Co-Presented with Celluloid Lunch Records

Montreal-based musician Chris Burns played his first gig at 15, in 1982. Today, aged 59, he is more active than ever. Primarily a guitarist, he is also a composer, improviser, singer, songwriter, bassist and drummer. His distinctive style can be heard in a vast and varied catalogue of records and soundtracks spanning over 40 years and some 60 releases by artists such as Terminal Sunglasses, American Devices, Nutsak, Crackpot, The Ratchet Orchestra and Retail Simps. Throughout his career, he has been seen and heard playing alongside an impressive and eclectic mix of musicians such as Marshall Allen, Rhys Chatham, Corpusse, Jean Derome, godspeed! you black emperor!, Malcolm Goldstein, Éric Goulet, The Gruesomes, John Heward, Michel “Away” Langevin, Joe McPhee, The Nymphets, Matana Roberts, Sam Shalabi, Elizabeth Anka Vajagic, Rufus Wainwright and Mike Watt. Chris Burns & His Going Concerns, his most recent mentally guitarded racket roll formation, is in some ways the culmination of everything he has experienced, learned, unlearned, toiled over, honed and forgotten throughout all of his musical adventures. Its live shows can be comprised of Burnzoid toons written as far back as 1981 to as recent as this morning. The band delivers passionate, committed and energetic performances featuring strong musicianship mixed with a healthy dose of cathartic abandon.

The current Going Concerns live line-up consists of Joe Chamandy (Retails Simps) on guitar,Kate Erickson (FIGHTFACE) on bass and Zak Slax (Feeling Figures) on drums.

L.O.O.T. is fired up free'd punk for saxophone, guitar and drumkit, building the bridge between Last Exit and the Ex.

Montalban is a new project consisting of Jon Asencio, Jackie Gallant and Marc Montanchez. All three members are deeply woven into the fabric of Montreal’s independent music milieu. They started playing together in December 2025, finding joy in improvisation that gradually framed their distinctive style. Jon’s deep pocket bass-guitar , Jackie’s powerful and intricate drumming and Marc’s angular and restless guitar hooks clicked naturally from the start. The result is a surprising blend of hyperkinetic melodies folded into rhythms and grooves with elements of Latin, funk, country and punk rock that signals its singular sound: Montalban.

Noise poppers Vitamin Pink are known to subject their audience to 1-6 minute bursts of sanguine din known as "songs".

Honoured winners of the Hot Cherry Pie Award, and three-time Participation Trophy nominees, they have been named Montreal’s most portent by a reputable source. Over the past year, they have honed, moaned and shone on DIY stages across "Montreal" with the hopes of finding the true meaning of love, the edge of the eleventh manifold, and a recipe for tuna salad. I love you !