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Play Taxi Media

Hailing a cab this NXNE? Us too. We’re hitching a ride with Play Taxi Media.

When you’re venue hopping in the back of a taxi, take a break from people watching out the window and instead pay attention to the television screen. You might see a quick little reminder of just a handful of the artists you can see at NXNE 2014 (assuming, of course, that you’ve got yourself a Badge/Wristband.)

Haven’t seen our 2014 trailer yet? Shock! Horror! General disbelief! … Find it below.

Play Taxi Media was originally published on NXNE

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NXNE Festival Village at Edward Day Gallery

NXNE is taking over the Edward Day Gallery (952 Queen St W #200) and the MOCCA Courtyard, turning it into our festival lounge from June 18-22.

Come for the daytime BBQ and Exclaim! TV recording session, then stay for the music, with artists such as Le1f, Small Black, and Eagulls presented by SESAC; The Pizza Underground’s ‘free pizza’ party; a DIY Label and Art Fair presented by People Put Out Productions, Sonic Boom, and NXNE (with performances by Greys, Sonic Avenues, Young Mother, and more); and performances by Veronica Vasicka, co-founder of NYC’s East Village Radio, as well as Kontravoid, LA COPS, Doomsquad, Maica Mia, Ancient Ocean, and more.

Thursday, June 19th 6:00 pm – LA COPS 7:00 pm – Doomsquad 8:00 pm – Ancient Ocean 9:00 pm – Maica Mia 10:00 pm – Lydia Ainsworth 11:00 pm – Kontravoid 12:00 am – Veronica Vasicka

Friday, June 20th 10:30 am – The Pizza Underground (Pizza Party) 1:30 pm – (VIP Event) — 8:00 pm – Laurel 9:00 pm – Lux Deluxe 10:00 pm – Caddywhompus 11:00 pm – Eagulls 12:00 am – Small Black 1:00 am – Le1f

Sunday, June 22 11:00 am – DIY Label and Art Fair 1:00 pm – Carl Didur 2:00 pm – Wizard Of 3:00 pm – Greys 4:00 pm – Young Mother 5:00 pm – Sonic Avenues 6:00 pm – White Poppy 7:00 pm – Wish

Access to the Edward Day Gallery comes with your NXNE Badge or Wristband. Stay up to date with all the comings-and-goings over on the schedulizer.

NXNE Festival Village at Edward Day Gallery was originally published on NXNE

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Showcase: Tin Angel Records

Spend your Friday night with Tin Angel Records. They’ll be down at The Drake Hotel Underground on Friday, June 20, with the UK label presenting some of the best in Canadian and Scottish pop and folk rock. Get there early for Devon Sproule’s 7 pm kickoff and plan to stay late with Quatro taking the stage at midnight for a “visual quest.”

The Drake Hotel Underground (1150 Queen St W) | Friday, June 20th 7:00 pm – Devon Sproule 8:00 pm – Bernice 9:00 pm – John Southworth 10:00 pm – Marker Starling 11:00 pm – Trembling Bells 12:00 am – Quatro

RSVP to the Facebook event.

More information over on the schedulizer. Get in for this + much more with the NXNE Badge/Wristband.

Showcase: Tin Angel Records was originally published on NXNE

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Showcase: Burn Down The Capital @ The Great Hall – June 18

Start your NXNE Music off right (and maybe a little weird) on Wednesday, June 18 with Burn Down The Capital‘s showcase at The Great Hall. There’ll be noise funk, kraut space jams, a healthy helping of freak jazz, and possibly some nudity for good measure. We’d explain more, but that kind of speaks for itself.

The Great Hall (1087 Queen St W) | Wednesday, June 18th 9:00 pm – Horse Lords 10:00 pm – Guerilla Toss 11:00 pm – Many Arms 12:00 am – Kirin J Callinan

RSVP to the Facebook event.

More information on the schedulizer; get in with your NXNE Badge/Wristband.

Showcase: Burn Down The Capital @ The Great Hall – June 18 was originally published on NXNE

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Showcase: A3C's Best In Show @ Studio Bar – June 20

If you’ve been paying attention to the NXNE schedulizer, you’ve probably noticed the fact that we’ve got a lot of great hip hop on offer. Whether it’s established names or the up-and-coming MCs your after, there’s definitely enough to fill your music-going time.

One of those showcases comes from Atlanta’s A3C festival.

Based off the concept of the A3C x SXSW Showcase that happened earlier this year, The Best In Show shines a light on several independent artists from North American markets. This showcase also marks the first time A3C is crossing the border into Canada, bringing along A3C’s own history, values, and talent. This showcase also symbolizes building bridges between the American and Canadian markets and developing relationships that benefit unsigned artists on both sides of the border.

It takes place at the Studio Bar on Friday, June 20, with artists from across the United States and Canada. Trust us: turn up ’cause it’s going to be good.

Studio Bar (824 Dundas St W) | Friday, June 20th 8:00 pm – The Bass6 9:00 pm – Austin Millz 10:00 pm – Flex The Antihero 10:20 pm – Soul Khan 10:40 pm – Ro Spit 11:00 pm – EarthGang 11:20 pm – Dow Timo 11:40 pm – Michael Christmas 12:00 am – Dutch ReBelle 12:20 am – Kydd Jones 12:40 am – Immerze 1:00 am – Doughbeezy

More information on it all over here.

Get in on this & the rest of the music with your NXNE Badge/Wristband.

