Things to Do in Montréal April 9 to 15

As winter winds turn to balmy breezes, Montréal becomes the perfect place at the perfect time to spend a few hours exploring on foot and swinging (on art) outdoors as well as getting cozy inside with world-class dance, theatre, comedy and live music.

Swing into Spring

It’s easy to make your own music in downtown Montréal’s Quartier des spectacles this spring as the 21 Balançoires (21 Swings) art installation returns April 14 to May 31. The swings all make musical sounds – piano, guitar, harp or vibraphone – that create melodies as more and more people stop to swing along Promenade des Artistes (between De Maisonneuve Blvd. and President-Kennedy Ave.). More art that captures the city’s unique spirit from historical past to present can be found at several of Montréal’s museums and at the New Discoveries and Other Obsessions exhibition at the Musée d’art contemporain, curated by the museum’s new director John Zeppetelli.

Show time!

Some of the best classical and modern ballet in the world graces the stage as Les Grands Ballets presents the Eifman Ballet in acclaimed Russian choreographer Boris Eifman’s passionate and psychologically complex Anna Karenina. With hockey playoffs just around the corner, catch the on-ice drama as the Montréal Canadiens take on the Red Wings on April 9 in their last home game of the regular season at the Bell Centre. Theatrics and basketball feats take centre court as the Harlem Globetrotters come to town on their 2015 World Tour on April 10 at the Bell Centre. Comedian and political commentator Bill Maher briefly steps away from HBO’s “Real Time” to the stage at Place des Arts on April 12. From Times Square to Australia, theatrical spectacle Empire has wowed crowds, blending circus, comedy, burlesque and vaudeville – the show and its custom-made circus tent stops in Montréal April 14 to May 24. Montréal filmmaker Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky, Good Neighbours, both starring Jay Baruchel) directs Tom Stoppard’s Tony Award-winning comedy Travesties, April 12 to May 3 at the Segal Centre. Raw humanity, wilderness and mystery populate contemporary dance work Ravages by Québec choreographer-dancer Alan Lake, at Place des Arts’ intimate Cinquième Salle, April 14-18. And there’s even more dance by Québec artists at the 20th Festival Vue sur la Relève.

Food for all

Maple syrup may be available year round in Québec, but sugar shack season must come to an end – don’t miss the annual culinary celebration of the maple syrup harvest, whether you try the traditional sugar shack experience in the countryside just outside the city or opt for a season-inspired urban meal. No matter what neighbourhood you’re wandering through in Montréal on any given weekend, it’s bound to feature a brunch spot with everything from eggs benny to delectable pastries. And step up your coffee game with a visit to one (or many) of the city’s top independent coffee shops, where coffee is both beloved art and carefully-crafted science.

Live Music

Brilliant blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa mesmerizes at Place des Arts April 9 and 10, while on April 9 metal reigns on the Decibel Magazine Tour with bands At The Gates, Converge and more at Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre. Art and music join forces at the MAC Nocturne event Friday night from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., featuring music by DJ Heidy.P, DJ Frigid and Duvall. Also Friday, The Cat Empire settles in for its first toe-tapping night at Metropolis to be followed by a Saturday show, Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Damien Rice charms at Olympia, Les Violons du Roy presents Dorothea Röschmann, Hélène Guilmette, and Henk Neven singing Baroque opera pieces at Place des Arts, and good-time funk brass band Busty and the Bass gets down at Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre. The Devil Wears Prada rocks out at Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre on April 11 just as entertainment icon Engelbert Humperdinck returns to Place des Arts for a stylish night of genre-spanning music, and mega-dance producers MAKJ and Bynon keep the party going at New City Gas.  On April 12, indie guitar-folk artist Jose Gonzalez thrills fans at Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre, and soulful singer-songwriter Justin Nozuka chills out the crowd at Fairmount Theatre. German pianist Hauschka astounds with melodic experimental compositions on prepared piano at Bar Le Ritz PDB on April 14. Rapper-producer Earl Sweatshirt, member of hip-hop collective Odd Future, goes live with his new album at Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre on April 15, or you could sway to the electro-pop of Shlohmo at the SAT.