The third spaces of Montreal’s music scene that keep the city loud

“Montreal is home to collectives and party series representing a wide array of communities, cultures, and identities. They are showing the world that there are still new sounds to be heard, and that people will always find a way to come together around music and dance—that if there are no third spaces, we'll make them,” says Oliver Philbin-Briscoe, co-founder of FANTOM (Fédération pour les Arts Nocturnes comprenant les Travailleur·euses et Organisateur·ices de Montréal).

Montreal is home to an abundance of year-round festivals including the International Jazz Festival, Osheaga, Piknik Electronik, and MUTEK.

But while these have become a defining part of our cultural scene, they are the product of the homegrown and independent talent, spaces, and opportunities that gives our city that element which distinguishes us from other major cities and has enabled artists and the scene to thrive.

In light of the threats the scene faces from urban development and rising costs to gentrification, we are witnessing a revival of DIY and pop-up event spaces as affordable small to mid-sized venues dwindle following the rippling effects of the pandemic.

Operating alongside independent venues on tight margins, these spaces play a vital role in supporting emerging talent in our city, particularly within indie, hip hop and electronic scenes that are giving rise to new parties and artist collectives in recent years.

Montreal's emerging DIY spaces, pop-up events, and underground nightlife

“There are DIY events taking place all across the island. Some notable hotspots at the moment are along Boulevard Saint-Laurent, in the Mile-Ex, and around the Peel Basin,” says Oliver Philbin-Briscoe.

La Murga

La Murga is a live salsa dura/Afro-Latin ensemble that “[highlights] up-and-coming musicians and [encourages] participation from salsa lovers and dancers of every level,” says co-founder Mateo Diaz.

“We aim to build a sustainable and diverse salsa culture in Montreal.”

The ensemble opted from traditional music venues and pitched their idea of hosting Colombian-inspired pop-up salsa nights to Bar Pamplemousse, drawing major success with a crowd of regular salsa go-ers.

“Non-Latin participants find La Murga as an exciting gateway in Latin culture, while Latinx attendees appreciate a space that feels like home. It’s grown beyond just an event; it’s a gathering place where people from all backgrounds come together to celebrate Latin American culture,” Diaz adds.

Little Loft

“The name Little Loft is supposed to be Canada’s answer to Tiny Desk,” says Little Loft founder Mike Hand.

This venue, which also serves as Mike’s home, has become a haven for up-and-coming artists since 2019 by hosting performances that span indie, soul, and disco to experimental alternative sounds.

“If you talk about venues closing, that’s always been a thing… This goes back longer than me. [Smaller venues have] always been illicit or forced to the corners of society while simultaneously put on a pedestal for those that are popular," Mike says. 

“I don’t want to talk about money or housing or anything because it breaks my fucking heart,” he adds.

“It’s a decade later on and I’m watching it happen again. I’m at the end of my rope. This is a labour of love because I am so frustrated and disappointed and I want to do more than keep the lights on. This is the best I can do with what I have," he continues.

“The Diving Bell guys, they directly inspired me. What I love is that it's a bit of a cartel. Everyone who’s in it for the right reasons is working together. We’re teetering on the precipice, we're so close to something."

“There is nothing more pure, resilient or sustainable than the arts, and music has a special place out of all of it. People dance to music, people paint to music. It's the oldest language.”

Ferias

Ferias has worked alongside a number of major local and international guest DJ artists since 2019, hosting events throughout the city in both DIY and immersive venues such as la SAT with styles ranging from soul/funk to house and techno.

“While we love playing in the small clubs around town, there is a serious lack of mid-sized spaces in Montreal. There is also a shortage of DIY spaces that are appropriate for music events,” says Guthrie Drake, director of Ferias.

“DIY events take so much investment up front and if any of those individual costs are too high, it makes these types of parties simply unviable for most Montreal organizers. Noise and the police are always going to be an issue as well.”

ESC

ESC is a dynamic two-floor 600+ capacity DIY space located in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles right that’s met these benchmarks next to the iconic EVA B.

Completely self-funded and run by siblings Bashar and Shermine Sawallha, the duo first began hosting events in 2023, quickly redefining what it means to be a flexible large-scale community-run DIY space.

“Creating a large-scale DIY space is not an easy task at the moment. Rents are insanely high. Locations are scarce, the process of getting the permits to run a legitimate business takes too long, and most businesses cannot survive through the transition periods,” says ESC co-owner Shermine Sawalha. 

Integrating security and safety measures, soundproofing and getting an alcohol license are just some of the standards to meet before being recognized as a legitimate venue that many new businesses cannot endure because of rising costs. ESC only recently earned its place as a fully licensed venue to host its wide-ranging programming from underground events and raves, and art exhibitions to fashion shows and markets. 

While still getting its footing, the venue continues to thrive on the spirit of collaborating with local, regional and international promoters and artists who play an underrated role in crafting some of the most eccentric and visually stunning sets that stand out from traditional venues in the city.

Through ESC, the siblings hope to continue inspiring the alternative culture it supports and encourage solidarity with independent cultural spaces to sustain the future of Montreal’s nightlife. 

What’s next for our city’s nightlife?

Our city has the potential to build on the momentum of community-driven initiatives like MTL 24/24 which lost its funding last year and FANTOM, which creates frameworks for driving policy changes that sustain its nightlife. 

Crucial steps forward include amending noise regulations and improving access to funding; implementing the “agent of change principle” to require new developments to adapt to noise levels of the area when designing new buildings near existing commercial ones; ensuring new venues implement noise mitigating measures in turn; and fostering ongoing dialogue between city officials, residents and industry actors.

Our city’s independent music scene is echoing one resounding message of protest and solidarity with each other: To keep Montreal vibrant and loud.

“Many small to mid-sized independent venues were started by artists themselves. While their disappearance means that there may be less booking opportunities... new ones will likely spring up to take their place. More than likely, these new spaces will be in different parts of the city than they were before, and as such the cultural landscape will continue to evolve,” says Oliver Philbin-Briscoe, co-founder of FANTOM.