3 Inches Of Blood (Vancouver, British Columbia)
3 Inches Of Blood tread heavy on the bleached bones of those metal bands
that have come before them. Their fresh hardcore approach to classic
metal got them signed to Roadrunner. www.3inchesofblood.com
Similar To: Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Amon Amarth
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at FunHaus @ 10:00 pm - ALL AGES
4 D'z Societiez (Montreal, Quebec)
This collective fuses organic hip-hop beats and conscientious lyrics,
while exploring diverse styles of rap grooves and themes with influences
that range from hip-hop to rock, to soul and jazz. Recent winners of
the International Hip Hop 4 Ever Festival 2004 held in Montreal. www.4dzsocietiez.com
Similar To: Tupac, Nas, The Roots
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at El Mocambo Upstairs @ 12:20
am
AA Sound System (Edmonton, Alberta)
A three-piece, AA Sound System exhibits a modern pop edge to a vintage
sound. Their roots rock songs explore a variety of sounds, ranging from
subtle samples and layered phase abstractions to more roots-oriented
prairie pearls. www.aasoundsystem.com
Similar To: Blue Rodeo, Wilco, Freddy Fender
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Holy Joe's @ 1:00 am
A Northern Chorus (Hamilton, Ontario)
A Northern Chorus orchestrates beautiful epic sound journeys that are
melancholic, sweeping, shoe-gazing pop songs with a country feel. www.sonicunyon.com/anorthernchorus
Similar To: Sianspheric, Slowdive, God Speed You Black Emperor!
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at El Mocambo Downstairs @ 11:00
pm
Aaron Pritchett (Langley, British Columbia)
Aaron's single, "My Way", earned the distinction of being the most played
Canadian Country single of 2004, according to both BDS and country radio
airplay chart TraxReport. He also took home "Male Artist" and "Song
Of The Year" honours at this year's CCMAs. www.aaronpritchett.com
Similar To: Toby Keith, Garth Brooks, Hank Williams
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at El Mocambo Downstairs @ 10:30
pm
Aaron Wrixon (Toronto, Ontario)
Well-written pop country tunes with a rustic acoustic guitar sound and
twangy vocals. With influences spanning from Randy Newman to George
Gershwin, Wrixon creates witty, jazz-informed alt-country ditties. www.aaronwrixon.com
Similar To: Matthew Barber, Mayor McCa, Shannon Lyon
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Rancho Relaxo @ 9:00 pm
Absynthe Minded (Ghent, Belgium)
Absynthe Minded proves that it doesn't take Marshall stacks to make
lively and danceable rock'n'roll music. Fronted by the elegant poetics
of Bert Ostyn, and supplemented by violins, bass and piano, this Belgian
band sparkles with jazzy undertones and well-considered, zesty folk
songs with a swing. www.absyntheminded.be
Similar To: Belle and Sebastian, Beck, Jeff Buckley
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Kathedral @ 10:00 pm
Adrienne Pierce (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Known for her mesmerizing live performances, this singer-songwriter
creates tasteful and complex folk-pop music that combines smooth, sultry
vocals with sublime poetry. www.adriennepierce.com
Similar To: Jane Siberry, Sarah Harmer, Mazzy Star
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Healey's @ 9:00 pm
Afflatus (Toronto, Ontario)
This five piece groove-based rock group mixes rock, funk and reggae
sounds while delivering a soulful, energetic live show. Rocking, passionate,
and danceable good-time party tunes. www.afflatusband.com
Similar To: Sublime, Fishbone, Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at CLUB 279 @ 9:00 pm
Amped (St. Catharines, Ontario)
Amped is a dynamic pop/punk band with a unique sound, killer tunes and
an amazing, high-energy live performance. With their engaging persona
and catchy hooks, this band is able to captivate any audience. www.amped.ca
Similar To: Sum 41, Face to Face, Blink 182
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Kathedral @ 9:00 pm
Anagram (Toronto, Ontario)
Formed in 1999, this militaristic art-punk band fuses ominous neo-beat
narratives with loud guitar squalls and sinister saxophone to devastating
effect. Anagram is acclaimed for unconventional songwriting and a dizzying,
chaotic live show. www.geocities.com/anagramis
Similar To: The Stooges, The Birthday Party, Modern Lovers
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The Silver Dollar @ 10:00 pm
Andrea England (Sand Point, Nova Scotia)
Andrea's led a charmed life and a career marked by talent, hard work
and sheer determination. Her song, "Heart Wide Open (Eyes Wide Shut)",
won her early radio play, an internet following, and a fan in other
songwriters such as Dan Hill. www.andreaengland.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Pipers @ 11:00 pm
Andy Kim (Montreal, Quebec)
This legendary songwriter and performer is back on the radio charts
with several new hit songs. www.andykimmusic.com
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Pipers @ 9:30pm
Anna Nalick (Glendora, California)
The 20 year old is a star in the making. Her young singer/songwriter
appeal is gaining her praise and popularity with peers for her refreshing
take on pop music. Her debut album "Wreck of the Day" is clearly making
it's way to the top with the single, "Breathe 2AM". www.annanalick.com
Similar To: Fiona Apple, Tories Amos, Ashlee Simpson
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Pipers @ 9:00 pm
Anne Heaton (New York City, New York)
Anne Heaton's songs soar with melodies that boast great emotional pull
and smart lyrics, and have been described by Performing Songwriter Magazine
as, "alternately lush, sweet, funny and sorrowful". She has recently
opened for Jewel on her June 2004 West Coast Tour. www.anneheaton.com
Similar To: Tori Amos, Indigo Girls, 10,000 Maniacs
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Cameron House @ 9:00 pm
Arkata (Toronto, Ontario)
Bursting with hardcore metal riffs, intricate musicianship and raw power,
Arkata fuse ferocious vocals with well-crafted song and a heavy stage
presence. www.arkata.net
Similar To: Alexisonfire, Coalesce, Propagandhi
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Sneaky Dee's @ 12:00 pm
The Arsoncityscape (London, Ontario)
Formed in the fall of 2002, and with an average age of 15, this young
band display mature, melodic and moody power rock, with a solid, energetic
live show that makes people take notice. www.thearsoncityscape.com
Similar To: Yellowcard, Goldfinger, Midtown
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Reverb @ 10:00 pm
The Ashgrove (Goderich, Ontario)
Veterans of the stage, this engaging live band combines early 70's psychedelia
with the bold, brash edges of UK rock. Their latest release is the culmination
of three years of work, and is rich in production and lush layers of
sound. www.theashgrove.com
Similar To: U2, Coldplay, Daniel Lanois
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The 360 @ 11:00 pm
Audiosleep (Toronto, Ontario)
Formed in 2001, Audiosleep make atmospheric, experimental rock music
fused with ethereal electronic sounds, slick beats, and the occasional
haunting vocal performance. Their sonic landscapes illustrate mood and
emotion through intricate, moody textures. www.audiosleep.net
Similar To: Boards of Canada, Portishead, E.A.R.
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at The Drake Hotel @ 1:00 am
Authority Zero (Mesa, Arizona)
Modern punk fans will enjoy Authority Zero's grinding guitars, abrupt,
bristling lyrics and fast walking bass lines. The animated desert ska-punk
outfit is reminiscent of pioneering punk/reggae acts Operation Ivy and
Minor Threat. www.authorityzero.com
Similar To: Bad Religion, Pennywise, Rancid
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Reverb @ 1:00 am
Autumn Avanue (Cobourg, Ontario)
Formed in early 2004, this folky, emo-punk duo displays rich vocals,
a plethora of lyrical hooks, melodic guitars and graceful harmonies.
Similar To: Jack Johnson, Dave Mathews, The Used
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Holy Joe's @ 10:00 pm
The Awesome Team (Toronto, Ontario)
The Awesome Team sound is melodic, guitar driven, heavy pop rock. Their
intelligent, catchy songs and musicianship are illustrated by their
unbridled enthusiasm onstage, and pop-punk-metal vibe. www.theawesometeam.com
Similar To: Lagwagon, No Use For A Name, NOFX
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Kathedral at 1:00 am
Backroads (Sudbury, Ontario)
Formed in December 2002,Backroads is an original hard-rock quartet that
have lots of energy. Their vision focuses on their original music, as
well as selections from other bands they admire such as Nickelback,
Hoobastank and Van Halen. www.backroadsband.cjb.net
Festival Showcase: Xtreme Band Slam Friday March 4 at Montana @
11:30 pm
Barbie Bangkok (Ghent, Belgium)
Barbie Bangkok creates groove laden synth-rock pop, with clean, jangly
guitars, a new wave foundation, and a duo of angelic-sounding lead singers.
