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54Stance (Ottawa ON)
Fusing a mixture of styles ranging from hardcore to hip hop, 54Stance play punishing music with a distinctive, heavy sound. Think: Limp Bizkit, Project Wyze. www.54stance.com
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 Kathedral 10:00
Contact: Tony MacDonell, tony@teknision.com, 613-728-4010

8 Foot Sativa (Auckland, New Zealand)
8 Foot Sativa's death/hardcore style of music has been turning heads in New Zealand since 1998. Prepare to be devastated by their powerhouse rhythm and infectious melody. If you are into: Pantera, Iron Maiden. www.intergalacticrecords.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Rivoli 9:00
Looking for: Label Representation; Licensing/Distribution in rest of the world except NZ/AUS; Management Representation
Contact: Andrew Featherstone, andrew@intergalacticrecords.com, 649-827-4544

Aaron Booth (Toronto ON)
Pop auteur Aaron Booth writes strong melodic songs with lots of hooks and thoughtful lyrics. He released his first full length "Transparent" last summer. If you spin: Simon & Garfunkle, Snailhouse. www.aaronboothmusic.com
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 Victory CafÈ 10:00
Looking for: Label Representation Canada, USA, Europe; Management Representation; Publishing Deal
Contact: Aaron Booth, aaronbooth@sympatico.ca, 416-538-2645

Acacia (London ON)
With expansive instrumental movements and atmospheric layering effects, Acacia's ambient hardcore metal is soothing and abrasive at the same time. www.mazurpr.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Kathedral 9:00
Looking for: Label Representation (World); Publishing Deal; Securing a Booking Agent (World)
Contact: David Lander, KMAEntertainment, dlanderi@sprint.ca, 519-871-1969

The Act (New York NY)
Formed in 2001, this self-described electro-glam-punk musical movement creates a flashback to a great new wave/punk era of CBGB heydays. If you like: The Ramones, Robin Black. www.theactsite.com
Festival Showcases: Thurs Feb 27 Bovine Sex Club 11:00 & Sat Mar 1 Zen Lounge 10:50
Contact: Alan, aschein@resultstel.com, 954-921-2400 x 161

Adversaree (Toronto ON)
Adversaree is a veteran of the Canadian hip-hop scene and has been working towards releasing his debut full-length, produced by MC Collizhun. If you dig: Biz Markie, ONYX
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 The Red Square 9:00
Looking for: Label Representation (International); Publishing Deal (International); Securing Distribution (International)
Contact: Gary Brown, adversaree@hotmail.com, 647-888-2745

Akufen

Over the past 2 years, Marc Leclair aka AKUFEN has made an unforgettable impression on the techno and house community with some of the most invigorating, inspiring 12" singles on Germany's leading dance labels PERLON, TRAPEZ, BACKGROUND, TRAUM, and of course FORCE INC. Worldwide, he can be found on DJ top ten charts, these sought after releases have placed him in a remarkable position for the future and most definitely the missing link between the reinventions of new techno and house.
2003 Indie Awards Nominee
Listen to "Deck The House"

Aleah D'Kos (Toronto ON)
She brings edgy storytelling to her pop blend of blues and trip hop, loaded with layers of distinct harmonies, innovative vocal phrasings, and blunt lyrics. www.aleahdkos.com
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 Zen Lounge 11:45

Alexisonfire (St. Catharines ON)

This five-piece metal hardcore band has been making fans for the last few years with their intense, melodic music and dynamic live show. If you listen to: Slayer, No Warning.
www.theonlybandever.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Kathedral 10:00

Alex Murdoch (Edmonton AB)
Murdoch's West Coast Music Award-nominated album "Polyphonic" is one of the freshest commercial-sounding pop-rock records of the year. Think: The Beatles, Bruce Cockburn. www.amurdoch.com
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 Cameron House 10:00
Looking for: Management Representation; Publishing Deal; Booking Agent (Canada)
Contact: Marty Aitken, alexinfo@amurdoch.com, 604-683-6535

Alfie Zappacosta (Edmonton AB)

A bonafide superstar, with 2 Junos to his credit, Alfie Zappacosta has been a mainstay of the music industry for 20 years. Alfie's current sound, often described as smooth jazz, is far more subtle and intimate than his previous material. www.iamzappacosta.com
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 Healeyís 11:30
Contact: ARIA, albrek@telusplanet.net, 780-428-3372

