Canadian Music Week 2012 – An Overview While Canadian Music Week is always jam-packed with conferences and films (plus comedy shows this year too!), we focused entirely on the live music. We still recommend you go out an experience all that CMW has to offer next year, though. We just wish we had more time […]

Sunday, March 25, 2012 David Hustler & The Trustworthy I unintentionally missed The Ship, so I started off the last night of CMW with David Hustler, whose name really is “Hustler,” and his backing band The Trustworthy. Hustler’s Facebook describes their music as “barn burning indie folk/rock,” which is quite apt. There’s an alt country […]

The 12th Annual Independent Music Awards (a.k.a The Indies) took place at the Royal York Hotel in the Canadian Room on March 24, 2012. While awards are given out, the lineup of performers consistently makes this night one of the highlights of the festival. Fortunately, our contributor Jeff was there to capture some great photos […]

Saturday, March 24, 2012 Mad Ones – 9:00PM @ The Bovine Sex Club Mad Ones are the two-piece Toronto hard rock outfit comprised of Andrew DeVillers (guitar, vocals) and Phil Wilson (drummer). Playing an adrenaline-pumping set off their album Behaviour, they started loud and sweaty and didn’t let up for the length of their set. […]

Saturday, March 24, 2012 Bravestation – 8:30PM Bravestation kicked off Saturday night at the Horseshoe Tavern. For the most part, the 4-piece has been in hiding over the past year while completing their debut full-length album. The band had a well-received 2010 EP, showcasing a very UK-friendly new wave sound. After disappearing, they have come […]

Saturday, March 24, 2012 The Jefferson – 1:10PM @ El Mocambo Upstairs (Aussie BBQ) Determined to fit The Jefferson into my schedule, I started Saturday bright and early at the El Mocambo for the Aussie BBQ. Kicking the afternoon off, the crowd was a bit lacking at this early hour, but this didn’t prevent them […]

Friday, March 23, 2012 Snowblink – 9:00PM Recently signed to Arts & Crafts, Snowblink started off the label’s showcase at the Horseshoe Tavern. The 3-piece fronted by Daniela Gesundheit (vocals, guitar) and joined by Dan Goldman (guitar, bass pedals, vocals) and Dan Goldman (drums). The band started off the night with a mellower feel, bringing […]

Friday, March 23, 2012 fade – 8:00PM @ Tattoo Rock Parlour RIZE – 9:00PM @ Tattoo Rock Parlour Zachary Lucky – 8:00PM @ Gladstone Hotel (Alberta Music & SaskMusic) Jeffrey Straker – 9:00PM @ Gladstone Hotel (Alberta Music & SaskMusic) Zoo Lion – 10:00PM @ Gladstone Hotel (Alberta Music & SaskMusic) Makeshift Innocence – 11:00PM […]

Friday, March 23, 2012 Cai.ro – 8:00PM @ Rancho Relaxo (Two Way Monologues & The Indie Machine) Starting their set with the lights dimmed low, first came the pounding of the drum, and clapping of this five-piece’s hands before the melody swelled with the addition of keys and violin. There is a depth and darkness […]

I spoke with Gloryhound outside of Sneaky Dee’s between sets at the ECMA daytime showcase, but the band had a busy Canadian Music Week, having already played two other showcases on the first two days of the festival. The guys were already settled before the festival had started, though, because the band had already been […]