Their live show alternates between adrenaline soaked rockers and celestial
ballads. www.barbiebangkok.com
Similar To: The Cure, The Evil Superstars, The Cardigans
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Drake Hotel @ 12:30 pm
Barzin (Toronto, Ontario)
Slow and melancholic, introspective and confessional, describe the sound
of Barzin. With down-tempo rhythms and varied instrumentation (vibraphone,
lap steel), this music explores the quiet side of pop. www.barzinh.com
Similar To: Red House Painters, Sparklehorse, Nick Drake
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Rancho Relaxo @ 12:00 pm
The Beautiful Girls (Melbourne, Australia)
The Beautiful Girls are at the forefront of the new roots and groove
music movement. They blend their affection for hip-hop and reggae with
their love of real blues and roots, through a gift for melody, acute
prose and a captivating presentation. www.thebeautifulgirls.com
Similar To: Blues Traveler, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Reverb @ 11:00 pm
The Beautiful Losers (San Francisco, California)
Formed in Tokyo, Japan in 1998, this electro-acoustic Indian alt-rock
duo consists of singer songwriter Raj Ramayya and guitarist Brett Boyd.
www.thebeautifullosers.net
Similar To: Jeff Buckley, Crowded House, Cold Play
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at El Mocambo Downstairs @ 9:00
pm
Bedouin Soundclash (Montreal, Quebec)
Bedouin Soundclash has emerged in the past two years as a young group
refusing to be classified, while blurring the lines of reggae and rock.
www.bedouinsoundclash.com
Similar To: Bad Brains, Big Sugar, AC/DC
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Opera House @ 10:00 pm
Belinda Bruce & The Tawny Stars (Vancouver, British
Columbia)
City meets country, and grit meets honey in Belinda's moving and dreamy
chamber-pop. With rootsy undertones, soaring vocals, honest sentiments
and twilight melodies, it's like pulling a twinkling star from the sky
and turning it into sound. www.spygirlmusic.com/belinda.html
Similar To: Victoria Williams, Erin McKeown, The Sundays
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Cameron House @ 9:00 pm
Ben Lee (Sydney, Australia)
"Awake Is The New Sleep", is Ben Lee's definitive album to date and
first for New West. It reunites him with producer Brad Wood and was
recorded in Brad’s home studio in Los Angeles. Along with Ben, the primary
players were long time partner-in-crime Lara Meyerratken and guitar
whiz McGowan Southworth. Special guests included Jason Schwartzman,
Har Mar Superstar, Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis and Jason Faulkner. www.ben-lee.com
Similar To: Adam Green, Ben Kweller, Ben Folds
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Reverb @ 10:00 pm
Beneath Augusta (Toronto, Ontario)
This five member band creates textural and melodic alt-rock that sways
and gets jagged along the way, showing its pop roots and unorthodox
chord voicings. Their latest release is out on Aporia Records. www.beneathaugusta.com
Similar To: Interpol, Elbow, Slowdive
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at The Drake Hotel @ 10:00 pm
Better Than Everyone (Richmond Hill, Ontario)
Former members of Halo Express and Lost Radio combine with a renewed
energy, creating wonderful, psychedelic music with power and conviction.
Similar To: Sinead O'Connor, Zebradonk, Garbage
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Club Rockit @ 9:00 pm
Bherman (Ghent, Belgium)
This singer-song writer/soundscaper released his third album, "The Other/63",
in the spring of 2004 on the AKR-label. His influences range from James
Ensor paintings to Roman Polanski movies to Carol Lewis books. www.bhermansound.com
Similar To: John Cale, Frank Zappa, Soft Machine
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The Drake Hotel @ 11:30 pm
The Bicycles (Toronto, Ontario)
The Bicycles write breezy, 60s vintage pop music with jangly guitars
and super sweet vocal harmonies. They released their debut album on
Fuzzy Logic Records last year. www.thebicycles.ca
Similar To: The Zombies, Apples In Stereo, The Monkees
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Rancho Relaxo @ 11:00 pm
Big Jeezuz Truck (Ottawa, Ontario)
Country-fused rock and roll that erupts with punk attitude. A scorching
live performance includes cow-punk/psycho-billy interpretations of classic
country numbers. www.bigjeezustruck.com
Similar To: Reverend Horton Heat, Headstones, The Hellacopters
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Bovine Sex Club @ 11:00 pm
Birchview Park Symphonic (Toronto, Ontario)
A vessel for Sam Sutherland's sullen acoustic ditties, formerly known
as urban goose project, Birchview Park Symphonic has grown into something
much bigger and impressive over the years. www.urbangooseproject.tk
Similar To: Jonathan Richman, Bob Dylan
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Club Rockit @ 11:00 pm
Black Halos (Vancouver, British Columbia)
The Black Halos play classic old-school punk rock, giving their audiences
short, fast and loud melodic music with echoes of Stiff Little Fingers,
The Buzzcocks, Johnny Thunders and DOA. www.blackhalos.net
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Bovine Sex Club @ 12:00 pm
The Blue Van (Broenderslev, Denmark)
The Blue Van play classic, chaotic, and raw rock and roll that is clearly
influenced by such luminaries as The Small Faces, The Who and The Rolling
Stones, at their best. www.thebluevan.com
Similar To: The Kinks, The Deadly Snakes, Howlin' Wolf
Festival Showcases: Saturday March 5 at Lee's Palace @ 1:00 am
Bocephus King (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Bocephus King's latest release has the feel of a James Cagney/Bogart
film, paying homage to old Hollywood. The solid blues-rock record with
lovely bluegrass moments also nods eccentrically toward Nashville. www.bocephusking.com
Similar To: Townes Van Zandt, Alejandro Escovedo, Muddy Waters
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Healey's @ 10:00 pm
Bombs Over Providence (Toronto, Ontario)
Bombs Over Providence is catchy hooks, aggressive lyrics and dangerous
melodies mixed with high energy intelectual punk rock. After years of
hard nosed national touring these guys have coined a fine balance of
advanced punk rock craftsmanship and melody that inpires the mind, heart,
and memory. www.bombsoverprovidence.com
Similar To: Getupkids, Modest Mouse, Lifetime
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 4 at FunHaus @ 9:20 pm
Bonnie Pink (Tokyo, Japan)
Bonnie Pink, who made her debut in 1995, is currently one of Japan's
strongest female rock singer-songwriters. She has released 7 albums
to date and has worked with such musical luminaries as Stereolab and
the High Llamas. www.bonniepink.jp
Similar To: Cibo Matto, Suzanne Vega, Chrissy Hynde
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Cameron House @ 11:00 pm
Boy Ballz (Toronto, Ontario)
Former Slit Slot members come together under a new banner of rock debauchery.
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Comfort Zone @ 12:00 pm
Boy (Whitehorse, Yukon Territories)
Boy has undeniable pop folk swagger, with sweet, seemingly effortless
melodies and catchy harmonies. Be sure to check out the live spectacle,
where you will be left arms akimbo, mouth agog, and with a little dirt
in your smile lines. www.boytheband.com
Similar To: The Dears, Sam Roberts, Pilate
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Horseshoe @ 11:00 pm
Brat Attack (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Brat Attack are a political activist collective striving to create positive
change through their music. Burn the SUV's in a sign of liberation!
www.thebratattack.com
Similar To: Propagandhi, Nirvana
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at FunHaus @ 8:30 ‚ ALL AGES
Breadfan (Toronto, Ontario)
Energetic, diverse, hard-rock-meets-punk via thrash metal, this kick
ass power trio will assault your ears. Breadfan is well recognized for
its staggering live performance filled with passion, musicianship and
rock 'n' roll attitude. www.breadfan.ca
Similar To: Metallica, Slayer, System of a Down
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Drake Hotel @ 1:00 am
Brian Byrne (St. John, Newfoundland)
The lead singer of I Mother Earth's solo work provides an insight into
both his past and future, displaying a more, vulnerable and sensitive
side of country and folk influences.
Similar To: Neil Young, Gram Parsons, Alro Guthrie
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Lee's Palace @ 9:00 pm
The Brown Hornets (Newcastle, Ontario)
The Brown Hornets emit plenty of energy with their take on classic rock
blues, with catchy melodies and sweet harmonies. www.punkblues.com
Similar To: Chuck Berry, The Who and Sex Pistols
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Healey's @ 1:00 am
The Brutal Knights (Toronto, Ontario)
Comedic underground hero Nick Flanagan drives a post-punk, rock and
roll fury machine with the sort of reckless abandon that once made music
unpredictable, belligerant and fun. www.brutalknights.com
Similar To: Ween, The Zoobombs, Neil Hamburger
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Silver Dollar @ 11:00
pm
Bumpus (Chicago, Illinois)
One of the most exciting groups on the funk/dance scene, Bumpus is known
for its incendiary live performances, featuring strong vocal harmonies,
rhymes, and an amazing horn section.
www.bumpusweb.com
Similar To: George Clinton, Sly Stone, Beck
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Healey's @ 10:00 pm
The Burnettes (Vancouver, British Columbia)
With a combination of roots, dreamy lo-fi, and a love for old school
punk rock, Cora & Chris Burnette play new-wave-folk music with shoe-gazing
harmonies, and easy melodies that are sweet passages of narcotic beauty.
www.telusplanet.net/public/melvins/gorock/bbio.html
Similar To: Mazzy Star, Ida, Spent
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Clinton's @ 9:00 pm
Caledonia (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Folk pop act Caledonia is a diamond in the rough. Their songs are melodic,
upbeat and driven by singer Steven Gates' storyteller style voice. Nominated
for Best Rock/Pop Group Recording at Nova Scotia Music Week 2004. www.caledoniatheband.ca
Similar To: Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, David Gray.
