Rating: NNNNN
The Art Bar
Ten Year Drought Adam Fox, Eric Arner, Dean Drouillard and Matthew Rideout concoct an elegantly evocative blend of Americana, folk and pop soundscapes. 9 pm.
IO Perry Toronto six-stringer’s debut, Greybay, boasts seductively cold and sweetly sad rhythms punctuated by bursts of infatuation and bitterness. 10 pm.
Lee Feldman Pianist and singer/songwriter with 2006’s I’ve Forgotten Everything and a horde of critical acclaim under his belt. 11 pm.
Regan M. Brennan Toronto-born L.A. transplant with a fiercely DIY punk rock initiative. Midnight.
Lindi Ortega Exclaim magazine says, ‘She’s going to take over the world!’ 1 am.
The Bagel
Cain and Abel Acton, Ontario, natives use growing up in the middle of nowhere as fodder with which to create honest music for honest ears. 9 pm.
The Shanks Chart-blasting two-piece rock ‘n’ roll grenades for animal husbandry enthusiasts… Do you really know where meat and potatoes come from? 10 pm.
Cats Not Dogs Madison, WI, band that’s shared stages with Metric, the Kills, the Paybacks, the Fever, the Reputation and Los Straitjackets. 11 pm.
David Ace Dean Lyric-driven songs sung and spoken over guitars, synth/keyboards, drum machines and miscellaneous sound makers. Working with producer Byron Wong. Midnight.
Charlemagne Unassuming indie band out of Hamilton. Rock and roll is the name of the game. 1 am.
Black Bull
Jerry Leger And The Situations Passionate Toronto poet whose influences range from Costello, Clash and Dylan to Lennon and Monk. 9 pm.
Vaughn Passmore Alt-Americana songs by power trio. After luxuriating in the sidelight for years, Passmore, ex-Stratochief/Absolute Whore, delivers himself. 10 pm.
Floor Thirteen High-energy, hardworking, balls-to-the-wall rock outfit’s opened for Our Lady Peace, Danko Jones and Strippers Union. 11 pm.
The Mercury Seed Dosing riff-based rhythms with a modern twist, this five-piece is avoiding expiration dates with its return to genuine, innovative rock. Midnight.
berlington Berlington is energetic rock, with woven-in themes of identity, emptiness, relational regret and redemption.In short, what we have here is kinetic rock with maturity: to accomplish a sound that rises above the din. 1 am.
The Boat
Born Ruffians Slinking melodies fused with rock and roll make room for dancing. 9 pm.
Land Of Talk They’ve been charting on U.S. college radio and selling out of their debut EP at every show. 10 pm.
Killthelights Four men and one woman deliver elecrical tension trhough thundering drums, spiralling guitar, ghostly synth and tearing vocals. 11 pm.
The Adam Brown Rock ‘n’ roll band sounds like the Replacements playing as fast as the Ramones, with the soul of Ronnie Spector. Midnight.
we’re marching on… Guelph quad delivers plump tomato grooves with beats that burn through flashy and crude notes. 1 am.
Bovine Sex Club
Dead Letter Dept. Heart-wrenching tales of love lost, lacking and lingering, amidst anthems dedicated to those who’ve given in to consumerist ideals. 9 pm.
Hostage Life They’ve taken the punk rock sensibility of the Clash and Stiff Little Fingers and made it theirs. Biting social commentary. 10 pm.
Latefallen Toronto-based heavy alternative rock steeped in unrelenting melody, delivered with youthful energy. 11 pm.
Electric Eel Shock Power trio that stages a glorious celebration of classic rock, punk and metal. Midnight.
Robin Black Vicious five-piece old-school Toronto rock combo led by Black. Their most recent album, Instant Classic, is just that. 1 am.
Cadillac Lounge
Shelly Rastin Musical partner of music icon Randy Bachman and Jason Barry is busting doors open on the music scene with an explosion of energy and kickin’ country songwriting. 9 pm.
Kitty Rose Resonates with the sweet, innocent purity of vintage country music, and has a rascally energy percolating beneath it all. 10 pm.
Ashleigh Flynn Grew up foot-stomping along the Ohio River and just released her third CD, Live At Mississippi Studios. 11 pm.
