NXNE Preview: Young Lions Music Club Showcase

Chiara recommends the Young Lions Music Club Showcase:
Friday June 15th @ El Mocambo (Main Floor)

“Oh Young Lions, this is your kingdom.” (Constantines) It’s a well known fact that Young Lions Music Club knows how to throw a party. With an almost cult following, there’s a good reason why they were recently named one of the top promoters in the city by BlogTO. YLMC of course have a lot going on over the next week in celebration of NXNE that you will likely want to add to your schedule.

Free and all-ages, Live in Bellwoods: A Great Heart Festival is one of my absolute favourite unofficial parts of the festival. Often getting caught up in the fast pace of the running around and the parties, chilling out to acoustic tunes in Trinity Bellwoods on a sunny afternoon is a great breather from all of the constant motion. It runs Thursday to Sunday, it gives you the chance to see some of your favourite bands playing stripped down and intimate sets; you should definitely try to make it out to at least one of them! Bring a blanket – and snacks.

YLMC are also hosting a stacked showcase on the Main Floor of the El Mocambo on Friday June 15th, and it has “legendary status” written all over it. I’d recommend you come early and stay late:

8pm – Christien Summers – Sunshine-y synth-pop. Put on your dancing shoes.
9pm – Cousin – Niagara Falls “break-out” band of CMW, they’re now making waves in Toronto.
10pm – Paradise Animals – Dark and dreamy, they sold out their March EP release and are debuting a new drummer.
11pm – The Ryan O’Reilly Band – Folk-rock band from the UK, O’Reilly is connected to Tyler Kyte. Enough said.
12am – Paper Lions – These fun East Coasters will have new songs ready for your dancing pleasure.
1am – Teenage Kicks – Quite possibly The Next Big Band From Toronto, it’s their only NXNE slot.
2am – Dwayne Gretzky – A cover band playing NXNE?! Find out why they’ve reached epic status in this city.

To quench your thirst until Friday, have a listen to Paradise Animals’ magically ethereal cover of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s “Wolf Among Wolves.” If you dig, it’s available for free download on their Bandcamp until the show on June 15th.