CMW
You’re probably confused about why you’re seeing mentions of both Canadian Music Week and Canadian Music Fest all over town. Don’t worry, we’re baffled too. The way we understand it, CMF is the music festival, which is part of the larger conference called CMW (which also includes the Canadian Music Week Film Fest, Canadian International Comedy Fest, Digital Media Summit, Radio Interactive International Radio Summit and Music Summit).
Absurdly confusing branding aside, there is a shitload of stuff going on this week, and if you’ve got the energy to go out every night you can milk a wristband for a lot of value.
Should you spring for the $120 VIP wristband? Well, if you’re hoping to get into the high-profile shows, maybe, but most of them are admitting so few VIP wristbands that you’d still have to line up all day, which isn’t very VIP. And VIP wristbands won’t get you into some big-name shows, like Odd Future’s Tyler the Creator at the Opera House on Friday (March 22).
So if you’re looking to discover bands you’ve never heard of, you might as well just pick up a $60 wristband and take some chances on unfamiliar names.
Neither wristband appears to get you into much of the conference stuff (you need a high-priced delegate badge for that), although either wristband will get you access to the film and comedy fests. Still confused? Well, we tried.
Until Sunday (March 24) at various venues. Most showcases $10, wristbands $60-$120. canadianmusicfest.com
Stars, Said the Whale
Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth), tonight (Thursday, March 21)
Indie pop/rock.
Action Bronson, 360, TFHOUSE, Anami Vice
The Hoxton (69 Bathurst), tonight (Thursday, March 21)
CMF hip-hop showcase.
Heart, Simon Townsend
Massey Hall (178 Victoria), tonight (Thursday, March 21)
See preview.
Efterklang, Nightlands
Virgin Mobile Mod Club (722 College), tonight (Thursday, March 21)
Experimental pop/yacht rock.
Metric, Matt Mays, Diamond Rings, Yukon Blonde, Cold Specks, the Wooden Sky and more
Kool Haus (132 Queens Quay East), Friday (March 22)
Indie rock award show.
Besnard Lakes, Imaginary Cities, Lucy Rose, Lowell, Reuben & the Dark
Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West), Friday (March 22)
See preview.
Tyler, the Creator
Opera House (735 Queen East), Friday (March 22)
Odd Future ringleader.
Ron Sexsmith, Mo Kenney, Emma Louise
Randolph Theatre (736 Bathurst), Friday (March 22)
Roots pop and folk CMF showcase.
Solids, the BB Guns, X-Ray Eyeballs, Invasions, Filthy Haanz, Boys Who Say No, Mad Ones, Maica Mia, A K A U
SIlver Dollar (486 Spadina), Friday (March 22)
Garage rock, psych, punk and more.
Brews Willis, MAc DeMarco, Grounders, We Are Wolves, Ponctuation, Peter Pewter
Sneaky Dee’s (431 College), Friday (March 22)
Montreal buzz bands.
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Richard Thompson Electric Trio
Massey Hall (178 Victoria), Friday (March 22)
Country music legend.
Martyn, Kevin McPhee, Mymanhenri, Nautiluss
Blk Box Theatre (1087 Queen West), Friday (March 22)
Forward-thinking electronic music.
Shout Out Out Out (DJ Set), Mozart’s SIster, Doom Squad, Castle-If/Cell Memory, Valerie Dour
Comfort Zone (480 Spadina), Saturday (March 23)
Coldwave and dark electro showcase.
Austra, Blood Ceremony, Lowell
Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth), Saturday (March 23)
Synth pop and witch rock.
Long Winter Volume 5
w/ The Sadies, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, Burning Love and many more
The Great Hall (1087 Queen West), Saturday (March 23)
Multimedia punk extravaganza.
SUUNS, Savages, Lioness, Valleys, Decades
Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West), Saturday (March 23)
See preview.
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Sharon Van Etten
Massey Hall (178 Victoria), Saturday (March 23)
See cover story.
Mac Demarco, Cousins, Pink Wine, the Lost Babies
Parts & Labour (1566 Queen West), Saturday (March 23)
Lo-fi pop and garage rock.
Alt-J, Hundred Waters
Sound Academy (480 Spadina), Wednesday (March 27)
See preview.