The Payola Reserve Imagine Neil Young Americana mixed with Jeff Tweedy modernity, Elvis Costello circa Goodbye Cruel World mixed with Tom Waits. Midnight.
Shannon Lee Briggs Country rock that’ll break Nashville’s heart and then its balls. Her voice is heaped with nostalgia, and the band’s stompin’. 1 am.
Cameron House
Kid Metropolis Getting ready to release their first full-length, A Blueprint For Modern Life, in July. 9 pm.
The Melismatics Refreshing and euphoric catchy post-punk mixture of irony and heart, weirdness and melody, fused with an 80s new-wave aesthetic. 10 pm.
Epileptic Hero High-energy rock and roll from twin brothers Warren and Seth Scott. Their CD, Loaded Gun Love, is coming soon. 11 pm.
Clark the Band Formed in 1999, John Tielli’s Ottawa-based outfit has been compared to such disparate icons as Talking Heads and Neil Young. Midnight.
The Great Awake Toronto band that came together in January 2005 because of a shared interested in self-aggrandizement and rocking out. 1 am.
Ciao Edie Roxx
Ozfrankie Bio not available. 9 pm.
The Carps Toronto punk rock waging war with R&B. Their EP, The Young & Passionate Days Of Carpedia, was recorded in Philly. 10 pm.
Zaki Ibrahim Her music is captivating and vibrant, thick with poetics and steeped in a delicious mixture of earnest emotion and humour. 11 pm.
Girl + The Machine Toronto collective that works with experimental music and video to create an exciting psychotropic audio-visual circus. Midnight.
Stop Die Resuscitate Toronto threesome of steady-grinding rap electro whiz kids has been honing its intense musical vision since 2002. 1 am.
Clinton’s
Marianas Trench Amid the fury of brash, over-the-top rock dynamics are a cappella flights of harmony. 9 pm.
ARCTIC Marcus Martin loops and layers haunting melodies, improvising and intertwining vocals and acoustic guitar into a blend of airy soundscapes. 10 pm.
Tele Keyboard-driven quartet delivers powerful live performances with its tactful fusion of hypnotic melodies and guitar-crunching angst. 11 pm.
For the Mathematics Rock five-piece fusing dark grooves, intricate guitar work and an aggressive indie edge. Their second EP is almost ready. Midnight.
The Cliks Indie-rock trio whose debut LP entered top-40 Canadian campus charts on Chartattack and Earshot. Moe Berg is producing their second. 1 am.
Crowbar
Tom Artiss Blending tragic resignation with wisened optimism, expat Newfs play roots rock/alt-country led by Tom Artiss (Sarah Harmer). 9 pm.
Leiana Busy recording the follow-up to their first album, Page, at STP drummer Eric Kretz’s L.A.-based Bombshelter Studios. 10 pm.
The Avatars Bio not available. 11 pm.
Trouble Crunk rock of programmed beats, synth, punk, and sk8-rock bass and guitar riffs, fronted by top-ranking snowboarder Trevor Andrew. Midnight.
fjord rowboat Healing the world with reverb since 2004. Influences include the Verve and Stone Roses. About to drop their full-length. 1 am.
The Drake Hotel
Ben Gunning Ambitious and unique rhythm-heavy modern music that draws from jazz, R&B and progressive rock, from ex-Local Rabbit. 9 pm.
Marco Solo First solo project for multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Marco DiFelice, ex of Supergarage and member of the Neverending White Lights collective. 10 pm.
Dearly Beloved Toronto six-piece boasting unique rhythms influenced by 70s UK punk, early 80s pop and Detroit rock and roll. 11 pm.
Peter Katz Peter Katz and his band’s captivating jazz/folk/rock blend have earned nationwide acclaim and comparisons to Buckley & Sexton. Midnight.
ZOX Their electric-violin-driven rock sounds like the Police doing Beethoven. Sophomore release, The Wait, has sold over 8,000 copies. 1 am.
El Mocambo
Megababe Chick trio cranking out contemporary punk rock with old-school sensibility. Like to throw metal and hardcore into the mix. 9 pm.
Debaser Since their 2003 formation, the Toronto four-piece has released Blackouts (2005) and tirelessly toured southern Ontario. 10 pm.
