The Elwins
To save you time, here’s five can’t-miss acts for Saturday and Sunday night at Canadian Music Week, which runs from March 21-25
ALX
From: Toronto, Ontario
Playing: The Garrison (1197 Dundas St. West), 11 p.m. (Saturday)
About: Playing a showcase curated by Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning, ALX is the new electro-pop project from Toronto singer-songwriter Allie Hughes.
THE ELWINS
From: Keswick, Ontario
Playing: Rancho Relaxo (300 College St.), 11 p.m. (Sunday)
About: The Elwins’ debut record, And I Thank You, is one of the best indie pop-rock albums of the year so far and their show with Topanga is the clear highlight of Sunday’s slim pickings.
GRAHMZILLA
From: Montreal, Quebec
Playing: Wrongbar (1279 Queen St. West), 1 a.m. (Saturday)
About: You might know him best as one half of the (now defunct) electro-rap duo Thunderheist, but Toronto-based producer Grahmzilla has been quietly making a name for himself since as a solo artist. Come expecting to dance.
MURDER BY DEATH
From: Bloomington, Indiana
Playing: Bovine Sex Club (524 Queen St. West), 12 a.m. (Saturday)
About: One of few American bands playing the festival, Murder By Death bring their rollicking, garage rock―which draws on influences including alt country, blues and even gospel―to the Bovine. Recommended if you like The Hold Steady or Titus Andronicus.
WINTERSLEEP
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Playing: The Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen St. West), 12:40 a.m. (Saturday)
About: It’s been a little while since everyone’s favourite Nova Scotia indie rock five-piece last played Toronto, but we’ll forgive them, especially because they’ve been busying finishing up their fifth studio album.
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Follow Max Mertens on Twitter at @Max_Mertens.
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