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Rivoli @ 10:15pm
Caleigh Burke (Toronto, Ontario)
Burke's brand of pop is jarring and gentle, rocking and real. Her piano-driven
ballads are fresh in their perspective and unabashedly tackle life with
an eye that makes even the most horrible nightmare seem beautiful in
its honesty. www.caleighburke.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Pipers @ 8:00 pm
The Camaromance (Montreal, Ontario)
This acoustic duo sings not only of the turbulence that comes with the
feeling of having to face the world alone, but also of the pleasure
derived from being on top of it. www.thecamaromance.com
Similar To: Aimee Mann, The Carpenters, Cocteau Twins
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Holy Joe's 10:00 pm
Cancer Bats (Toronto, Ontario)
Cancer Bats formed out of the burning desire to rage harder than anyone
has ever raged before. Drawing influences from monster truck rallies,
wild dogs and southern metal, these four young bucks are hungry for
destruction. www.cancerbats.com
Similar To: Misfits, SNFU, DOA
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Reverb @ 11:00 pm
Canned Hamm (Vancouver, British Columbia)
A two-man modern vaudeville, karaoke, song and dance machine featuring
original music, dance, witty banter, laughs and puppets. Big and Li'l
Hamm will sing and dance their way into your heart. www.cannedhamm.tv
Similar To: Tenacious D, Corky & the Juice Pigs, Neil Hamburger
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Horseshoe @ 9:00 pm
Carolyn Dawn Johnson (Edmonton, Alberta)
Johnson's new collection of songs stunningly illustrates her proliferating
singing and writing skills with a power that transcends that of her
widely praised debut album, "Room with a View". www.carolyndawnjohnson.com
Similar To: Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Donna Summer
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Pipers @ 9:30pm
Cats & Dogs (Toronto, Ontario)
Ten-piece outfit Cats and Dogs is a band with a mission, imagine a jazz-tinged
Eagles fronted by the Mamas and Papas. Their first album, "This Life",
was released recently on Bullseye Records. www.bullseyecanada.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Brunswick House @ 11:00 pm
Chasing Dagmara (Toronto, Ontario)
This melodic power pop punk quartet have intelligent and hook laden
songs, with stop-start guitars and melodic vocals, while delivering
a strong live performance. www.chasingdagmara.com
Similar to: Foo Fighters, Hey Mercedes, Superchunk
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Club Rockit @ 10:00 pm
Cheaper Then Therapy (Toronto, Ontario)
Former Moving Targetz vocalist Ivan Judd brings his articulate and acute
observations about adult life and newspaper headlines in this new project
called Cheaper Then Therapy.
www.bullseyecanada.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Brunswick House @ 1:00 am
The Cheap Suits (Scarborough, Ontario)
A 5-piece band that fuses elements of pop, ska, punk and Motown into
their own sound, with catchy songs and an energetic live show. www.cheapsuits.ca
Similar to: Gob, The Suicide Machines, The Living End
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Reverb @ 9:00 pm
Cherrybomb (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Consisting of songwriting duo Jenny Galt and Vicky Sjohall, Cherrybomb
is an alternately emotional and thoughtful folk outfit with dynamic
and heartfelt songs. www.cherrybombmusic.com
Similar to: Alanis Morrissette, Jewel, Tori Amos
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Clinton's @ 12:00 pm
Chesterfield Rock (Regina, Saskatchewan)
Chesterfield Rock have been winning competitions this last year, both
the Unite the Scene: The Young Guns and The Last Band Standing as well
as Xtreme Band Slam presented by The Wolf 104.9. Their recent EP, "All
Good Things", was recorded live on the floor at The Exchange by Xen
Gargatzidis. www.chesterfieldrock.com
Festival Showcase: Xtreme Band Slam Friday March 4 at Montana @
9:00 pm
Chris Bottomley (Toronto, Ontario)
Producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and singer Chris Bottomley
reflects an international musical vision. The musicianship of the live
band is unquestionable, but the real stars are Bottomley's jazzy pop
songs.
Similar to: Shuffle Demons, Miles Davis, George Clinton
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Holy Joe's @ 1:00 am
Chris Hart (Merlin, Ontario)
Chris's style of music blends roots, rock and country. He has been compared
to an early Steve Earle and a darker/edgier Fred Eaglesmith. www.sonicbids.com/ChrisHart2
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Clinton's @ 1:00 am
Chris Warren (Toronto, Ontario)
Chris Warren performs avant-garde world jazz that has a retro pop feeling
with equal parts of beat poetry, chamber and klezmer sounds that fuse
into interesting songs. www.chriswarren.cc
Similar to: Ron Sexsmith, Bob Snider, Kyp Harness
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Rancho Relaxo @ 10:00 pm
Christa Couture (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Guitar toting singer/songwriter Christa Couture weaves a blend of folk,
quirk and bark; ballads of travel and heartache, little love songs and
abrasive ditties. www.christacouture.com
Similar to: Ani DiFranco, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Holy Joe's @ 9:00 pm
Christine Evans (Victoria, British Columbia)
Christine Evans has the voice of a young angel with the heart and soul
of a mature and thoughtful adult. This fast-rising songstress has the
Canadian music industry a buzz with excitement. www.christineevans.com
Festival Showcase Saturday March 5 at Pipers @ 9:00pm
Cikatris (Toronto, Ontario)
Cikatris are three "eighties children" influenced by various genres
of music. With Hip-hop as the base, they create digestible blends that
speak to fans of all types of music, with catchy songs and well-produced
beats. www.cikatris.com
Similar to: Andre 3000, Kool Keith, Slim Shady
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at El Mocambo Upstairs @ 11:00
pm
Cities In Dust (Hamilton, Ontario)
With influences like Le Tigre to The Rapture, Cities in Dust take the
energy and stage presence to a higher level. Staying true to their punk
rock roots, the boys serve up a platter of solid beats, choppy guitar
and tightly wound vocals like an elastic band that threatens to snap
if stretched any further.
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Kathedral @ 1:00 am
Clothes Make The Man (Toronto, Ontario)
A four-piece, aggressive pop rock band that sing catchy songs with grit,
urgent vocals and jangly guitar. A promising intelligence and fervor
lies beneath their deceptively simple songs. www.clothesmaketheman.org
Similar to: Teenage Fanclub, Lowest of the Low, Dinosaur Jr.
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Rancho Relaxo @ 12:00 pm
C'MON (Toronto, Ontario)
Fronted by indie rock icon Ian Blurton (Change Of Heart, Blurtonia)
and featuring members of Nashville Pussy and The Swallows, this loud,
abrasive rock trio are ready to slay. www.thisiscmon.com
Similar To: The Saints, MC5, Stooges
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Horseshoe @ 12:00 pm
controller.controller (Toronto, Ontario)
Energetic, rhythmic post-punk group turn their late '70s and early '80s
influences into discordant and edgy dance music for the next generation.
www.paperbagrecords.com
Similar To: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Les Six, The Slits
Festival Showcase: Wednesday March 2 at The Phoenix @ 11:00 pm
Cougar Party (Toronto, Ontario)
Four grrls screaming about sex, crappy bosses and inconsiderate friends
makes for fiery punk with racing guitars, catchy melodies and an acerbic
attitude. www.cougarparty.cjb.net
Similar to: Babes in Toyland, Sex Pistols, Mach Tiver
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Sneaky Dee's @ 10:00 pm
Courtesy Blush (Toronto, Ontario)
This five piece, emo-metal band play progressively melodic and technically
explosive, in your face music. Formed in early 2002, they recorded their
8 song EP in the summer of 2003 and have been touring lots to support
it. www.courtesyblush.cjb.net
Similar to: Alexisonfire, End This Week With Knives, The Reason
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Sneaky Dee's @ 12:00 pm
Craig Cardiff (Montreal, Quebec)
Alt-folk singer songwriter absorbs his audience with his surreal lyrics
and approachable stage presence, keeping them interested with his thought
provoking acoustic ballads. www.craigcardiff.com
Similar to: Nick Drake, Martin Tielli, Dave Matthews
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Rivoli @ 9:00 pm
Crash Continental (Toronto, Ontario)
Incorporating the drive from rock and the smoothness of pop, Crash Continental
delivers exhilarating, passionate performances. The simplicity of melody
with the complexity of expert execution create a luxurious tapestry
of sound. www.crashcontinental.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The Drake Hotel @ 10:00 pm
Crash Kelly (Toronto, Ontario)
Crash Kelly play 70's inspired, authentic rock and roll with all the
glitter, guitar solos and flicking lighters. www.crashkelly.ca
Similar To: Motley Crue, Hanoi Rocks, Robin Black & the IRS
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Bovine Sex Club @ 1:00 am
Crazy For Jane (Berlin, Germany)
These two indie pop folk troubadours sing their desperately romantic
and beautiful serenade underneath your window with witty prose, lovely
boy-girl vocals, and sublimely strummed guitar. www.crazyforjane.com
Similar to: Jonathan Ritchman, Windy & Carl, Mecca Normal
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Healey's @ 9:00 pm
The Creeping Nobodies (Toronto, Ontario)
The Creeping Nobodies play avant-indie rock with precision. They released
their newest album, "Stop Movement Stop Loss", on Blocks Recording Club.
www.thecreepingnobodies.com
Similar To: The Fall, Talking Heads, Television
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The Silver Dollar @ 12:00 pm
Cuff The Duke (Oshawa, Ontario)
This alt-country rock band combines elements of traditional country
with modern twists of indie rock and electric guitar creating fresh
sounds. www.cufftheduke.com
Similar To: The Sadies, The Flaming Lips, Stompin' Tom Conners
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Lee's Palace @ 11:00 pm
Damon & Naomi (Boston, Massachusetts)
Their new album, "The Earth Is Blue", is a stunning work of worldly
beauty and individual intimacy with songs that are smart and perceptive,
fragile and melancholic. www.damonandnaomi.com
Similar To: Low, Tim Buckley, The Carpenters
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at El Mocambo Downstairs @ 1:00
am
Dead Letter Dept (Toronto, Ontario)
Dead Letter Dept display introverted acoustic softness to smashing instruments
mid-song, from high-fives to beating the living shit out of each other,
the reactors behind the antagonism that makes this band go has always
been honesty, integrity and passion. www.deadletterdept.com
Similar To: The Ramones, The Offspring, Lagwagon
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Sneaky Dee's @ 9:30 pm ‚
ALL AGES
Dee Long (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Engineer, producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and former member
of Klaatu, Dee Long has seen a lot of musical trends pass through the
history books. His first fully realized solo album called "Outside"
is a concept record for a new generation featuring a hybrid of morphed
audio styles and recording techniques. www.bullseyecanada.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Brunswick House @ 11:50 pm
Defined (Sturgeon Falls, Ontario)
Created in 2001, Defined is a powerful hard rock group that make music
filled with emotion, passion and energy. Live, the band is a must-see
as they definitely give their all to put on a good show. www.defined.cjb.net
Festival Showcase: Xtreme Band Slam Thursday March 3 at Montana
@ 9:30 pm
Dessy Di Lauro (Montreal, Quebec)
Dessy Di Lauro is an R&B jazz artist with a voice as unique as her origins.
