It may not be on the same scale as Austin's South by Southwest Festival yet, but Pop Montreal has firmly replaced Toronto's North by Northeast as the marquee annual Canadian music event.

Starting tonight and running through the weekend, the festival will offer no shortage of big draws - among them Beck, Interpol, Sam Roberts, Matt Mays, Metric, Kings of Leon and recent Mercury Prize winner Antony and the Johnsons. But with hundreds of other acts to choose from at the four-year-old fest, the discerning music fan will have some tough decisions to make. To help plan out the weekend, we checked in with some of the performers playing the festival to see which of their peers they're most excited about.

MAX (AGE OF DANGER), THE DEADLY SNAKES: Billy Childish has been making records for 20 years that neophytes are still just discovering. He's had a dozen bands through the years, but they're always just a vehicle for his prolific songwriting. Outliving one trend and championed by the next, he more than stands up to the test of time. He also doesn't cross the pond much, so consider yourself lucky. I've seen him hold an audience with nothing more than a board to stomp on and a microphone.

PETER ELKAS: The evolution of 1990s East Coast rock has resulted in at least two exceptional acts, both performing in Montreal. City Field is the collaboration of Gregg Millman, Matt Murphy, Mitchell Wiebe, Brent Randall and Dave Ewenson; their EP Authentic City is a satisfying shake of tough guitar and tender melodies that carry wonderful images of hippies crying and midgets dying. I love these cats, and am only missing them to perform for Guelphigonians.

Rising from the ashes of Thrush Hermit is Camouflage Nights, which has only a few minutes to rest before it invades planet Earth. There is a sexual thread woven through this music that will both delight and frustrate you. There is also a burning axe in the show that will frighten and possibly burn you.

ANDREW WHITEMAN, APOSTLE OF HUSTLE: Gonzales. The man is still a head-f---ing evil genius, just like when he left for Europe years ago, but now he wears slippers onstage instead of a pith helmet.

LEXI VALENTINE, MAGNETA LANE: First pick, Republic of Safety. I really like this band - I've seen them live twice and both times they have just been phenomenal.

Second, Tokyo Police Club. Love the rawness - brings the Violent Femmes, a bit of Kinks and ripped-up valentines for a lovely mix.

Third, of course, is Controller.Controller - seen them many times, and I never get tired. They all have such amazing chemistry and presence onstage. And the songs just take over your limbs.

SCOTT KAIJA, CONTROLLER. CONTROLLER: On Friday at the Green Room there's Oh Bijou at 10 p.m. and The Vermicious Knid at midnight - two great new bands that I truly love. And at 12:30 a.m., there's Black Mountain at Theatre National. I've only heard their record and haven't had the chance to see them yet. It was one of those rare albums that actually grabbed my attention at first listen. I'm anxious to see how they are live.

On Saturday at 11 p.m. at the Academy Club, there's Holy Fuck. Brian [Borcherdt] is a good friend of mine, but I've never actually seen his band perform. Apparently, it's all improv and anything can happen - a nice change of pace from the usual and a good way to close out the weekend.

MATT MAYS: I really have to see Illuminati. Also Peter Elkas, The Hylozoists, Shaker and, last but not least, Wintersleep.

EMILY HAINES, METRIC: The Islands are former Unicorns members opening for Beck at the Bell Centre. And the Lovely Feathers, who are opening for us at Club Soda.

K'NAAN: I'm looking forward to seeing Beck, because I really enjoyed his last album; Shawn Hewitt, because I like what he does; and Sam Roberts Band, because they're always great to see.

WAYNE PETTI, CUFF THE DUKE: If I could could hang out in Montreal for the whole festival, on Wednesday I would definitely want to see the Hylozoists and the Little Sister Publicity showcase at Balattou, with Woolly Leaves, Chad Ross and Andr Ethier.

On Thursday, I'd go to Chet, From Fiction and The Old Soul. On Friday, it would be L'il Andy, Ladies and Gentlemen and the Three Gut Showcase at Petit Campus with More Dogs, Gentleman Reg, Jim Guthrie and Big Bear. And on Saturday, I'd go to Anagram and Ted Leo And The Pharmacists.

In a perfect world, I would go see all these bands in a heartbeat. Enjoy the festival!