A couple of these are time-sensitive, so let’s lead with the urgent one. October has a strong mix for date nights — Bell Centre R&B, a rock legend in an intimate theatre, and a 1920s horror film scored live by the symphony. Here’s what to put on the calendar.

Teddy Swims — Bell Centre, October 7

This one’s in two days. The Georgia singer behind “Lose Control” plays Bell Centre on Tuesday night, and if you don’t have tickets yet, now is the moment. His voice live is more powerful and grittier than the recordings, and this is exactly the kind of show you’ll regret skipping. Tickets at ticketmaster.ca.

📍 Where: Bell Centre, 1909 Ave des Canadiens-de-Montréal
🗓️ When: Tuesday, October 7

JPEGMAFIA — MTELUS, October 14

Completely different energy, but that’s the point. LA’s JPEGMAFIA brings his chaotic, sample-dense live show to MTELUS for one night on October 14. If one of you has been following him since Veteran and the other hasn’t heard of him, this is a solid introduction in person — the studio albums don’t fully capture what he does live.

📍 Where: MTELUS, 59 Sainte-Catherine St E
🗓️ When: Tuesday, October 14

Aya Nakamura — Bell Centre, October 24

The most-streamed French-language artist in the world plays Bell Centre on October 24. If you missed her massive Paris run that closed out 2025, this is the show. The production is enormous, the setlist covers everything from early Djadja through her newer material, and the crowd energy at her shows is something you have to experience in person.

📍 Where: Bell Centre, 1909 Ave des Canadiens-de-Montréal
🗓️ When: Friday, October 24

Sting — Théâtre St-Denis, October 26–30

Sting plays a five-night run at Théâtre St-Denis — a very different setting than you’d expect from a former Police frontman who fills arenas. The theatre holds around 2,100 people, and seeing a show this calibre in a room that intimate is one of those things you won’t forget. Several dates still have tickets. Going earlier in the run usually means a fresher setlist.

📍 Where: Théâtre St-Denis, 1594 Saint-Denis St
🗓️ When: October 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30

The Dead South — Club DIX30, October 29

If you’re on the South Shore, or willing to make the 20-minute drive from downtown, The Dead South at Club DIX30 in Brossard is a great Halloween-adjacent night out. The Canadian folk-Americana quartet plays some of the most unsettling-pretty music going right now, and it fits the October mood perfectly.

📍 Where: Club DIX30, 9165 Blvd Leduc, Brossard
🗓️ When: Wednesday, October 29

Nosferatu in Concert — Maison symphonique, October 29

For something completely different: the 1922 silent horror classic Nosferatu screens at Maison symphonique while the Orchestre Métropolitain performs the live score. Atmospheric, genuinely eerie, Halloween-perfect, and inside one of the most beautiful concert halls in North America. If you can only pick one thing on this list, consider making it this one.

📍 Where: Maison symphonique, 1600 Saint-Urbain St
🗓️ When: Wednesday, October 29 (tickets at placedesarts.com)