors (and many of the authors themselves, of course!) to Place Bonaventure for six jam-packed days. Admission is only $8 ($6 if you buy a ticket online, or with a valid student ID), and definitely worth the money: over 950 kiosks are expected at this year’s event. Opening hours are 9am to 9pm from Wednesday to Saturday, 9am to 7pm on Sunday, and 9am to 5pm on Monday. For full details, check out the event website!
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17
11:30pm. Barn Burner + Trigger Effect @ Bar L’Escogriffe, 4467 St-Denis. FYI: Sunday metal-night at Salon Officiel is no more (weep), and so, we now must seek out a metal fix where we can. Montreal’s Barn Burner and Trigger Effect will take the stage at L’Esco this weekend, as part of M for Montreal (see above). Hit that shit up. $5.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18 AND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19
‘She’s Got a Shape’ Comedy Tour @ Theatre St-Catherine, 264 St-Catherine. Two female comedy troupes – Ladystache and Cheap Smokes – bring their tour to Montreal for two nights of good-gracious-hilarity. Shows begin at 9pm both nights; tickets are $15. For details about each act, go here.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19
9pm. Boyz Noize + Bassex + Vakkuum @ Telus Theatre, 1280 St-Denis. Dance party! Berlin’s Boyz Noize are finally back in Montreal for a night of rage n’ dance, accompanied by San-Francisco’s Bassex and Vermont-based Vakkuum. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online.
10pm. Kannibalen – The Playblood Mansion @ Le Belmont, 4483 St-Laurent. Throw on your bunny ears (and fake blood?) and head over to Belmont’s themed ‘Playblood Mansion’ soirée, featuring Black Tiger Sex Machine, Dooze Jackers, Elo!I & Heights and more! $5.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20
9:30pm. Movember Comedy Hoo-Ha @ The Burgundy Lion, 2496 Notre-Dame West. As every girl with a male friend knows, it is currently Movember (the month preceding Decembeard and Manuary, btw). What better way to show your support for our Montreal men than with a night of comedy? Exactly. Many local comic favourites will be on hand for an unforgettable and hairy evening. Free entry! Don’t forget to support the cause!