Toronto’s Canadian Music Week has long been the northern twin to Austin’s South-by-Southwest (more so than North-by-Northeast – QRO 2013 photos – despite CMW having a more generic name), as it’s usually happened the week after SXSW. In 2014, however, SXSW was early (QRO recap), and CMW has moved out on its own into May. So catch what’s new from the Great White North at venues across Toronto, Tuesday-to-Saturday, May 6th to 10th:
TUESDAY, MAY 6th
Adelaide Hall, 250 Adelaide St W
Rock N Horse
8:30PM – Kaitlin Kozell
9:30PM – Jesse Slack
10:30PM – Jamie Stever
11:30PM – Shanya Lynn
Baltic Avenue, 875 Bloor Street West
The Indie Machine
8:00PM – Stellarize
9:00PM – Faraway Neighbours
10:00PM – FAIRCHILD
11:00PM – Low Hanging Lights
12:00AM – Good Conduct
1:00AM – Aves
Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen Street West
9:00PM – The Booze Bombs
10:00PM – Stellar Lane
11:00PM – War Baby
12:00AM – [MP.G] My Pet Genius
1:00AM – The Rathburns
Cameron House – Backroom, 408 Queen Street West
7:00PM – Paula Gomez
8:00PM – Buddy Black
9:00PM – beau
10:00PM – Lydia Hol
11:00PM – Waiting Game
12:00AM – AHI
Central, 603 Markham Street
5:00PM – Lee Serviss
6:00PM – Chuck Coles
7:00PM – ELS Organ Trio
8:00PM – Ivy James
9:00PM – Matt Walters
10:00PM – Greg Janssen
11:00PM – Perfect Mark
12:00AM – Heartcopy
1:00AM – DEON
Charlie’s Gallery, 112 Harbord Street – FREE
8:00PM – Jordan Rutledge
9:00PM – GRAY
10:00PM – Kevin Mules Wilson
11:00PM – Pete Van Duke & The Second Hand
12:00AM – Hogarth & The Sky Vines
Cherry Cola’s Rock N’ Rolla Cabaret, 200 Bathurst Street
8:00PM – Awake At Last
9:00PM – High Heels Lo Fi
10:00PM – Streetlight Marathon
11:00PM – The Anti-Queens
12:00AM – We Were Heads
1:00AM – MiMi Cry
2:00AM – Hormoans
Czehoski, 678 Queen Street West
X 92.9
8:00PM – Steve Rokosh
9:00PM – Lost in Film
10:00PM – Laurent Bourque
11:00PM – Sue-Anne Stewart
12:00AM – Somerville
1:00AM – Cat Thomson
Hard Rock Cafe, 279 Yonge Street
8:00PM – Tuan X
9:00PM – Tanya Lee
10:00PM – JOZEM
11:00PM – Three Fifs
12:00AM – Alfie
1:00AM – Ozzmanic
Johnny Jackson, 587 College Street
10:00PM – Anthony Damiao
11:00PM – Sky Terminal
12:00AM – Windigo
1:00AM – The Marvelous Beauhunks
Kool Haus, 132 Queens Quay East
Live Nation
8:00PM – Sir Sly
9:00PM – Bad Suns
10:00PM – The 1975
Manchester’s The 1975 (QRO photos at a festival) turned heads with their Sex EP in 2012, even though it wasn’t very good (QRO review), and have kept that up with last year’s self-titled debut full-length.
Painted Lady, 218 Ossingston Avenue
8:00PM – Soul Kisser
9:00PM – Sarantos
10:00PM – The Party on High Street
11:00PM – Motion Grove
12:00AM – David Hodges & The Honest Family
1:00AM – Anomalie
Queen Elizabeth Theater, 190 Princes’ Boulevard
8:00PM – Kenny vs Spenny
‘Kenny vs Spenny vs Canada’ on Tuesday & Wednesday (see below) of CMW at Queen Elizabeth Theater.
Rancho Relaxo, 300 College Street
Two Way Monologues
8:00PM – Luca Fogale
9:00PM – Stand Up and Say No
10:00PM – Port of Call
11:00PM – Paul Kasner
12:00AM – Finnegan’s Wake
1:00AM – Wildheart
2:00AM – Navigator Black & The Indighost
3:00AM – Undesirables
Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave
neXt
8:00PM – Ride Em Cowboy
9:00PM – The Holy Gasp
10:00PM – Blue Sky Miners
11:00PM – The Pick Brothers Band
Tattoo, 567 Queen St West
INK Entertainment
9:00PM – The C’mons
10:00PM – Stuck on Planet Earth
11:00PM – The Dirty Nil
12:00AM – The Reason
The Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Avenue
8:00PM – Field Study
9:00PM – Human Human
10:00PM – The Provincial Archive
11:00PM – Yellerkin
1:00AM – Swaying Tuesdays
2:00AM – The Rucksack Willies
The Great Hall, 1087 Queen Street West
8:00PM – Come As You Are
Canadian musicians including Sloan, Hidden Cameras, DIANA, By Divine Right and more play their favorite Nirvana songs.
