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The Art Bar Robert Burton Hubele Equally inspired by blues and jazz greats and classic movie comedians, his songs (2000+ in his repertoire) are infused with humour and often possess strange twists. 9 pm.
Danielle Miraglia Combining Sheryl Crow’s rock with Mary-Chapin Carpenter’s literary, lyrical style, the end result is songs with their own blithe insouciance. 10 pm.
Ann Vriend Poetic lyrics are set to tenacious melodies, with a thrilling effect. A favourite on the festival circuit. 11 pm.
Todd Martin The emotional elegance in his lyrics has helped make him popular on the northeastern university and coffee house circuit. Midnight.
Michelle Rasky Invigorating organic hybrid-pop and jazzy vocals with influences ranging from Billie Holiday, Ani DiFranco and Stevie Wonder. 1 am. The Bagel A Girl Named Sue Ex-metalhead converted by the likes of Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Short, often dark and witty songs with simple guitar parts. 9 pm.
The London Apartments Laptops complement guitars and keyboards to create a moody and compelling sound. 10 pm.
Laura Peek and The Winning Hearts Described by the Halifax Chronicle as “literate and involving piano pop from a charming musical hostess.” 11 pm.
Quasar Wut-Wut Challenging, experimental, yet ultimately accessible. Think Frank Zappa on The Muppet Show. Midnight.
The Lost Cause A pair of rock critics who picked up a guitar and some drums. Classic pop songs seasoned with punk, reggae, blues and bubblegum pop. 1 am. Black Bull The Little Pilgrims A septet with an honest and full-bodied sound rooted in traditional country and folk. 9 pm.
The Big Three Actually has four members, heavily influenced by blues and early-60s pop. Big melodies and harmonies unleashed on short pop gems. 10 pm.
Bullmoose Supercharged guitar-driven sound draws on blues, funk, soul and jazz that above all else rawks. Played with Wide Mouth Mason and the Trews. 11 pm.
The Town Pants Celtic four-piece with over 1,500 shows under their belt. Dual lead vocals, strong songwriting and solid musicianship are trademarks. Midnight.
Psycho Charger Championed in Rue Morgue Magazine as “Red hot psychobilly fire with cold industrial steel and distorto surf-punk.” 1 am. Bovine Sex Club The Wet Spots Bisexual husband and wife team revel in raunchy and jazzy cabaret songs. 8 pm.
Jinx Titanic Bio not available. 9 pm.
Paul James Berry Has elicited comparisons to Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave, and his voice has real poetic power. 10 pm.
Fuck Y’all A honky-tonk White Stripes-esque band with filthy lyrics and slutty outfits with songs like Beaver Fever. 11 pm.
Pretty Flowers Calling their Pixies-meet-Motorhead stylings “tardcore,” they combine smarts, sex and humour in a winning package. Midnight.
THE GEARS The Clash and the Who out on a whiskey bender with Jane’s Addiction. Recently shot a pilot for their own TV series. 1 am. Cadillac Lounge Chris Picco Like Prine and Dylan, his songs are folk-ballads featuring modern-day protests and expressive stories of love and loss. 9 pm.
Hayes Carll Disciple of Texan songwriters like Guy Clark and Ray Wylie Hubbard, he’s blossomed into a writer of rare skill. 10 pm.
Sarah McCully Bio not available. 11 pm.
The Hammers Bio not available. Midnight.
The Nugget Brothers A fresh look to alt-country via an electric sound featuring psychedelic and honky-tonk elements. 1 am. Cameron House Rob Szabo Frontman for the Groove Daddies and Plasticine. His solo work takes a more personal tone but retains his gift for melody. 8 pm.
Marco DiFelice Bio not available. 9 pm.
The Soiree Akin to Sloan, the Shins and Wilco. Their catchy tunes have remained on campus charts for five months. 10 pm.
