Ever since 2002, Pop Montréal has taken over a part of its namesake metropolis for a sprawling, multi-faceted pageant. This yr, it takes place Sept. 27 to Oct. 1 and along with music (clearly), there are artwork showcases, discussions, movie, just about every part. Relating to music, Pop Montréal is a SXSW-style affair. A whole bunch of artists will mess around city, and it’s the precise form of place the place you may uncover one thing new and wonderful that no person’s fairly heard of but.

For this yr’s twenty second installment of Pop Montréal, Stereogum have joined up as media companions. (This additionally means we’ll be there — come say hello.) Whereas a big a part of the enjoyable will likely be stumbling into surprising gigs and listening to bands we’ve by no means heard earlier than, there’s additionally some tried and true favorites rounding out the lineup. Listed here are a few of the acts we’re trying ahead to most.

Bernice

Earlier this yr, the idiosyncratic Toronto pop experimentalists launched their newest album, Cruisin’. Like its predecessors, Cruisin’ is at instances glassy and eliminated, and others instantly stunning and open-hearted, all pushed by unusual synths and Robin Dann’s conversational vocals. It’s one other nice entry in an already formidable (and considerably underrated) physique of labor.

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Although it’s been a full 4 years since Will Oldham’s final correct Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy album — 2019’s putting I Made A Place — he’s been busy. In 2021, he teamed up with Matt Sweeney for Superwolves, a sequel to 2005’s cult traditional Superwolf, and additionally teamed up with Invoice Callahan for a complete album’s price of covers. Simply final week, he returned with the spare and reflective Preserving Secrets and techniques Will Destroy You. Look, you don’t actually need me to inform you about Will Oldham. At a pageant designed to find new expertise, Oldham is the revered elder statesman.

Georgia

Again in July, Georgia returned with one other assortment of ebullient dance-pop that was, fittingly, referred to as Euphoric. Out of the established names on Pop Montréal’s 2023 invoice, there’s a complete array of sounds. However Georgia is one which guarantees to be an easy-to-love, straight-up enjoyable set amidst headier fare.

Hand Habits

Meg Duffy is recent off the discharge of a brand new Hand Habits challenge, Sugar The Bruise, a set of songs meant to let Duffy be a bit extra freewheeling, to make one thing as a “a little bit sugar to the bruise of being born, a little bit sugar to the bruise of existence.” As you may anticipate, the music is not any much less emotionally weighty or resonant than different Hand Habits releases, and needs to be simply as highly effective in a reside setting.

Islands

Talking of elder statesmen: Islands usually are not solely the long-running indie institution led by Nick Thorburn, but in addition a band that originated proper in Montréal. Subsequent week, Thorburn’s returning with a brand new Islands album referred to as And That’s Why Dolphins Misplaced Their Legs. Islands kick off the very first evening of the pageant, virtually like they’re presiding over the following days.

Loraine James

Loraine James made certainly one of our favourite digital albums of 2022 — it was just below her different moniker, No matter The Climate. Now, she’s already again with one other beneath her personal identify, Light Confrontation. It drops proper in time to get accustomed to it earlier than seeing James convey it to life at Pop Montréal.

Ratboys

It’s been a protracted rollout, however Ratboys’ new album The Window lastly arrives subsequent week. When you’ve been being attentive to Stereogum, you could have observed that there have been a complete lot of singles from the album, and most of them ended up on 5 Greatest. So perhaps you can say we’re excited concerning the new Ratboys album. You ought to be too, and it’s best to actually be enthusiastic about seeing them up the ragged roots quotient on these songs reside.

Shabazz Palaces

Pop Montréal’s lineup doesn’t have an abundance of famous rap names, as a result of it isn’t that form of pageant. However what it does have is Shabazz Palaces, Ishmael Butler’s art-rap collective. It’s really an ideal addition to the pageant: including rap to the combo, however rap that’s just a few levels left-of-center, like a lot of the Pop Montréal lineup.

Skullcrusher

At a traditional massive pageant in a subject, numerous these artists would get swallowed up by louder, extra rapid acts. That’s very true for Skullcrusher, a challenge outlined by Helen Ballentine’s autumnal, spectral folks. However that’s the cool factor a few metropolis fest like Pop Montréal, the place you’ll be able to think about Skullcrusher not getting misplaced within the shuffle, however as a substitute being given a stage these songs deserve.

Tangerine Dream

The prospect of seeing Tangerine Dream at this time is a barely odd one. Edgar Frouse, the founder and solely constant member of the pioneering digital group, died in 2015. The group continues on as a trio now led by Thorsten Quaeschning, a longtime Tangerine Dream member and a protege of Froese’s. Meaning a band fashioned based in 1967 is older than any of its present members. Nonetheless, the historical past and catalogue of Tangerine Dream is huge and transformative. Even when it the band lives on in tribute to what Froese left behind, it’s certain to be a charming efficiency.

Tengger

Ever since first getting some worldwide consideration by way of Kikagaku Moyo’s Guruguru Mind label, the Pan-Asian household band Tengger (made up of a pair and their son), have constantly made attractive, transporting music that’s exhausting to pin down. It’s psychedelic, however typically ambient, however typically New Age-y. From time to time you want a blissful zone-out throughout a pageant, and Tengger are the proper choice for that. Their new self-titled album additionally occurs to drop proper in the course of Pop Montréal.

Water From Your Eyes

Water From Your Eyes are nonetheless driving excessive on the discharge of Everybody’s Crushed, certainly one of the perfect albums of the yr so far. (Throughout Pop Montréal, Rachel Brown may also be releasing their new Thanks For Coming EP What Is My Capability To Love?.) There’s a purpose Water From Your Eyes have develop into so acclaimed: The duo makes a free-for-all alternate universe pop. As wide-ranging as Pop Montréal is, there’s one thing about Water From Your Eyes that feels notably excellent for the pageant’s ethos.