Allen Dobb

The path leading to Victoria-based musician, Allen Dobb’s latest CD, Bottomland (Skipping Stone/Pacific Music), has been a long and varied series of adventures. His quest has led Dobb from his youth in rural Alberta farm country, to singer-songwriter showcases on stages of roots music hotbeds in Austin and Nashville. Dobb has documented his path of eclectic experiences with several recordings including a pair of CDs with his brother Cameron as Dobb and Dumela and 1998’s Horses and Hills (Resource/Festival), his acclaimed solo debut.
2003 Indie Awards Nominee
Contact: Pacific Music, katrina@pacificmusic.net, 604-732-5639, www.allendobb.com
Listen to "Bottomland"

Amped (St. Catharines ON)
This explosive pop/punk four piece started in 1999 and have garnered a lot of attention for their fast-paced sound. Amped released their debut record "Rude and Tattooed" this past year. If you pogo to: SUM41, The Weekend. www.amped.ca
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 Sneaky Deeís 1:00
Looking for: Label Representation in Canada/U.S.; Publishing Deal; Securing a Booking Agent
Contact: Dan Turner, dturner@amped.ca, 905-646-3809

Andrea Klas (Vancouver BC)
Andrea Klas has a voice that is both angelic and ethereal and her music has layers of ambient textures amidst driving guitars. Her debut full-length came out last year. Think: Sheryl Crow, Portishead. www.andreaklas.com
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 Cameron House 9:00
Looking for: Label Representation; Securing a Booking Agent (All of Canada, West USA, Western Europe); Securing Distribution (Canada, West USA, Western Europe)
Contact: Andrea Klas, andreaklas@shaw.ca, 604-736-0525

Andrew Duke

Andrew Duke has been recording, remixing and performing since 1987. His music has been compared to a wide range of artists-Aphex Twin, Auch, Autechre, Basic Channel, Black Dog, and many, many others-yet always presents a unique and distinct “Andrew Duke sound.”
2003 Indie Awards Nominee
Contact: Andrew Duke, cognition@techno.ca, 902-422-9351, www.techno.ca/cognition
Listen to "Hell Yeah!"

Andrew Walker (Newmarket ON)
Running a gamut of styles from pop to rock to country, Andrew Walker's songs are anchored by his unique voice and lyrical imagery. www.andrewwalkermusic.com
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 Tranzac Club 11:00
Looking for: Booking agent; Distribution; Publishing deal
Contact: Andrew Walker, andrew@andrewwalkermusic.com, 905-868-8197

Andy Stochansky

By some measures, Andy Stochansky is a pop music newcomer. Although Five Star Motel, his Private Music debut, is his third release, it’s his first for a major label following acclaimed under-the-radar predecessors Radio Fusebox (1999) and While You Slept (1995).
2003 Indie Awards Nominee
2003 CRMA Nominee
Listen to "Wonderful (It's Superman)"

Angela Hewitt

Pianist Angela Hewitt continues to captivate and charm audiences around the world with her musicianship and virtuosity. Since her triumph in the 1985 Toronto International Bach Piano Competition, she has been hailed as “the Bach pianist par excellence of her generation” (The Sunday Times, London, 1999).
2003 Indie Awards Nominee
Contact: Jeanette Bevan, regina@sricanada.com, 705-748-5422, www.cramermarderartists.com/hewitt.htm
Listen to "Pavane Pour Une Infante Defute"

Anton Kuerti
Recent reviews have called him ‘one of the great pianists of the century’ (CD Review, London). Anton Kuerti has toured 39 countries, including Japan, Russia, and most European countries, and has performed with most major U.S. orchestras and conductors. His vast repertoire includes some 50 concertos, including one he composed himself.
2003 Indie Awards Nominee
Contact: Randy Barnard, CBC Records, randy_barnard@cbc.ca, 416-205-6033, www.cbcrecords.ca
Listen to "Allegro Vivace"

Arlene Bishop (Toronto ON)
Arlene Bishop is a singer/songwriter with band who, unlike her often-brooding contemporaries, deftly infuses her powerful and grooving songs with sometimes-silly banter. Think: Robbie Robertson, Joni Mitchell. www.arlenebishop.com
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 Hughís Room

Ash Wednesday (Richmond KY)
Ash Wednesday make powerfully uplifting music infused with jangly acoustic guitar, vocal harmonies and roots-flavoured overtones. Compare them to: CCR, John Cougar Mellencamp. www.ashwednesdaymusic.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Clintonís 12:00
Looking for: Label Representation; Management Representation; Booking Agent
Contact: Daylan Kinser, toashwednesday@hotmail.com, 859-771-8531

