Café-concert Canada

The blues temple in Montreal, not without reason. Since 1975, the Bistro in Jojo has hosted hundreds of blues musicians of all kinds. Here's the pure blues, the one that comes to us in the guts. Amateurs: this is the address to remember!

The Ritz PDB moved into the premises of the defunct Il Motore in autumn 2014. Completely revamped, it continues the vocation of its predecessor by hosting independent music groups in its performance space. It has to be said that the owners are steeped in the milieu: Meyer Billurcu is the co-founder of Blue Skies Turn Black, a concert promotion company, and Thierry Amar and Efrim Menuck are members of the famous music group Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Special mention goes to the superb century-old bar, imported from Chicago.

Located in the heart of the Byward Market, The Rainbow has been a legendary blues venue for nearly four decades. The two-storey venue has a mountain lodge feel with a fireplace, large wooden beams, brick and stone walls. Prices at the bar are reasonable. Check the website for the full lineup (tickets can be purchased online or at the door - sometimes cheaper in advance). A true Ottawa party institution!

With its pleasant atmosphere, charm and enviable geographical location, Quai des Brumes has become one of the most popular entertainment bars in French-speaking Montreal. Open on the sidewalk of Saint-Denis Street, it is impossible to miss the urban wildlife that sits there without interruption. You will find a great diversity in the choice of groups coming to perform there. We are sure we will never be alone. You will also be able to enjoy excellent visual, literary, poetic or musical performances (complete online programming).

Honor the little reptiles dancing on the walls of this bar in Old Limoilou. We go to Bal du Lézard for its relaxed atmosphere, for the contagious smile, for the happy hours (great selection of craft beers and cocktails), the European hot dogs, the visual art exhibitions, the launches, the comedy nights, the musical shows of all kinds, the DJ nights and the whole local art scene that shines here. The whole neighborhood comes together here, which is a good sign. For the program, check out the bar's Facebook page.