Fest heads rejoice: The 35th edition of Toronto’s CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK is slated to kick off on April 18th. The annual music conference is still quite unashamedly industry-minded but it’s proven to be a diverse multi-venue event that’s willing to showcase indie titans, rap notables, and a cavalcade of blog faves. With Earl Sweatshirt, Wolf Parade, Chaz Bundick, and Pigeons & Planes’ No Ceilings Tour being best bets, we decided to list off the festival’s best kept secrets. Pro tip: bring headgear.
For more info on artists, showcases, and Explorer/Explorer+ passes, head over to cmw.net/music
THE BEACHES
Friday April 21st // 12:00 a.m. // The Horseshoe Tavern (Tickets)
For Fans Of: The Kills, July Talk, The Strokes (circa 2003’s Room On Fire).
BELIEFS
Saturday April 22nd // 12:00 a.m. // The Garrison (Tickets)
For Fans Of: No Joy, Swervedriver, Tamaryn, Cheatahs, Young Prisms.
BERNICE
Wednesday April 19th // 9:00 p.m. // The Mod Club (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Tei Shi, Amber Coffman, Hand Habits, Princess Mononoke.
CASPER SKULLS
Saturday April 22nd // 12:00 a.m. // Lee’s Palace (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Fear Of Men, Nü Sensae, Priests, Screaming Females’ Ugly.
CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON
Wednesday April 19th // 10:00 p.m. // The Mod Club (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Maggie Rogers, Solange, BANKS, Jessie Ware’s Tough Love.
DUNE RATS
Wednesday April 19th // 11:00 p.m. // The Great Hall (Tickets)
For Fans Of: DZ Deathrays, SWMRS, Twin Peaks, Tim Tam (Double Coat).
FRIGS
Thursday April 20th // 12:00 a.m. // The Costume House (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Chelsea Wolfe, Mothers, Mexican Slang, Savages’ Adore Life.
GIUNGLA
Thursday April 20th // 8:15 p.m. // The Monarch Tavern (Tickets)
For Fans Of: DFA 1979, No Age, Uffie’s Sex Dreams And Denim Jeans.
GOODBYE HONOLULU
Wednesday April 19th // 11:30 p.m. // The Monarch Tavern (Tickets)
For Fans Of: The Black Lips, Michael Rault, Spoon’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga LP.
GREYS
Friday April 21st // 1:00 a.m. // The Garrison (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Noise-punk that elbows you while humming Hyperview.
HOODLEM
Friday April 21st // 9:00 p.m. // Longboat Hall (Tickets)
For Fans Of: TOKiMONSTA, Tove Lo, Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories.
JAPANESE BREAKFAST
Thursday April 20th // 12:00 a.m. // Silver Dollar Room (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Jay Som, Yumi Zouma, Alex G, Alvvays, Cherry Glazerr.
JEREMIE ALBINO
Thursday April 20th // 12:00 a.m. // The Paddock (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Shakey Graves, Shovels & Rope, Okkervil River, Dan Mangan.
KNIFEY
Tuesday April 18th // 9:00 p.m. // Silver Dollar Room (Tickets)
For Fans Of: PUP, Tokyo Police Club, Born Ruffians, Surfer Blood’s Pythons.
MADELINE KENNEY
Thursday April 20th // 10:00 p.m. // The Great Hall (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Lucy Dacus, Big Thief, a fuzzed up version of Mac DeMarco 2.
SHE-DEVILS
Thursday April 20th // 11:00 p.m. // The Costume House (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Chairlift, Ra Ra Riot, Dum Dum Girls’ Only In Dreams.
SOLIDS
Friday April 21st // 12:00 a.m. // The Garrison (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Women, Cloud Nothings, Whirr, Nothing’s Guilty Of Everything.
TIM DARCY
Thursday April 20th // 12:00 a.m. // The Baby G (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Kurt Vile, Jessica Pratt, Steve Gunn, Molly Burch (and Ought).
VALLENS
Saturday April 22nd // 11:00 p.m. // Lee’s Palace (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Protomartyr, Wax Idols, S U R V I V E, Emma Ruth Rundle.
WALRUS
Thursday April 20th // 10:00 p.m. // The Horseshoe Tavern (Tickets)
For Fans Of: PKEW x3, Methyl Ethel, Ducktails, Beach Fossils’ Beach Fossils.
WEAVES
Saturday April 22nd // 1:00 a.m. // Lee’s Palace (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Operators, Palehound, The Julie Ruin, Downtown Boys.
XAVIER OMAR
Tuesday April 18th // 9:30 p.m. // The Velvet Underground (Tickets)
For Fans Of: Anderson .Paak, Gallant, Noname, GoldLink, Mick Jenkins.