Live shows: Our suggestions of places to see live bands in Montreal

While we are in the midst of festival season, Montreal, with all its cultural richness, is full of places to see live bands all year long.

The term “live bands” refers to performances by musical groups of many different styles in front of a live audience. Very inexpensive (and sometimes even free!), live bands bring together people of all ages, all driven by the same passion: music.

Live bands are events that have endured over time. Even before discos and clubs became the meeting places for memorable evenings in Montreal, places offering the possibility to attend live bands were already favourite places for crazy parties in the city! Many establishments maintain this musical tradition that makes a night out at a bar, cafe or pub a pleasant experience.

Whether it’s a jazz concert for a romantic evening by candlelight or a rock concert for a wild night out, the Montreal scene offers a multitude of choices to satisfy all musical flavours. Whether cafes, pubs, or bars, all the establishments on this list will make you vibrate to the sound of the music of artists from here and elsewhere.

For a relaxed or lively evening, you will find in this list something to satisfy your musical ear as well as your little gourmet desires. One thing is for sure, you’ll have a unique evening! Note that Tastet has also prepared a list of the best places to go out in the Quartier des spectacles, which you can view by clicking here.

Here is our list of suggested places to see live bands in Montreal:

La Sala Rossa

Sala Rossa, which in Spanish translates as “red room”, is a true cultural landmark in Montreal that shares its space with Casa Del Popolo. An integral part of the city’s history as a cultural center, the 250-seat venue now hosts performances of all kinds, such as spoken word, indie rock, flamenco and jazz. Having hosted many historical figures, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, the Centro Social Español continues to live on through the various performances on the program. A cafe, art gallery and performance space in its own right, the Casa Del Popolo, its sister venue, seats 125. With these two staple venues of the Montreal music scene, discovery and a good time are guaranteed!

4848 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Montréal

Café Résonance

Café Resonance was born from the desire to make creative music live and last in a friendly space that welcomes mostly students by day and music lovers by night. At the corner of Park Avenue and Fairmount Street, Café Resonance is an unpretentious place that advocates veganism, local plant-based products, and comforting homemade food.  This charming place hosts modern and jazzy musical performances every night of the week!

5175 Avenue du Parc
Montréal

Bar Courcelle

Bar de Courcelle is a great dive bar in the neighbourhood of Saint-Henri where we always have a great time. Open for 50 years now (!), the place offers a beautiful space to have a drink with a good meal. A true institution in the neighbourhood, the Bar de Courcelle hosts live bands every Monday and Wednesday for a very charming atmosphere. The bar also holds open mic nights every Sunday evening.

4685 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest
Montréal

Mythos Ouzeri Restaurant

Mythos is a delicious Greek restaurant on Parc Avenue where you can enjoy many traditional dishes (tzatziki, moussaka and others). On Friday and Saturday nights, a few house bands perform in the large space. The musical guests make for a festive atmosphere that helps to forget the worries of the week!

5318 Avenue du Parc
Montréal
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Photography by John Matychuk



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