She has collaborated with Dubmatique, written for Ginette Reno and sung
in Cirque Du Soleil's Nouba. A synthesis of soul and Brazil-flavored
jazz, she is accompanied by pianist/producer Ric'Key Pageot. www.crazygluemusic.com
Similar To: Chaka Khan, Ella Fitzgerald, Gilberto Gil
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Revival @ 12:00 pm
The Diableros (Toronto, Ontario)
The Diableros appeared shortly after a makeshift cover band was put
together for a Jesus and Mary Chain tribute night. The reverberations
carried on into a group of friends who love the rock and remember the
melody. www.diableros.tk
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The Silver Dollar @ 9:00 pm
Dirt Gritie (Edmonton, Alberta)
Known for a strong back-to-basics approach to production and performance,
Dirt Gritie's hip-hop mixes funk, jazz and soul music with modern day
philosophy and commentary on the hard facts of life. www.politiclive.com
Similar To: Ghetto Concept, 112, Choclair
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at El Mocambo Upstairs @ 10:20
pm
Dirty Americans (Detroit, Michigan)
The straight up vintage rock of the Dirty Americans has rock 'n roll
pumping through every ounce of its being. Fans of rock outfits like
The Cult and Queens Of The Stone Age will be drawn to their bombastic
arena rock sound and classic rock vibe. www.dirtyamericans.com
Similar To: Grand Funk Railroad, Bob Seger, Cactus
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Bovine Sex Club @ 11:00 pm
The Downbelows (Toronto, Ontario)
Containing members of The Tirekickers and Faceplant, The Downbelows
conspire to make punk rock music to lift the spirits. They released
their fluff-free debut record, "Queen and Bathurst", this past year.
www.downbelows.com
Similar To: The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Teenage Head
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Lee's Palace @ 10:00 pm
Doubting Paris (Vancouver, British Columbia)
With influences ranging from U2 and Sigur-R–s, to Counting Crows and
Sting, Doubting Paris creates music that is a mÈlange of beautifully
melodic, unashamedly honest lyrics - with shimmering guitars and evocative,
haunting arrangements. www.doubtingparis.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Rivoli @ 10:00 pm
Drive By Punch (Calgary, Alberta)
Drive By Punch play pop punk, alt-rock music at mind warping tempos,
with lots of melodies. www.drivebypunch.com
Similar To: Green Day, GOB, Blink 182
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at FunHaus @ 7:40 pm ‚ ALL AGES
Driver (Toronto, Ontario)
Drive is a solid rock and roll outfit that has been building a loyal
following in Southern Ontario for the last few years. Clean and crisp
guitar sound with great song writing.
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Opera House @ 9:00 pm
The Dudes (Calgary, Alberta)
The Dudes write brilliantly poppy dirges that perfectly bridge the gap
between hi-fi sonics and sludgy distortion, with thick melodies and
intense, sincere lyrics. www.boompa.ca
Similar To: Tragically Hip, Pursuit Of Happiness, The Northern Pikes
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The 360 @ 10:00 pm
Ed Vokurka Swing Trio (Toronto, Ontario)
Featuring Ed Vokurka on violin and Abbey Scholzberg on bass.
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at The Rex Hotel @ 12:00 Noon
Elena Higgins (Magnetic Island, Australia)
Discovering her voice two years ago, indigenous singer songwriter Elena
Higgins draws strength from her Polynesian and Maori ancestors to produce
a startlingly fresh and vibrant musical style. www.elena.com.au
Similar To: Tracy Chapman, Toni Childs, Sheryl Crow
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Cameron House @ 1:00 am
Elliott Brood (Toronto, Ontario)
Their rousing alt-country with modern grit sound has been described
as Blackgrass or Death Country, monikers that reflect their original
blend of authentic folk tradition with aching vocals, frenzied guitar
and banjo, impelled by snare drum and suitcase percussion. www.elliottbrood.ca
Similar To: The Baptist Generals, The Fembots, The Silverhearts
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Pipers @ 11:30 pm
& Friday March 4 at Healey's @ 12:00 pm
Emily Fennell Band (Kingston, Ontario)
Fennell has an enormous, soulful voice. This talented and versatile
musician performs both original and cover material, primarily of the
rock, pop and alternative genres with an older country blues edge. www.emilyfennell.com
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 4 at Montana @ 10:00 pm
Esthero (Toronto, Ontario)
Esthero combines trip hop and dance music in a quirky R&B fashion, with
strong vocals. Her new EP has a recent club track, "O.G. Bitch", that
hit the Top 10 in Brazil. Her new full length, "Wikked Lil' Grrrls"
comes out this Spring. www.nearlycivilized.com
Similar To: Black Eyed Peas, Nelly Furtado, Saul Williams
Festival Showcase: Wednesday March 2 at Phoenix @ 12:00 pm
Fair Ground (Toronto, Ontario)
Fair Ground are a modern rock band featuring Mike Turner (ex Our Lady
Peace) on guitar and vocals, Pete Lesperance (Harem Scarem) on vocals
and guitar, Darren Shearer (New Deal) on drums and Brad Stella (Stella)
on bass and vocals. www.fairgroundtheband.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Rivoli @ 12:00 pm
Faithdown (Toronto, Ontario)
Each member of this foursome comes to the group with years of experience
and diverse musical backgrounds. With a mix of acid jazz and pop as
their credentials, they've come to be a hard rockin' group of fierce
musicians. www.faithdown.com
Similar To: I Mother Earth, Rush, Three Days Grace
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at CLUB 279 @ 1:00 am
Femme Generation (Toronto, Ontario)
Toronto's own dance-funk-punk act Femme Generation has quickly gained
a name for itself, received glowing reviews for their new wave rock
music and sweet live show. www.femmegeneration.com
Similar To: Hot Hot Heat, Interpol, Joy Division
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Comfort Zone @ 8:00 pm
The Field Register (Montreal, Quebec)
Formed in 2002, The Field Register is a five-piece rock band with songs
ranging from melancholic, wistful portraits to uplifting sonicness with
lush organ chords and gentle shimmering piano lines to completing the
arrangements. www.shipsatnight.com
Similar To: The Besnard Lakes, Tristeza, The Arcade Fire
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Club Rockit @ 10:00 pm
The First Time (Toronto, Ontario)
Their debut record, "It's On", is a blustery mix of guitar-riffs, big-choruses
and the kind of visceral quality that only comes from playing from your
guts. Lead single, "New Day Dawning", has already been licensed by ESPN,
SportsNet and Exreme Network. www.thefirsttimeonline.com
Similar To: Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Jimmy Eat World,
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Brunswick House @ 9:20 pm
Five Blank Pages (Brampton, Ontario)
Bridging pop hooks and garage distortion with delicate vocal harmonies,
Five Blank Pages play infectious East Coast-flavored indie pop rock
with an over sized heart. www.fiveblankpages.com
Similar To: Pedro The Lion, The Weakerthans, Elliott Smith
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Club Rockit @ 12:00 pm
The Flairs (Vancouver, British Columbia)
The Flairs are a 21st century band ready to take the world by storm
with their catchy, hook-laden rock songs harkening back to the days
of '80's metal and punk, sweetly flavored with female harmonies. www.theflairs.com
Similar To: Bif Naked, Garbage, Veruca Salt
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Horseshoe @ 9:00 pm
The Flatliners (Richmond Hill, Ontario)
The Flatliners blend two-tone ska with brain hemorrhaging punk rock,
to make one lethal dose of caustic Skunk Rawk. www.theflatliners.com
Similar To: The Clash, Operation Ivy, Rancid
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Sneaky Dee's @ 10:15 pm ‚
ALL AGES
Flipside (Toronto, Ontario)
MC Flipside's charismatic delivery and presence helped make him a staple
in Toronto's popular dance music community that crosses over from hip
hop to electro, to progressive rock to jazz, to funk and house. www.mcflipside.com
Similar To: CL Smooth, Africa Bambaata, Mos Def
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at El Mocambo Upstairs @ 9:00pm
For The Mathematics (Ottawa, Ontario)
Formed in 2003, this five-piece blend elements of post-punk, psychedelia
and math rock with spastic latin rhythms and a frantic live show, crafting
a daring and energetic sound. www.forthemathematics.com
Similar To: At The Drive-In, Ikara Colt, Q And Not U
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Kathedral @ 9:00 pm
Fourstar (Toronto, Ontario)
Previously known as Tennessee, they are the creation of ex-MAdE drummer
Alison MacLean. She has matured into a fine songwriter, as shown by
her win in Standard Radio's recent national songwriting competition.
Fourstar features the passionate vocals of Suzie Cotton, and their sound
has been described as "Concrete Blonde meets Fleetwood Mac."
