TORONTO - Canadian Music Week is upon us yet again, one of the bigger music events each year in Toronto with plenty of movers and shakers in the industry attending. Oh, and some 400 bands performing tomorrow, Friday and Saturday.
And while some CMW tie-in (limited number of CMW wristbands accepted) shows featuring Gogol Bordello, The Hives and Steve Earle already took place, other acts such as The Breeders, Sloan, Hawksley Workman, KRS-One, Finger Eleven (Saturday at Massey Hall) and former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley (tonight at The Guvernment) are playing similar shows during the coming days.
Here's a preview of some of the many acts worth checking out at this year's CMW:
Immaculate Machine
Tomorrow, 8:30 p.m., Horseshoe
This Victoria rock trio released an EP in 2006 performed entirely in French. The group, featuring part-time New Pornographer Kathryn Calder, will begin writing songs for a new album next month.
Dog Day
Tomorrow, 9:20 p.m., Horseshoe
With a show Thursday and another Saturday at The Rivoli, Halifax indie rock quartet Dog Day will be busy at CMW. The band's 2007 Night Group album was compared to work by The Smiths and The Cure.
Camouflage Nights
Tomorrow, 10 p.m., Sneaky Dee's
Featuring former members of Thrush Hermit, Camouflage Nights' electro-rock sound is finally seeing the light of day with a self-titled debut album (with help from Feist and Buck 65) set for this year.
Nate James
Tomorrow, 11 p.m., Revival
Making his Canadian debut at CMW, this British soul/funk singer has a buzz around him thanks to an appearance on Later...with Jools Holland and a critically acclaimed sophomore record, Kingdom Falls.
The Besnard Lakes
Tomorrow, 12 a.m., El Mocambo
Nominated for the Polaris Music Prize in 2007, Montreal's The Besnard Lakes are no longer the dark horse, as the band's album title suggests. This is the first of two CMW appearances for the psych-rock outfit.
Architects
Tomorrow, 1 a.m., Bovine Sex Club
Furious and punishing like Alexisonfire and Cancer Bats, British band Architects is building on an aggressive live show with material from the album, Ruin.
Magneta Lane
Friday, 8:30 p.m., Horseshoe
Toronto garage rockers Magneta Lane are close to completing a new album. Expect to hear a few from the new effort entitled Gambling With God.
Alex*Cuba
Friday, 9:30 p.m., Lula Lounge
Born in Cuba but raised in B.C., Alex*Cuba's breezy Agua Del Pozo album earned him a 2008 Juno nomination for best world music album. He's also received kudos from the legendary Ruben Blades.
Roman Carter
Friday, 10 p.m., Healey's
With the Carter Brothers, Roman Carter was one of the founders of electric blues. Now with a new album, Never Slow Down, produced by Tom Rothrock (Beck, James Blunt), Carter is sure to make an impression.
Grand Analog
Friday 10:45 p.m., Supermarket
Led by Winnipeg hip-hop/reggae performer Ordario G. Williams, Grand Analog brings a "ghettotech" sound to CMW before hitting South By Southwest in Austin in mid-March. In 2007, Grand Analog released Calligraffiti.
Danko Jones
Friday, 12:10 a.m., Horseshoe
Despite having his own syndicated radio show in Sweden, Danko Jones still finds time to be loud. In fact, his new album is aptly named Never Too Loud. Catch him on this lone Canadian date before he's off touring Europe with Die Mannequin.
The Breeders
Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Phoenix Concert Theatre
Although appearing at Coachella next month, The Breeders visit Toronto behind the forthcoming Mountain Battles record, the first since 2002's Title TK. Expect twins Kim and Kelley Deal to be on their best behaviour.
Paddy Casey
Saturday, 8 p.m., Hideout
Irish singer-songwriter Paddy Casey has a new album coming out next month called Addicted To Company (Part 1). Casey also recently contributed to A Tribute To Ronnie Drew, a charity single featuring U2 and Sinead O'Connor.
Lowest of the Low
Saturday, 9:30 p.m., Canadian Room (Royal York Hotel)
This will be the Spinal Tap moment of CMW. Watch indie rock veterans Lowest of the Low, who disbanded in December, reunite for a few songs, be inducted into the Indies Hall of Fame and then call it a day.
Erin Lang
Saturday, 10 p.m., Holy Joe's
Toronto singer Erin Lang mixes ambient and electronic pop for an eclectic mix of songs from her new album, You Are Found. Having keyboardist Roger O'Donnell, formerly of The Cure, working with her doesn't hurt, either.
Trainwreck
Saturday, 10:50 p.m., Reverb
The brainchild of Tenacious D guitarist Kyle Gass, Trainwreck mixes rock, country and comedy for an odd but appealing show.
Dengue Fever
Saturday, 12 a.m., Sneaky Dee's
Led by Cambodian singer Chhom Nimol, this L.A.-based alt-rock band describes itself as a "Cambodian pop rock psychedelic dance party." The band's Venus on Earth record fits that description.
Tom Fun Orchestra
Saturday, 3:20 a.m., Horseshoe
Last but not least, this nine-piece Cape Breton ensemble released its debut album, You Will Land With A Thud, earlier this year. It should be a fun way to wrap up the frenzied three days.