The Hideout, 484 Queen St. West
8:00PM – Texas King
9:00PM – Julian Taylor Band
10:00PM – Barbudos
11:00PM – Clumsy
12:00AM – Lenny & The Bullfighters
1:00AM – The Little Brothers
2:00AM – Radio Free Universe
The Lobby Lounge @ Shangri-La Hotel, 188 University Ave – FREE
7:00PM – Mary McKay
The Opera House, 735 Queen Street East
Battleaxe
9:00PM – Marmel
9:00PM – Trash Gordon & Molly Gruesome
9:00PM – The Sick Kids (Spesh K & Tiggz)
10:00PM – Slaine
11:00PM – Madchild
12:00AM – Swollen Members
1:00AM – Supreme Villain
The Piston, 937 Bloor St West
9:00PM – Shaky Knees
10:00PM – Autopilot
11:00PM – Vorasek
12:00AM – Sleepy Mean
1:00AM – Maps
As Maps, Northampton’s James Chapman was nominated for Britain’s Mercury Prize for his impressive debut We Can Create (QRO review), and has kept it up with 2009’s Turning the Mind and last year’s Vicissitude (QRO mp3 review).
Underground Garage, 365 King Street West
9:00PM – The Fresh Breath Band
10:00PM – James Ethan Clark & The Renegades
11:00PM – Sean Patrick McGraw
12:00AM – Secondhand Habit
1:00AM – Uforia
2:00AM – Autopilot
Velvet Underground, 508 Queen Street West
8:00PM – King & Queen
9:00PM – Grass Grows Back
10:00PM – Chasing Jane
11:00PM – Glass Ampp
Virgin Mobile Mod Club, 720 College St
Live Nation
8:00PM – Megan Bonnell
8:45PM – Sanders Bohlke
9:30PM – Justin Nozuka
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7th
Adelaide Hall, 250 Adelaide St W
AnchorShop
6:30PM – 1st Class
7:10PM – Ben Zamora
7:50PM – Aspire
8:30PM – D-Pryde
9:20PM – Crystalyne
Baltic Avenue, 875 Bloor Street West
The Indie Machine
8:00PM – The Bright Skies
9:00PM – The Fiscals
10:00PM – Fitness Club Fiasco
11:00PM – Canyon Carvers
12:00AM – Tallan, M.D
1:00AM – Heirloom Beats
2:00AM – The Stormalongs
Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen Street West
9:00PM – The Deadset
10:00PM – Bloody Diamonds
11:00PM – Flint Eastwood
12:00AM – Bella Clava
1:00AM – The StandStills
C’est What, 67 Front St E
9:00PM – Levi Stephens
10:00PM – Adrian Underhill
11:00PM – Miray
12:00AM – Meredith Shaw
1:00AM – Art Imperial
Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen Street West
7:00PM – MATZKA
8:00PM – Metro4
9:00PM – Kaylan Mackinnon
10:00PM – Melanie Ungar
11:00PM – Tanya Marie Harris
12:00AM – Tara Holloway
1:00AM – The Roper Show
Cameron House – Backroom, 408 Queen Street West
7:00PM – Marie Munroe
8:00PM – Old Man Morrish
9:00PM – Ma Petite
10:00PM – Laura Roy
11:00PM – The Jason Serious Band
12:00AM – The Plastic Acid Band
1:00AM – Last of the Bandits
Central, 603 Markham Street
5:00PM – Professor H & The Bandits
6:00PM – Angela Saini
7:00PM – Sara Wilkinson
8:00PM – Lyon Apprentice
9:00PM – Thanya Iyer
10:00PM – Brendan Ryder (I Am The Riot)
11:00PM – Dante Matas
12:00AM – The Soles
1:00AM – Trevor James & The Perfect Gentlemen
2:00AM – Jackson Steinwall’s Funny Funk Band
3:00AM – Invermier
Charlie’s Gallery, 112 Harbord Street
The Indie Machine
8:00PM – Sarah Budden
9:00PM – Jordan Grey & The Grey Owls
10:00PM – Goodnight, Sunrise
11:00PM – Port of Call
12:00AM – The Other Girl
Cherry Cola’s Rock N’ Rolla Cabaret, 200 Bathurst Street
8:00PM – The Scissorkicks
9:00PM – Mobina Galore
11:00PM – Birth of Joy
12:00AM – Distances
1:00AM – June Divided
2:00AM – Attention Anyone
3:00AM – Mosely
Clave Social, 1345 St. Clair Ave
The Nikki Clarke Show
8:00PM – Andrea Godin
8:00PM – Kris Monico
8:00PM – Knowledge Gonzalez
8:00PM – Nikki Clarke
8:00PM – Jennifer Cortez
8:00PM – Alicia Cinnamon
8:00PM – Penelope
8:00 PM – Ricky Jarman
Czehoski, 678 Queen Street West
8:00PM – about:
9:00PM – J.P. Wasson Band
10:00PM – Luca Vasta
11:00PM – The Corner
12:00AM – Dominique Fricot
1:00AM – GRAY
Detour, 193 Baldwin Avenue
8:00PM – Skye Wallace
10:00PM – PIF PAF HANGOVER
11:00PM – Short of Able
12:00AM – The Rumble
1:00AM – V.C.
Drake Underground, 1150 Queen Street West
9:00PM – CON VOS
10:00PM – Meg Myers
11:00PM – BROODS
Gladstone Hotel, (North Ballroom) 1214 Queen W
8:00PM – Audego
9:00PM – LIINKS
10:00PM – Adi Ulmansky
11:00PM – Yeo
12:00AM – Diia
1:00AM – Dorine Levy
Hard Luck Bar, 772 Dundas St W
9:00AM – Justin Keenan
8:00PM – Megafauna
10:00PM – HIGHS
11:00PM – Sleepy Sun
Though still only a few years old, San Francisco psych-rock act Sleepy Sun (QRO photos at a festival) has had building critical praise since 2008’s Embrace, and even survived the departure of co-lead vocalist Rachel Fannan in 2010, putting out Maul Tears earlier this year.