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at The 360 @ 12:00 pm
The Frames (Dublin, Ireland)
Until now, The Frames' music favoured bi-polar swings, violently loud
on one song, violently quiet the next. On "Burn The Maps", their fifth
studio album, the band have reconciled their various personalities into
one volatile organism, synthesizing gorgeous melancholy with full-blown
anger. www.theframes.ie
Similar to: Sparklehorse, Radiohead, The Music
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Opera House @ tba
Frantic City (Toronto, Ontario)
Frantic City paints its image of the human experience through a range
of emotions. From self and social awareness ditties, to crushing anthems,
the music is distinctly an organised-manic in it's delivery. www.franticcity.ca
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Kathedral @ 12:00 am
Fresh Meat (Toronto, Ontario)
This alternative punk rock band has been buzzing Toronto for the last
year with their catchy songs, sense of style and the alluring charisma
of sex kitten, lead vocalist Tina Gravelson. www.thisisfreshmeat.com
Similar To: Wendy O. Williams, Joan Jett, Motorhead
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Bovine Sex Club @ 10:00 pm
Friday Morning's Regret (Toronto, Ontario)
Formed in the fall of 2002, Friday Morning's Regret are a folk-based
rock band driven by harmonica and harmonies amid tales of urban displacement
and disaffection. www.fridaymorningsregret.com
Similar To: Paul Simon, Bright Eyes, Neil Young
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Holy Joe's @ 12:00 pm
From Fiction (Toronto, Ontario)
Four-piece From Fiction come together to deliver exhilarating, draining
performances that have unwittingly left more than a few headliners unable
to follow in their footsteps. www.fromfiction.com
Similar To: Pecola, Trail Of The Dead, Slint
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Club Rockit @ 1:00 am
Frontier Index (Toronto, Ontario)
This four piece band mix psychedelic pop and country twang, blending
vintage sounds into something clearly their own. They have recently
released their debut album on Rainbow Quartz Records. www.thefrontierindex.com
Similar To: The Band, Lowest Of The Low, Gram Parsons
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Healey's @ 1:00 am
Fruit (Adelaide, Australia)
With classic and timeless harmonies, Fruit's music has been described
as "sensitive, embracing and disarming". www.fruitmusic.com.au
Similar To: Joni Mitchell, Dave Matthews, Ani DiFranco
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Holy Joes @ 9:00 pm
Galore (Toronto, Ontario)
Galore's last album, "Parader", made critics and fans wax rhapsodic
about the band's brand of rock'n'roll, which Stuart Berman from Eye
Weekly referred to as, "their Spiders-from-Mars raunch and 'Bang a Gong'
boogie." www.galoremusic.com
Similar To: New York Dolls, Stooges, Rolling Stones
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Bovine Sex Club @ 10:00 pm
Gary Burr (Los Angeles, California)
This multi talented musician, songwriter and performer has been writing
hit songs since the early 80's. He has vocals as well as multi-instrumental
performance credits on dozens of albums and has written hit songs for
Kelly Clarkson, Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera. www.garyburr.com
Similar To: John Lennon, Roger McGuinn, Elvis Presley
Festival Showcase Saturday March 5 at Pipers @ 9:30pm
Gary Baker (Sheffield, Alabama)
Baker is a most talented vocalist-musician-songwriter, as a session
musician and vocalist he has worked with Mac Davis, The Kendalls, Gary
Morris, Bertie Higgins and Eddy Raven. His songwriting credits have
included songs by T.G. Sheppard, Gary Morris, Eddy Raven, Restless Heart,
Joe Diffie, Alabama, All-4-One, and John Michael Montgomery. www.alamhof.org/bakerg.htm
Festival Showcase Saturday March 5 at Pipers @ 9:30pm
Gentleman Reg (Toronto, Ontario)
Montreal Mirror stated, "The third solo album from The Hidden Cameras'
frighteningly blonde guitarist is his best yet. Not only is his pop-and-folk-inflected
songwriting stronger then ever, but his sound has been infiltrated and
fleshed out by members of The Constantines, Royal City and Kepler".
www.gentlemanreg.com
Similar To: Sea and Cake, Nick Drake, Belle and Sebastien
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at The Comfort Zone @ 11:00
pm
George Canyon (Pictou County, Nova Scotia)
George creates traditional country music with conviction, and received
the New Artist Recording of the Year, and Country Recording of the Year
awards this year at the Music Industry Association of Nova Scotia Awards.
www.georgecanyon.com
Similar To: Hank Williams, Toby Keith, Charley Pride
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at El Mocambo Downstairs @ 11:30
pm
The Ghost is Dancing (Toronto, Ontario)
The sixty-beats to those faithful to the call of rock, The Ghost Is
Dancing combine many influences from the arts of kung fu and paper-rock-scissors,
these freedom fighters only live to rock. www.theghostisdancing.tk
Similar To: The Arcade Fire, Matt Pond PA, Wolf Parade
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Club Rockit @ 12:00 pm
Go (Toronto, Ontario)
This modern rock, new wave five piece are reminiscent of The Cars getting
hit by a mac truck. www.myspace.com/gomusic
Similar To: The Cars, The Cure, Elvis Costello
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at The 360 @ 1:00 am
God Made Me Funky (Toronto, Ontario)
This funk/jazz outfit has been widely recognized in the Toronto music
scene for its energetic and outstanding live show. The band specializes
in live dance re-workings of funk, soul, r&b, motown, acid-jazz, reggae,
and hip-hop classics. www.godmademefunky.com
Similar To: Julie McKnight, Herbie Koffman, Divine Earth Essence
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Revival @ 1:00 am
The Golden Dogs (Toronto, Ontario)
Relying on a multitude of influences, The Golden Dogs have crafted a
collection of diverse, nostalgic pop songs that are impossible to overlook.
www.thegoldendogs.com
Similar To: Blue Rodeo, New Pornographers, Elvis Costello
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Lee's Palace @ 12:00 pm
Gordie Tentrees Band (Whitehorse, Yukon Territories)
Their Country-Surf-Folk-Blue sound mixed with no-nonsense lyrics, harmonies
and multi-instrumentation have taken this popular Yukon act to festival
stages across Canada. www.tentrees.ca
Similar to: Old Reliable, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Fred Eaglesmith
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Cameron House @ 12:00 pm
Grady (Toronto, Ontario)
Big Sugars' frontman Geordie Johnson's new rock band project is named
Grady. They pick up where Big Sugar left off but have freshened the
sound, look and feel and then some.
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Opera House @ 11:00 pm
Great Lake Swimmers (Toronto, Ontario)
Great Lake Swimmers create wonderfully understated, heart-wrenching
music. Their haunting sound finds its roots in vintage folk and alt-country
tones, shaped by accordion, lap steel and acoustic guitar, with a voice
that seems to come from the walls. www.greatlakeswimmers.com
Similar To: Gram Parsons, Iron & Wine, Nick Drake
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Pipers @ 9:30 pm
& Friday March 4 at El Mocambo Downstairs @ 9:00 pm
GreenTara (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Influenced by funk, jazz and hip-hop, nu-soul singer songwriter GreenTara
delivers a unique brand of urban roots music with a conscientious message,
inventive melodies and acoustic riffs. www.greentaramusic.com
Similar To: Arrested Development, Pharcyde, Lauren Hill
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Revival @ 10:00 pm
Guitar Wolf (Tokyo, Japan)
Tokyo's premier punk trio play brain pummelling hard. They are perhaps
among the best live rock and roll bands on the planet: virile, dangerous
and wonderfully chaotic. www.guitarwolf.net
Similar To: Johnny Thunders, Joan Jett, The Ramones
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Lee's Palace @ 12:00 pm
Haddonfield (Etobicoke, Ontario)
With their most recent release, "When All The Stars Burn Out", out on
Re-Define Records, Haddonfield are continuing to spread their melodic,
punchy, punk rock hardcore to the masses. www.camphaddonfield.com
Similar To: Protest The Hero, The Reason, Moneen
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Sneaky Dee's @ 1:00 am
The Heck (Vancouver, British Columbia)
On Bif Naked's label Her Royal Majesty's Records, The Heck are a flash
back to classic guitar rock with an arena rock attitude and a deep bass
end. www.hrmrecords.com/heck/
Similar To: Jimi Hendrix, Joe Satriani, Foo Fighters
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The 360 @ 11:00 pm
& Saturday March 5 at The 360 @ 2:30 pm ‚ ALL AGES
Hedley (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Hedley's shows are a roller coaster of energy, with a mixed bag of influences
ranging from slower emo songs, to pop rock and harder-edged riffs, and
a strong onstage charisma and confidence. www.hedleyband.com
Similar To: Oasis, Sum 41, Weezer
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The 360 @ 10:00 pm
& Saturday March 5 at The 360 @ 3:15 pm ‚ ALL AGES
High Holy Days (North Bay, Ontario)
Winners of the Xtreme Band Slam competition two years ago, High Holy
Days has gone on to sign with Roadrunner Records.
Festival Showcase: Xtreme Band Slam Friday March 4 at Montana @
12:30 am
Hill (Ajax, Ontario)
Hillary Kourkoutis started her first band The Sirens at the age of twelve,
before going on to form Paperclip in the latter portion of 2002. Hill
recorded her debut EP, "Blue", this past year with producer Stephen
Pitkin (The Flashing Lights, Elliott Brood, Mrs. Torrance). www.hillrocks.com
Similar To: Ashlee Simpson, Avril Lavigne, Fefe Dobson
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Rancho Relaxo @ 9:00 pm
Hinterland (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Hinterland resides somewhere near the intersection of wall-of-guitars
rock and whisper-soft ambience. Their songs shimmer, drone, and chime,
sometimes lulling the listener into a blissful state before blasting
off into the ether. www.hinterland.bc.ca
Similar To: Cocteau Twins, The Cranes, Sigur Ros
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Clinton's @ 9:00 pm
Hitch (Kortrijk, Belgium)
Hitch is one of Belgium's most fierce and long-standing hardcore rock
acts, with a true punk rock spirit informed by the early pioneers of
thrash metal. www.hitch.be
Similar To: Unsane, Naked Raygun, Change Of Heart
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Drake Hotel @ 11:30 pm
The Hollow (Toronto, Ontario)
This gothic prog-metal band expresses their unconventional view on life
and the universe through their iconoclastic recordings and charged live
show, with hauntingly powerful vocals and strong instrumental play.
www.thehollow.ca
Similar To: Tool, Biohazard, Goat Horn
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Bovine Sex Club @ 12:00 pm
Holy Fuck (Toronto, Ontario)
Brian Borcherdt's electro-folk mash up of scaping guitars and quirky
electronic gadget-sounds will draw you in with its intense grooves and
slinky hooks. www.dependentmusic.com
Similar To: Add N to X, To Rococo Rot, Devo
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at El Mocambo Downstairs @ 11:00
pm
Hostage Life (Toronto, Ontario)
Now Magazine said this about Hostage Life's EP entitled "Sing For The
Enemy", "On this six-song, 13-minute blaster, Hostage Life play fairly
fast, charismatic and fun melody-driven punk that asks questions like
"Why does America like Bush?" "Why am I trying to get laid?" and "Why
do they make my shoes in sweatshops?" www.hostagelife.com
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Sneaky Dee's @ 11:00 pm
Hot Toddy (Toronto, Ontario)
Known for their sweet blend of roots, jazz and blues, Hot Toddy's live
performances are a unique mix of acoustic and electric sounds. www.hottoddytrio.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Pipers @ 11:30 pm
Human (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Human earned the 2003 ECMAs Rock Group of the Year and is often compared
to Radiohead or Incubus. The band has received radio play throughout
the Atlantic Provinces on commercial stations and nationally on campus
radio. www.experiencehuman.com
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Drake Hotel @ 9:30 pm
I An Eye (Toronto, Ontario)
I An Eye create music that is honest and spiritual and the proof of
this is in the way audiences respond. There is something about their
music that is easily accessible, perhaps because they are able to couple
sticky hooks with lyrical ideas that relate to the common in all of
us. www.gensub.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The Drake Hotel @ 10:30 pm
Iain Campbell Smith (Canberra, Australia)
Iain Campbell Smith has performed at all major Australian folk festivals
and is the subject of the feature length documentary about his experiences
on peacekeeping operations in the war-torn islands of the South Pacific.
