The Pouzza Fest – May punk prelude
Since 2011, Pouzza Fest has brought together in the Quartier des Spectacles artists and fans of punk-rock in many forms. The brainchild of Hugo Mudie—a veteran of the scene known especially as a singer with The Sainte Catherines—, the festival (whose name, for the curious and the gourmet inclined, is a mashup of pizza and poutine) is a North American reference in the field. The festival is chock-full of shows (150 artists!), activities and experiences. As Montreal punk-rock band Capable! put it, this is the place to be if you want to dance “bras d'sus t’sous d’bras”. Here's a selection of the indoor and outdoor program from May 16 to 18, 2025.
All about tickets
For ticketed indoor shows, there are two options: first, there’s the three-day pass, which gives general access to all festival partner venues, subject to capacity (note, however, that a good portion of total venue capacity is reserved for pass holders); and second, you can book a single ticket, which guarantees access to a particular venue for one day or evening. Choose the option that works for you; either way, you’re sure to make new discoveries and catch performances by established artists, and isn’t that what it’s all about?!
Let’s start with the outdoors: the Fest’s outdoor site is the Beer Garden at The Parterre, which is accessible free of charge, no pass needed. Already, that’s good news. And what’s even better is that the featured artists are all worthy of mention. On May 16, everything is topnotch: the festival kicks off with punk-comedy hopefuls Maxime Gervais and Les Petits Trous de Balle, followed by international oï hopeful Béton Armé, who gives the floor to local legends We Are Wolves, Les Marmottes Aplaties and Vulgaires Machins. On May 17, the spotlight shifts to veterans of the punk scene who made the switch to folk-rock: Malcolm Bauld, Frank Turner, Tim Barry and ska icons The Slackers. On May 18, the festival comes to a head with a pretty solid line-up: Enfants Sauvages, Subhumans, Fucked Up, and Voivod.
High ground of Montreal’s underground scene (high ground/underground, now there’s an oxymoron for you!), Les Foufounes électriques (and its relatively new Cabaret Fouf next door) offers a program that combines international heavyweights and homegrown regulars. On May 16, start your festival in the main hall with local punk-rockers Rope Skills and Brooklyn queercore band Worriers. Otherwise, in the Cabaret, you can settle in to an evening curated by the prolific Montreal label Stomp, featuring Crash ton rock, the first French-speaking band that signed on to the label a decade ago. On the 17th, Solids is back after a five-year hiatus, followed by the glorious NOBRO. And on the 18th, catch emo-punk pioneers Samiam... or drop by Le Cabaret for the return of Dig It Up. Also on the 18th, enjoy an afternoon punk market and BBQ to the sound of acoustic performances.
Ah, the Café Cléopatre, sole survivor of the Main’s revival—a historic monument, which also happens to be located right across the street from the Old Montreal Pool Room, if you’re in for a hot dog (or head to the nearby Central, if you want something else to eat). On May 16, check out the ferocious quartet SLAUGHTERHOUSE, from the City of Angels, and the slightly emo punk-rock Captain Asshole, hailing from Germany. On the 17th, discover the hybrid punk and alt-rock vibe of Montreal band Small Leap, and let yourself be carried away by the melodic hardcore of Oh The Humanity! And on the 18th, the focus is on the local scene once again, with Hood Rats and Conditions Apply, to name just a few.
The Cabaret at the Centre des mémoires montréalaises (MEM) is the newest venue to visit during the Pouzza Fest, and certainly the cleanest, too. Best of all, it’s the only all-ages venue on the circuit: you can take your niece or your little cousin. On the 16th, see quintet Bucky Harris make their local presence known, followed by the gutter punk band Apes of the State. The following evening, it’s time to take a walk down memory lane with the now defunct Montreal label Housebreaker, with rare performances by Broadcats, BonVivant, and PL Mafia. And on Sunday, round off your festival with the “post-everything-but-otherwise-mostly-punk” sounds of Dogo Suicide, and the shoegaze and post-rock hybrid of Autre part.
Club Soda hosts the festival for one night only—but what a night it will be, with Canadian bands The OBGMs and Wine Lips opening for the highly inspirational Drug Church. The Turbo Haüs is in discovery mode, featuring French band Immatures. At Théâtre Sainte-Catherine, if you’re in for a resounding slap in the face, sample the crust of SCARE and the metal-grind of GUHN TWEI. Or, on the other end of the scale, you can have a laugh with the Pouzza Comédie Club. And by the way, punk isn't always about coming out with all guns blazing: for solo performances, stop by Café Big Trouble.
Beyond the music
Because seeing shows for three straight days requires a short break once in a while, Pouzza offers a number of related activities. On Saturday and Sunday, head to the Beer Garden for Pouzza Wrestling. Also outdoors and free of charge, on Sunday, you can catch your breath at Yoga for Punks, then bring your kids to Pouzza Bambino: activities and activations for youngsters, music, games, drawing, art, and all around chilling. In fact, if you’re not into music per se, then Sunday’s the day for you: there’s also the Pouzza Comedy Club at Théâtre Sainte-Catherine, the Hangover Brunch at Le Central, and the punk market and BBQ at Les Foufounes électriques.