'77 Montreal 2019: What To Expect

This Friday, I will be returning to the third edition of ‘77 Montreal at Parc Jean-Drapeau. This year’s lineup is catered to punk rockers with all tastes, whether it’s pop-punk, hardcore or ska. There will be newcomers and legends, local and international. And if you ever need to kill time between bands, you can check out the punk rock flea market, the vintage poster and record fair, and for the punk parents, there’s the Kids Zone

Kicking off the day, are Montreal newbies Young Party, playing at the Scene du Jardin, followed by Toronto’s The Anti-Queens at the Scene de l’Est. Leading up to ‘77, an online contest was held for local bands to compete for a slot on the festival. The Lookout were able to scrounge the most votes, and they definitely deserve to be heard. Montreal’s own post-punk noisemakers Red Mass will also be playing at the garden stage, and be sure to return to that stage later at night to get your spook on with psychobilly outfit Gutter Demons.

My inner 16-year-old pop-punk kid will be squealing to see bands like Four Year Strong, the Menzingers, The Dirty Nil, and Charly Bliss, whose newest album Young Enough is my latest guilty pleasure. You will definitely catch me singing along to their single “Chatroom.”

‘77 Montreal is an opportunity to get a glimpse of punk rock legends. This year, you’ll be able to see Keith Morris, former singer of Black Flag and Circle Jerks. He will be performing with his current band OFF! Hardcore veterans Cro-Mags will be belting out 30-years worth of pent-up aggression (this version fronted John Joseph, the angriest vegan on the planet). From across the pond, Scottish punkers The Exploited will be stirring up chaos. More than a decade ago, the band was denied at the border and it triggered a massive riot in downtown Montreal. True to the festival name, Avengers will turn back the clock to 1977, the year they formed.

Prepare your vocal chords to sing the chorus of Pennywise’s “Bro-Hymn” ad nauseam, then put on your skanking shoes for Streetlight Manifesto before ending your night stimulating your brain cells to Bad Religion.

Chris the Frog is the host of Sewer Spewer, your weekly guide to Montreal's Dirty Underground, which airs every Monday from 12:00 to 1:00 PM.