Previous Montreal is the oldest space within the metropolis of Montreal, with the oldest of its buildings relationship again to the seventeenth century.
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We do not discuss Montreal sufficient. The town boasts probably the most thrilling DIY music scenes of the late aughts and 2010s, plus one of many largest jazz festivals on the earth. Montreal was additionally dwelling to one of many best songwriters ever: Leonard Cohen.
It is a metropolis overflowing with musical riches, and it is resulted in among the greatest tales we have put collectively for our Sense of Place: Montreal sequence, which is able to publish between Oct. 9 and Oct. 17.
We’re kicking issues off with Jasamine White-Gluz of No Pleasure. 2025’s Bugland has been duly praised for its thrilling tackle shoegaze, however White-Gluz takes us again to the late aughts, when she would carry out in Montreal’s Mile Finish neighborhood alongside acts like Grimes.
Then, we’re heading down the street to Hotel2Tango, the studio the place Montreal bands like Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Arcade Fireplace as soon as laid down now-iconic tracks with recording wiz Howard Bilerman.
Dorothy Williams, an professional on Black Canadian historical past, will stroll us by way of the historical past of Montreal’s jazz scene. We’ll get a style of Montreal’s nightlife with Polaris Prize-winning DJ and artist Pierre Kwenders. Plus, an intimate dialog with Inuit musician Elisapie, who breathed new life into traditional rock hits on her 2023 covers album, Inuktitut.
Oh, and don’t be concerned: We’ve not forgotten the Godfather of Gloom. Cohen’s reminiscence is sprinkled all through the sequence.
To kick issues off, we have put collectively a mixtape with among the music that’ll be featured all through our newest Sense of Place sequence, plus some important Montreal tracks to get issues going:
Try the total schedule of episodes to come back beneath:
Thursday, Oct. 9: No Pleasure
Jasamine White-Gluz provides us a glimpse into how the town’s DIY scene in its Mile Finish neighborhood flourished within the late aughts and 2010s.
Friday, Oct. 10: Howard Bilerman
We dig deeper into Mile Finish’s story with the co-founder of Hotel2Tango. Bilerman explains how he went from taping reside reveals as a teen to recording with among the largest acts to come back out of the town.
Monday, Oct. 13: Pierre Kwenders
The Congolese-born DJ and artist shares how he constructed a vibrant nightlife group centered across the metropolis’s African diaspora.
Tuesday, Oct. 14: Chromeo
An encore of our 2024 dialog with electro-funk duo about their album, Grownup Up to date.
Wednesday, Oct. 15: Ruby Roy
Veteran tour information Ruby Roy explains why Leonard Cohen is so important to Montreal’s music legacy.
Thursday, Oct. 16: Elisapie
The Inuit musician charts the inventive and emotional journey that led to her 2023 covers album, Inuktitut.
Friday, Oct. 17: Dorothy Williams
The professional on Black Canadian historical past explains how Montreal turned a hotbed of jazz in the course of the Prohibition period — and what forces ultimately undid the scene.
