TORONTO – Canadian Music Week (CMW) kicked off across Toronto on Friday and while international stars like Death Cab for Cutie, Of Monsters and Men, Faith No More, Noel Gallagher (of Oasis fame) and Jesus and Mary Chain are all part of the 10-day fest, it’s the local acts that put on some of the best shows for the hometown crowd.
Here are 5 Toronto bands worth checking out at CMW 2015.
Alvvays
One of the biggest bands to come out of Toronto in the last year, Alvvays has been making waves in Canada and the U.S. with radio-friendly indie pop tracks “Archie, Marry Me” and “Adult Diversion.” The band played this year’s SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, which Toronto mayor John Tory made a point of attending. He tweeted after the show that lead singer Molly Rankin “does us proud” and that the band is “great Toronto talent.”
Alvvays performs Saturday, May 9 at 9:15 p.m. at The Grand Ballroom (Sheraton Centre Toronto). If you miss them at CMW, they play the Way Home Festival in Oro-Medonte, Ont. July 24 – 26, Montreal’s Osheaga Music Festival July 31 – Aug. 2 and the Squamish Valley Music Festival on Aug. 8.
WATCH: Music video for Alvvays’ “Adult Diversion”
Bad Dad & the Pool Girls
Bad Dad & the Pool Girls formed in 2013 and has been playing live together for just over a year. The band’s sound, which mixes funk, blues and soul, is fresh and energetic and it delivers one heck of a live show according to concert-goers. With its freshly released debut album on May 2, the band is sure to make a mark this summer.
Bad Dad & the Pool Girls plays CMW Tuesday, May 5 at 11 p.m. at The Painted Lady.
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WATCH: Music video for Bad Dad & The Pool Girls’ “Down by the River”
Brave Shores
After making music for most of their lives, brother-sister duo Jay and Stef McCarrol formed their electro-pop band Brave Shores in 2013. Since then they have had a huge radio hit with the track “Never Come Down” and were listed as one of 53 bands that will make 2015 awesome by the music blog When the Gramophone Rings. They put on a great live show and are sure to expand their growing fanbase during CMW even further.
Brave Shores plays CMW Friday, May 8 at 11 p.m. at The Mod Club. You can catch them in Guelph, Ont. on May 7 at Van Gogh’s Ear and the upcoming Way Home Festival in Oro-Medonte, Ont. July 24 – 26.
WATCH: Music video for Brave Shores’ “Never Come Down”
Fresh Kils
Armed with an MPC1000 drum/sample machine, Fresh Kils is one of the city’s most sought-after musicians/DJs/producers/engineers. His shows — and fans — are full of energy and even if you’re not into hip-hop it would be difficult not to leave with a smile on your face.
Fresh Kils performs during CMW on Thursday, May 7 at 10:30 p.m. at the Hard Luck Bar.
WATCH: Fresh Kils’ “Funky Drummer Routine”
Kardinal Offishall
Scarborough native Kardinal Offishall is an icon in the Canadian hip-hop scene. Famous for popularizing the Toronto nickname T-dot in his 2001 hit “BaKardi Slang,” his blend of rap, dancehall and reggae sets him apart from most musicians of his calibre. One of the hardest-working rappers (he has produced and collaborated with many other acts and is also the Creative Executive Director for Universal Music Canada), his shows, especially in Toronto, are full-on parties where he always delivers.
Kardinal Offishall performs at CMW on Wednesday, May 6 at 8 p.m. at the Phoenix Concert Theatre.
WATCH: Music video for Kardinal Offishall’s “The Anthem”
Canadian Music Week runs until Sunday, May 10. To see the full lineup of bands performing, visit cmw.net.
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