This Friday June 18th, Fortnight presents Besnard Lakes, Young Galaxy & Library Voices at the eBar. 
Regina's touring book-mobile, Library Voices will be back in Guelph for their third time in less than a year.  This time in support of their first full length album Denim on Denim.  Here's the scoop.  They're a 10 piece, or, depending on the night, however many they can fit in the van, electro pop collective that come across as book nerds (song titles: “Things We Stole from Vonnegut’s Grave” and “Kundera on the Dance Floor”), but when you're not looking they will rock your face off.  One second they're musing about Vonnegut, the next playing on bar tables.  It works.

Montreal's Young Galaxy touring their upcoming full length album due out later in 2010.  Part of the Arts & Crafts stable, 2009's Invisible Republic was one of my favorite albums of the year.  I am not alone.  I anxiously await their upcoming release.

The Besnard Lakes also of Montreal are touring their latest, 2010's The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night.  Previously nominated for a Polaris Music prize in 2007, I fully expect this latest album to get the nod again this year.  It's that good.

This is the show you want to attend.  Call it Hillside Inside.  Call  it whatever  you like.  These are three of Canada's hottest indie bands right now.  In Guelph.  For $10.  $10!!
I have been waiting now for months for this show.  It's going to be great.  See you there!

Tickets at www.ticketpro.ca or Ground Floor Music $10
Doors at 9:30, Bands at 10:15 sharp!

Juno award winner (Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo, 2010) Amelia Curran will be playing the Cornerstone Friday June 11!  Curran, part of the Six Shooter Records stable, is touring her powerful -- hey it's Juno worthy! -- new album Hunter Hunter.
Tickets are available at the Cornerstone  or reserve by phone at (519) 827 0145.   This is sure to sell out, so get your tickets early.  See you there!

I just learned about the Toronto based Pitter Patter Music festival the other day.  I had never heard of it.  It's a weekend long (May 27-30) festival that spans 9 cities!
From their website:
"The Pitter Patter Music Festival is based on a simple set of principals:
 * Fair compensation to the artists
 * Easy access for the patrons
 * The need to discover and cultivate new Canadian talent
 * The desire to expand the radius of support for new music outside of Toronto"
What an extraordinary undertaking.  Guelph's contribution to the Festival is Winnipeg based Greg MacPherson Band and Guelph natives The Cardboard Nationals @ Van Gogh's Ear (main floor) Sunday May 30.  The doors open at 8PM.  Check it out.  Support two great bands and a great festival!

Toronto band The Darcys are kicking off their Canada wide tour at Jimmy Jazz on Friday April 30th.  Name sound familiar to you?  The Darcys were in the press recently when they pulled out on a show in Toronto that turned out to be in support of Toronto Councilor Giorgio Mammoliti’s campaign for mayor claiming they were mislead.
Good for them.  That sounds like a pretty boring show...  Finger sandwiches anyone?
I'm pretty sure there will be no politicians in attendance on Friday, and definitely no finger sandwiches.
From a press release:
"Three yeas ago The Darcys were on fire.
The Toronto Star called them the city's "next great guitar band," and their first album, Endless Water, was hailed by Exclaim! as "a stunning collection of songs."
In the space that followed, though, The Darcys turned inward, deliberately crafting the sort of complex, rangy and atmospheric music that warranted the sort of praise already bestowed.
However, internal struggle and dissatisfaction left band at a stand still and ultimately, in the winter of 2010, resulted in singer Kirby Best leaving the group. 
Yet from the ashes of that first incarnation we have a band redeemed. A quartet truer to form, with its principal create voices freed and its sense of purpose renewed. 
Proof is in the soaring, atmospheric tones that make up the group's latest offering, a 7-inch bridge to their second full length, Young Believers, which was produced by The Dears frontman Murray Lightburn and features guest appearances by members of Broken Social Scene, Stars and Islands. Young Believers is set for release this fall. 
In the meantime, "House Built Around Your Voice” and “Edmonton To Purgatory,” represent a bold declaration of growth for the band as a whole as well as from guitarist-turned-frontman Jason Couse, whose quietly confident yet wavering voice leaves eerie, feverish imagery lingering in the ether of these masterful tracks."

Video of Bruce Peninsula playing Kazoo! Fest Friday April 23 in Guelph at the Dublin Street United Church.

I'm not referring to the crown jewel of the Niagara Escarpment.  No I'm referring to the Toronto experimental folk ensemble Bruce Peninsula.  Kazoo!, Kaleidoscope Promotions & the CSA are bringing in Bruce Peninsula, Flowers of Hell & Katie Stelmanis to the Dublin Street United Church tonight Friday April 23.  I urge you, if you're in the neighborhood to come check out this show.  The venue alone is worth a visit.
Tickets for the show tonight are still available at Ground Floor Music and at the door.  $13 for students, $15.

As part of Guelph's Kazoo! Festival in conjunction with Kaleidoscope Promotions & the CSA, Toronto's Katie Stelmanis will be playing a set at the gorgeous Dublin Street United Church.  If you have not been to a show at the church, it truly is a wonderful venue.
Here's a link to a intimate live CBC Radio 3 session.  Listen here.
Tickets for the show tonight are still available at Ground Floor Music and at the door.

Well it has finally arrived.  This week marks the third Kazoo! Festival here in Guelph. 
"Kazoo! festival is a five day arts festival happening April 21-25th 2010 in the heart of downtown Guelph. The festival will feature over 30 bands at venues across town. Kazoo! festival is way more than just music and will include a zine fair, art exhibitions, a bike in film screening, a basketball tournament and workshops. Our schedule is online with full details, so check it out!"
Some of my highlights this week include The D'urbervilles, Gregory Pepper & His Problems & Ben Gunning show Wednesday night at the eBar and the Bruce Peninsula, Flowers Of Hell & Katie Stelmanis show at the Dublin St. United Church Friday night.
Oh, and Richard Laviolette Sunday night at the eBar. 
Fine.  If I had my druthers I'd make it to every show this week.
Although I don't know the organizers of this event, I can't thank them enough for putting on this event.  No where else in Canada will you find a city the size of Guelph with this much live music this week, or any week for that matter.
I hope to see you out this week.

Toronto three piece Elliott BROOD is playing Guelph's Vinyl on Thursday March 25.  For the uninitiated, firstly they're a three piece.  It's not a guys name.  Secondly they're the best live band you will see in 2010*.  These guys were shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize for the best Canadian recording for their album Mountain Meadows.  I've seen Elliott BROOD twice now and both times were amazing.  Don't take my word for it.  Go see them yourself.  Go!  Run!  Spread the word!  And while you're there, buy their CD Mountain Meadows.  I'm confident you'll play it so much you'll wear the 1's and 0's right off the disk.
Thursday's show is an EARLY SHOW.  Doors at 7:30, all done by 10.
All Ages, $15 available at Ground Floor Music.
*Seriously