The Asteroid 4 (Philadelphia PA)
The Asteroid 4 make music that is an eclectic mix of pop, rock, psychedelia and lysergic Syd Barrett folk. Their second full-length album "King Richard's Collectibles" received a lot of press coverage. If you spin: The Lilys, The Byrds. www.rainbowquartz.com
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 Rancho Relaxo 12:00
Contact: Matt Smallwood, Rainbow Quartz, rainbowquartz@rogers.com, 416-223-8756

Audiosleep (Toronto ON)
Audiosleep have been making music that straddles the wall between pure electronica and experimental rock since forming in 2001. Think: Godspeed You Black Emperor!, video game soundtracks. www.audiosleep.net
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 The Red Square 11:00
Contact: Chris Moncada, chris_moncada@hotmail.com, 416-322-6444

Avril Lavigne

Avril’s music is capable of reaching the girls and the guys, and plenty of adventurous adults too. That’s pretty obvious, since Let Go debuted at #8 on the Billboard Top 200 Album’s chart and continues to blow other records outta the water surpassing an all-time Soundscan record as Let Go becomes the first debut album by an artist in recent memory to post 6 consecutive weeks of increased sales since its in-store date.
2003 CRMA Nominee
Listen to "Complicated"

The Awesome Team (Toronto ON)

Powerful guitar riffs and melodic Bealtlesque harmonies create The Awesome Teamís unique blend of hook heavy power pop with rock and roll roots and a punk rock edge. www.theawesometeam.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Lee's Palace 9:00
Looking for: Booking Agency representation; Publishing deal; Record deal
Contact: Lori Hirst, lhirst@sympatico.ca, 416-414-5848

The Barcelona Pavilion (Toronto ON)
The Barcelona Pavilion makes intellectually stimulating indie rock that is aggressively in-your-face one moment, then dashes into spasms of pop melody the next. www.barcelonapavilion.cjb.net
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 Sneaky Deeís 1:00

The Barmitzvah Brothers (Guelph ON)

The Barmitzvah Brothers make quirky art-punk music punctuated with kitschy keyboards and squeezebox dirges. While the average age of band members is 16, the music they create sounds like they are veterans of many indie rock moons. If you spin: Jim O'Rourke, The Danielson Famille. www.barmitzvahbrothers.cjb.net
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 Silver Dollar 11:00
Contact: Jenny Mitchell, barmitzvahbrothers@hotmail.com, 519-760-4027

Barnard & Brohm

Since first being introduced during the festivities of Canada Day, 1997, Owen Sound, Ontario native Warren Barnard and Haliburton, Ontario’s Ian Brohm have had something of their own to celebrate. Although 14 years separate their ages, the two share a deep love for Country Music – which they write and perform with a joined-at-the-hip unity usually only found in family members.
2003 Indie Awards Nominee
Contact: Ian Brohm, ian@barnardandbrohm.com, 519-935-3194, www.barnardandbrohm.com
Listen to "Ain't Like Love"

Belinda Brady (Toronto ON)
This Jamaican born Canadian singer has been making strides in the music industry for a number of years now with her special blend of pop, reggae and urban sounds. www.canadianreggaeworld.com/belinda.htm
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 Opera House 9:00

Bet.e & Stef (Montreal PQ)

By assimilating and evolving the music of Brazil's bossa nova originators, Canadian duo Bet.e & Stef has soared from performing in clubs and bistros in MontrÈal to performing in Japan within a three-year span.www.bet-e-and-stef.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Revival

The Bicycles (Toronto ON)

The Bicyclesí traditional vintage pop music bursts effortlessly with great melodies, warm fuzzy guitars andvocal harmonies that are simply enchanting. If you dig: Olivia Tremor Control, The Beatles. www.thebicycles.ca
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 Silver Dollar 12:00
Contact: Matt Beckett, matt@thebicycles.ca, 647-272-6768

Big Jeezus Truck (Ottawa ON)
Big Jeezus Truck play hotrod country-punk, rock-and-roll with lots of energy and enthusiasm. They have been tearing up bars and breaking ladiesí hearts since 1996. If you bang to: The Supersuckers,Motorhead. www.bigjeezuztruck.com
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 B-Side 1:10
Contact: Tom McDonald, bjtruck@hotmail.com, 613-728-0896

Bionic (Montreal PQ)

