M for Montreal is a cutting-edge music conference and festival that takes place every November, and showcases approximately 100 local and international buzz-worthy and breakout bands in over 15 venues across Montreal. Top music industry professionals mingle with fans and artists at one of the most vibrant music events of the season. Founded in 2006 in collaboration with one of the most respected festival programmers in the industry, Martin Elbourne (Glastonbury, The Great Escape), the event hosts an expansive list of industry delegates from around the world. “M” is an independent organization whose ambitious mission is to help up-and-coming artists both to become better known locally, and to launch their careers outside Canada.
SaskMusic will be on the ground to build connections with industry colleagues, attend conference activities and support our Saskatchewan showcasing artists. The following three export-ready artists were selected for showcases by M for Montreal organizers after applying directly through the festival’s submission process.
Saskatchewan artists – Official M For Montreal showcases:
SaskMusic Official Showcase, Casa del Popolo (open to M delegates only)
Wednesday November 20
- Alex Bent + the emptiness: 20:30
- Close Talker: 23:30
CD Baby event, L’Escogriffe Café Bar
Saturday November 23
- Ponteix: 20:00
Alex Bent + the Emptiness:
Alex Bent is a Canadian alt-pop/R&B singer and producer. Bent's new album, Baby, features contributions from Brockhampton affiliates Jack Larsen and Connor Barkhouse.
Close Talker:
Close Talker is an indie rock band from Saskatoon. They've toured throughout North America and Europe, and gained praise from publications like NPR, Billboard, Clash, Spin, Q Magazine and Consequence of Sound. Their most confident album to date: How Do We Stay Here? is out worldwide via Slow Weather (NA) and Sinnbus (EUR).
About Ponteix:
Under Canada's expansive prairie skies, Ponteix overcomes musical convention in favour of unclassifiable symmetry. Mario Lepage's intoxicating vocals flutter brightly above saturated electronic rhythms and echoing chambers of gleaming synths. The psych-pop outfit's soundscapes harbour nostalgic lyrics sung mostly en Français. Now as always, Ponteix plays with language barriers while delivering to its audiences what is undeniably central to music…emotion.
