M for Montreal 2011 Preview, Part 2
M for Montreal, a compact annual festival, starts its sixth edition tomorrow and for the third year in a row, I’ll be there. It’s so well run and filled with such cool stuff that I wouldn’t think of missing it.
Here’s part two of my preview of this year’s festival. (If you missed part 1, go here.)
Fanny Bloom: Like Lykke Li? Then you might find something interesting here.
For a Minor Reflection: For some reason, M for Montreal attracts and unusual number of Icelandic bands–not that this is a bad thing. This four-piece deals mostly in instrumentals and like everyone in Iceland, they’ve toured with Sigur Ros.
Galaxie: Shortlisted for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize, they got beat out by hometown superstars Arcade Fire. Their performance at the gala was very memorable. Looking forward to seeing a full set.
Hollerado: These guys are still on a run that started 18 months ago. I expect them to be much more polished and than they already were. I’m a big admirer of this Ottawa band.
I.No: Folky, rocky and soulful. This could be interesting.
Irreverend James & the Critical Mass Choir: Described as “a secular, rabble-rousing, queer-positive, feminist, subversive gospel music band.” That has my attention.
Karkwa: Winners of the 2010 Polaris Music Prize. Let’s see where they are now.
Lackofsleep: Thrashy stuff in the vein of the Black Keys.
Leafer: They named an EP after a country in central Africa. But it’s not what you’d expect.
Leif Vollebek: He lives in Montreal but studied philosophy in Iceland. That has to result in an interesting world view, don’t you think?
Part 3 of the preview tomorrow.