Fringe Montreal 2019: Fringe for All and My Picks for the 2019 Montreal Fringe Festival
The Montreal Fringe Festival is a festival for the underdogs. As Fringe Spokesperson and Board President Helene Simard said at the festival launch, Fringe is a place for people who want to put on a show but have always been told “no”. Whether you’re a female artist, an artist of colour, a non-binary artist, or […]
Decent’s Dece as Fxck Album Debut
Local rapper and native Montréaler, Decent (@Dece_Af) debuted his album Dece as Fxck at a launch party hosted by Last Call Bar Creations on St. Laurent this past Tuesday evening. Although originally from the West Island, Decent spent several years abroad in England and Thailand. He’s now back in town and ready to take over […]
Just For Laughs 2019: A Preview of a Promising Festival
The weather is warming up, the city is a war zone of traffic and construction, and this only means one thing: it’s festival season in Montreal. On May 22, 2019 media reps attended a press conference for the 37th edition of the Just for Laughs festival. At the event, media members, myself included, were treated […]
POP Montreal Releases the First Part of Their 2019 Lineup
POP Montreal released the first part of their lineup for their annual fall festival at a 5 à 7 on Wednesday in their new venue, Chez Ursa, which is conveniently located right below their official headquarters. The atmosphere at Ursa is friendly. Dan Seligman, POP’s co-founder and creative director, even acknowledged the good vibes as […]
Social Justice Tool or Pathetic PR Move? The STM Announces a New Oversight Committee
In light of the video going viral of Juliano Gray being brutally beaten by STM security at Villa Maria metro, the STM announced their plan to set up a committee to investigate complaints their security. As one of the witnesses to come forward about the Villa Maria incident, I have a unique perspective on their […]
Plateau Borough Mayor Luc Ferrandez is Leaving Politics
Luc Ferrandez, Borough Mayor of Plateau Mont-Royal since 2009, former interim leader of Projet Montréal and more recently the Executive Committee member responsible for Montreal’s large parks, is out. He announced that he is leaving politics in a Facebook post earlier today. He has already submitted his resignation and it goes into effect in June. […]
The Battle of Winterfell Did Exactly What Game of Thrones Does Best: Defy Expectations and Mess with the Audience (SPOILERS)
If Ned Starks’ death before the end of season one of Game of Thrones didn’t do it, the Red Wedding in season 3 cemented the fact that no character was safe on this show and anything could happen. The way the hit HBO show messes with the audience and defies expectations is why it’s the […]
A Night at the Montreal Cat Expo
For the 550 some-odd people who made their way downtown to Hotel Bonaventure last Sunday, there was no place they would rather be. Montreal’s first Cat Expo in here, and with special guest television star Jackson “Cat Daddy” Galaxy in town, the excitement is palpable. The Cat Expo is the first of its kind in […]
An Interview with Almost Canadian Comedian James Mullinger (Plus Ticket Giveaway)
James Mullinger has a very interesting story to say the least. A few years ago, he was living a celebrity-filled life in London, England as an editor for GQ. Now, he lives in New Brunswick and is building a name for himself on the standup comedy circuit. FTB’s Hannah Besseau had a chance to speak […]
FTB Podcast 1.02: Quebec’s Religious Symbol Ban with Samantha Gold
Hosts Jason C. McLean and Dawn McSweeney talk about Bill 21, Quebec’s proposed Religious Symbol Ban, with special guest Samantha Gold Also: News Roundup, Survey Says, Dear FTB, Things You Did Not Know (Maybe) and Predictions! Recorded April 13, 2019 in Montreal Producer: Hannah Besseau Hosts: Jason C. McLean and Dawn McSweeney Special Guest: Samantha […]
All I Really Need is Raffi: A Legend Plays Theatre Maisonneuve
Anyone who grew up in Canada in the 70s and 80s grew up with the songs of Raffi. An Armenian born in Egypt whose family immigrated to Canada in 1958, he became a household name following the release of his first album in 1975. He was in Montreal on Sunday to do a couple of […]
Fare Jumping Is Not a Threat to Public Safety But Some Montreal Metro Security Guards Are
Last week we learned that Montreal’s transit authority, the STM, wants its security guards to have more “police-like powers” (whatever that means) despite recent incidents like the assault on a commuter at Villa Maria metro. The STM claims that this won’t involve arming the officers who patrol the Montreal Metro and STM buses with more […]