by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

Those of you who've hopped the pond for a continental jaunt might be familiar with the Eurail pass, a sliver of paper that will get you on most any train in Europe, and thus just about anywhere over there, and at a very reasonable cost.

Sound cool? Try this, then. Your STM bus pass, cheaper still than Eurail, can deposit you at points across not only Europe but the entire globe. Offer's only good from April 19 to 24, however - those are the dates of the Festival des Musiques et du Monde, back for its 15th edition this year. Events range from a family-friendly afternoon of tunes to nocturnal DJ-party hijinx. Many of them are free (although advance ticket reservations are required - go to www.musiquemultimontreal.com for specifics), and take place at Maison de la culture Ahuntsic/Cartierville at 10300 Lajeunesse, near Henri-Bourassa metro.

The fest kicks off with a visit from Vancouver's Zeellia, a sextet whose home base is Ukrainian traditional music, from which point they venture out to sounds from the Balkans, the Baltic region and the Canadian prairies. Expect a rousing round of rustic old-worldliness on Tuesday, April 19 at 8 p.m.

Two nights later, on Thursday, April 21 at 8 p.m., the Caravane event leads listeners on a winding musical path from the Balkans (Montreal's women's choral ensemble Dragana), to Jewish Europe (locals Shtreiml, who toss in some ace harmonica playing for good measure) and back to Lebanon (the BackStrings group) and Turkey (Ismail Fencioglu). Weaving the night together with a blend of story and song is the celebrated singer Karen Young.

Later that same night (10 p.m.), in the Maison's Festival Cabaret area, is the first of two consecutive gigs by Montreal's Vincent Letellier, aka Freeworm, joined by singer/MC Chimwemwe Miller and VJ Ian Cameron. With a name like Freeworm, plus albums called Vegetation = Fuel and Solar Power, you can tell this guy's approach to reconciling the acoustic and the electronic, the high-tech and the handmade, is best described as "earthy." Thoughtful music you can dance to (or is that dance music you can think to?). He's there Friday night as well, while Saturday night, 10 p.m. again, belongs to Marco Calliari. He might have clocked in his hours of power with local metal-meisters Anonymus, but lately the accomplished singer/guitarist has been delving into his roots. His 2003 album Che la vita introduced his lively explorations of Italian folk music, which he delivers with a rock veteran's zest.

Both Freeworm and Calliari will put you back five bucks, as will the Sunday afternoon family show, April 24 at 2 p.m., which offers not only locals Les Zalarmes but Filipina 10-piece The Kaibigan Vocal Ensemble. Aged between 16 and 22, the women in the ensemble hail from the rougher sections of Manila. The group may have afforded them the chance to travel the world, but they haven't forgotten their home - the Kaibigan Foundation, for which they're representatives, funnels funds and efforts back to the children in those same slums.

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