Hard Rock Cafe, 279 Yonge Street
8:00PM – Maddy Rodriguez
9:00PM – Dan McKinnon
10:00PM – MEME
11:00PM – Two Bears North
12:00AM – State of Grace
1:00AM – Zappien
Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen Street West
9:00PM – The Box Tiger
10:00PM – Kennedy Cult
11:00PM – Brody Dalle
Johnny Jackson, 587 College Street
8:00PM – Cold Capital
9:00PM – io
10:00PM – Marta Pacek
11:00PM – The Tallest Tree
12:00AM – The Seven Thirty Sevens
Lounge Bar (Inside Marriott Hotel), 525 Bay Street – FREE
7:30PM – Johnny DeMarco
8:15PM – Tina V
9:00PM – Lili Kendall
9:45PM – Dante Matas
10:30PM – DEON
11:15PM – Mike Cerveni
12:00AM – SJ
Painted Lady, 218 Ossingston Avenue
8:00PM – MTT
9:00PM – Animalia
10:00PM – Zoo Owl
11:00PM – VIRE
12:00AM – RED
1:00AM – Eytan Tobin
2:00AM – What Model Citizens
Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne Street
Canadian Radio Music Awards
8:30PM – Trevor Guthrie
8:45PM – Tyler Shaw
9:15PM – Brett Kissel
9:30PM – Virginia to Vegas
9:45PM – Head of the Herd
10:30PM – Walk Off the Earth
Burlington, Ontario’s Walk Off the Earth (QRO photos) got round-the-world notice thanks to their low-budget videos of covers and originals, long before having management, booking, or a label. Of course, by now they’ve got all of that for last year’s third release, R.E.V.O. LP, and come to CMW to headline the Canadian Radio Music Awards.
Queen Elizabeth Theater, 190 Princes’ Boulevard
8:00PM – Kenny vs Spenny
‘Kenny vs Spenny vs Canada’ on Tuesday (see above) & Wednesday of CMW at Queen Elizabeth Theater.
Rancho Relaxo, 300 College Street
Two Way Monologues
8:00PM – Eli Wolfe
9:00PM – Jay Miln
10:00PM – Dave Whitty & The City Superette
11:00PM – The Almighty Rhombus
12:00AM – The Roseville Band
1:00AM – FEMME ACCIDENT
2:00AM – 1951
3:00AM – Eden Culture
Rivoli, 334 Queen Street West
8:00PM – Mary Stewart
9:00PM – The Feather
10:00PM – Mia Dyson
11:00PM – The Meds
12:00AM – Ladies of the Canyon
1:00AM – Helen Shanahan
Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave
The Agency Group
10:00PM – Cat Thomson
11:00PM – Good for Grapes
The Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Avenue
8:00PM – The Landed
9:00PM – SoHo Ghetto
10:00PM – Figaro
11:00PM – The Blancos
12:00AM – Sons et al.
1:00AM – Slaughter Beach
2:00AM – Lightmares
The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. West
M for Montreal/Wavelengths
9:00PM – Moonwood
10:00PM – Mannerisms
11:00PM – MalcaMia
12:00AM – Mas Aya
1:00AM – Mozart’s Sister
The Hideout, 484 Queen St. West
8:00PM – Bastard Poetry
9:00PM – Atom & The Volumes
10:00PM – FrankySelector
11:00PM – Rehan Dalal
12:00AM – ByStarlight
1:00AM – Fairchild Brothers
2:00AM – Indicator Indicator
3:00AM – The Do Good Badlies
The Lobby Lounge @ Shangri-La Hotel, 188 University Ave – FREE
8:00PM – Julian Taylor Band
The Opera House, 735 Queen Street East
INK Entertainment
9:00PM – Cam Smith
10:00PM – Brandon Chey
11:00PM – Travi$ Scott
The Piston, 937 Bloor St West
9:00PM – Ian Kelly
10:00PM – The Booze Bombs
11:00PM – Barbarosa
12:00AM – Streetlight Social
1:00AM – Mississippi Bends
Underground Garage, 365 King Street West
9:00PM – The Ending To This Story
10:00PM – Step Echo
11:00PM – The Red Orkestra
12:00AM – The Electric Revival
1:00AM – Federal Unicorn
Velvet Underground, 508 Queen Street West
8:00PM – The Lost Chord
9:00PM – PAPERMAPS
11:00PM – Waterbodies
12:00AM – POOMA
THURSDAY, MAY 8th
Adelaide Hall, 250 Adelaide St W
Black Box
8:00PM – Seas
9:00PM – The Provincial Archive
10:00PM – LYON
11:00PM – Ten Second Epic
12:15AM – The Glorious Sons
1:00AM – Living With Lions
2:00AM – DJ IV
Baltic Avenue, 875 Bloor Street West
Punch Records
8:00PM – Macca
9:00PM – Ghetts
10:00PM – Little Simz
11:00PM – DJ Ace
Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen Street West
Musebox/Reverbnation
9:00PM – Megafauna
10:00PM – The Wyld
11:00PM – Uncut
12:00AM – Open AIR
1:00AM – Salt of The Chief Cornerstone
2:00AM – The Toniks
C’est What, 67 Front St E
9:00PM – Finding Chuck
10:00PM – Twin Lakes
11:00PM – The Feather
12:00AM – Keiffer & The Curiosity Club
1:00AM – Ivy Coast
Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen Street West
7:00PM – Ann Chaplin
8:00PM – Black Mocassins
9:00PM – Steve Rivers
10:00PM – Mike LeBlanc
11:00PM – Billy J White
12:00AM – The Bros. Landreth
1:00AM – Jason Hastie & The Alibi
Cameron House – Backroom, 408 Queen Street West
Madic Records
9:00PM – AroarA
10:00PM – Sandro Perri
11:00PM – Astral Swans
12:00AM – Veda Hille
Hosting an amalgam of genres ranging from electronic, experimental, and even folk, Sandro Perri is notably one of Canada’s most talented producers. He has yet to release any new music since his 2011 album, Impossible Spaces, which ranked 38 on Pitchfork’s list of ‘Top 50 Albums of 2011’.
