POP Montreal has announced its 2017 and 16th anniversary lineup, which includes Hurray for the Riff Raff, Royal Trux, Mount Eerie and others. View the #Sweet16 lineup online, with more to be announced.
Among the notable acts also includes RZA, who will be performing a live score for the 1978 kung fu film, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Montreal underground indie legends Think About Life will also be reuniting for the festival.
Read POP Montreal’s initial lineup announcement, below:
“Highlights include the Canadian premieres of the iconic Afro Brazilian samba diva, Elza Soares, and Wu-Tang Clan master RZA, who will perform a live score of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. We are also very excited to announce the return of the greatest rock band of all time Royal Trux; the man who graced the cover of Time Magazine, Riz Ahmed, with his amazing rap group Swet Shop Boys; the ultimate queen of groove, Deee-Lite’s Lady Miss Kier; the ultra catchy doo-wop folk band Hurray for the Riff Raff; the legendary Jamaican roots harmony trio Mighty Diamonds; the South Shore’s crunkest rap group Dead Obies; and the return of The Dears, performing their classic album No Cities Left in its entirety.”
The festival originated in 2002, and has since always occurred in early Fall, either in September or October. Along with the music festival, POP Montreal also coordinates a film festival called Film Pop, art events called Art Pop, a conference called POP Symposium, and a cultural fair called Puces Pop. The original music festival invited 80 musical acts to perform in 40 venues throughout the city, and has since grown to offer lineups of more than 400 across more than 50 venues. The lineups encompass a variety of genres, including rock, indie, alternative, hip-hop and folk.
Last year’s lineup included Angel Olsen, The Kills, Diet Cig, John Waters and Michael Angelo, among others. This year, POP Montreal will be held September 13-17 in venues across the city. Early bird tickets are currently on sale for half the price and will be available until May 15. Single show tickets are also available and range from $10-60. Although not currently available, attendees will also have the option to buy special tourist packages, described online as the opportunity to “Dance all night at the festival and take advantage of the day to visit, eat and shop Montreal!”
Read our review on Hurray for the Riff Raff’s most recent album, The Navigator, and see Royal Trux album announcement for their forthcoming Platinum Tips & Ice Cream album, due out June 16 on Drag City.
Photo Credit: Sharon Alagna