Pop Montreal | October 1-5

Pop Montreal is far and away the biggest indie music/industry festival within a days drive from Vermont (2.25 hrs from Montpelier). The lineup and events don't quite compare to Austin's South By Southwest and NYC's CMJ Music Marathon, but it is never far behind. In some ways it is much, much better, given that it is a waaay better City, the acts are a bit more interesting and usually less discovered, and the weather is great (there's nothing like 40 degree nights).

Here's a handful of groups that'll be at Pop Montreal's 7th edition:
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Wire, Hot Chip, Dan Deacon, The Sainte Catherines, Beach House, Chocolat, Silver Apples, The Dodos, Crystal Castles, Julie Doiron, The Wedding Present, Vetiver, The Dodos, Black Kids, Jana Hunter, Cex, Evangelicals, Liam Finn, The Veils, Great Lake Swimmers, Jason Collett, You Say Party! We Say Die!, Irma Thomas, Chad VanGaalen, Dark Meat, Headlights, and Burt Bacharach.

Individual tickets for shows are starting to sell out (Ratatat and Nick Cave tickets are history), so you better get on it. The platinum "Industry Passes" can get you into these "sold out" shows, but it'll set ya back $225 bucks.