The 14th edition of Osheaga takes over Ile-Ste-Hélène for three days, 111 acts over six stages and over 30 hours of music. After a few years of renovations, the festival moves back to its former stomping grounds, 1,765 million square foot site, close to the metro entrance. The site looked lovely Thursday night - before the hordes descended. There's everything from indie rock to hip hop to electronica to pop. See headliners The Lumineers and Interpol on Friday, Chemical Brothers, Janelle Monaé and City and Colour Saturday, and Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, Hozier and local star Kaytranada closing it out on Sunday. Local or Montreal-adjacent acts include We are Monroe, Braids, Mac DeMarco, Black Tiger Sex Machine and The Franklin Electric. And the best-named acts: Ski Mask the Slump God, The Black Madonna, Mallrat, Vladimir Cauchemar, Beach House and Real Estate, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Gucci Mane, Young the Giant and Louis the Child, Grandson King Princess and Radiant Baby.
In Measure for Measure, this season's Shakespeare in the Park, the people in charge of Vienna want to crack down on vice and libidinous activities. But this means a young man is sentenced to death for hooking up with his girlfriend... and his poor sister strikes a tough bargain to save his life. Shakespeare's exploration of morality, vice and hidden identities is a tight and fun show, travelling to a park near you until August 11. This weekend, catch it at Mont-Royal Cemetery in Outremont (Friday), Jeanne-Mance Park in the Plateau (Saturday) and Armand-Bombardier Park in Rivière-des-Prairies (Sunday).
Celebrate Scottish culture this weekend: The Montreal Highland Games will be held at the Douglas Hospital grounds on Sunday, 9am to 5pm. The fun starts Friday at Burgundy Lion Pub with a Wee Cèilidh, featuring bagpipers, fiddlers and dancers. And in Maxville, Ontario the Glengarry Highland Games are set all weekend. There's physical feats, like the rugby tournament, the kilt run and tug-of-war, and plenty of music for your ears, from a harp workshop, to pipes and drums and fiddling.
It's the first Friday of the month... which means supper is under the stars at the Big O. Check out over 40 food trucks like Churros Montreal, Di Lallo Burger, La Queue du diable and Fidel Gastro's. Nosh while you listen to DJs L'Amalgame, Grandbuda and The Holy. First Friday, 4 to 11pm.
Battlewar is a regular pro wrestling event operating out of Foufs, and they are hosting a a free pro wrestling jam featuring the likes of Benjamin Tull, Les VIP, Mathieu St-Jacques and "Flying" Frank Milano. Sunday, 5pm in the outdoor courtyard at Foufounes Électriques.
The Chomedey Baptist Church is having a garage sale! Saturday, 9am to 4pm. 1225 Elisabeth Blvd in Laval.
A scrappy NDG venue continues to expand beyond country music with another heavy-hitter comedian: Joey Elias performs at the Wheel Club, Friday 8pm.
The laidback, likeable and hilarious John Roy headlines at the Comedy Nest Friday and Saturday.
Concerned about abortion rights in the United States? There is a lip-sync fundraiser where you can release your inner diva while raising money. There are prizes up for grab, and celebrity judges like Uma Gahd and Monica Hamburg, who produces the comedy series Pornomedy. Lip Sync Montreal presents Ovary-Acting is Saturday at The Diving Bell Social Club, 8pm.
Cabaret Abnormal brings the hot wax, swords and needles for an evening of burlesque, circus and death-defying acts. Performers include The Mighty Leviticus, Natasha Nebula and stage kitten, Ms. Kinky Karma. Friday at the Wiggle Room, 9pm.