His album "Bagarap Empires" album won the Screensound Australia Award
for Best New CD Release. www.fredsmith.com.au
Similar To: Billy Bragg, Paul Kelly, Jonathan Richman
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Cameron House @ 11:00 pm
The Illuminati (Toronto, Ontario)
This fast-paced trio redefine rock n' roll with their breakneck-fast,
'70s-influenced boogie laden riff rock. www.theilluminati.ca
Similar To: Danko Jones, The Darkness, Queens Of The Stoneage
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Horseshoe @ 12:00 pm
In 4 Life (Windsor, Ontario)
Formed in 2003, In 4 Life is a high powered, energized, crunch rock
band that play all original music and only the best covers.
Festival Showcase: Xtreme Band Slam Thursday March 3 at Montana
@ 11:00 pm
The Intended (Toronto, Ontario)
This four member country rock, folk and roots band, led by rhythm guitarist
and vocalist Matt Finlayson, have been playing in and around Toronto
for a number of years, spreading their catchy and heartfelt music. www.theintendedband.com
Similar To: Johnny Cash, CCR, Crosby, Stills & Nash
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Clinton's @ 12:00 pm
Inward Eye (Toronto, Ontario)
Inward Eye consists of three teenage brothers who infuse the energy
and passion of real rock and roll with a sound as fresh as it is classic.
Managed by Coalition Entertainment Management. www.inwardeye.ca
Similar To: The Waking Eyes, The Guess Who, Sam Roberts
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Kathedral @ 11:00 pm
J. Staxxx (Toronto, Ontario)
A voice for the streets with lyrics that reflect his surroundings, J.
Staxxx had hundreds of spectators hollering with their hands in the
air at the 2004 Flow 93.5FM Urban FlowCase Finals.
Similar To: LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at El Mocambo Upstairs @ 11:
40 pm
J. P. Hoe (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
J.P. Hoe crafts alternative pop folk music with edge which endears his
songs to listeners, leaving them humming the simple but memorable tunes.
www.jphoe.com
Similar To: Rufus Wainwright, David Gray, Hawksley Workman
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Holy Joe's @ 9:00 pm
Jacob Two-Two (Ottawa, Ontario)
Since 1999 this jazzy folk pop foursome have created soulful and melodic
music that makes people want to dance. www.jacobtwotwo.net
Similar To: Tracy Chapman, The Barenaked Ladies, Norah Jones
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Clinton's @ 9:00 pm
Jason Bajada (Montreal, Quebec)
Bajada's music is fiery red with intellect and black-and-blue with emotion.
Articulate and convincing, his songs are endowed with that rare capacity
to move you. www.jasonbajada.com
Similar To: Sparklehorse, Elliott Smith, Death Cab for Cutie
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Holy Joe's @ 11:00 pm
Jason Mitchell (Kelowna, British Columbia)
Jason Mitchell is a singer songwriter, poet, and storyteller who creates
a unique brand of alternative folk rock. He has shared the stage with
Blue Rodeo and the Cowboy Junkies. www.jasonmitchellmusic.com
Simliar To: Cat Stevens, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Cameron House @ 1:00 am
Jay Bennett (Champaign, Illinois)
This former Wilco guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, continues
to amaze audiences via extensive touring with Edward Burch. Their highly
acclaimed debut release, "The Palace at 4 AM (Part 1)", resonates with
the feel of lush '60s and '70s country pop. www.bennettburch.com
Similar To: Gram Parsons, Jeff Lynne, Neil Young
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Lee's Palace @ 10:00 pm
Jeen O'Brien (Toronto, Ontario)
Jeen's impressive evolution as a songwriter is displayed in her new
solo material on her debut record, "Can't Get It Out Of My Head", produced
by Mark Makoway and Byron Wong. www.sostarstruck.com
Similar To: Serena Ryder, Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 @ Rancho Relaxo @ 10:00 pm
Jersey (Burlington, Ontario)
Jersey are an old school throw back to the days of straight ahead, blue
collar, punk rock. Simple, enthusiastic and anthematic. www.jerseyrock.com
Similar to: Rancid, The Clash, Bad Religion
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Horseshoe @ 11:00 pm
JerryCan (King City, Ontario)
Formed in 1996, JerryCan create aggressively, loud punk rock metal music
with integrity, dynaminc guitar riffs and thunderous drumming. www.jerrycan.com
Simliar To: Bad Religion, Saxon, Manowar
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Sneaky Dee's @ 1:00 am
Jessica Beach (Calgary, Alberta)
Growing up exposed to everything from Sam Cook to the Sex Pistols, Jessica's
music influences are far-reaching and diverse, helping her to carve
out her own unique brand of accessible and intelligent pop rock.
Similar To: Tom Waits, Sarah Harmer, Tori Amos
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Pipers @ 11:00 pm
& Saturday March 5 at The 360 @ 9:00 pm
Jessica Rhaye (Saint John, New Brunswick)
Finalist in both The International John Lennon Songwriting Competition
and CBC TV's Great Canadian Music Dream, Jessica Rhaye is armed with
undeniable talent; captivating audiences with both her unforgettable
voice and contemporary folk music. www.jessicarhaye.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Pipers @ 9:00 pm
Jillian Cameron (Toronto, Ontario)
One of the four Urban Star Quest winners. Jillian has the soul and grace
of a mature songstress. Her poise and commanding voice make her an up
and coming talent to be reckoned with.
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The Guvernment @ 10:30 pm
Jim Lewis Quintet (Montreal, Quebec)
Featuring Frank Lozano on saxophone and Eric Harding on piano, lead
by the amazing Jim Lewis on trumpet.
Festival Showcases: Thursday March 3 at The Rex Hotel @ 9:30 pm
& Friday March 4 at The Rex Hotel @ 9:30 pm
Jodi Martin (Ceduna, South Australia)
Jodi Martin is a powerful and emotive performer, playing slide, steel
and acoustic guitar, mandola and bass pedals. In the last six years
she has released four albums and toured her native Australia extensively.
www.jodimartin.com
Similar To: Tracy Chapman, Suzanne Vega, Arlo Guthrie
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Cameron House @ 12:00 pm
Johnny Reid (Glasgow, Scotland)
Mixing traditional Irish and Scottish folk music with classic American
country, Johnny's debut album "Born to Roll" will be released on Open
Road Recordings. The first infectious single, "You Still Own Me", was
in the top 15 at country radio while the video reached the top 5 at
Country Music Television. www.openroadrecordings.com
Similar To: Wilson Pickett, Charlie Pride, Conway Twitty
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at El Mocambo Downstairs @ 9:30
pm
Jonathan Inc (Vancouver, British Columbia)
This moody melodic pop rock band pay close attention to texture and
space on their finely crafted songs. www.jonathaninc.com
Simliar To: Josh Rouse, Crowded House, Brian Wilson
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Clinton's @ 10:00 pm
J-Man (Toronto, Ontario)
This young urban, hip-hop and R&B artist illustrates a fresh perspective
on life issues with material that is starting to gain attention within
the Canadian music industry. www.projamentertainment.com
Simliar To: Fresh Prince, New Edition, Michael Jackson
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at El Mocambo Upstairs @ 9:40
pm
Joykamp (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Joykamp play aggressive music with a heavy political theme, with an
intense yet intelligent aesthetic. The adrenaline charged high-energy
live show administers a full on, head-exploding musical assault. www.joykamp.com
Similar To: DOA, Slayer, Motorhead
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Kathedral @ 12:00 pm
Juggernaut (Sydney, Australia)
Juggernaut's powerful rock centric grooves contain a liberal sprinkle
of acoustic bliss, soaring Cornell-esque vocals, deeply crafted guitar
solos and a limitless rhythm section. The band is fronted by Krishna
and Amarnath Jones who have developed into world class songwriters and
producers with a truly unique sonic and major commercial potential.
www.juggernaut.net.au
Simliar To: Def Leppard, INXS, Nickleback
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at The 360 @ 10:00 pm
Julie Crochetiere (Toronto, Ontario)
Inspired by authentic songwriters such as Bill Withers and Carol King,
Julie's acoustically funky sound is suffused with Soul, French chansons
and Jazz. A talented vocalist in the platinum-selling band Sugar Jones,
she continues to make her mark as a songwriter with her new CD "CafÈ".