Central, 603 Markham Street
5:00PM – Kevin Myles Wilson
6:00PM – Century Thief
7:00PM – Michael Brooker and MB10
8:00PM – Briagha McTavish
9:00PM – Jake Morley
10:00PM – Jeremy Loops
12:00AM – Mike Edel
1:00AM – Columbo
2:00AM – The Dead South
Charlie’s Gallery, 112 Harbord Street
8:00PM – Dean Marino
9:00PM – DT & The Dinosaurs
10:00PM – Jay Miln
11:00PM – The Hollowbodies
12:00AM – Jeff Beadle
Cherry Cola’s Rock N’ Rolla Cabaret, 200 Bathurst Street
8:00PM – BODØ
9:00PM – Speed Control
10:00PM – Stone River
11:00PM – Like a Motorcycle
12:00AM – Papillon
1:00AM – Caféïne
2:00AM – Cheetah Chrome
3:00AM – The Shanks
Xavier Caféïne comes to CMW behind last year’s New Love.
Comfort Zone, 480 Spadina Ave
8:00PM – Dorine Levy
9:00PM – Jasmine Singh
10:00PM – STAMPS
11:00PM – Anastasia A
12:00AM – ByStarlight
1:00AM – Terrace
Czehoski, 678 Queen Street West
8:00PM – FALLS
9:00PM – CANVAS
10:00PM – Water
11:00PM – Slaughter Beach
12:00AM – KASHKA
1:00AM – PARALLELS
Detour, 193 Baldwin Avenue
8:00PM – Allan Rayman
9:00PM – Eric Zayne
10:00PM – Beach & Monski
11:00PM – Kevin Lester
12:00AM – Half Chance Heroes
1:00AM – Adi Ulmansky
Drake Underground, 1150 Queen Street West
8:00PM – Matthew ‘Doc’ Dunn
9:00PM – ASMR Buds
10:00PM – DIANA
11:00PM – Jennifer Castle
A recent Canadian breakout has been DIANA (QRO photos at a Toronto festival), who are coming off of last year’s self-titled debut & tours with fellow countrywomen Tegan & Sara (see below) and Austra (QRO live review).
Drake Underground, 1150 Queen Street West
12:00AM – ASTR
1:00AM – Leisure Cruise
2:00AM – Rush Midnight
El Mocambo (Downstairs), 464 Spadina Avenue
101.9 Dawg FM
9:00PM – Conor Gains
10:00PM – Sugar Brown
11:00PM – MonkeyJunk
El Mocambo (Upstairs), 464 Spadina Avenue
Taiwan
8:00PM – RED
9:00PM – MATZKA
10:00PM – io
Free Times Cafe, 320 College St
8:00PM – JoJo Worthington
9:00PM – Allie
10:00PM – Courtney Lynn Music
11:00PM – Pat Maloney
12:00AM – October Gold
Gladstone Hotel, (North Ballroom) 1214 Queen W
BRBR
8:00PM – Antoine Corriveau
9:00PM – Pandaléon
10:00PM – Jimmy Hunt
11:00PM – Les Hay Babies
12:00AM – Kandle
Handlebar, 159 Augusta Avenue
Two Way Monologues
8:00PM – Chairs
9:00PM – Texas King
10:00PM – Sea Perry
11:00PM – The Blancos
12:00AM – CON VOS
1:00AM – Yeo
Hard Luck Bar, 772 Dundas St W
Newmusic Ten
8:00PM – Young Doctors In Love
9:00PM – Wordburglar
10:00PM – Juliana’s Daughter
11:00PM – The Lovelocks
12:00AM – For Esmé
Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen Street West
9:00PM – Maylee Todd
10:00PM – Three O’clock Train
11:00PM – John Batiste and Stay Human
12:00AM – Jr Gone Wild
1:00AM – Tanika Charles
Johnny Jackson, 587 College Street
10:00PM – Labcats
11:00PM – Miss Polygamy
12:00AM – The Socials
Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor Street West
8:00PM – The Franklin Electric
9:00PM – The Mohrs
10:00PM – BASECAMP
11:00PM – Brendan Canning
12:00AM – Rubblebucket
1:00AM – Say Yes
While Broken Social Scene (QRO spotlight on) is only playing the Arts & Crafts Field Trip in June (QRO ‘13 recap), various members are pulling out their hiatus side-projects or just going solo, like BSS co-founder Brendan Canning (QRO interview), who comes to CMW behind last year’s You Gots 2 Chill (QRO review).
Brooklyn indie-dance outfit Rubblebucket (QRO live review) fit into any line-up, from ultra-hipster to jam (QRO photos at a festival). Known for electric live shows (QRO live review), including at festivals (QRO photos), the group comes to CMW (QRO photos at a festival) behind 2011’s Omega La La (QRO review) and more recent EPs Oversaturated and Save Charlie.
