Photos: Pop Montreal [Montreal, Quebec; 10/03-10/07/07]

Photos by Matthew Solarski and Leslie Bembinster

The sixth annual Pop Montréal festival swept through Canada's second most populous city last week, tossing five days and nights of myriad musical acts, sundry film screenings, numerous panels, dozens of venues, and a fairly enormous arts and crafts fair ("Puces Pop") into one delectable pop poutine.

Highlights included two performances from punk godmother Patti Smith-- one with Montreal's own A Silver Mt. Zion and one, with Smith's band, in the magnificent confines of the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste-- along with another barnburner courtesy of those crazies in Man Man, an enchanting set that paired Final Fantasy with some exquisite overhead projection accompaniment, sold out showcases featuring Sunset Rubdown and the National with Doveman, and a reunited Eric's Trip, still tight and still whipping the kids into a frenzy.

Like a little cousin to SXSW or CMJ, Pop Montréal also takes care to showcase promising newcomers, among them Puerto Rico's Balún, Venezuela's Todosantos, and Canada's own Ohbijou, DD/MM/YYYY, Basia Bulat, Feuermusik, Krief (guitarist for the Dears), AIDS Wolf, and Erin Lang.

Catch photos of the aforementioned and more just ahead.

PATTI SMITH AND HER BAND