The Vibrants Giving the organ-driven soul of early Charlatans the jumping swagger the Stones used to muster in a heartbeat. 11 pm.
Derek Miller Stripped-down power trio exudes bravura technical skill, keen power-pop sensibilities and refreshing, youthful rock ‘n’ roll energy. Midnight.
Rock I.D. Asian Dub Foundation drummer Rocky Singh mixes drumbeats, lyrically conscious melodies and rock and hiphop rhythms. Jungle punk rock. 1 am.
Fox & Fiddle
Mitch Willer Toronto piano-tickler performs modern pop for lovers of classic 60s and 70s songwriting. 9 pm.
Blaire Reinhard Versatile musician and award-winning performer is joined by Princeton alumni Gray Reinhard, Wade Perrin, Matt Chuchla and John Marks. 10 pm.
Katelyn Dawn Powerful melodies and thought-provoking lyrics tour human emotion and offer up fresh, unique sound. 11 pm.
Kim Beggs Original oldtyme-country with a hint of bluegrass, sung by a voice discovered in a roadside ditch in Yukon. Midnight.
Michelle Rasky Jazzy, sweet vocals, fluent fingerpicking and charming stage presence make for invigorating organic hybrid pop. 1 am.
Free Times Cafe
Special Guest 8 pm.
Hayley Gene Blending a crystal-clear voice with the rough corner of passion that’s behind her lyrics and melodies. 9 pm.
Sinem Captivating vocals and sensual, pulsating melodies weave in and out of jazz, Middle Eastern and pop. 10 pm.
Catherine maclellan
PEI singer/songwriter daughter of Gene ‘Snowbird’ MacLellan. 11 pm.
Jon Brooks His CD, No Mean City, sings the laughter of the heart and the crying of these homeless times. Midnight.
Gladstone Hotel
Nathan Coles Outfit Guelph-based quartet released their debut, Upheavals That Brought The Redwoods To Flight, in 2005. 9 pm.
The Hickories With their jangly guitars and lush harmonies, they combine the best of folk and country while remaining rooted in rock. 10 pm.
The Cosmic All-Stars The Cosmic All-Stars play cosmic American music. 11 pm.
Jake Stigers Unapolegetic rock ‘n’ roll that embodies the fun, buoyant vitality of vintage pop-rock, delivered with a well-oiled voice. Midnight.
Tacoma Hellfarm Tragedy Guelph-based folk-rock quartet inspired by classics and experimental simplicity. Think Neil Young, Yo La Tengo and Wilco. 1 am.
Gypsy Co-op
OHN Deadly combination of guitar, trumpet, keys, bass, drums, programmed beats and samples creates a remarkable live electronic sound. 9 pm.
Slute Grizzling, grumbling rock girth and manic intensity from this five-piece fusion of classics with the power of modern. 10 pm.
Culture Queer Cincinnati-based electro-pop combining pop melodies, video mixing and cool-ass samples. Citybeat declared Supersizeit under Pontius Pilate album of the year. 11 pm.
The Spectaculars The most stankoneous hiphop, plus a pure vein of 70s soul and a strong dose of fuzzadelic guitar. Midnight.
Scandalnavia Formed in July 2003 after a smashing night at karaoke performed for the first time as a band two weeks later with original songs. 1 am.
Healey’s
Nathan Asher & the Infantry Winner of the John Lennon International Songwriting Competition and named best rock band by Indy Weekly Music Awards. 9 pm.
Mark Berube A piano/accordion/guitar mixture of Andrew Bird, Tom Waits and Rufus Wainwright, with a voice that wails and disarms. 10 pm.
Adam Puddington and the Proof Rural Canadiana and the beauty of rivers, wildlife, rosaries and trains seep into the songs of this Almonte, Ontario, native. 11 pm.
Frontier Index Raw rock and roll coupled with three-part harmonies set this band apart from the rest. Midnight.
James McKenty and The Spades Country rock and roll punks have billed with the Tragically Hip and the Sadies. Their sophomore album is released in June. 1 am.
Holy Joe’s
Special Guest 9 pm.
Code Pie Members of this diverse six-piece sometimes agree on their love of uncountable nouns, Chinese food, loudly confident music and passive aggression. 10 pm.