Lounge Bar (Inside Marriott Hotel), 525 Bay Street – FREE
CBCmusic
12:00PM – Rob Moir
12:45PM – Bryan Potvin
1:30PM – The Brothers Landreth
Lounge Bar (Inside Marriott Hotel), 525 Bay Street – FREE
Sounds Australia
7:30PM – Hein Cooper
8:15PM – Emma Davis
8:50PM – Helen Shanahan
9:30PM – Brendan Ryder (I Am The Riot)
10:10PM – Sue-Anne Stewart
10:50PM – Matt Walters
11:30PM – Ma Petite
12:10AM – Lyon Apprentice
12:50AM – Marta Pacek
Painted Lady, 218 Ossingston Avenue
Mojo Records and Publishing
8:00PM – Kyle Aaron
9:00PM – MTL (Message to Love)
10:00PM – RaSoul
11:00PM – Miles Jones
12:00AM – Kayo
1:00AM – Quake Matthews
2:00AM – Mattyboh
Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen Street West
Cloud Empire
10:00PM – Days Like Today
11:00PM – Gunt
12:00AM – Skynet
1:00AM – Partycat
2:00AM – Elos Arma
Rancho Relaxo, 300 College Street
Two Way Monologues
8:00PM – Buddy McNeil & The Magic Mirrors
9:00PM – The Dead Projectionists
10:00PM – Paint
11:00PM – The Beer Patrice
12:00AM – Goodnight, Sunrise
1:00AM – The Blue Stones
2:00AM – Cowpuncher
3:00AM – Zoo Harmonics
Revival, 783 College Street
Feldman Agency
9:00PM – Scott Helman
9:45PM – Craig Stickland
10:30PM – Francesco
11:15PM – The Boom Boom
12:00AM – Fefe Dobson
Rivoli, 334 Queen Street West
Paquin Entertainment
9:00PM – Fortunate Ones
10:00PM – The Bros. Landreth
11:00PM – Jeremy Fisher
12:00AM – The Heartbroken
1:00AM – special guest
Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave
Hand Drawn Dracula/neXt
8:00PM – RLMDL
9:00PM – Strands
10:00PM – Praises
11:00PM – Omhouse
12:00AM – Operators
1:00AM – Red Mass
Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St.
Amnesia Rock Fest/New Damage
8:00PM – White Windows Pact
9:00PM – Slates
10:00PM – Miracles
11:00PM – GrimSkunk
12:00AM – Direct Hit!
1:00AM – The Flatliners
2:00AM – Life In Vaccum
The Flatliners hail from Richmond Hill in Ontario (QRO photos at a Toronto festival). Leaning to the humorous ska-punk of labelmates Less Than Jake (QRO interview) and NOFX (QRO album review), they come to CMW behind last year’s Dead Language.
Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave
The Agency Group
9:00PM – Andrew Austin
10:00PM – Andrew Allen
11:00PM – Poor Young Things
12:00AM – Amy Hef
1:00AM – Bryan Finlay
Tattoo, 567 Queen St West
Noisey Canada
8:00PM – DJ hustleGRL
9:00PM – A-Game
10:00PM – The Airplane Boys
11:00PM – Tre Mission
12:00AM – Naturally Born Strangers
The Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Avenue
8:00PM – POOMA
9:00PM – Foreign Diplomats
10:00PM – Grey Kingdom
11:00PM – Flash Lightnin’
12:00AM – Sleepy Sun
1:00AM – The Do Good Assassins
2:00AM – The Roseville Band
Though still only a few years old, San Francisco psych-rock act Sleepy Sun (QRO photos at a festival) has had building critical praise since 2008’s Embrace, and even survived the departure of co-lead vocalist Rachel Fannan in 2010, putting out Maul Tears earlier this year.
The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. West
REEPERBAHN
8:00PM – Saidah Baba Talibah
9:00PM – No Sinner
10:00PM – Thomas D’Arcy
11:00PM – CATL
12:00AM – The King Khan & BBQ Show
1:00AM – Green Rays
Blacksnake, a.k.a. King Khan (who also front King Khan & The Shrines – QRO live review) teams up with Mark Sultan, a.k.a. BBQ, as the wild King Khan & BBQ Show (QRO photos).
The Great Hall, 1087 Queen Street West
9:00PM – TBA
11:00PM – Teenage Head
The Hideout, 484 Queen St. West
8:00PM – The Pistolwhips
9:00PM – Public
10:00PM – Birth of Joy
11:00PM – Le Trouble
12:00AM – Sons of Revelry
1:00AM – The Little Black Dress
2:00AM – South of Bloor
3:00AM – L.A.
The Lobby Lounge @ Shangri-La Hotel, 188 University Ave – FREE
9:00PM – Duane Forrest & Co.
The Opera House, 735 Queen Street East
Live Nation
9:00PM – Zerbin
10:00PM – Dear Rouge
11:00PM – Kongos
Underground Garage, 365 King Street West
9:00PM – Bad Captain
10:00PM – WEEKEND RIOT CLUB
11:00PM – Rend
12:00AM – Fake Shark-Real Zombie!
1:00AM – Take Part
2:00AM – conversation
Velvet Underground, 508 Queen Street West
8:00PM – Kristina King & The Walk-Ups
9:00PM – Bathurst Station
10:00PM – Dévah Quartet
11:00PM – Ariel
12:00AM – SATURNS
Virgin Mobile Mod Club, 720 College Street
7:00PM – Leisure Cruise
8:00PM – The Lighthouse & The Whaler
9:00PM – Matt Pond PA
From the other side of Lake Erie comes Matt Pond PA (QRO live review). His alt-country/rock is perfectly suited for flyover country, as well as an engaging live show (QRO live review). Pond’s last release was last year’s The Live Inside the Lines In Your Hand (QRO review), following up 2010’s Dark Leaves (QRO review) and 2007’s Last Light (QRO review), but he comes to CMW on the tenth anniversary tour for his excellent Emblems.
