YELLOW BIRD PROJECT

Yellow Bird Project is a Montreal-based nonprofit that works with indie rock musicians to create unique t-shirt designs. T-shirt sales profit an array of charities each chosen by the artists. Included on the roster are local favorites Wolf Parade and Stars.

I (HEART) CRAFT FAIRS

Today and tomorrow from 11AM to 6PM in the basement of the St-Michel Church (Montreal: corner of St. Viateur & St. Urbain) there will be yet another craft fair taking place. Take the ridiculous upcoming holiday as the perfect chance to buy yourself something snazzy to get over the winter blues. Of course, Brazen will be there with the beautiful "Loved" necklace shown above.

THE ANNUALS SUCH FUN TOUR CONTEST

The Annuals are playing a gig this Sunday, January 25, 2009 at La Sala Rossa. As part of their tour promotion, you can enter a contest to win passes to museums in the same cities as their tour. Click here to see The Annuals concert dates and enter the contest to win tickets to the MAC in Montreal (Musee d'art Contemporain/ Contemporary Art Museum).

BREAKFAST FOR DINNER

Please excuse the lack of posts these past few weeks. Life has been hectic, but I couldn't miss the opportunity to remind you that the third and last Puces Pop of 2008 will be taking place this weekend! Saturday December 6, in the basement of the St-Michel Church (Montreal: corner of St. Viateur & St. Urbain) there will be a kick ass indie arts & crafts marketplace happening from 11AM to 6PM. Starting at 8 PM there will be a giant bingo party. Why is this installment of Puces called "breakfast for dinner"? All day they will be serving pancakes! Don't miss out on this great opportunity to get some unique gifts for the holidays from local talent.

A NEAR BROKEN HEART

As I was posting about Jamie Lidell's canceled tour date at Montreal's Le National on Oct. 10, I wondered why others hadn't yet blogged about this upset. Upon further investigation, I read he's playing at The Big Bang in Montreal the same night he was supposed to play Le National.

That's right...Jamie Lidell is no longer doing a solo show at Le National, but now he's part of a Red Bull series entitled The Big Bang: a concert touching down in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, and featuring the 12 cylinder, Chromeo, Calvin Harris, Jamie Lidell, Dirty South and Trouble Andrew.

My near broken heart is now bursting with musical happiness.

BRAZEN-LICIOUS BLING

Anyone that has seen me in the past 6 months has likely spotted my Brazen bling. My long cutout leaf necklace from Brazen has been the staple of my accessory wardrobe since I got it. That says a lot coming from someone who designed jewelry for 4 years (with co-brain Shermine Sawalha).

The girl behind the magic is Rachel Rachna Dhawan, a dear friend of mine from back in the Concordia/FASA/Art Matters days. Her pieces are handmade, trendy, and in a word- fabulous.

To get your own, visit Brazen's Website.

MORE POP, LESS POOP

Vote now for the SIRIUS Fan Choice award for the Pop Montreal Festival (October 1-5). The top 3 artists with the most favorable pop-to-poop ratio (more pop, less poop) will be playing the SIRIUS Satellite Radio stage during the festival.

MUSIC MAKES YOU LOSE CONTROL

I hope Montreal is ready to heed Missy Elliot's advice (see post title) and get crazy because there is an insane amount of talent gracing our fair city in the fall. As if Osheaga, Radiohead, Francofolie, the Jazz Festival, and the Montreal Chamber Music Festival
weren't enough to get your fix this summer, there are some equally exciting concerts coming in the fall. Here's a quick list of great stuff to come:

Montreal band The Stills will be at Cabaret on September 27.

Keep an eye out for So Called at Pop Montreal in October. I caught them at the Montreal Chamber Music Festival in May with Bell Orchestre (tid bit: 2 of the members from Bell are also in Arcade Fire). They've got a really interesting sound worth checking out. Hell, they made singing in Yiddish cool.

Sing along with the occasionally explicit lyrics of Jason Collett on October 2 at Petit Campus. I will likely be attending this one.

Also on October 2 is Australian musician Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.

A new personal favorite, Jamie Lidell will be at Le National on October 10. I wouldn't miss this one. He puts on a great show you can dance your pants off to and his band is full of presence and talent as well. I'm in love.

October 16 Bedouin Soundclash is back at Metropolis.

November 5 Feist is going big at the Bell Centre. As much as I dig Feist, I'd rather see her at a more intimate venue.

There are way too many shows to list, these are just my personal tops.