M For Montreal Bands Announced

10/21/08 9:18am

by Erik Leijon (CHARTattack)

MONTREAL — Duchess Says, Beast, The National Parcs and others will vie for the chance to be hailed as Montreal's next big thing as the Montreal/U.K. collaboration showcase event M For Montreal returns for a third year.

The three day event, held from Nov. 20-22, will feature 15 bands and more than 50 delegates from the U.K., Europe and the U.S., each of whom will vote for their favourite performance. Other groups confirmed include synth poppers Winter Gloves, francophone acts Pas Chic Chic, Les Dales Hawerchuk and Chinatown, as well as Acadian rappers Radio Radio.

New to the itinerary this year is the T For Toronto showcase, which will provide the likes of Woodhands, The Mark Inside and Arkells to schmooze alongside their Montreal counterparts.

Although last year's edition never left the dual staged Just For Laughs Cabaret, M For Montreal 2008 will house a big closing show on Nov. 22 at Metropolis (dubbed M For Metropolis), starring 2007 M For Montreal winner We Are Wolves, 2007 participant Karkwa and wildly popular francophone songwriter Pierre Lapointe. In an effort to show off more local flavour to the international visitors (comprising of media and industry vets), there will also be a party held at Les Foufounes Electriques in honour of the club's 25th anniversary. More acts will be announced for each show in the upcoming weeks.

Previous winners of M For Montreal were We Are Wolves and Patrick Watson. Both received a monetary prize and a performance spot at The Great Escape festival in Brighton, England the following year.