Five nights. Over 800 artists. From March 9-13, hundreds of bands will flood the streets of Toronto for CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK, the annual music conference that showcases acts from across the world. Since there’s no way you can be at 55 venues at the same time, BLARE has created a list featuring artists you really can’t miss. It does exclude the obvious (Die Mannequin, Land Of Talk), but it’s full of talent designed for reckless headbanging, toe-tapping and long walks on the beach.

For your CMW 2011 fix, keep a tab on @blaremag

________________________________________________________________

SHARKS

(LEAMINGTON SPA, ENGLAND | WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SHARKS)
“Channeling blue-collar punk with a tiny bit of that ole’ rock n’ roll”

________________________________________________________________

COCKY AMERICANS

(DALLAS, TX | WWW.MYSPACE.COM/COCKYAMERICANS)
“If The Black Keys slapping The Strokes made a sound”

________________________________________________________________

THE DARCYS

(TORONTO, ON | WWW.THEDARCYS.CA)
“Known for their talent, one of Toronto’s rising guitar acts “

________________________________________________________________

SHAD

(LONDON, ON | WWW.SHADK.COM)
“An intelligent mind, Shad is the rap game’s lower-class prizefighter “

________________________________________________________________

BRAVESTATION

(TORONTO, ON | WWW.MYSPACE.COM/BRAVESTATION)
“Intoxicating indie pop with the lush satisfaction you’d expect from Foals”

________________________________________________________________

CADENCE WEAPON

(EDMONTON, AB | WWW.CADENCEWEAPONMUSIC.COM)
“Local MC who doesn’t shy away from the light, or experimentation”

________________________________________________________________

ILLSCARLETT

(MISSISSAUGA, ON | WWW.ILLSCARLETT.COM)
“A toxic mix of reggae and alternative rock”

________________________________________________________________

DINOSAUR BONES

(TORONTO, ON | WWW.MYSPACE.COM/DINOSAURBONESBAND)
“An example of a Canadian rock outfit climbing its way to the top”

________________________________________________________________

LISTENER

(ATLANTA, GA | WWW.MYSPACE.COM/LISTENER)
“Abstract. Imaginative. Refreshing.”

________________________________________________________________

YOUNG GALAXY

(VANCOUVER, BC | WWW.YOUNGGALAXY.COM)
“Two songwriters becoming entwined in waves of dream rock”

________________________________________________________________

BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB

(LONDON, ENGLAND | WWW.BOMBAYBICYCLECLUBMUSIC.COM)
“Quirky indie jams? Yes, but the talent is undeniable”

________________________________________________________________

JANELLE MONAE

(KANSAS CITY, KS | WWW.JMONAE.COM)
“Providing a definition for “fresh”, Janelle Monae is a revolutionary”

________________________________________________________________

MEMORYHOUSE

(GUELPH, ON | WWW.MYSPACE.COM/WEAREMEMORYHOUSE)
“Ready to run, the trio have the ability to lap their genre’s competition”

________________________________________________________________

PROTEST THE HERO

(WHITBY, ON | WWW.PROTESTTHEHERO.COM)
“An artistic explosion of music”

________________________________________________________________

ESBEN AND THE WITCH

(BRIGHTON, ENGLAND | WWW.ESBENANDTHEWITCH.CO.UK)
“Raucous atmospheric rock built with a dark, personal touch”

________________________________________________________________

COURAGE MY LOVE

(KITCHENER, ON | WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MERCEDESANDPHOENIX)
“A trip back to emotional pop punk driven by melodic outbursts”

________________________________________________________________

THE PACK AD

(VANCOUVER, BC | WWW.THEPACKAFTERDEATH.COM)
“Grim southern blues all the cool kids listen to”

________________________________________________________________

THE TARGETS

(WINSFORD, ENGLAND | WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THEUKTARGETS)
“A glimpse at the underground British Invasion”

________________________________________________________________

JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW

(DUBLIN, IRELAND | WWW.JAMESVMCMORROW.COM)
“Only a few voices can make your body surrender to every word”

________________________________________________________________

THE DAMN TRUTH

(MONTREAL, QC | WWW.THEDAMNTRUTH.COM)
“The cover says contemporary, the potential proves their more”

________________________________________________________________