May’s Ultimate Montreal Music Guide

From pirate scores to post-punk legends, May’s Montreal music guide delivers an eclectic lineup of concerts, raves, and underground events that promise to entertain and inspire. This curated roundup brings you the best of the city’s sonic landscape, from gritty basement venues to grand stages. But before diving into the rhythm and chaos, I want to spotlight an important cause that deserves your attention and support, setting the tone for a month where music meets meaning.

CKUT 90.3 FM Funding Drive: Supporting Montreal’s Underground Sound

Montreal’s iconic underground radio station CKUT 90.3 FM is holding its annual funding drive from May 2 to May 11. Let’s rally to support one of the city’s most vital sources of independent media! Since its founding in 1987, CKUT is a community-powered platform that uplifts marginalized voices, underground music scenes, and grassroots activism. Broadcasting from McGill University, the station has nurtured generations of artists, DJs, and cultural agitators. It’s a lifeline for scenes often ignored by mainstream media.

This year’s funding drive comes with a full slate of events across the city, turning fundraising into a citywide celebration of CKUT’s impact. Highlights include:

• May 1: Transparent Thursdays funding drive countdown at Système with Anabasine, Destiny, DJ Spence & Hex P

• May 2 (morning): Rise and Shine, It’s Pancake Time live broadcast from CKUT Studios with The Morning Detour & G-Flex

• May 2 (night): Booming & Blooming hip hop party at Club 2061

• May 3: Queer punk showcase with Queercorps x Venus at Toscadura

• May 5: Dykes on Mykes live from NDQ (Notre-Dame-des-Quilles)

• May 7: Triple live broadcast from Casa del Popolo featuring Off the Hour, Talk Shit O’Clock and Harbinger of Doom

• May 9: Open-Door Studios at CKUT — come pick what we play!

• May 10: Live from the Caribbean Food Factory with West Indian Rhythms & Masters at Work

• May 11: Backyard BBQ & Live Broadcast with The Magic Roundabout and Bhum Bhum Tyme at CKUT Studios

As DJ Guapo, I’m a guest host on The Magic Roundabout, CKUT’s popular weekly show helmed by Andy Williams, one of the Godfather OG’s of the local DJ scene. I host the first Sunday of every month from 2–4 PM, delivering the latest in underground bass music sounds. For the May 4th funding drive edition, Andy and I are teaming up for a special edition — each of us spinning a one-hour set live on air.

Whether you tune in for political resistance, dub-heavy soundscapes or experimental musical chaos at 3 a.m., this is your chance to give back.

🔊 Donate & get involved: ckut.ca

Techno Takes Over Spring: STRING BREAK by 51FORCE

String Break is heating up Montreal with a wild techno twist on spring break, brought to you by the party rebels at 51FORCE! Expect a riot of  Techno, Breakbeat, Ghetto Funk, and Tech House that’ll shake the walls of Bar La Shop on Friday, May 2. The theme? Miami beach meets rave madness — bikinis optional, bass mandatory.

Headlining the night is Mélusine, a force in Europe’s underground scene. Raised on free parties and teknivals, she blends Tribal Tekno, Balkan Swing, and Deep Groove into a signature sound that’s rocked crowds from Barcelona to Prague.

The lineup is stacked with local DJ/VJ heat: Mat Moebius, Mars#1, Melow, VJ Krap and more. This isn’t just a dance party — it’s a full-on beach rave without the sand. Dress loud, dance harder!

🎟️ Early birds from $12 — don’t snooze!
📍 Bar La Shop | Friday, May 2
💻 Tickets: mtljtm.com

Dark Grooves & Sonic Hypnosis: SUUNS Return to Foufs

Montreal’s own SUUNS return to light up Foufounes Électriques with their signature blend of brooding art-rock, hypnotic rhythms, and experimental flair. Known for pushing sonic boundaries, SUUNS craft moody, immersive soundscapes that oscillate between pulsating electronic textures and raw guitar-driven energy. They were nominated for the Polaris Prize and performed at major festivals like Glastonbury. Their latest release The Breaks, delivers a darker, stripped-down sound that still hits with cinematic intensity.  This show, presented by Evenko and the Montreal International Jazz Fest, promises a powerful live experience from one of the city’s most innovative acts.

📅 Saturday, May 3 | 📍 Foufounes Électriques
🎟️ Tickets: evenko.ca

Rave Wonderland: PSYCRISIS V – CandyLand All-Nighter

PSYCRISIS V: CandyLand is back for its fifth edition, a wild overnight journey through psychedelic soundscapes and neon dream worlds. Hosted by Wizard Tribe and Fractal Dream Production, this multi-room immersive rave blends jaw-dropping décor with a stacked lineup. The Psytrance room features artists like Virtual Light, Enakim vs Mukunda, Odonata, Narko, and more!

The Bass Music room curated by Musik Me Luv features some of my favourites like Dick Lee, Flowher, and Melek. Beyond the beats, the night features pole dancing by Francisca Fern, UV body paint by Charlotte Florent, live tattooing, psychedelic jugglers, performance art, a full chill room, and a mind-blowing laser show — all capped at 600 lucky guests.

📅 Saturday, May 4 | 📍 Montreal (location TBA)
🎟️ Tickets: Promotix

Alpine Vibes & Montreal Heat: Alpaka Presents Dr. Strangefunk’s EP Launch

ALPAKA SHOP is closing out the season in style on May 9 at Bar La Shop, and it’s going to be a banger! Montreal’s beloved Dr. Strangefunk celebrates the release of his debut EP Facsimile with a bass-heavy, funk-fueled launch party. Even better, Alpaka Muzik is flying in Swiss heavyweight MUNKLER for his first-ever Canadian performance. With support by Alpaka head hocho Kozy, label mates Quantaloop and Zentrix. Expect underground Psy Tech sets, trippy visuals by VJ Brouillard, and body painting by Charlou and Amarena de Luca, plus merch booths and a full Meyer Sound system shaking the walls.

