Fringe Arts

Café Velours: Villeray’s Own Queer and Community-Based Coffee Shop

Volunteer-Ran, the Cozy, Comfortable Space Celebrates One Year

Thomas Delbano – Published April 13, 2019 – Comments

Café Velours may look like any other place offering a warm and cozy environment to study, work, or meet your friends. But this Villeray coffee shop stands out—Café Velours is run by an energetic team of volunteers who strive to serve the queer community they love, and provide a space where everyone can express themselves and feel safe.

Sara Marie Barron Brought Bedroom Soul to Montreal’s Club Balattou

The Evening Unfolded With Passion, Humour and a Pedal Loop

Victoria Lamas — Published May 20, 2019 | Comments

Detroit singer-songwriter Sara Marie Barron concluded her first tour at the Club Balattou last Tuesday. She stepped onto the stage covered head-to-toe in glitter, yet her voice stole the focus.
The Rose Festival Celebrates Self-Love and the Queer Community

The Third Edition Found Its Groove at the Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal

Thomas Delbano & Victoria Lamas — Published May 17, 2019 | Comments

“All of us who grapple with not being seen, or deal with intersectionality around our queerness—it felt like we had voices this year, and we were seen,” said Corrina Hodgson, co-founder of the Rose festival.
‘Reaching for Starlight’ Shows Kids Asking the Tough Questions

Geordie Productions’ Play Stages Ballet and Social Issues

Nanor Froundjian — Published May 16, 2019 | Comments

Have you ever wondered why the world can be so unfair at times? Who is to blame for misfortunes? Reaching for Starlight, a play inspired by Kristy Dempsey’s children’s book A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina’s Dream, follows Reenie, played by Bria McLaughlin, an energetic and curious ballet dancer, through her journey in understanding where she stands in the world and who she wants to be.
‘Encore’ Offers a Look Into the Universal Nature of Couples

Tableau D’Hôte Theatre’s Play Follows a Couple Through the Years of Their Lives

Bree Rockbrand — Published May 15, 2019 | Comments

“When you’re in a couple, what do you forget about each other while you spend years together?” said Mathieu Murphy-Perron, artistic and executive director of Tableau D’Hôte Theatre.
Josh Ritter Brings the American Heartland to Montreal

The Alt-Country Musician Drifts Through Montreal in Support of His Latest Album

Marián Rebeiro — Published May 14, 2019 | Comments

It’s been less than a year since Idaho-born musician Josh Ritter last graced Montreal audiences with his oracular and wordy brand of rock-n-roll, but that didn’t stop fans, both long-time and newly converted, from filling the small theatre at l’Astral on Thursday night.
Flohmarkt Market Caters to Montreal’s Vintage Enthusiasts

Concordia Alumni Starts a Thriving Business of Vintage Clothing

Chahinez Dib — Published May 14, 2019 | Comments

The summer season comes with an opportunity for Montrealers to experience the unique benefits of the Flohmarkt Pop-ups. From vintage flea markets to artistic collaborations, it’s a collection of monthly events that have found their home in Montreal.
A Cool Move, Montreal Indie Hardcore Fest, Brings Eclectic Punk From Across North America

What Four Days of Punk & Friends Can Do for a Community

Gabrielle Mulholland — Published May 13, 2019 | Comments

Between May 1 and 4, Plateau venues Casa Del Popolo and La Vitrola were filled with the heavy sounds of hardcore punk as the independent festival A Cool Move returned to Montreal for its second year.
Concordia Alumni Front and Centre as July Talk and Metric Take the Stage

The Women-Fronted Bands Invite Dialogue and Connection

Bree Rockbrand — Published May 13, 2019 | Comments

“I’m warming you up for July Talk and Metric,” said local musician Murray A. Lightburn as he gazed over the audience—the acoustic set struck a chord, bringing a certain softness that curbed the edges of a crowd ready to rock.
Montreal’s Bagel Burlesque Expo Unfolds With High Emotion and Glitter

Canadian Burlesque Star Judith Stein Tells Her Story

Bree Rockbrand — Published May 7, 2019 | Comments

Is there a better way to experience the glittery, strange, extravagant, and sometimes absurd neo-burlesque scene in Montreal than to visit the Bagel Burlesque Expo?
‘Blind Date,’ Queer Nights at the Centaur Theatre

The Refreshing Play Celebrates Queer Intimacy

Youmna El Halabi — Published May 6, 2019 | Comments

“The thesis of Blind Date has always been, ‘Everyone is loveable.’ There is great joy in leaning forward in your seat and watching strangers attempt to connect. It’s what being human is all about,” reads the Centaur Theatre’s pamphlet for Blind Date.