Wrongbar, 1279 Queen Street West
The Truth Music Group Showcase
9:00PM – Seven:30
9:00PM – Danthrax
10:00PM – OSIYM
11:00PM – Roney
12:00AM – The 6th Letter
1:00AM – Tasha the Amazon
2:00AM – Danthrax
2:00AM – Seven:30
FRIDAY, MAY 9th
Adelaide Hall, 250 Adelaide St W
KICX
9:00PM – Jordan McIntosh
10:00PM – Livy Jeanne
11:00PM – Brett Kissel
Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay Street
Live Nation
8:00PM – Half Moon Run
9:30PM – City and Colour
Montreal’s young trio Half Moon Run (QRO photos) come to CMW after the American release of their debut Dark Eyes (QRO review), and touring cross-country with Toronto’s Metric (QRO live review with Half Moon Run).
Dallas Green (QRO photos), singer/guitarist of emo-punk band Alexisonfire, embraces his sad, acoustic side as City and Colour (he’s Canadian, thus the extra ‘u’ – 2005 debut Sometimes only came out in America in 2009 – QRO review), coming to CMW (QRO photos at a festival) behind last year’s The Hurry and the Harm.
Baltic Avenue, 875 Bloor Street West
The Indie Machine
8:00PM – Bill and Murray
9:00PM – Crhymes
10:00PM – My Heart Belongs To Cecilia Winter
11:00PM – Parks At Night
12:00AM – Yellerkin
1:00AM – Sun Stone Revolvers
Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen Street West
9:00PM – The Bloody Five
10:00PM – Dead Messenger
11:00PM – The Blancos
12:00AM – The Dirty Nil
1:00AM – Cheetah Chrome
2:00AM – The Almostly Trigger Happy
Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen Street West
RHC
8:00PM – JJ & The Pillars
9:00PM – Amberwood
10:00PM – The Commoners
11:00PM – Old James
12:00AM – Blue Davens Code
1:00AM – The Retrievers
2:00AM – The Cardinal Dream
Cameron House – Backroom, 408 Queen Street West
7:00PM – Jeremy Loops
8:00PM – Michael Cassidy
9:00PM – The Loodies
10:00PM – Little Suns
11:00PM – FUTURE HISTORY
12:00AM – The Seasons
1:00AM – Graydon James & The Young Novelists
Central, 603 Markham Street
12:00PM – Carmel Freeman
1:00PM – Muscle Souls
2:00PM – Noah Pascoe
3:00PM – Signe Miranda’s Veranda
4:00PM – Candice Sand
5:00PM – MoZayic
6:00PM – JJ Gerber
7:00PM – Jessica Speziale
8:00PM – SERUSHIÔ
9:00PM – Juliane Jones with Members of Ba Ban Chinese Music Society
10:00PM – Valérie Daure
11:00PM – T. Nile
12:00AM – The Archers
1:00AM – Killer Wails
2:00AM – The Dirty Fix
3:00AM – Patrick Grant
Charlie’s Gallery, 112 Harbord Street
8:00PM – Gdansk
9:00PM – Emily Reid
10:00PM – Jon Hynes
11:00PM – Mark Martyre
12:00AM – Marlon Chaplin
Cherry Cola’s Rock N’ Rolla Cabaret, 200 Bathurst Street
8:00PM – CARACAL
9:00PM – Hunting
10:00PM – Water
11:00PM – Richard Duguay
12:00AM – The Nils
1:00AM – Secondhand Habit
2:00AM – Die By Remote
3:00AM – Mushy Callahan
Czehoski, 678 Queen Street West
Sounds Australia Beat Pie
8:30PM – Tanya Lee
9:15PM – Lili Kendall
10:00PM – Hoodlem
10:45PM – Yeo
11:30PM – Audego
12:15AM – Elizabeth Rose
1:00AM – Sons et al.
Detour, 193 Baldwin Avenue
Mojo Records and Publishing
9:00PM – DJ MJ
10:00PM – Olenonly
11:00PM – Danjasop
12:00AM – No Big Deal
Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St W
8:00PM – Icecream
9:00PM – House of Monroe
10:00PM – DIANA
11:00PM – Pacific High
A recent Canadian breakout has been DIANA (QRO photos at a Toronto festival), who are coming off of last year’s self-titled debut & tours with fellow countrywomen Tegan & Sara (see below) and Austra (QRO live review).
