Montreal Cultural Calendar

Brazil – QC

Let yourselves be immersed in the passionate traditions of Andalusia and Cuba with the sensuous jazz-infused flamenco rumba of this Montreal-based quintet. Soft guitars, nimble piano and subdued percussions all contribute to their melodies charged with the raw emotion inherent in the spirit of copla, flamenco and bolero. And then there is the warm husky voice and stage presence of Fernando “El Bancalero” Gallego, that invites the audience on a lyrical journey that is both shared and personal. This is music to be savoured!

From the arid lands of the Sahel to the shores of Essaouira, Gnawa music captivates. The thrumming guembri, the piercing krakeb, the resonant tbel and Salamate Gnawa’s jubilant spiritual chants, which blend harmoniously with blues, jazz, flamenco, zouk and rock rhythms, are beyond compare. They create a mystical and fervent conversation that is utterly fascinating. Like magic, the spirit of the ancestors rise, transforming the stage into a modern-day lila. Energetic, spellbinding and therapeutic, the experience is both intimate and communal.

His credo is simple: 100% fun, zero compromise. A regular at Montreal’s Afronick events, this lively drummer, singer and undeniably charismatic performer, knows how to connect with his audience and get the crowd grooving to the beat. His repertoire combines smooth kompa love, free-spirited reggae, invigorating Afrobeat and expressive rap-soul—all the ingredients for an outstanding festive night out!

Their voices intertwine like the fingers of clasped hands. A story of sisterhood, Somos Más was born in the intimacy of kitchens and living rooms, where personalities are revealed and bonds are cultivated. This collective made up of women from diverse cultural backgrounds—from Quebec to Latin America—sings of friendship, resilience, and the strength of “us, together.” Their vocal harmonies, warm and luminous, are set against cozy guitar, ukulele, bass and percussion arrangements. In both their original compositions and covers, Somos Más celebrates tenderness without ever sacrificing power. Because together, they transform the “us” into a horizon.

High-tension guitar riffs explode. The wall of massive, relentless percussions looms large. With a raw and totally urban vibe, this group of seasoned musicians reinterprets the cumbia inherited from their Afro-Indigenous forebearers, infusing it with a good dose of psychedelic rock. The drums, bass, guitar, congas, timbales, keyboards and other percussion instruments transform the spirit of the Andean folk dance into a multicultural trance that’s uniquely Montreal. Fiery, wild, and utterly irresistible!

On THURSDAY, July 16, just before the Fulu Miziki Kolektiv concert, come enjoy the ICI MUSIQUE DJ Set hosted by CATHERINE PÉPIN!

“Kinshasa is bursting with stars, and Fulu Miziki Kolektiv is the wildest of them all,” (RFI, 2025). Fulu Miziki, literally “music from garbage” in Lingala, has made a splash by transporting the sounds of Kinshasa’s streets into an Afro-futuristic, techno-punk trance sound stamped with Congolese rumba and coupé-décalé that they call “twerkanda.” Once discarded objects are recycled into hand-made instruments, which the percussionists beat as if their life depended on it, releasing furious energy with urgency to take action to save the planet, amplified by their raw, powerful voices rising from the depths of their souls and through DIY cyber-costumes that reflect their commitment. Zero waste, 100% impact!