Canadian Music Week is upon us yet again, and although some may feel it pales in comparison to some of the other festivals (check out the varying opinions from a bunch of music writers including myself in this Torontoist write up) I still think it’s a great time of year for music. There are a ton of bands worth checking out each night (and day – if you have the time off!), so here are my choices for who is worthy of your time this week (I’ve bolded what I will be attempting to see over the next five days):
Wednesday March 21
Opening Gala @ 4pm at the CN Tower with Ben Caplan and Joel Plaskett
Bella Clava @ 9:30pm, The Ascot Royals @ 11:45pm, Bright Lights Social Hour @ 12:30am at The Horseshoe
Teenage Kicks @10pm, Treble Charger @11pm at The Phoenix
Carleton Stone 11pm @ Cadillac Lounge
Will Currie & The Country French @11pm at the Rivoli
Amos the Transparent @ 11:15pm at the Garrison
Thursday March 22
Teenage Kicks @ 4:30pm at the Toronto Institute for the Enjoyment of Music
The Dirty Nil @ 8pm at Cherry Colas
Cold Specks @ 9pm at the Music Gallery
Army Girls @ 10:30pm at Parts & Labour
Martha Wainwright 12am, The Dears 1am, Lifestory Monologue (upstairs) @ 11:30pm at El Mocambo
Brett Caswell @ 8:30pm, Joseph Arthur @ 9:30pm , The Pack A.D @ 11:30pm the Horseshoe
Wildlife @11pm at Lee’s Palace
The Balconies @11pm, secret guest at 12am at Cabin 5
Janes Party @11pm, Parks and Rec @10pm, HONHEEHONHEE @12am at Rancho Relaxo
Topanga @12am, Sandman Viper Command @2am, at Silver Dollar
Audio Blood Showcase featuring Ben Caplan, Hands and Teeth, The Love Machine starting @ 8pm at Sneaky Dees
Dinosaur Bones @8:30pm, I Mother Earth @10:30pm at Sound Academy
Shotgun Jimmie @ 9pm at The Great Hall
Bright Light Social Hour @11pm at Supermarket
Teenage Kicks @11:35pm at The Hideout
Friday March 23
Army Girls @ 2:00pm at The Toronto Institute For The Enjoyment Of Music
Audioblood/Spincount Showcase @ 2pm at Sneaky Dees
CATL @ 8pm, ATTAGIRL @ 9pm at Comfort Zone
Dine Alone Showcase @ 8pm featuring Great Bloomers, Dinosaur Bones, Parlovr, Monster Truck, Doldrums at the El Mocambo (both floors)
Poor Young Things and The Trews @ 8pm at Queen Elisabeth Theatre
Pat Wright @ 11:15pm at Underground Garage
Arts and Crafts Showcase @ 11pm featuring Eight and a Half, The Darcys, Zeus & Dan Mangan at the Horseshoe
Young Lions Music Club Showcase @ 12am at Sneaky Dees featuring Dinosaur Bones, Rouge, Sheezer
Time Giant @ 1am at Supermarket
Saturday March 24th
The Indies @ 7-11pm at the Canadian Room in the Royal York Hotel featuring Dan Mangan, The Sheepdogs, The Pack A.D, Rich Aucoin
Fade Chromatic @ 9pm at Duffys
Papermaps @ 10pm at Hard Luck
Little City @ 11pm at the Silver Dollar
Bravestation @ 8:30pm, Wintersleep @ 12:40am, Poor Young Things@ 2am at the Horseshoe
Sandman Viper Command @ 10pm, Whale Tooth @ 11pm, The Inbreds @ 12am at Lee’s Palace
Poor Young Things and the Trews @ 8pm at Queen Elisabeth Theatre
The Sweet Mack @ 2am at Rancho Relaxo
The Dirty Nil @ 2am at Bovine Sex Club
Teenage Kicks @ 2am at the Garrison
Sunday March 25
Pat Wright @ 11pm at the Hideout
Elwins @ 11pm Topanga @ 12am at Rancho Relaxo
It’s gonna be a crazy week, remember bars are open until 4am! Let me know who you’re looking forward to seeing.
Lisa Recommends: 