Ex-Doughboys Jonathan Cummins and Ian Blurton (Blurtonia) are the core of Bionic, a blistering rock outfit that refuses to pander to current trends. If you dig: Queens of the Stone Age, The Hellacopters. www.sound-king.com
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 Horseshoe 12:00

Black Rice (Vancouver BC)
2002's Discorder/CiTR's Shindig! winner, Black Rice fuse together math-rock and post-punk stylings into their own unique rock sound. www.blackrice.net
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 Tequila Lounge 10:00
Looking for: Label Representation (North America/Canada); Management Representation; Securing a Booking Agent (North America/ Canada)
Contact: Joel Tong, cooking@blackrice.net, 604-605-3378

Blair Packham (Toronto ON)
While this affable singer-songwriter is perhaps best known as the voice of The Jitters, Blair's solo effortuses harder-edged pop melodies in the pursuit of the perfect hook. If you listen to: Elvis Costello, The Beatles. www.blairpackham.com
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 Hughís Room

Bleep (Toronto ON)
Bleep is a drum 'n' bass duo that creates beautifully complex rhythms and sonic structures tied together by soft melodic female vocals. Think: Portishead, Massive Attack. www.bleeptunes.com
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 The Red Square 10:00
Looking for: Securing Distribution (Canada/USA/Europe/Japan); Securing a Booking agent (Canada/Europe/Japan); Label representation (Canada/USA/UK)
Contact: Igor Olejar, bleep@bleeptunes.com, 416-626-7706

Blues Underdog (Pickering ON)
Crossing musical barriers with their unique blend of hip-hop, R&B, reggae and alternative rock, the Blues Underdog have created their own "rooufffh" sound style. www.bluesunderdog.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Silver Dollar 12:00
Looking for: Management Representation; Securing a Booking Agent (Canada/US/International); Label Representation (Canada/US/International)
Contact: Jeff Ledger, ledger_jeff@yahoo.com, 905-424-9225

Blurred Vision (Vancouver BC)
Blurred Vision creates echoey guitar pop and exotic percussion that reflects the abilities of the group and expands the basic pop palette. Think: U2,
Tears For Fears. www.blurredvisionmusic.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Club 279 12:00

Bob Wiseman & the Damn Ugly Children (Toronto ON)
Bob Wiseman & the Damn Ugly Children take their cue from unerring astrological divinations, embellishing Bob Wisemanís works of the heart via the indomitable violin styling of Julie Penner, Appalachian vocal funambulist Kristine Schmitt and the sedulous uncombed James Anderson on bowed saw, wine glasses, mandolin, and sweeping bamboo broom! www.bobwiseman.ca
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Silver Dollar 11:00

Bombast (Toronto ON)
Rising from the ashes of Toronto's The Fangs, Alan McCartney (ex-Hypnotic Bidets) and Mathew Davis (ex-The Mad and Salmonblaster) along with John Ayres (ex-Space City USA) formed Bombast one year ago, honing their street rock style into razor-sharp hooks with youthful abandon. www.badreputationrecords.com/bombast
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 El Mocambo 1:00
Looking for: Management Representation; Securing a Booking Agent US/Canada/Europe and/or UK; Securing Distribution

Boomkat (Los Angeles CA)

While this brother-and-sister soulful trip-hop duo's singles "Wasting My Time" and "The Wreckoning" are currently making noise, the Boomkat full-length debut "Boomkatalog One" hits stores in April. www.boomkat.net
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 Horseshoe 10:00

Borg & Vella (Toronto ON)
Borg & Vella play nouveau flamenco, a musical style they describe as being derived from the traditional spirit of flamenco infused with a blend of Latin, jazz and rock musical rhythms. www.borgandvella.com
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 Tranzac Club 9:00
Contact: Kenneth Vella, gtrs1@hotmail.com, 416-451-2723

The Boston Post (Bragg Creek AB)
The Boston Post is the newest effort by Scott Moffat, singer of The Moffats, who has turned up the guitars with a much harder, faster sound. www.scottmoffattonline.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 The 360 9:15
Looking for: Label Representation (CANADA US EUROPE); Management Representation; Securing a Booking Agent (CANADA US EUROPE)

Bottleneck (Vancouver BC)
Bottleneck mix alt-country Americana and bluegrass to form their own stunning brand of classic, laid-back roots music. On a mixed tape with: Lucinda Williams, Radiogram
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Sneaky Deeís 12:00
Contact: Scott Smith, bottlenect@angelfire.com, 604-709-8670

