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Music

T.O. Music Notes

Gay Goth Scene

In case you needed another reason to attend Sunday’s (June 30) Shame edition of Vazaleen – Will Munro’s legendary queer music party that’s still going strong after his death in 2010 – rumour is that high-energy indie pop headliners the Hidden Cameras will launch a new 7-inch single at the Wrongbar show. Entitled Gay Goth Scene, it features vocals by the incomparable Mary Margaret O’Hara.

Composition Competition

Give an indie musician a much-needed boost by taking part in the SOCAN Songwriting Prize, which honours independent Canadian artists. This year’s shortlisted tunes include Whitehorse’s Devil’s Got A Gun, Mo Kenney’s Sucker, Purity Ring’s Fineshrine, Maylee Todd’s Baby’s Got It and the Weather Station’s Mule In The Flowers. The winner takes home $5,000, a $3,000 gift certificate from Roland and a Les Paul guitar. Vote at socansongwritingprize.ca. You’ve only got till Wednesday (July 3).

The Numbers are in

If NXNE seemed even busier this year, that’s because it was. Overall attendance was up by 20 per cent. About 145,000 fans poured into Yonge-Dundas Square over four days to catch Ludacris, Billy Talent, the National and Social Distortion. And with over 1,000 bands participating, the fest is now half the size of SXSW.

The film fest, meanwhile, increased attendance by 50 per cent, and NXNE Comedy is now the second-largest comedy festival in Canada. Best? NXNE’s charity soccer match raised $16,000 for Right to Play, which uses sports to improve the lives of disadvantaged kids around the world.

Next year the fest celebrates its 20th anniversary. Brace yourself.

Wacken-Ready

After months of duking it out with close to 40 other Canadian metal bands for a spot at this year’s Wacken Open Air fest in Germany, Crimson Shadows have triumphed. The local death/power metal five-piece won the coveted prize after a blistering final battle at the Opera House on Sunday, June 22. Judges included Sacrifice’s Rob Urbinati, Metal Blade’s Sarah Lutz and former Megadeth/King Diamond guitarist Glen Drover, to name a few. Crimson Shadows, we salute you.

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