22 fantastic late nights in the Quartier des Spectacles

ESC is a collaborative space hosting local and visiting DJs who’ll keep you shaking it all night. On March 14 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., groove with Berlin techno legend Sammy Dee; Montreal’s own versatile aesthete MAGNANIME and his techno, house, IDM and musique concrète concoctions; another local luminary, electronic artist Vincent Lemieux (MUTEK, Musique Risquée); plus electro-jazz fusion with Ohm Hourani. On March 20 from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., experience a night of visual art, tattoos, pop-up shops and music organized by Art Jam. And there’s another all-nighter on March 21 from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. with the Eikazo experience, a psy-trance odyssey organized by Trilobeat, with Papi Gonzo, Sid Jenkins, BenSolo, Angry Luna and Hifreks, accompanied by circus acts and trippy visuals.

Newspeak is a hotspot for a few electronic and dance subgenres—come find out why night owls love it so much! On March 14 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., check out the pulsating techno of Portuguese artist Alex Stein with Montreal-based openers Montréalais SØL and BSquare (in b2b) and Vlouue. Two weeks later, on March 28 from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., French touch pioneer Étienne de Crécy delivers irresistible grooves.

Whether you’re in the massive ground-floor space or the iconic immersive dome of the Satosphère, the Society for Arts and Technology [SAT] is the place to dance the night away to an impressive array of electronic sounds. On March 13 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., get down with seven hours of non-stop music with UK garage legend Conducta, Wrecked (Ron Like Hell and Ryan Smith, the famous duo from New York’s queer scene) and Lis Dalton (Montreal). The next night, March 14, starts with a 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. session in Espace SAT with Christian Löffler (house, techno and ambient, Berlin) and Otherwish (Washington); then head upstairs to the Satosphère for the GABA Collective as part of Dômesicle, with six up-and-coming DJs from our thriving local scene, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. On March 21 from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., don’t miss the year’s first Afrotonic party—a celebration of community, inclusiveness, the love of music, and Afrocentric arts and culture.

One of the city’s biggest live music venues has something for every taste, from headbangers to dancing queens. March 13 at 10 p.m., get set for a hot night with Ray Volpe, the dubstep wunderkind from Long Island, with opener Jessica Audiffred (dubstep + EDM, Mexico City) and VRG (trap-bass, United States). On March 31 at 7:30 p.m., take in the hard rock/metal of Black Label Society, with special Black Sabbath-themed openers Zakk Sabbath (a Black Sabbath tribute fronted by singer Zakk Wylde) and Dark Chapel (led by guitarist Dario Lorina).

Le Balcon is a cabaret acclaimed for its refined ambiance and irresistible shows—come see for yourself! On March 21 at 8:30 p.m., it’s time for Disco Queen Live, a dazzling tribute to disco divas featuring timeless hits by Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Thelma Houston and many more. April 4 at 8 p.m., check out the Freddie James Project and its renditions of Motown, disco and pop classics. The food is great too!

Vino Disco is a disco crossed with a wine bar! It serves up delicious snacks and signature cocktails to sounds spun by DJs who expertly create a fun and festive vibe, with everything from contemporary EDM to bangers from the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Just steps away from Place des Festivals and a wide array of restaurants, Studio TD presents a diverse, high-quality program. March 19 at 8 p.m., don’t miss the iconic California hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics (including Del the Funky Homosapien and the four members of Souls of Mischief) as they make a rare appearance in our city. Then, on March 21 at 8 p.m., Toronto’s Rochelle Jordan captivates with stylish, high-energy EDM and soul/R&B crossovers.

On March 28 at 8 p.m., the Barcelona-based sextet Maruja Limón will energize you with their new-generation rumba, spiced up with dashes of flamenco, pop, Latin music, dembow and electronica. April 4 at 8 p.m. is time for the Diva Sing Along – Gaga edition: belt out hard-hitting tunes by women who’ve been shaping pop for decades, with a special focus on Lady Gaga.

Every Wednesday at 8 p.m., head to the welcoming punk hangout Turbo Haüs for a regular jam session with Growve. On March 21, come celebrate (and mourn) the late emo rapper Juice WRLD. Also filed under punk: on March 28 at 7 p.m. at the legendary Foufounes Électriques there’s a tenth anniversary party for the Montreal punk label Thousand Islands, with sets from Belvedere, The Speakeasy, Killing Daisies, Curbside and Dutch Nuggets. If bass is more your thing, you’ll want to be at the Red Room on March 20 for Bass Therapy from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. The event is also a fundraiser for cystic fibrosis research, so you can party for a good cause!