Montreal’s music festi – ganza has come to an end. Summer and all it’s rhythmic get togethers have ended quicker than a Bill Cosby guilty verdict.

Fall has arrived and with it – an ‘orange is the new black’ list of musical events. Montreal is filled with live music right up to Hallowe’en.

A music lover is no short of CDs to buy either. Something which is important to keep the future of music alive and well. Streaming does not pay the rent.

If you are a Blues lover, The Roxboro Sessions by Riot and The Blues Devils along with Colin James’ Miles to Go are great choices.

The Devils will jump start your heart with powerful vocals and piercing guitar solos a la Southern tinged Blues. James, au contraire – returns to his roots and pays homage to the forefathers of not only Blues yet modern day music as we know it. Colin also tosses two of his new originals to keep you thirsty for more. At 53- James ain’t quite dead yet.

If old school Rockabilly and Rock n Roll is your thing, the latest offering by Lindsay Beaver is a must. The Canadian / Jazz student / Blues student / vocalist / drummer from Nova Scotia is a once-in-a-lifetime phenom. Her album ‘ Tough As Love’ combines Rock and R&B with Jazz sensibilities that would make Amy Winehouse proud.

Concerts

Beginning in October, here are just a few choices to make the now chilly nights easier to take …

October 4th – Elton John. Bell Center

Elton John is saying farewell. Is this for real or will he become the solo version of The Who and entertain the masses with one farewell tour after another? Time will tell but in the meantime, it is one final (?) chance to see if Sir Elton has a hissy fit in between the songbook of the seventies

October 9th – Liz Phair. Corona

Liz always always always puts on a ‘ wear it on your sleeve’ performance. There is no doubt her ‘ Amps on the Lawn’ Tour will be different. A night to forget what is ‘bad’ about music and soak in the realness of it all.

October 10th – Mike Love. Le Belmont.

One of the hardest working musicians on the planet ( his shoes were worn out at the Jazz Festival ) returns with his brand of Hawaiian Reggae. A multi – instrumentalist aka one man band oozes spirituality through voice, beats and song. A must see.

October 16th – Phil Collins. Bell Center

No one knows what to expect from the former front-man of Genesis and the man who sold his musical soul for fame and fortune in the 80s. Retired due to back issues for a long stretch, Collins is worth the trip to the ‘house that Corey destroyed’ if only to sing along to the songbook of the eighties ‘one last time.’

October 21st. Andrea Bocelli. Bell Center.

It’s Andrea Bocelli. Need I say more?

October 29th – Dean Brody. Imperial.

If Country acoustic is your ‘thang’ – then Brody will get your house, car and truck back. In a Country music field filled with penthouse dwelling ‘ never drove a truck’ pretenders, Brody is as close to a Haggard shot as they come.

October 31st– Violent Femmes. MTelus.

What is a better way to spend Hallowe’en than singing ‘ Blister on the Sun’ as loud as you can? A very underrated band in the scheme of things with great harmony and even greater guitar playing. The ultimate sing-a-long band.

Visit Evenko for Tickets

Visit Smoke Meat Pete for Live Blues

Visit The House of Jazz Here !