Going all out for Haiti

Montrealers of all tastes and ages have no
shortage of benefit nights to choose from

by PATRICK LEJTENYI

There has been a truly remarkable outpouring of generosity following last week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti. If you haven’t already donated to the Red Cross, Partners in Health or other worthy (and legit) charities, here are some events that can help salve your conscience and do some good at the same time.

• L’Union fait la force, a big musical spectacular is being held tonight, Thursday, Jan. 21 at the Telus Theatre (1280 St-Denis), with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the show starting at 7 p.m. Admission is $20, with proceeds going to the Red Cross, Médecins du Monde and Clowns Without Borders. On the bill are Muzion, Linda Thalie, Loco Locass, Dubmatique, les Colocs, Bad News Brown, Dupuis, Marc Antoine, Jonas with an acoustic performance featuring Corey Diabo, Rachelle Jeanty, Dan Bigras, Frank Julien, Paul Piché with appearances from Pénélope McQuade, Angelo Cadet, Geneviève Borne, Didier Lucien and Herby Moreau. Tix available through admission.com or the Telus Theatre box office: (514)764-2681. Telus mobile subscribers can also dial *2323 to make a pledge.

• A smaller music night will be held, again, at Club Lambi (4465 St-Laurent), also on Thursday, Jan. 21. “Maximum de son pou Haïti” will feature acoustic and sound system beats from Bass Ma Boom, Doody le Tigre, Kenny Thomas, Mad’moizèle Giraf, José Davila, Elena Stoodley, Kamikazi, Cynthia Soudin. Louzgain Farigoul, Dan Beats, Chrystelle Maechler and Kokoy. Admission $10, doors 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m. All proceeds go to Oxfam and the Red Cross.

• Yet another event on Thursday, for people who’d rather move to than watch music, is the “Salsa pour Haïti” at le Consulat (1442 Bleury, 2nd floor). DJs Jean Nonez, Drixx and Montuno will spin salsa and konpa sounds, with all door and bar receipts going to the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation, a local non-profit corporation involved in human rights and development in some of the world’s poorest countries. Pay what you can, doors 8 p.m. More info at salsamontreal.com.

• On Friday, Jan. 22, indie pop rockers Larsenal, “Electro/Melodramatic Popular Song/Dutch pop” Softswap, “Italian pop and shoegaze” Lights Off and “other surprises” will play a benefit show at Il Motore (179 Jean-Talon W., 8:30 p.m., $10). Proceeds go to the Red Cross. Warm clothes to be distributed to Haitian refugees here are also welcome.

• The artist-run Visual Voice Art Gallery in the Belgo Building (372 Ste-Catherine W. #421) will let patrons and their friends and families have their pictures taken until Feb. 6, with proceeds going to Oxfam and the Red Cross. For more info, see visualvoicegallery.com.

• Well-intentioned though questionably named is the Total Crap pour l’Haïti special screening at Club Soda (1225 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $5) on Thursday, Jan. 21. Be warned: The Total Crap guys pride themselves on screening the “worst in television and cinema,” and they promise “classic” Total Crap picks for the first part of the show. The second will feature a complete screening of Putain de chomage, which they describe as the “worst Québécois film ever made.”

• Concordia’s Cinema Politica, in conjunction with Haiti Action Montreal, Art Threat and Hospitality Concordia, will also host a screening, this one of Aristide and the Endless Revolution. The 2005 doc “explores … the removal of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the democratically elected President of Haiti. Filmmaker Nicolas Rossier takes the viewer into a journey of political intrigues, armed criminals posing as freedom fighters and economic fiascos.” The screening will be held on Friday, Jan. 22 at Concordia (1455 de Maisonneuve W., Room H-110, 7:30 p.m.). Voluntary donation, minimum suggested is $5.

• The Société Bolivarienne du Québec and Action Haïti Montréal will put on a “Solidarity Party With the People of Haiti” on Saturday, Jan. 23. Their Facebook page specifically mentions the nefarious effects the “devastating neo-liberal policies” of the governments of the U.S. and Canada have had on the country and the damages done by “U.S. imperialism in Latin America.” Food and drinks will be sold on site, with all proceeds going to the Haitian Red Cross. The event takes place at Ayllu (1180 Sherbrooke E. apt. #2, 8 p.m.).

• Petit Campus (57 Prince Arthur E.) will host Une Pensée pour Haïti on Wednesday, Jan. 27 (8 p.m., $10 advance, $15 door), featuring hip hop performances from 7 Ave. Boyz, MC Aussi and Mendoza, Kra-Z Noise, Dirty Taz, Marco Volcy, la Playade, John John, Madhi, Boycut, Blanko, Psyko Pass and VM, l’Ombre Blanche, Samy Elmousif, Casse Croute, Caya, Negsayo, Clermont, Sa Majesté Lintrus, Wiser008, Chub E. Pelletier, Moines de Rue, Cobna, Otmc (Dubmatique) and at least one surprise guest.