Boy (Whitehorse NWT)
Boy's art-rock with a Brit twist, combined with an ultra cool, laid-back attitude, has been turning heads for the last few years.
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Phoenix 9:00
Contact: Larry Wanagas, info@bumstead.com, 416-656-2600

Brad Johner

As part of the dynamic duo The Johner Brothers, Brad Johner has been one of Canada’s premiere country artists, entertainers and songwriters. Now as a solo artist Brad is spring-boarding off the success of his past to launch his much anticipated solo career, with his debut album to be released February 2003.
2003 CRMA Nominee
Listen to "Hello"

Brassmunk (Toronto ON)

Rap crew Brassmunk, comprised of knob-twiddling maestro Agile, and flame-spittin' MCs May One 9, S-Roc (aka Richie Hennessey) and Clip (aka Black Bean Sauce), is a band that matters. www.brassmunk.com
Festival Showcase: Sat Mar 1 Opera House 10:30
2003 Indie Awards Nominee
Contact: mymanhenri@rogers.com
Listen to "Get Right"

Brenda Baker

Brenda Baker is one of the best known family entertainers in Saskatchewan. In the last seventeen years she has given well over a thousand performances at schools, libraries, and festival, as well as in concert venues, where parents join their children fro an evening of frolicking (and frequently funny) songs.
2003 Indie Awards Nominee
Contact: Brenda Baker, Songarden Records, brenda@brendabaker.com, 306-653-3245, www.brendabaker.com
Listen to "Perhaps If I Yawn"

Brian Gladstone (Toronto ON)
Brian Gladstone's second release "Psychedelic Pholk Psongs" is a throwback to the days when all you needed to make a good album was your voice and a guitar. If you listen to: Mississippi John Hurt, John Prine. www.backtothedirt.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Victory CafÈ 11:00
Looking for: Publishing Deal; Booking Agent; Label Representation (Canada)
Contact: Brian Gladstone, brian@backtothedirt.com, 416-224-2192

Brigitte LA (Charlesbourg PQ)
Canada's answer to Lita Ford, Brigitte LA play 80s-derived flash-metal/heavy rock that will have you flying the devil salute soon enough. If you dig: Lee Aaron, KISS. www.brigittela.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Bovine Sex Club 10:00
Looking for: Label Representation(Canada/USA); Management Representation; Securing Booking Agent(Canada/USA)
Contact: Brigitte Lavigne, brigittela@sympatico.ca, 418-627-0329

Broken Social Scene (Toronto ON)

Canadian indie buzz band of 2002, Broken Social Scene unexpectedly mobilized the Toronto scene
around their avant-post-art-punk noise squall tempered with pop-edged daggers.
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Phoenix 10:45

Broomfiller (Toronto ON)
Broomfiller is a heavy melodic punk three-piece that mixes influences to create a fresh sound with lots of buzzing guitars and energy. Think: Pennywise, Queens of the Stone Age. www.broomfiller.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Rancho Relaxo 11:00
Looking for: Management Representation; Securing a Booking Agent for Canada & the U.S.; Securing a Publicist
Contact: Richard D. Leko, richard@broomfiller.com, 416-588-0106

The Brothers Rise (Toronto ON)
Described as Michael Jackson meets Aerosmith, The Brothers Rise deliver a revolutionary brand of pop rock.
Festival Showcase: Fri Feb 28 Zen Lounge 9:00

The Brown Hornets (Newcastle ON)
The Brown Hornets play youthful, explosive acid-blues rock music with a sense of tradition mixed in. On amixed tape with: Jerry Lee Lewis, T-Bone Walker. www.thebrownhornets.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Healeyís 9:00
Looking for: Label Representation (Canada); Management; Booking Agent (Canada)
Contact: Dan Walters, walterdj@hotmail.com, 905-435-2767

Brundlefly (Vancouver BC)
Brundlefly make mellow-maudlin pop rock music that touches on Brit pop with jangly hooks and subtle but edgy guitar riffs. Think: Grapes of Wraith, Travis. www.brundlefly.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Club 279 11:00
Contact: Bobbi Beeson, bobbi@sirenpromotions.com, 416-693-6489

By Permit Only (Brampton ON)
By Permit Only is a hard-hitting three-piece punk rock band that plays short, catchy songs full of guitar hooks and melodic energy. If you pogo to: Green Day, Blink 182. www.bypermitonly.com
Festival Showcase: Thurs Feb 27 Reverb 9:00
Looking for: Label Representation; Booking Agent; Distribution
Contact: Colin Jennison, colin@bypermitonly.com, 905-451-6794