📅 Friday, May 9 | 📍 Bar La Shop
🎟️ Tickets: TicketFairy

Raw Riffs & Big Hooks: The Blue Stones Hit Montréal

Bluesy, bold, and riff-heavy, The Blue Stones return to Montreal on May 9 at Théâtre Beanfield for a night of gritty rock and raw energy. The Juno-nominated duo is known for their high-octane live shows, blending garage rock swagger with soulful vocals and thunderous drums. Their latest releases continue to evolve their sound with slick production and big hooks, perfect for a full-volume night out. Toronto indie-rockers The Darcys open the show with their synth-tinged alt-pop vibe.

📅 Friday, May 9 | 📍 Théâtre Beanfield
🎟️ Tickets: evenko.ca

Soundscapes Unleashed: Nils Frahm at MTELUS

Piano virtuoso and ambient innovator Nils Frahm brings his spellbinding live show to MTELUS on May 10, presented by the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Blurring the lines between classical composition, experimental electronics, and minimalist beauty, Frahm’s performances are immersive, emotional journeys — part concert, part sonic meditation. Known for his mesmerizing stage setups and delicate, dynamic soundscapes, this is a must-see event for fans of boundary-pushing instrumental music.

📅 Saturday, May 10 | 📍 MTELUS
🎟️ Tickets: evenko.ca

Still Blazing: Cypress Hill + De La Soul + The Pharcyde at Place Bell

Cypress Hill brings their iconic West Coast sound to Place Bell in Laval on May 14, celebrating over three decades of blazing trails in hip hop. Known for their unmistakable flow, heavy beats, and smoky anthems, the group behind classics like Insane in the Brain and Hits from the Bong still delivers with raw energy and swagger.

The O Canadabis Tour also features two legendary acts to open the show: De La Soul, the trailblazing trio who redefined conscious rap with playful lyricism and jazzy production, and The Pharcyde, whose quirky, soulful take on ’90s hip hop made tracks like Oh Shit, Passin’ Me By and Runnin’ instant classics.

📅 Tuesday, May 14 | 📍 Place Bell, Laval
🎟️ Tickets: evenko.ca

Post-Punk Pioneer: Peter Hook & The Light at MTELUS

I Love Neon, Blue Skies Turn Black and Evenko present Peter Hook & The Light at MTELUS on May 15, to deliver a powerful tribute to the legacy of Joy Division and New Order. As the original bassist of Joy Division, Hook’s melodic, haunting bass lines were a defining element of the post-punk sound — raw, emotional, and instantly recognizable. With The Light, he brings that legacy to life, performing full albums from both bands with visceral energy and deep reverence. Expect a night of dark anthems, cult classics, and unforgettable atmosphere.

Hearing Joy Division for the first time as a teenager in the 1980s was a life-changing moment. Their sound felt otherworldly — stark, cold minimalism infused with a haunting, deeply human melancholy. Tracks like Disorder, Atmosphere, Transmission, She’s Lost Control, and of course Love Will Tear Us Apart became instant anthems. The band’s journey ended tragically with the suicide of frontman Ian Curtis, but from the ashes emerged New Order, who helped shape the future of electronic music with groundbreaking tracks like Blue Monday. What a legacy. I saw New Order perform at Glastonbury Festival in 2005 — and honestly, Hooky stole the show.

📅 Wednesday, May 15 | 📍 MTELUS
🎟️ Tickets

Cinematic Sound Unleashed: Bear McCreary Live in Montreal

As someone who’s spent two decades working in Film and TV as a Composer & Music Supervisor, I’m genuinely blown away by Bear McCreary — a true master of musical storytelling. Unlike many of his peers who always deliver the same type of score, McCreary’s sound shapeshifts from project to project, immersing itself so fully into each world that the music becomes inseparable from the narrative.

Nowhere is this more evident than in his astonishing score for Black Sails, where he conjured what might be the greatest pirate music ever written! His Making Of video blogs on YouTube breaking down he created the music for that series are essential viewing for any music nerd and pirate enthusiast! McCreary’s résumé includes epic TV shows like Battlestar Galactica, Da Vinci’s Demons, Outlander, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and the video game God of War — each scored with cinematic depth and genre-defying brilliance.

Now, Montreal gets a rare chance to experience his music live as McCreary takes the stage at Théâtre Beanfield on May 27. Expect a sweeping, genre-spanning performance from one of the most innovative composers working today.

📅 Monday, May 27 | 📍 Théâtre Beanfield
🎟️ Tickets: evenko.ca

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In closing here are a few bonus events to check out.

BONUS #1
Industrial metal icons Ministry take a sharp detour into synth-pop nostalgia on May 17 at MTELUS. Long before their guitar-shredding fury, the band flirted with melodic electronics — and for one night only, they’re reviving rare tracks from With Sympathy and Twitch. A must for fans of Ministry’s deep-cut history.

BONUS #2
Acid Dreams XL lights up Bar Le Ritz PDB on May 30 with six hours of gritty, vinyl-only techno and acid. Curated by DJ SARCASTIC and DJ INYOURFACE, the night includes a live set by RAFF_LATENITE and banging DJ sets from DJ M_. Entry is $10 cash, but it’s free before 10 PM — so get there early and ride the wave.

🎶 Missed the action? Click here to check out April’s top concerts, parties & events in our Montreal music archive!