The Rutabega Originally a solo project for Josh Hensley, they are now a full-fledged trio with two albums to their name. 11 pm.
O-Fresh Mischievous, satirical and witty, O-Fresh lays down groovy, unorthodox beats and flows over them with skill. Midnight.
Five Blank Pages Pop hooks and garage distortion with delicate vocal harmonies. Their music is infectious East-Coast-flavoured pop with an oversized heart. 1 am. Clinton’s Poorfolk Sleepy-sounding vocals are aptly backed by interesting guitar and keyboard arrangements with lyrics ranging from personal to political. 8 pm.
Castle Project Kind of like gum singer/songwriter material, but the tunes are top-notch and fortified with synth swirls and groaning cello. 9 pm.
Kids These Days Five-piece Vancouver band writes songs awash with spacey guitars and keyboards. 10 pm.
The Summerlad Angular guitar work intersects with propulsive rhythms and catchy vocal harmonies. 11 pm.
AA Sound System Americana-rooted trio formed in 2002 built around the songs of Ayla Brook. Midnight.
Lorrie Matheson Singer/songwriter whose work eludes easy labelling. Formerly with much loved Fire Engine Red. 1 am. Club OV’s Ten Words For Snow Angular guitar work intersects with propulsive rhythms and catchy yet intriguing vocal harmonies. Imagine Fugazi meet Talk Talk. 9 pm.
priya thomas Bio not available. 10 pm.
Debaser Bio not available. 11 pm.
Marjorie Fair Emotionally eloquent songs described as melodic and explosive. Debut produced by Rod Schnapf (Beck, Elliott Smith). Midnight.
The Dunes A mainstream-experimental rock-based approach with thoughtful lyrics and influences like Bowie and Radiohead. 1 am.
Club 279 Kids On TV This four piece has created an appealing mutation of burlesque, punk and big, dirty beats with rabid enthusiasm and shameless samples. 9 pm.
OttO Vector 80s synth junkies who recruited kindred spirits for live revelry. 10 pm.
ETHER A Canadian/pan-European act with influences like the Pixies, Depeche Mode and Primal Scream. 11 pm.
Slave To The Squarewave Think Devo meets Talking Heads meets an awesome dance beat and great screaming guitars. Midnight.
Put The Rifle Down Formed by childhood friends, they play electronic-inspired pop songs designed for dancing with singalong choruses. 1 am. The Drake Underground The Attics World-touring veterans of other bands. Their debut was produced by Joao Carvalho (Hayden). 9 pm.
Erin McKeown The Sunday Times says “with her voice, dynamic subtlety and sheer songwriting ability, she is in a class of her own.” 10 pm.
K’naan Born in Somalia, K’naan began listening to American hophop at age seven. His flow has been compared to Eminem and Quasimoto. 11 pm.
Frontier Index Their cosmic-country-soul encouraged NOW to call them “the bastard progeny of alt-new country and Lubbock roots rock.” Midnight.
Novillero Think early Bowie, the Jam and Stereolab in equal parts, coming together in a live show that will blow your socks off. Globe and Mail called theirs the CD of the week. 1 am. El Mocambo The Nein One of the first American bands signed to Sonic Unyon. A dissonant yet danceable cacophony, packed with thought-provoking lyrics. 8 pm.
The Yoko Casionos Around since 2000 with explosive melodies, adrenaline-fuelled live show and pure, bare-it-all honesty. 9 pm.
The Exit 80s dub and reggae connect with 90s punk and indie rock with an exciting effect. 10 pm.
The Grates Name-checked by Billboard magazine as one of the buzz bands at the last SXSW, they’ve captivated audiences the world over. 11 pm.
Priestess With powerful guitar riffs, the band achieves pure sonic bliss through genuine heaviness and melodic hooks. Midnight.
