by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

After an auspicious debut this time last year, the Pop Montreal festival returns with more shows than you can shake a stick at. And what does shaking a stick at anything other than a nervous squirrel accomplish, anyway? Just stop it! "Pop," in the fest's view, covers everything from jangly rock and orchestral new wave to neo-electro, alt-country and extreme heaviosity. Aside from name acts like Sloan, Tiga and Queens of the Stone Age, Pop Montreal has truckloads of up-'n'-comers, cool obscurities and local heroes that you'll thank yourself for taking the time to catch between September 25 and 28. Here's a few y'all ought to pencil in:

Edward Ka-Spel: Decorating his lush, crepuscular music with a lyrical bent from somewhere left of heaven and across the way from hell, Legendary Pink Dots frontman Ka-Spel (touring solo this time around) is a neo-psychedelic shaman of note. With Montag at la Sala Rossa on Thursday, Sept 25

The Fiery Furnaces: Rolling in on the strength of their debut disc Gallowsbird's Park, this brother-sister duo with some blues-rock flavour (don't say White Stripes!) and a Brooklyn address (don't say Yeah Yeah Yeahs!) got their own thing going on with frequent nods to mod anthems and wiggly psych-pop. With Touch at Missy Bar, Thurs., Sept. 25, 11pm

Peter Elkas: A familiar face from the Local Rabbits, Elkas is now doing what he calls "kind of a power trio, but it's pretty fucking mellow." An outstanding songwriter and guitar player, Elkas can also work magic with the Rhodes keyboard, so here's hoping he has one in tow. With Belle Orchestre and Steve Shiffman at Casa del Popolo on Thursday, Sept. 25

The Sharp Things: An orchestral folk-pop jumble from NYC who sound more polished and perceptive than any band on their first disc ought to. Band leader Perry Serpa's big voice and brooding lyrics are backed by the gamut of rock and post-rock instrumentation - flugelhorns, pennywhistles, even a lu sheng (this Chinese Zamfir-flute deal). With Broken Social Scene and the Besnard Lakes at Cabaret on Friday, Sept. 26

The Midways: In the hullaballoo over the new wave of garage rock outta Sweden and wherever, the glaring absence of that quintessentially garage-rock instrument, the Farfisa organ, has been ignored. Not by Toronto's the Midways, though. They've got that classic Beatle-boots-and-bowl-cut sound - organ included! With Malajube and Ten Year Drought at Pasalymanys, Fri., Sept. 26, 10pm

Echo Kitty: Amid all the ironic, wink-wink '80s revisionism of electroclash and such comes Montreal's Echo Kitty. They do straight-up new wave, no air quotes or knowing smirks attached. And they do it well - solid tunes, keys and guitar used as instruments and not props, and a singer with a black belt in elfin prancing. With Chernobyl Cha Cha at Missy Bar on Saturday, Sept. 27

Jérôme Minière: After digressing with his excellent Herri Kopter alter-ego project, adopted Montrealer Minière came back around with the excellent album Petit Cosmonaut, a blend of avant-pop, chanson and warm electronic flourishes that was a thing of rare and fragile beauty. This one's a definite must see. With Morning Star and SAS-31 at Cabaret on Sunday, Sept. 28

Ana Bon-Bon: Nodding to old blues, gospel and Tin Pan Alley tunesmithing, Vancouver's Ana Bon-Bon and her full-bodied voice and accordion playing bring a vintage bawdy-house bon-temps vibe to life. If Tom Waits were cute, female and capable of tolerating other human beings, he'd be her. With Milk and Launnie Anderson at le Swimming on Sunday, Sept. 28

Novillero: Another hot orch-pop act, this one with the inimitable songcraft and lyrical flair of Duotang's Rod Slaughter in the mix. Something of a local supergroup in Winnipeg, whence they come, Novillero rarely take it on the road, so don't miss this. With Sadie Hawkins and the Paperbacks at l'X on Sunday, Sept. 28

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