Leaders And Dreamers Carefully balancing the fine art of pop sensibility with indie rock heart. 11 pm.
Wren City Churches Bio not available. Midnight.
The Scene Perfect mix of melody and rock ‘n’ roll, heavily influenced by British bands like Oasis, the Beatles and the Who. 1 am.
Hooch
Zero Tolerance Combining soulful beats and harmonies of producer/singer Richie Miles with strong lyrics from MCs Ill Izm and Sick Tricks. 9 pm.
john eff kennedy Rapping about sex, violence and America, he delivers rich lyrics and danceable beats with rock-concert energy level. 10 pm.
INSIDE a MIND Two-man Toronto scratch band stretch artistic boundaries by performing live original compositions with vinyl. 11 pm.
Lovewhip World- and reggae-influenced dance rhythms, new wave synth, electro-beats, disco-punk energy, samples and unique female vocals. Midnight.
André Npier Hampton-born performer who demonstrates that real rappers don’t have to come from the block, jail or with bullet holes. 1 am.
The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
Chris Koster Seamlessly blending rock, folk and pop with his powerful voice, engaging lyrics and five-piece rock band backing, The Lonely. 9 pm.
Jets Overhead Jets Overhead’s hypnotic take on trance rock falls somewhere between Pink Floyd and CSNY. 10 pm.
Priestess Montreal foursome with refreshing, masterful songs and crushingly catchy hooks. Their debut, Hello Master, has its U.S. release this summer. 11 pm.
Oliver Black Powerful rock and roll foursome signed a worldwide multi-album recording contract in early 2005 with NY-based TVT Records. Midnight.
Idle Sons Finely tuned stadium-sized anthemic rock from every song on their debut, Sixteen Seasons. 1 am.
Kathedral
Burnthe8track Winnipeg four-piece plays punk-prone rock that moves between contagious melody and all-out aggression. 9 pm.
Reculver Formed in 2003, this UK heavy rock act articulately blends power and melody with a heart of blues. 10 pm.
Kover Formed when bands Blue Skies at War, Hope to Die and Going Nowhere ended. Their album, Assembly, has received raves. 11 pm.
Ascension of The Watchers Textured and hypnotic soundscapes from Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory), and John Bechdel (Killing Joke, Prong). Midnight.
The Hard Lessons Detroit act blends the White Stripes’ rawness, the Foo Fighters’ power, and the hip factor of Death from Above 1979. 1 am.
Lee’s Palace
Inner City Surfers Sault Ste Marie, ON, band write songs as seriously as they drink, play as hard as the drugs that inspire them. 9 pm.
DODGER Intense clash of rock, reggae and hiphop combining powerful guitar riffs, danceable beats and catchy vocal harmonies. 10 pm.
Truths & Rights 2006 Juno nominees are a group of seasoned professional musicians playing tight, high-energy heavy reggae. 11 pm.
The Salads Ambassadors. Fun times. Serious. Exciting. Ferocious. Smiling faces. Sweaty bodies. Powerhouses. Legendary. ROCK. Midnight.
Neutral
Letters to Elora Foursome whose album, Backdrop, is an honest collection of socially aware songs covering diverse themes. 9 pm.
Red Shag Carpet Alberta-based outfit whose lush instrumentation and hooky melodies smoulder with a ragged piano-pop, folk and punk spirit. 10 pm.
Len’s Haulage Solid, upbeat indie rock with soaring melodies and a spanking rhythm section. Think Waking Eyes, Blur, the Strokes and the Killers. 11 pm.
high voltage Since coming together in fall 2004, this Hamilton band has been earning a reputation for its dynamic talents. Midnight.
The Screens Delivering dirty, loud rock ‘n’ roll, they charted on CMJ’s top 200 at 79 and remained there for over 10 weeks. 1 am.
Rancho Relaxo
Kid Gib Emotional without being emo, fired up without being screamo, melodic without being pop, hard without being punk. 9 pm.
Shelter with Thieves This band’s utmost desire is to simply plug in, turn up and rock. 10 pm.
inUniform His lyrically strong material is more concerned with mood than genre, and incorporates piano and strings. 11 pm.