www.juliec.com
Simliar To: Beyonce, Carol King, Celine Dion
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Clinton's @ 11:00 PM
Julie Mahendran (Edmonton, Alberta)
Julie's clear, powerful and expressive sound reflects musical influences
from classic jazz to motown, soul, funk, and pop. This half French Canadian/half
Sri Lankan singer studied music in Boston before releasing her debut
CD, "Never Do Without You". www.juliemahendran.com
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at The Rex Hotel @ 9:30 pm
Jully Black (Toronto, Ontario)
From the mean streets comes Jully Black, an astonishingly talented singer
with one foot in classic R&B and another in the shining future of the
genre. Already a favorite north of the border, Jully is getting her
game on stateside, as she puts the finishing touches on her upcoming
MCA debut album. www.jullyblack.com
Similar To: Etta James, Gladys Knight, and Mary J. Blige
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The Guvernment @ 12:30 am
The Junction (Brampton, Ontario)
The Junction play jarring, rock with widespread grooves and chill pauses,
bridging sounds from the likes of Jamiroquai and Radiohead, to the laidback
tones of The Dave Matthews Band. www.thejunction.ca
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Reverb @ 12:00 pm
Justin Rutledge (Toronto, Ontario)
This singer and songwriter has penned some of the best country songs
you'll hear, his debut record "No Never Alone". Uncut says, "Rutledge
is a master of gothic understatement. This wintry debut is slyly addictive",
while The Independent proclaims, "A work of aching beauty...signals
the arrival of a major talent." www.justinrutledge.com
Simliar To: Ryan Adams, Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Rivoli @ 9:00 pm
Kayte Burgess (Toronto, Ontario)
This R&B pop song stress delivers sensual vocal styling with a natural
and magnetic presence and a true command of the stage. Kayte is a gifted
and multi-talented singer-songwriter poised to leave her indelible mark.
www.kayteburgess.com
Simliar To: Mariah Carey, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Pipers @ 10:00 pm
KC Roberts (Toronto, Canada)
KC Roberts is a songwriter/singer/MC/guitarist, who seamlessly blends
hard-hitting funk and street rock with innovative hip-hop and soul.
Backed by a four-piece band of Toronto's most talented and diverse musicians,
KC will leave crowds sore in the neck from constant head bopping. www.gensub.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The Drake Hotel @ 11:00 pm
Kevin Hearn & Thin Buckle (Toronto, Ontario)
As the keyboardist for Bareknaked Ladies, this venerated rock pianist
is a reliable factory of amiable hybrids. He connects good-natured blues
stomping, sentimental melody and classical allusions, all rendered in
busy but authoritative virtuosity. www.kevinhearn.com
Similar To: Nick Rhodes, Rheostatics, Jeff Buckley
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Clinton's @ 1:00 am
Kevin Quain (Toronto, Ontario)
Performing solo on piano, Kevin Quain continually entertains with his
fantastic voice and smart piano playing. www.kevinquain.com
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Rex Hotel @ 6:30 pm
The Kings (Oakville, Ontario)
Always a great live band, The Kings have played more than 1500 shows
across North America. Through member changes and label switches, the
core of the band has remained solid with Dave Diamond and Mister Zero,
and today's lineup includes Josh Broadbent (backup vocals, percussion),
Attila Turi (drums), and Rich Roxborough (keyboard, backup vocals).
www.thekingsarehere.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Brunswick House @ 10:10 pm
Kirsten Jones (Toronto, Ontario)
Kirsten Jones is a female singer/songwriter with an alt-country sound,
who blends simplicity and maturity under a roots and pop umbrella, combining
soft guitar-driven melodies with strong lyrics and vocals. www.kirstenjones.com
Similar To: Gillian Welch, Patti Griffith, Natalie Merchant
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Holy Joe's @ 11:00 pm
Knacker (Oakville, Ontario)
By combining a love for British guitar pop song craft with a fetish
for crunching power chords, Knacker provides the necessary links between
hook-filled '70s arena rock and cutting-edge indie-rock of the 21st
century. www.knacker.net
Similar To: Sloan, The Who, Billy Talent
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Kathedral @ 11:00 pm
Knock Knock Ginger (Waterloo, Ontario)
Knock Knock Ginger began in the fall of 2004 when four modern music
geeks got together on guitar, trumpet, bass, theremin and drums to create
jangly indie pop songs that rock.
Similar To: Stars, Kincaid, Of Montreal
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Club Rockit @ 8:00 pm
Kuba (Victoria, British Columbia)
Kuba's debut solo record, "Ride On", is truly a coming of age for this
timeless singer-songwriter and producer, as he has triumphantly merged
the worlds of soul, house and rock 'n' roll. www.digniti.com
Similar To: Maroon 5, Har Mar Superstar, Parliament
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Rivoli @ 10:00 pm
The Ladies and Gentlemen (Toronto, Ontario)
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Silver Dollar @ 10:00
pm
LAL (Toronto, Ontario)
Carefully crafted beats, bass and samples flow with sweet velvety vocals
and layers of beautiful harmony. LAL's music has been described as,
"Electronic World Soul". www.lalforest.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at El Mocambo Downstairs @ 1:00
am
Laura Kitt (Toronto, Ontario)
With a long music making history under the moniker Laura Borealis, Laura
Kitt continues to impress us with her simple folk art rock songs that
immediately seep into our very fibre of being. www.laurakitt.com
Simliar To: Merrill Nisker, Serena Ryder, Joni Mitchell,
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Rancho Relaxo @ 11:00 pm
Lea Longo (Montreal, Quebec)
Lea Longo was crowned the 2004 Canadian National Songwriter's Competition
winner for her song "Ugly". Lively and upbeat, Lea's music is spiritually
rewarding as it is danceable. www.lealongo.com
Similar To: Sheryl Crow, Natalie Imbruglia, Alanis Morissette
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Cameron House @ 10:00 pm
Leah Abramson (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Folk noir with elements of indie rock, the avant-garde songwriting of
Leah Abramson has a melodic touch. www.leahabramson.com
Similar To: Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Gillian Welch
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Holy Joe's @ 12:00 pm
Leeroy Stagger (Vancouver, BC)
Fusing a deep-seated punk fury with a gritty country influence and pop
sweetness, Leeroy Stagger is a powerful singer/songwriter with a voice
of ferocious intensity. www.leeroystagger.ca
Similar To: American Music Club, Paul Westerberg, Ryan Adams
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The 360 @ 12:00 pm
Leslie Alexander & The Wild Rosehippies (Vancouver,
British Columbia)
Leslie Alexander plays spiritually brooding folk roots music that will
enrich your soul. Her new album was recently released on Superoops Records.
www.lesliealexander.com
Similar To: Dolly Parton, Rosanne Cash, Be Good Tanyas
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Cameron House @ 1:00 am
Les Six (Toronto, Ontario)
Les Six are a valiant, sexy, and darkly romantic sounding 5 piece ensemble
who play brooding, melodic New Wave rock music with electric guitars
and keyboards that you can fuck to time and again. www.lessix.com
Similar To: Interpol, The Fall, Franz Ferdinand
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Silver Dollar @ 12:00
pm
Liam Titcomb (Toronto, Ontario)
Liam's self titled debut album is a rare and wonderfully unique record
steeped in thick, lush melodies, indelible hooks and expressive lyrics.
His mature melodic arrangements and creative songwriting skills are
attracting a lot of attention from industry and fans alike. www.liamtitcomb.com
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Healey's @ 11:00 pm
Limblifter (Vancouver, British Columbia)
With a new album in tow, the incomparable Ryan Dahle and company bring
their rapturous alt rock sonics and visual magnet of comradery and energy.
www.limblifter.com
Similar To: The Replacements, The Cars, Weezer
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The 360 @ 1:00 am
littleSunday (Toronto, Ontario)
Blending pop melodies with hard rock, littleSUNDAY merge the power and
passion of classic rock styles, to dispense a modern day rock euphoria
that is energizing, stirring and loudly inspirational. www.littlesunday.com
Similar To: Our Lady Peace, Pearl Jam, Nickleback
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Drake Hotel @ 9:00 pm
Lodown (Windsor, Canada)
Lodown is a band leading the way towards a new era in rock and roll.
With their heavy, melodic music they are making fans and building a
buzz that is resonating across Canada. www.officiallodown.com
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Drake Hotel @ 10:00 pm
Lori Nuic (Toronto, Ontario)
One of the four Urban Star Quest winners. Lori has the voice of a diva
and the looks of a goodess. She has a smooth delivery and a sparkle
in your eye that shines like stars.
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The Guvernment @ 10:30 pm
Losing Focus (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
This young alternative rock band is riding the momentum of their recent
debut release which is getting lots of play on Power 97. They are working
with Juno Award winning and Grammy nominated producer Brandon Friesen.
