Island fever

Carifiesta wraps up this weekend with bumpin' soca-calypso-reggae parade of the bands complete with smiling women in elaborate feathered dresses and the sweet sound of steel-drums wafting though the hot air. Last year, over 250,000 watched the parade, many apparently moved to spontaneous dancing and cheering in the spirit of things. Organizers are hoping for even more people this time around.

This is the 29th year that Caribbean culture is fêted in Montreal, a celebration coinciding with carnivals all over North America that took form after the emancipation of slaves in Trinidad and Tobago. Floats are typically made up of groups who conceptualize themes through ornate costumes, reflecting Caribbean creativity, history and pride.

A batch of local DJs join live musicians including K-Os and the Butta Babees in driving beat down the street - it starts at noon at the corner of Guy and René-Lévesque, heads east to St-Laurent, then south to city hall, where there'll be a calypso afterparty with kiosks selling food and other island goodies. » Matthew Woodley

Magic bus

The Bookmobile is back. Kinda based out of Montreal and Philadelphia (and a bunch of other places as well), the Projet Mobilivre/Bookmobile Project is a travelling exhibition of artists' books, zines and various other independently produced paper products. And it all fits in a lovely Airstream trailer.

Having toured around the eastern half of this here continent, the Bookmobile folks are making a special extended stop in town, setting up shop around Montreal for the perusing pleasure of curiosity-seekers. As usual, there's a bunch of workshops planned as well. The magic trailer will be at a "decent housing for all" event in Parc Lafontaine on July 5 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (bookbinding workshop at 2 p.m.); the Tam-Tams, of all places, on July 6, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; and the Café Pharmacie Esperanza (5490 St-Laurent) on July 10, noon–10 p.m. (bookbinding workshop at 7 p.m.). Other dates, unconfirmed at press time, are planned - for more details check out www.mobilivre.org. » Mark Slutsky

Hot sun celluloid

African and Creole cinema is showcased at the Vues d'Afrique's Ciné-spectacles au clair de lune, taking place from July 10–13 at the Théâtre de Verdure in Parc Lafontaine. A hot roster of live music and dance from the likes of Jab Jab and Yanick Dutelly's Cadence Kreyòl open things up before the free outdoor screenings begin nightly at 7 p.m. The films originate, in order of appearance, from France, Martinique, Tunisia and Guinea. African cuisine and art will also be for sale on site, www.vuesdafrique.org or 284-3322 for more info. » Matthew Woodley

Confirmed rumeur

Rumeurs 2, a sound installation by Catherine Béchard and Sabin Hudon, is making noise at the maison de la culture Ahuntsic Cartierville (10300 Lajeunesse). Using a variety of disparate materials, the two locals have created shiny little melodic machines triggered to respond to the viewer's movements. As you approach the gallery entrance, a solitary piece plucks notes from guitar strings. Upon entering the room the real cacophony begins. Tin cans, bits of metal, strings and gears plunk, scrape or whirl out different sounds.

The most engaging piece in the show, made of walnuts bobbing and clacking together on the end of wires, truly seems alive as it growls and moves in a manner reminiscent of an angry little mutt defending its turf. Exhibition runs until Aug 30, info: 872-7994. » Christine Redfern

Is it Art?

PICK-UP TIPS: A major problem with drop-in plastic flatbed truck liners is, of course, that dirt and water get trapped underneath them. Well life just got a whole lot easier, fellas: The Line-X franchise has just opened shop in Quebec (6010A St-Jacques W., NDG). Their Premium Spray-On Bed Liner is a thick polyurethane elastomer that seamlessly bonds to any truck bed. Line-X has even been contracted to bomb-protect the Pentagon with a similar coating. "I've had the other products before, but consider Line-X to be a much more superior product," writes Brett C. (no relation to Scott) of Little Rock, Arkansas. "The installation is the best - it's a great feeling to walk out of the gas station and notice guys standing around looking at and feeling the liner."

ArtsHole

ON THE PIPES: An often-overlooked member of fest season, the McGill Summer Organ Academy's Organ Festival boasts 15 musicians and 11 concerts with key performances from Bach to Jack and the Beanstalk. July 7-18 at venues (many of them churches) around town, 398-5145 for more info. • LONELY PLANET: Squeeze in between the folks lining up for Jazz Fest shows at the Gesù (1200 Bleury) and ponder Earth's place in the universe with Jacinthe Tétrault's Terre. The exhibition of works on paper shows alongside Réal Lauzon's Pas de panique à bord du Trans-Exit until July 30.

ARTISTAT: Number of documents on display at the Bibliothèque nationale du Québec (1700 St-Denis) exhibition Québec-Japon, running till Aug. 29, marking over 100 years of cultural ties between la belle province and the Land of the Rising Sun: 140

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