El Mocambo (Downstairs), 464 Spadina Avenue
8:00PM – The Muso Project
9:00PM – Men In Suits
12:30AM – Journeye
El Mocambo (Upstairs), 464 Spadina Avenue
Supernova
8:00PM – Anodyne
8:00PM – Chatterton Eve
8:00PM – Holy Mind Funk
8:00PM – Parasona
8:00PM – Hello Companion
8:00PM – The Mustard Junkies
8:00PM – Hollywood Sins
Free Times Cafe, 320 College St
8:00PM – Beatrice Mason
9:00PM – Lovely Quinces
10:00PM – Emma Davis
11:00PM – Belle
12:00AM – ELLIOT MAGINOT
1:00AM – Pilot Light
Gladstone Hotel, (North Ballroom) 1214 Queen W
Alberta Music/SaskMusic
8:00PM – JJ Shiplett
9:00PM – Keiffer & The Curiosity Club
10:00PM – Astral Swans
11:00PM – Close Talker
12:00AM – PORT JUVEE
1:00AM – The Dead South
Handlebar, 159 Augusta Avenue
Two Way Monologues
8:00PM – Fire/Works
9:00PM – Duck Duck Goose
10:00PM – Tully on Tully
11:00PM – Jane’s Party
12:00AM – Le Trouble
1:00AM – The Kerouacs
Hard Luck Bar, 772 Dundas St W
8:00PM – We Outspoken
9:00PM – PORT JUVEE
10:00PM – The Motorleague
11:00PM – Red Mass
12:00AM – No Age
L.A.’s own young guitar & drums duo of Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt (QRO photos at a Los Angeles festival) have been blowing up very quickly as No Age since 2008’s Nouns (QRO review), including joining Dan Deacon (QRO live review) & Deerhunter (QRO live review) on the 2009 ‘Round Robin’ tour (QRO live review) & a controversial appearance on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (QRO Indie on Late Night TV). While their nascent ‘shitgaze’ style was stillborn – 2010’s Everything In Between (QRO review) didn’t stand out – they come to CMW after last fall’s release of An Object (QRO review). The punk rock of such tracks as “Eraser” (QRO video), “Teen Creeps” (QRO video) and “Ripped Knees” (QRO video) plays fast, but look out for a young holiday crowd to go nuts (QRO live review), as the band comes to CMW (QRO photos at a festival).
Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen Street West
Culture Collide
9:00PM – Jordan Klassen
10:00PM – The Damn Truth
11:00PM – The Honeyrunners
12:00AM – The Balconies
1:00AM – Head of the Herd
2:00AM – The King Khan & BBQ Show
Blacksnake, a.k.a. King Khan (who also front King Khan & The Shrines – QRO live review) teams up with Mark Sultan, a.k.a. BBQ, as the wild King Khan & BBQ Show (QRO photos).
Kool Haus, 132 Queens Quay East
104.5 CHUM FM
6:00PM – Tegan & Sara
6:00PM – Ellie Goulding
6:00PM – Andrew Allen
6:00PM – Alyssa Reid
6:00PM – Kristina Maria
6:00PM – MAGIC!
Identical twin sisters Tegan and Sara (QRO interview) Quinn emerged out of Calgary at a young age over a decade ago (QRO spotlight on), and are coming to CMW (QRO photos at a festival) behind their seventh record, Heartthrob (QRO review) after a hiatus following the end of their touring behind 2009’s Sainthood (QRO review). The duo manages to combine both the mature songstress(es) style and today’s indie-rock (QRO live review) – along with some great between song banter (QRO live review). They arrive in Toronto after touring the world last year (QRO photos at a festival on the other side of the world) – from French-speaking Montreal (QRO photos) to Major League Baseball’s ‘Fan Cave’ (QRO photos).
One of the hottest breakthroughs has been London’s Ellie Goulding (QRO photos at a festival), who went from being unknown to playing the likes of Saturday Night Live (QRO Indie on Late Night TV) and even the royal wedding (QRO photos in the British Isles)! She’s been movin’ on up in terms of venue size (QRO photos) & stage size (QRO photos on a side stage – QRO photos on a main stage), so catch her while you can (QRO live review). She comes to CMW behind 2011’s Halcyon (QRO review) and her biggest tour to-date (QRO photos at Madison Square Garden), so come see “Lights” (QRO video).
Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor Street West
Collective Concerts
9:30PM – GREEN ROOM ROCKERS
10:30PM – The Soul Motivators
11:30PM – The Slackers
1:20AM – Tupper Ware Remix Party
Lounge Bar (Inside Marriott Hotel), 525 Bay Street – FREE
CBCmusic
12:00PM – Andrew Austin
12:45PM – Matthew Johnston
1:30PM – Gentlemen Husbands
Lounge Bar (Inside Marriott Hotel), 525 Bay Street – FREE
6:45PM – Daniella Andrade
7:30PM – Maneli Jamal
8:15PM – Laura & Greg
9:00PM – Bryan Finlay
9:45PM – Luca Fogale
10:30PM – Wolves As Friends
12:00AM – Somerville
12:45AM – Michael Fraser
Massey Hall, 178 Victoria Street
Collective Concerts
8:00PM – The Dodos
9:15PM – Neko Case
San Francisco’s The Dodos (QRO live review) aren’t your run-of-the-mill guitar-and-drums duo (QRO photos at a festival). Their indie-folk on such records as 2011’s No Color (QRO review) and last year’s Carrier (QRO review) has always been a more complex one – and a more compelling one.
While she first got notice as the main lady of indie-rock collective The New Pornographers (QRO live review), Neko Case (QRO photos outdoors) has also crafted her own solo career (even had her voice on an episode of Adult Swim’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force…). Her last new release was way back in 2009 with Middle Cyclone (QRO review), but she comes to CMW (QRO photos at a festival) behind the acclaimed The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You (QRO review) and wonderful live show (QRO live review) – plus ‘winning the internet’ on Comedy Central’s @Midnight!