Festival Showcase: Xtreme Band Slam Friday March 4 at Montana @
10:30 pm
The Lovely Feathers (Montreal, Quebec)
The Lovely Feathers are a band that toots blossomy, extractive post-punk
infused alt-rock with dancey swagger. Their eccentric, poppy grandeur
is immediate. Their intentions sincere. www.thelovelyfeathers.com
Similar To: The Unicorns, Talking Heads, Franz Ferdinand
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The 360 @ 1:00 am
Luba Dvorak (Maple Ridge, British Columbia)
Luba Dvorak sings songs about real people and places with an Americana
style that is simple but arresting. www.luba-dvorak.com
Similar To: John Cougar Mellencamp, Lobo, John Fogerty
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Holy Joe's @ 12:00 pm
Luck Mervil (Montreal, Quebec)
Mervil will touch your senses with sounds perfectly in tune with the
fresh rise of Antilles music, where various Creole styles interweave
to recount the life journey, love and the daily life of the country
in which Luck was born. www.luckmervil.ca
Similar To: Bob Marley, George Clinton, Harry Belafonte
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Revival @ 9:00 pm
Lullabye Arkestra (Toronto, Ontario)
Toronto's favourite alternative-press couple, Deep Dark United's Katia
Taylor and Do Make Say Think's Justin Small, create minimalist rock
with guttural banshee howls over flailing drums, explosive horns and
heavy feedback. www.lullabyearkestra.com
Similar To: Sonic Youth, Melvins, The Cramps
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Lee's Palace @ 9:00 pm
Madman Orchestra (St. John's, Newfoundland)
Madman Orchestra has a hip-hop sound that epitomizes the expression
'it ain't bragging if you can back it up'. The now 6-member band started
as a recording project. www.nlbands.com/madman%20orchestra
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Montana @ 10:00 pm
Madrid (Toronto, Ontario)
With their high energy, groove-based electronica, Madrid are known for
their complex arrangements, hard beats and psychedelic underwater video
projection that catapult their dynamic live show to new heights. www.madridtheband.com
Simliar To: Boards Of Canada, Air, Royskopp
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at The Drake Hotel @ 9:00 pm
Magneta Lane (Toronto, Ontario)
Garage-rock attack force Magneta Lane sneer and snarl over dirty bass
lines, straightforward rhythms and jangly guitars. A perfect balance
between sweet melodies and guttural punk rock. www.magnetalane.com
Similar To: Nancy Sinatra, Verucca Salt, Blondie
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Horseshoe @ 1:00 am
Manafest (Toronto, Ontario)
Hip-hop with a fusion of edgy rock style backed with emotionally charged
lyrics and perfect flow patterns. Manafest has his first full length
out on Tooth & Nail Records. www.manafest.ca
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at El Mocambo Upstairs @ 9:40
pm
The Marble Index (Hamilton, Ontario)
The Marble Index make catchy, polished pop-punk rock with smooth vocals
and all the swagger of rock's great predecessors. www.marbleindex.com
Simliar To: Big Star, The Who, MC5
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Lee's Palace @ 1:00 am
Mardeen (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia)
Mardeen may just write the catchiest songs this side of anywhere, but
for now all you need to know is that these young Cape Bretoners have
a new EP in the works (recorded at Ultra-magnetic Studios with Charles
Austin, Halifax, NS) and they're starting to come your way. www.mardeen.com
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Rivoli @ 11:30pm
Mark Geary (Dublin, Ireland)
Described by Time Out as, "an engaging singer/songwriter who writes
delicate songs about love and defiance." Mark's style has elicited comparisons
to Richard Thompson, Van Morrison and Elliot Smith. www.markgeary.com
Similar To: Jeff Buckley, Ron Sexsmith, Van Morrison
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Opera House @ tba
Mark "Golden Child" Sherritt (Toronto, Ontario)
One of the four Urban Star Quest winners. Mark is a gifted performer
who has a strong voice and sense of purpose. With his slick moves and
confidence, Golden Child is steps away from the spotlight.
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The Guvernment @ 10:30 pm
The Mark Inside (Whitby, Ontario)
The Mark Inside is a melodic and dynamic four-piece rock band that covers
the entire spectrum of aural experience; from lofty space jams and jarring
climaxes, to bouncing R&B pulses and thundering distortion levels. www.themarkinside.com
Simliar To: Tricky Woo, The Carnations, Cuff the Duke
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Horseshoe @ 9:00 pm
Mark Seymour (Melbourne, Australia)
Former lead singer, songwriter and founder of Australia's Hunters and
Collectors, Mark has discovered a new and refreshing intensity in his
voice since going solo. His record, "One Eyed Man", won him an ARIA
award for AC album of the year in 2001. www.markseymour.com.au
Similar To: Paul Kelly, Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Reverb @ 9:00 pm
Marnie Mains (Vancouver, British Columbia)
A finalist on CBC's Great Canadian Music Dream last year, Mains is a
veteran of the West Coast coffee-house scene, and it shows in her skillful
guitar playing and hooky melodies. www.marniemains.com
Simliar To: Jewel, Tori Amos, Fiona Apple
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Cameron House @ 11:00 pm
Maureen Leeson (Ottawa, Ontario)
Maureen Leeson has been the lead vocalist for several bands during her
career, such as Sugardaddies and Spare Parts. This versatile performer
has recently caught the interest of Bullseye Records and is working
on new material. www.bullseyecanada.com
Similar To: Michelle Branch, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Brunswick House @ 9:00 pm
Maxon Blewitt (Antwerp, Belgium)
Maxon Blewitt make hot and sweaty rock n' roll, complete with slinky
bass lines, danceable grooves and a full-on, animated live show that
is simply a refreshing blend of craftsmanship and talent. www.maxonblewitt.com
Similar To: Zita Swoom, Sparklehorse, Grandaddy
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Healey's @ 9:00 pm
Melissa Stylianou Trio (Toronto, Ontario)
Melissa Stylianou has been active on the Toronto jazz scene for 6 years
and has developed into one of Canada's top jazz vocalists. Featuring
Melissa Stylianou on vocals with Kim Ratcliffe on guitar and Artie Roth
on bass. www.melissastylianou.com
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at The Rex Hotel @ 6:30 pm
Metalchicks (Kanagawa, Japan)
Sugar Yoshinaga of Buffalo Daughter and Yuka Yoshimura of bands, OOIOO
and DMBQ, started playing their version of heavy metal late in 2000.
Their unique mixture of New Wave-ish, heavy rock, drum'n'bass and house/techno
music hits both the rock crowd and club-goers. www.metalchicks.blogspot.com
Similar To: UFO, James Chance, Sonic Youth
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at The 360 @ 11:00 pm
MiLOW (Leuven, Belgium)
This young singer songwriter's dreamy acoustic pop songs overflow with
melancholy and fresh melodies. Soon he'll be recording his debut album,
but first his songs have to learn to stand on their own and this is
something Milow will do just by himself and his acoustic guitar. www.milow.be
Similar to: Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, Ryan Adams
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at The Kathedral @ 9:00 pm
Mind of a Squid (Toronto, Ontario)
Swirling swells of melancholy occasionally give way to passionate aggression,
Mind of a Squid's fresh, spontaneous, and ever-evolving sound always
gives a nod to its improvisational roots while delivering solid songs
with unforgettable grooves. www.mindofasquid.com
Simliar To: Bethany Curve, Pink Floyd, Do Make Say Think
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at The Drake Hotel @ 12:00 pm
MIR (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
MIR is one of the most innovative and melodic new groups to come out
of Canada, with a unique, challenging, and easily identifiable pop/rock
sound. www.MIRwebsite.com
Simliar To: Barenaked Ladies, Coldplay, U2
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at CLUB 279 @ 11:00 pm
Mitch Willer (Toronto, Ontario)
Mitch Willer continues to write quirky and creative, piano based pop
songs with a shrewd catchiness to make one take notice.
Similar To: Bens Fold Five, Randy Newman, Elton John
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Rancho Relaxo @ 1:00 am
Mobile (Toronto, Ontario)
Formerly known as Moonraker, this band won the Xtreme Band Slam competition
last year and are back again to grace us with new material unveiled
as Mobile.
Festival Showcase: Xtreme Band Slam Thursday March 3 at Montana
@ 12:30 am
Mojak (Torhout, Belgium)
Formed in 2003, Mojak create urban soulful groove, late seventies influenced
music that references Marvin Gay, Curtis Mayfield and The Pointer Sisters.
www.mojak.com
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Kathedral @ 1:00 am
Money Money (Peterborough, Ontario)
A white hot, garage rock band that has the swaggering looks and songs
to be all the rage this year, EYE weekly has called Money Money "captivating
fashionista punks." www.wearemoneymoney.com
Similar To: Hot Hot Heat, Franz Ferdinand, The Stills
Festival Showcase: Friday March 4 at Horseshoe @ 10:00 pm
Mongoose (Vancouver, British Columbia)
This four-piece band spew aggressive punk rock, fused with elements
of jazz and metal. Their live show is known for its forcible, full-on
assault. www.mongooserocks.com
Simliar To: Sublime, NOFX, Weezer
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Holy Joe's @ 1:00 am
The Most Serene Republic (Milton, Ontario)
What began as Thee Oneironauts is now a newly named, fresh and brash
indie rock six piece that cross lush guitars with amazing pop sensibilities;
their debut album is out on Sunday League Records. www.themostserenerepublic.com
Similar To: Death Cab For Cutie, Broken Social Scene, The Dears
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Club Rockit @ 9:00 pm
Motion Soundtrack (Vancouver, British Columbia)
With its characteristic shimmering, twinkling guitar sound, this band
blends pop rock with brit-pop influences to create a musical journey
that straddles several genres at once. www.motionsoundtrack.com
Similar To: Pilate, Coldplay, The Music
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Healey's @ 10:00 pm
N-Jay (Toronto, Ontario)
With smooth R&B flavour, and melodies that stick to people's ears, N-Jay
brings fresh, new sounds with originality to the Toronto R&B scene.
www.soundstreetrecords.com
Similar To: Prince, Babyface, Maxwell
Festival Showcase: Thursday March 3 at Pipers @ 8:00 pm
& Saturday March 5 at El Mocambo Upstairs @ 11:40 pm
NQ Arbuckle (Toronto, Ontario)
With a unique voice NQ Arbuckle sings songs that feel immediately comforting
and soothing, with a country folk flair and a broodingness that feels
authentic and timeless. www.nqarbuckle.com
Similar To: Richard Buckner, Uncle Tupelo, Kris Kristofferson
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Lee's Palace @ 9:00 pm
National Anthem (Toronto, Ontario)
In Halifax they were known as the Grace Babies. Now, with some additions
from T.O., National Anthem has created a pop explosion that will melt
in your ears. They remember a time when a two or three minute pop song
could actually provide you with the best two or three minutes of your
life, or at least your day. www.nationalanthemrock.com
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Rivoli @ 12:45am
Navy (Toronto, Ontario)
Festival Showcase: Saturday March 5 at Club Rockit @ 1:00 am
The Neufeld Occhi