Frantic City Described as the Quentin Tarantino of rock, they cite the Stones, Clash and Beastie Boys as crucial inspirations. 1 am. El Mocambo Upstairs Mercir This trio uses guitar, keyboards and turntables with samples to conjure up songs ranging from acoustic ballads to atmospheric soundscapes. 9 pm.
The Slats Trio of art-punk savants with imagistic and incisive lyrics, with songs ranging from pop to anarchic rock. 10 pm.
Quietdrive Convincing fusion of punk and alternative styling has generated a buzz in the Midwest. Played on the 2004 Warped Tour. 11 pm.
Hunter Valentine Bio not available. Midnight.
Moufette Auf der Maur’s guitarist is playing in support of new solo disc, and is turning heads around North America. 1 am. Fox & Fiddle Courtney Wing Bio not available. 9 pm.
J. Mann Singer/songwriter previously known as Man with a Van. Nomadic troubadour who’s gigged across Europe, Canada and Latin America. 10 pm.
The Amber Estate Bio not available. 11 pm.
Astrid Young She’s been a regular in the Toronto music scene for years, playing solo acoustic shows. Midnight.
Freeworm A multi-instrumentalist who integrates conventional instrumentation with original digital constructs. Previously in electro-folk group Jus. 1 am. Free Times Cafe Kayla Luky Young songstress with a genuine and pure approach to music. 8 pm.
Cynthia Lin With the vocal agility of Ella Fitzgerald with the passionate delivery of Jeff Buckley, Lin merges simple folk with the variety of jazz. 9 pm.
Sparlha Swa Compared to Sade and Tracy Chapman, her intricate guitar picking complements her soulful and poetic songs. 10 pm.
Kirsten Jones Fresh new voice of folk whose heart has been broken, and she’s not scared to sing about it. 11 pm.
Brandon Patton Raised on pop, folk, calypso and rock, he’s matured into a thoughtful songwriter with an album to prove it. Midnight. Gladstone Hotel Cities In Dust Their kinetic and adventurous approach has drawn comparisons to dance-punk acts like Le Tigre and the Rapture. 8 pm.
Subsally Promising pop quartet for grown-ups with moving and mesmerizing songs. 9 pm.
Uncut Recalling the disco-fed post-punk heyday bookended by Joy Division and New Order. Signed to Paper Bag Records. 10 pm.
Fembots Full of cracked sounds and off-kilter arrangements with innovative soundscapes and haunting melodies. Featuring a member of the Weakerthans. 11 pm.
Magneta Lane A three-woman barrage of indie garage rock signed to Paper Bag Records, with riff-filled songs and youthful exuberance. Midnight.
The Deadly Snakes They’ve experimented with a string section and more complex writing on their new CD, resulting in a more sophisticated sound. 1 am. Healey’s Paul Freeman Originally from Wales, he’s played with Shania Twain and Elton John. 9 pm.
Matt Ellis Previously with the hard rock band Sedgwick Pie, his has been called an intriguing debut. 10 pm.
NQ Arbuckle A barroom balladeer whose emotionally eloquent songs exude strong aromas of beer and nicotine. Has opened for Blue Rodeo and the Sadies. 11 pm.
The Haymakers Bio not available. Midnight.
Driveway Former MAdE leader Jason Taylor has enlisted members of Superhalo and Haggis for his new project. Alt-roots rock influenced by Ryan Adams. 1 am. Holy Joe’s Valery Gore NOW praised her by saying her “quirky, poetic verse delivered a voice with earthy roots and cabaret flair.” 8 pm.
Primary Shapes Innovative avant-garde pop duo incorporating visual arts into their compelling performances at large festivals in Taiwan and Hong Kong. 9 pm.
sleepybird A unique instrumental lineup featuring theremin, trombone, toys and synthesizers with a mellow and moody feeling. 10 pm.
Royal Wood A multi-instrumentalist by his early teens, Royal released a full length on MapleMusic. 11 pm.
Templo Diez A cosmopolitan quartet with members from Italy, France, Netherlands and Venezuela. Inspired by Bukowski, the Velvet Underground and Sparklehorse. Midnight.
