Find the full list of artists here.
If you’re like me, and have anything whatsoever to do with the Toronto media, music, and arts scene, you’ve probably been pelted with press releases for Canadian Music Fest for the last few months. Finally, it’s March and I can peel the electronic whitesheets from my virtual windshield and attend some fine concerts.
What are my picks? Great question. Because there’s nothing that gives a pretentious twenty-something more sickeningly satisfying pleasure than telling other people what to like. These are great bands and you should definitely check them out. Or, wait until you hear them at Urban Outfitters and pretend you knew about them all along while you’re shopping for shredded Sesame Street t-shirts and pink-bleached jeans with three types of non-functional zipper. It’s really your choice.
These bands have been vetted for quality. They’re “sure things.” All that’s left is for you to go out and enjoy them.
WEDNESDAY
Yukon Blonde (Kelowna, BC)
Wed March 20 @ 8pm, The Danforth Music Hall
RIYL: The Sheepdogs, Zeus
CHVRCHES (Glasgow, Scotland)
Wed March 20 @ 10pm, Mod Club
RIYL: Purity Ring, The Knife, The Good Natured
THURSDAY
Chloe Charles (Toronto, ON)
Thurs March 21 @ 8pm, Tattoo Rock Parlour
Sat March 23 @ 10pm, El Mocambo (Upstairs)
RIYL: Regina Spektor, Coffee shop pleasantries
Turtle Giant (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Thurs March 21 @ 8pm, Rancho Relaxo
RIYL: Vacationer
The Breezes (Montreal, QC)
Thurs March 21 @ 8:30pm, Horseshoe Tavern
RIYL: Luscious beach rock
First Rate People (Toronto, ON)
Thurs March 21 @ 9pm, Annex Live
RIYL: Teenage dreams
Efterklang (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Thurs March 21, 10pm, Virgin Mobile Mod Club
RIYL: Grizzly Bear, Tunng
Raleigh Moncrief (Sacramento, California)
Thurs March 21, 11:30pm, Parts & Labour
RIYL: The sound of a thousand exploding suns
Wildlife (Toronto, ON)
Thurs March 21 @ 12am, The Great Hall
RIYL: Collegiate life
Javelin (Providence, NY)
Thurs March 21, 1:00am, Parts & Labour
RIYL: Bibio, TV Girl, Toro Y Moi
***KATIE’S TOP PICK FOR MAXIMUM CONCERT ENJOYMENT***
FRIDAY
Cold Specks (London, UK)
Fri March 22 @ 9:20pm, Kool Haus
RIYL: Macy Gray without the smoker’s throat
Diamond Rings (Toronto, ON)
Fri March 22 @ 10:00pm, Kool Haus
RIYL: The eyeshadow counter at Sephora and drum machines
Young Rival (Hamilton, ON)
Fri March 22 @ 10:10pm, Horseshoe Tavern
RIYL: Smith Westerns, Black Lips, Dirty Fences
The Dirty Nil (Hamilton, ON)
Fri March 22 @ 11pm, Bovine Sex Club
RIYL: Cracking beer bottles over your friends’ heads
SATURDAY
Cookie Duster (Toronto, ON)
Sat March 23 @ 11:10pm, Horseshoe Tavern
RIYL: Broken Social Scene, the “original” Toronto music scene
The Dirty Nil (Hamilton, ON)
Sat March 23 @ 2:30am, Horseshoe Tavern
RIYL: Public urination, leftover pizza
Sharon Van Etten (Brooklyn, NY)
Sat March 23 @ 8pm, Massey Hall
RIYL: First Aid Kit