Special Guest Midnight.
The Anti-Q’s Early demos caught Aussie songwriter Ben Lee and ex-Smashing Pumpkin James Iha’s attention — he’s producing their four-song EP. 1 am.
Reverb
The Duke Spirit Duke Spirit are signed to Heavenly Records in the UK. 9 pm.
Pressure Kill Common Style Born from sleepless nights and a far too cold winter, they’re proud to present their long-awaited EP. 10 pm.
Twin Fangs Their Quelque Chose EP was released in November 2004, and their full-length, Street Sweeper, came out December 2005. 11 pm.
All Purpose Voltage Heroes Quartet formed after spending a cold Edmonton winter in a basement with keyboards, drums, and toy megaphones. Midnight.
The Illuminati Danko Jones has called them the best band in Canada. 1 am.
Richmond Lounge
Paramedic Hybrid of classic hiphop, soul, jazz and funk with lyricism firmly rooted in social activism and positive vibes. 9 pm.
Melissa Bathory Bathory blends R&B and jazz over acoustic hiphop elements. 10 pm.
Mudville Downtempo beats, haunted organ and electronic flourishes layered with smouldering vocals. 11 pm.
Sleeping Kings of Iona Buffalo-based electronic avant-pop band. Debut full-length released Sept 2005. Midnight.
Rhythmicru Toronto indie hiphop act deliver powerful messages through signature mix of razor-sharp MCs rhyming over original beats. 1 am.
Rivoli
Special Guest 8 pm.
Panic & The Rebel Emergency Eclectic rock-reggae hybrid from Panic, RoddySoul, AdamH, Bucci, Geoff Star and Evan. 9 pm.
Hello Operator Infectious pop rock ‘n’ roll. Having just finished a cross-Canada tour with Hilary Duff, they’re now finishing off an album. 10 pm.
Waking Eyes Since releasing their 2004 debut, Video Sound, this Winnipeg four-piece rock band has toured Canada and the UK extensively. 11 pm.
Inward Eye Three Winnipeg brothers deliver a fresh, modern take on the energetic sounds of the Jam, the Kinks and the Who. Midnight.
Neverending White Lights A groundbreaking new collaborative concept from recording artist/producer Daniel Victor. 1 am.
Savannah
As the Poets Affirm With a third album on the way, this Ottawa outfit has landed spots with the Dears and Apostle of Hustle. 9 pm.
Jade Day Dark, soulful folk fused with alternative rock, delivered with astounding vocals, intricate arrangements and poignant lyricism. 10 pm.
Casey Neill Stark beauty and urgent rock intensity from this Portland, OR-based fusion of modern rock, punk, country and Irish styles. 11 pm.
Mission to the Sea Jazz- and Latin-infused folk bearing the the intimate feel of Jack Johnson, Joao Gilberto and Hope Sandoval. Midnight.
Sleep the Season With vocal harmonies and cello lines that haunt, this outfiit creates a sound reminiscent of Elliott Smith and Damien Rice. 1 am.
Silver Dollar
Five Blank Pages East Coast-flavoured indie pop rock act with an oversized heart and three-part harmonies. Think Weakerthans and Death Cab. 8 pm.
The Ride Theory Mature and impressive music that rivals the best in the scene. 9 pm.
City Field Vexing lyrics, tender harmonies and pounding rhythms make for imperial melodies and psychadelic anarchy. Four dudes and lady. 10 pm.
The Two Koreas Tea-drinking T.O. nebbishes distill pre-punk primitivism from a post-punk future. 11 pm.
Brutal Knights Bio not available. Midnight.
King Khan & His Shrines Blazing brass, raw rhythm ‘n’ blues and deep-fried rock ‘n’ soul dosed up with punk insubordination and psychedelic power. 1 am.
Vatikan
Special Guest 9 pm.
Angels Saints and Heroes Angels Saints and Heroes are better than everybody else playing this festival. 10 pm.
Games and Theory Austin, TX-based fusion of punk, metal, hardcore and grind was established in early 2003. 11 pm.
Hellmarys Three-piece carries the torch of heavy rock tradition. Midnight.
The Sins Crazed singer leads adept ensemble to create 80s sounds with a modern twist. 1 am.