Shannon Weir Very regal songs that blend the sounds of bands like Sun Kil Moon with the vocal power of Kim Deal. 1 am. The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Selina Martin Former accompanist for Bob Wiseman who exchanged her guitar for accordion, theremin, organ, musical saw and wine glasses. 9 pm.
Two Hours Traffic Out of Charlottetown comes one of Canada’s best young bands, four chemistry students who play exciting rock music. 10 pm.
The Meligrove Band Indie rock mainstays have a spastically energetic live show that often climaxes in torn clothes and broken gear. 11 pm.
The Mark Inside Local heroes crash into a thunderous, emotion-filled hard rock sound before completely switching gears into bouncy alt-rock and much more. Midnight.
Hostage Life Including the former singer of punk legends Marilyn’s Vitamins, they’ve been on the 2004 Warped Tour. 1 am. Kathedral Lizband Built around the voice and songs of Liz Pickguard, their sonic scheme includes blues, country and early punk. 9 pm.
The Coast Guard A four-piece band influenced by the Velvet Underground and Bettie Serveert focus on blended vocals, guitar effects and synth. 10 pm.
Faster Miles Per Hour Aggro-pop balladeers hailing from downtown St. John’s with a melodic and chaotic sound. 11 pm.
Tele A virtuosic young quartet with an ethereal, atmospheric merge of rock swagger and accessible hooks. Midnight.
The Spicoli’s Bio not available. 1 am. Lee’s Palace The Fullblast Preparing for a national tour, this Toronto punk band has an EP entitled Contagious Movement Theory. 9 pm.
The Junction Preparing for national exposure and an LP, their shows often attract large crowds. 10 pm.
City And Colour Solo project from singer/guitarist Dallas Green, who creates music full of pure emotion with his unique vocals. 11 pm.
Bedouin Soundclash Reggae, rock, dub, punk and more are stirred together in their revitalizing aural gumbo. Midnight.
TBA 1 am. Oasis Raskin Electronic music made to rock from a dynamic duo. 8 pm.
Idiots! Combine electronic and organic sounds together with real ingenuity with influences like Tortoise, Prince and Bach. 9 pm.
toof Charming, offbeat pop songs about robots, sleeping dogs, pretty girls and LSD. 10 pm.
VitaminsforYou Since 1998 he’s been developing sound and music for theatre, dance, film, video and prose. He’s performed alongside Notwist. 11 pm.
Montag Deliver orchestral pop where vocals have a noticeable importance, and classical instruments take on a hiphop flavour. Midnight.
No Luck Club The Toronto Star says their recent SXSW performance had “stunning technical proficiency and mind-addling funkiness.” 1 am. Rancho Relaxo Vanderveen Quintet sporting two skilled songwriters who create attention with their melodic rock and memorable shows. 8 pm.
Clothes Make The Man Their brand of rock stressed dense, crunchy tunes loaded with hooks and infused with passion and power. 9 pm.
Oh No Not Stereo Psychotic brand of hard-hitting energetic rock draws inspiration from Weezer, Nirvana and the Beatles. 10 pm.
SEeKing Dawn Quintet with an atmospheric, space-rock sound featuring languid vocals and precise musicianship. 11 pm.
Where it Hurts Swagger, sweetness and soul wrapped in a runway model package. Inspired by 60s girl groups and power rock. Midnight.
BLASTERNAUT Heavy rock with a groove, with influences like the Cure and Soundgarden. Recently released their third CD. 1 am. Reverb GO! Formerly the Scenes, they play synth-driven, new-wave-inspired music drawing comparisons to the Cars. 9 pm.
Hurst Former singer of Econoline Crush, with a new earthier sound and more soulful approach. 10 pm.
Inward Eye Three brothers have a fresh, modern sound and a spontaneous sense of fun at their live shows. 11 pm.
