by Becky Blumenthal.

Back in the early 1990s, Seattle was the place to be if you were a music lover. Home to the infamous Nirvana, Hole, Pearl Jam, and, Bikini Kill, Seattle produced most of the popular music of the day. Unfortunately, the nineties are over, and Seattle is still cool, but no longer the haven of new music. Now, the place to be is Montreal, which is quickly becoming the musical city du jour. Last week, it was Williamsburg, before that Omaha, but now it's in Jack Frost Territory.

The American music scene seems to have a knack for depending on the originality of small cities, although, until now, it's typically stayed within U.S. boundaries. Only a five-hour drive from New York City or a one and a half hour flight costing a mere $150, Montreal is more accessible than we realize. While it has always had the reputation as being a place of musical experimentation, the eyes of America have not been focused on the city since the 1976 Olympics.

Why Montreal? That's a tricky question. Montreal is actually divided between the Francophones (French speakers) and the Anglophones (English speakers). In this case, the Francophones own the town, making up over sixty percent of the population. But, the Anglophones are bringing new attention to the music scene. Aside from mainstream acts Rufus Wainwright and Simple Plan, Montreal bands didn't begin to make heads turn until the Arcade Fire's rise in popularity last year.

Montreal is an ideal city for a band, both politically and economically. While Anglophone music is banned from the radio in Montreal, a governmental agency known as FACTOR: the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records, provides financing for demos, videos and tours of musicians who apply for aid. For example, The Dears, the Stars and the Unicorns have all applied for and received money from FACTOR.

Some musicians living in Montreal joke that the bad weather keeps them inside writing songs and rehearsing. A key reason for the popularity of Montreal: cheap urban real estate in a cultural haven. A growing music scene requires lots of cheap space for musicians to live, record, play and rehearse. What makes the real estate even cheaper is that tax credit is given to spaces that are used for artistic purposes.

Despite the fact that these English speaking bands are in the minority, they are thriving. Bands like Godspeed you! Black Emperor, the Dears, the Stars, former Smashing Pumpkin and Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur, the Unicorns, the Stills, and Kid Koala are all making waves.

No, Montreal hasn't given the music world an equivalent of Seattle's Nirvana. Nor does Montreal have it's own unique sound, like 'grunge.' But, much of the music that your friends are listening to is from Canada, so maybe you should check it out too, eh!?!