Rating: NNNNN
WOODPIGEON
Drake, Thursday (June 7), 11 pm
Like the Sufjan Stevens, et al., of the Canadian prairies, Mark Hamilton and his sprawling Calgary collective concoct shimmering lullabies that unfurl in threads of delicate harmonies and cascading glockenspiel, as whimsical and endearing as their song titles (Death By Ninja, Home As A Romanticized Concept Where Everyone Loves You Always And Forever).
THE GHOST IS DANCING
Sneaky Dee’s, Thursday (June 7), 11 pm
Madcap marching band meets high-energy pop hooks, where trumpet fanfares compete with shout-along group verses and choruses. Even the most stone-cold corpse couldn’t sit still through one of their live performances.
THE OLD SOUL
Horseshoe, Thursday (June 7), 1 am
Luca Maoloni’s weirdest and most warped ramblings set to gorgeously garish technicolour arrangements of Mexican hat dance brass, galloping keyboards and jaunty guitar. A party in every bite.
A NORTHERN CHORUS
Sneaky Dee’s, Thursday (June 7), midnight
The Steeltown squad’s sprawling web of soaring strings and the dreamiest guitars spin out underneath intense, airy harmonies, shooting their ambient songs to stratospheric heights.
OHBIJOU
Horseshoe, Saturday (June 9), 10 pm
Casey Mecija’s beautifully tragic heartache narratives, speckled with woodland creatures, are set against a fragile backdrop of stark fingerpicked guitar and banjo, brooding cello and fuzzy bass. Life seen through a snowglobe.
