Join Our Weekly 5 à 7, Bretelles & Bécanes
Fridays, it’s time to celebrate with music, friends, and festive vibes! This fall, we’re thrilled to host a weekly Friday 5 à 7 with live music — a simple idea with a big heart: good tunes, good people, and easygoing canal-side energy.
Our music series, Bretelles & Bécanes, curated by musician Lucas Choi Zimbel, features a rotating lineup of local performers. Some acts lean into old-time or bluegrass roots, others bring folk, country, or original compositions. It’s a warm, welcoming space where musicians shine, regulars reconnect, and the café feels like the community hub it truly is.
Here’s our full fall and early-winter lineup carrying us right into the holidays.
19 November — Lina & Linnea from The Good Time Gals
We open the season with a joyful, high-spirited performance by Lina & Linnea, part of Montreal’s beloved Good Time Gals stringband. With a mix of old-time, country, and folk selections — plus a bit of tongue-in-cheek charm — they bring an immediate sense of celebration to the café. Their motto says it best: “Stomping on the patriarchy one fiddle tune at a time.”
A perfect way to kick off Bretelles & Bécanes.
26 November — Adam Nutbey & Maia Dagher
Next up, we welcome Adam Nutbey & Maia Dagher, a Montreal-raised duo known for their warm chemistry and deep love of traditional music. With guitars and fiddles in hand, they blend Québécois roots with Appalachian, bluegrass, and Cajun influences, creating a rich and easygoing sound that feels right at home by the canal, and setting the tone for how special these Friday evenings can be.
5 December — Mike Kennedy & Émile Hooper
This guitar-and-fiddle duo first met at the rollicking jam sessions at Grumpy’s Bar and have been making music together ever since.
Mike, a longtime figure in Montreal’s bluegrass and old-time scene, anchors the performance with experience, ease, and a deep connection to the community.
Émile, who has been playing fiddle since childhood, brings lively energy, warmth, and a touch of prairie-meets-Montréal flavour.
Together, they move effortlessly between lively tunes, sweet ballads, and the occasional classic country gem — a perfect early-December evening for anyone looking for warm, festive vibes on a Friday night.
12 December — Balbuzard Pêcheur
Balbuzard Pêcheur, the multi-instrumentalist duo of Antoine Labrecque and Thuya Boivin, brings a captivating blend of original compositions and traditional songs. Their sound ranges from intricate, high-energy arrangements to tender ballads, delivered with virtuosity and heart.
Their shows are known for leaving audiences buzzing — always surprising, always full of feeling.
19 December — Ben Vallée & Isaac Seglins
To close out the season, we welcome Ben Vallée, a Canadian country singer-songwriter whose music blends grassroots storytelling with poetic lyricism and a honky-tonk spirit. His warm baritone and grounded presence make him a natural fit for our final Friday before the holidays.
He’ll be joined by banjo player Isaac Seglins, a familiar face in Montreal’s folk and bluegrass circles. Together, they bring an inviting, down-to-earth sound — the perfect send-off before the winter break.
Poster artwork by Alex “Kinook” Poirier.
✨ Fridays at the Café Matter
Bretelles & Bécanes isn’t just a music series — it’s a weekly invitation to take a break, reconnect, and gather with friends and neighbours. Friends reuniting over a pint, cyclists warming their fingers around hot drinks, and local musicians sharing what they love most.
It’s community, in its simplest and most joyful form.
📅 See You by the Canal
Our Friday 5 à 7 live music series continues through December 19, and we’d love to see you here — pint, hot chocolate, cider, or snack in hand. Check out our new 5-à-7 menu. Drop in, bring a friend, or discover a new favourite musician.
The canal always feels a little brighter when we gather.