Idle Sons Formerly known as Slurpymundae, they’ve been impressing A&R reps. Midnight.
Waking Eyes High-energy garage-pop meets art rock from former members of the Pets and Novillero. 1 am. Richmond Lounge Golden Not your typical hiphop show, with great beats provided by producer of Black Eyed Peas. Live instruments, props and energy. 9 pm.
Manafest A spiritual message with a blend of hiphop and alt-rock. Debut on Tooth&Nail coming soon. 10 pm.
Specifics Upstarts in the Columbus punk scene, described as L.A. hardcore and snotty punk with lots of energy. 11 pm.
Masia One (M1 Academy) Eloquent MC getting lots of attention and helping to sculpt hiphop with her innovative approach. Inspired by Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Midnight.
Dave Ghetto Making a buzz in the hiphop scene due to his constant flow and delivery. Performs with the Mountain Brothers. 1 am. Rivoli Daniel Ghattas Catchy and gimmick-free pop from singer/songwriter with loyal fan base who is influenced by Coldplay and Dashboard Confessional. 8 pm.
Tupelo Honey Modern alt-rockers who tour extensively and have opened for the Trews. 9 pm.
Dandi Wind Physically and stylistically somewhere between Bjork, PJ Harvey and Peaches. Performances are impassioned, cathartic labours of love. 10 pm.
The Ladies And Gentlemen One-man band with former singer of the Carnations. Features whispering lead vocals atop Beach Boys-flavoured harmonies. 11 pm.
Elizabeth Not interested in the latest fad, they make music full of raw power, emotion and a point. Midnight.
Tangiers The Village Voice likened them to the Stones and Sabbath with reggae. Always popular on campus radio and simply dynamite live. 1 am. Silver Dollar Beyond the Pale Quintet has had an impact on the international world music circuit with an energetic acoustic sound utilizing both Eastern European and North American styles. 9 pm.
The Platonic Shadows Bio not available. 10 pm.
Lingua Franca Hot, dark music filled with mystery, myth and intrigue. Imagine a Broadway adaptation of the Clash’s Sandanista! 11 pm.
Anne Watts & Boister Part of the neo-cabaret and silent film score movements, with influences like Tom Waits and Edith Piaf. Midnight.
Motelli Skronkle Raw and aggressive music played by skilled instrumentalists who incorporate psychedelia, avant-progressive and ska elements. 1 am. Sneaky Dee’s Cougar Party Lock up your sons! Three ferocious ladies who live by a punk/DIY ethos, including former members of the Plath and Mach Tiver. 9 pm.
The Lorrainas A dual guitar attack with great vocals, driving rhythms and hooks by the boatload in their sassy punky pop. 10 pm.
the Bella Bombs Estrogen-fuelled four-piece from Ottawa who plays loud and fast punk rawk that will blow your mind. 11 pm.
Mikabomb Once signed to the Beastie Boys’ label Grand Royal, they fuse Motown, NY punk, 50s garage and Japanese pop. Midnight.
Pantychrist Aggro-punk from Hamilton by four young women with lyrics that objectify men the way their own sex has been treated historically. 1 am. Vatikan Puddy Together for 10 years they’ve been known to rupture eardrums and leave their audience square on their ass. 9 pm.
Deadbolt Zen Hard-hitting power trio inspired by bands like Cream, Zeppelin and Rush. Working with famed producer Brian Virtue (Deftones). 10 pm.
Rumsfield Tight technique and ferocious energy make their live shows exciting events. They draw from metal, hard rock and punk. 11 pm.
Maximum RNR Hardcore infused punk ‘n’ roll played with passion and finesse. Have played with Alexisonfire and Reverend Horton Heat. Midnight.
the HELLZ kitchen SHOW A fresh mix of heavy metal, electronica, hard rock and industrial. Carnival music to bang your head to. Opened for Marilyn Manson. 1 am.