Painted Lady, 218 Ossingston Avenue
8:00PM – Neon Dreams
10:00PM – Cam Smith
11:00PM – The Wyld
12:00AM – muGz
1:00AM – Maldito
2:00AM – The Audible Doctor
Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen Street West
10:15PM – Jutes
11:15PM – Alfie
12:15AM – Kayo
1:15AM – Starks & Heights
2:15AM – 143Band
Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne Street
Monster Energy
8:30PM – Kaydee
9:15PM – Perrion
10:00PM – Bodega Bamz
11:00PM – Flatbush Zombies
Putting an extra exclamation point in “Brooklyn!!!” is the borough’s own Flatbush Zombies (QRO photos at a festival), who are part of this decade’s East Coast hip-hop ‘Beast Coast’ movement.
Rancho Relaxo, 300 College Street
Berlin Music Week/Two Way Monologues
8:00PM – Yesterday Shop
9:00PM – Fade Chromatic
10:00PM – South of Bloor
11:00PM – Brothers of North
12:00AM – LISERSTILLE
1:00AM – PAPERMAPS
2:00AM – DT & The Dinosaurs
3:00AM – Dave Whitty & The City Superette
Revival, 783 College Street
9:20PM – Jesse Gold
10:00PM – Bobby Bazini
10:30PM – Nikki Yanofsky
11:20PM – Cris Cab
11:50PM – Andee
12:30AM – Kardinal Offishall
Rivoli, 334 Queen Street West
Music BC
8:30PM – David Morin
9:30PM – Chersea
10:30PM – The Lion the Bear the Fox
11:30PM – No Sinner
12:30AM – Good for Grapes
1:30AM – Jordan Klassen
Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave
Silent Shout/neXt
8:00PM – We Are Wolves
9:00PM – Petra Glynt
10:00PM – Nyssa
11:00PM – Pat Jordache
12:00AM – Operators
1:00AM – Sexy Merlin
2:00AM – New Zebra Kid
3:00AM – Zoo Owl
Originally formed by two visual artists as ‘a post-punk landscape with analogue trees’, We Are Wolves could have gone in any great number of directions. Thankfully for listeners, the intriguing indie rockers could not have chosen a better road to travel. Their various tugs of war between lo and hi fi, French and English vocals, and dance and Latin styles have been almost as intriguing as their collective results on 2009’s Invisible Violence (QRO review) and last year’s follow-up, La Mort Pop Club. They’ve played CMJ, SXSW, the Virgin Festival, Osheaga (QRO photos), and more; now they are bringing their electro garage party to CMW. Party on.
Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St.
M for Montreal/Bonsound/Audio Blood
7:00PM – POUTINE PARTY
8:00PM – Buddy McNeil & The Magic Mirrors
9:00PM – Secret Sun
10:00PM – International Zombies of Love
11:00PM – HIGHS
12:00AM – Lisa Leblanc
1:00AM – Random Recipe
2:00AM – Loud Lary Ajust
A trio of sponsors brings French Canadian acts like the patois hip-hop of Loud Lary Ajust (QRO photos at a Montreal festival).
Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave
The Agency Group
9:00PM – The Seasons
10:00PM – Bellwoods
11:00PM – The Mohrs
12:00AM – The Franklin Electric
Tattoo, 567 Queen St West
9:30PM – Free n Losh
10:30PM – Elizabeth Rose
11:30PM – ASTR
12:30AM – ODESZA
Harrison Mills & Clayton Knight managed to put out their debut as electronic duo ODESZA (QRO photos) while still in their senior year back in ’12, and come to CMW while working on a follow-up.
The Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Avenue
X 92.9
8:00PM – 36?
9:00PM – Alexandre Desilets
10:00PM – Cub Sport
11:00PM – The High Dials
12:00AM – Mia Dyson
1:00AM – Jr Gone Wild
2:00AM – Papillon
The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. West
8:30PM – Adi Ulmansky
9:00PM – BESTiE
10:00PM – Step Rockets
12:00AM – Breton
1:00AM – Wolf Saga
The Great Hall, 1087 Queen Street West
Collective Concerts
8:30PM – Good for Grapes
9:30PM – Quilt
10:30PM – Woods
Like their name implies, Brooklyn’s Woods traffic in outdoor, ‘woods-y’ sounds, but add some freak to that folk with electronica (QRO photos at a festival), most recently with With Light and With Love.
The Hideout, 484 Queen St. West
8:00PM – Overseas
9:00PM – The Black Lullaby
10:00PM – King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
11:00PM – White Hills
12:00AM – Public Animal
1:00AM – You Am I
2:00AM – Shawn Brady
3:00AM – Silent Movie Type
The Lobby Lounge @ Shangri-La Hotel, 188 University Ave – FREE
5:00PM – Dani Jean Unplugged
9:00PM – Michael Tobin
The Vault @ One King West, 1 King St W
Songs From The Vault
6:30PM – Among Millions
7:15PM – Danielle Todd
8:00PM – Robyn Dell’Unto
8:45PM – Tara Holloway
9:30PM – Ambre McLean
10:15PM – Donovan Woods
Underground Garage, 365 King Street West
KoolFM
9:00PM – Blurred Vision
10:00PM – FLTF
11:00PM – Pigeon Park
12:00AM – Tupelo Honey
1:00AM – Open AIR
2:00AM – GRUVE
Velvet Underground, 508 Queen Street West
8:00PM – The Meerkats
9:00PM – Crowns for Convoy
10:00PM – Ginger Ale & The Monowhales
11:00PM – Tiny Danza
12:00AM – BamBoo
Virgin Mobile Mod Club, 720 College Street
Collective Concerts
7:00PM – The Greenery
7:45PM – Alpha & Omega
8:30PM – Backtrack
9:15PM – Counterparts
<img class="alignright wp-image-54264 size-full" title="White Hills" src="http://www.qromag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/austinpsychpreview14whitehills.jpg"