      Showcase: A3C’s Best In Show @ Studio Bar – June 20 was originally published on NXNE

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If you’re looking for free shows during NXNE, we’ve got this to add to your frugal calendars… though when we say “free”, we warn you that you may end up buying a new wardrobe during our GAP in-stores. We’ll be at the corner of Queen & Peter on Saturday, June 21 for an afternoon of free shows from three bands. It’ll be the perfect soundtrack for all your browsing & wardrobing needs.

GAP (375 Queen St W) | Saturday, June 21st 2:00 pm – Joywave 3:00 pm – Beach Day 4:00 pm – Craft Spells

This is a free and all-ages show.

More details at the schedulizer.

was originally published on NXNE

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DIY Label and Art Fair

If you can survive all the NXNE madness until Sunday, June 22nd, you’re going to need to be able to wake up early. People Put Out Productions, Sonic Boom, and NXNE present the DIY Label and Art Fair.

Check out records, tapes, art, zines, and photography from local labels, musicians, and artists. The day starts off with a record swap at 11:00 am, then keeps on going with an all-day courtyard BBQ and live performances. Over 40 labels and artists will be in attendance.

NXNE Festival Village at Edward Day Gallery (925 Queen St W) | Sunday, June 22nd 10:00 am – doors open 11:00 am to 1:00 am – record swap 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm – DIY Label & Art Fair

Labels in attendance: Arachnidiscs Recordings, Art Drug Records, Arts & Crafts, Bruised Tongue Records, Buzz Records, Coalition Records, Dine Alone Records, Disembraining Songs, Eternal Bummer Records, Hand Drawn Dracula, Healing Power Records, Hosehead Records, IndoorShoes, Inyrdisk Records, Medusa Editions, Mammoth Cave Recording Co., Optical Sounds, Out of Sound Records, Pansy Twist Distro, Pleasence Records, Reel Cod Records, Schizophrenic Records, Telephone Explosion, Underground Operations

Distro/shops in attendance: Weird Canada, Sonic Boom

Recording studios in attendance: Candle Recording 

Art, blogs, and photographers in attendance: Blanket Fort, Ivy Lovell, Keith Jones, Mechanical Forest Sound, MusicSheBlogged, My Favorite Band Tee, Steve Manale, YOSH Photography

Performance Schedule: 1:00 pm – Carl Didur 2:00 pm – Wizard Of 3:00 pm – Wish 4:00 pm – Young Mother 5:00 pm – Sonic Avenues 6:00 pm – Unfinished Business 7:00 pm – Greys

Plus indoor DJ sets from: Human Mane, New Chance, Rave Tapes (Brandon from Most People) & special guests.

For the good news: this is free. For more information, check out the Facebook event.

More information at the schedulizer.

  DIY Label and Art Fair was originally published on NXNE

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Girls Rock Camp ROCKS – June 14

We’ve teamed up with the great people at Girls Rock Camp Toronto for a full-day of music, crafts, games, films, and workshops.

Girls Rock Camp Toronto offers girls and young women aged 8-16 of all musical abilities and economic backgrounds a safe space to learn an instrument of their choice, while providing strong female mentors and role models, and tools to develop life skills and confidence. Professional musicians act as band coaches and instrument instructors. Fundamental music theory, improvisation, and performance are developed along with communication, patience, empathy, and negotiation skills.

On the music side of things, Girls Rock Camp’s finest rockers make their NXNE and Harbourfront Centre debut as they perform some of their favourite songs on the Redpath Stage.

Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay W) | Saturday, June 14th 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm with Unfinished Business, Unicorn Patrol, and Brighid Fry More information here.

There will also be a screening of Girls Rock! The Movie at Studio Theatre at 2:00 pm (head here for details) & a session of Women Who Rock! Bingo! at Boulevard Tent from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm (more on that here.)

This is an all-ages, free event – so no excuses on missing out.

For more, head to the schedulizer.

Girls Rock Camp ROCKS – June 14 was originally published on NXNE

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Art: Space Monkey Toronto

Welcome to Space. Brooklyn’s Dawn of Man brings their dancing space monkey to the streets of Toronto.

Wednesday, June 18 & Thursday, June 19 at various places.

Tickets for NXNE 2014 are available here.

Endless Monkey Detroit from Dawn Of Man on Vimeo.

Art: Space Monkey Toronto was originally published on NXNE

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Panache/M For Montreal 4th Annual Bruise Cruise

Land is overrated and, as is tradition, during NXNE you can get your music on the great lake. The Panache/M for Montreal Bruise Cruise returns for its fourth year.

We’ll set sail on Lake Ontario on Saturday, June 21st – and this year’s edition is bound to get both wet and wild as Mac DeMarco plays host.

Saturday, June 21st | Queens Quay Terminal (207 Queens Quay W)

12:00 pm – boarding*

1:15 pm – departure

1:15 pm – The Posterz

2:00 pm – Walter TV

2:45 pm – Calvin Love

3:30 pm – PS I Love You

4:30 pm – dock time

More information when you RSVP to the Facebook event.

*Don’t get left behind. There’s limited space on board the boat, so arrive early if you want to cruise on. Also, speaking from experience: wear SPF. You don’t want to be the lobster at YDS.

The Bruise Cruise is free with your NXNE Badge or Wristband, or $10 if you’re without (… we’ll assume you have a good reason.) Tickets for NXNE 2014 are available here.

Panache/M For Montreal 4th Annual Bruise Cruise was originally published on NXNE

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Art: The NXNE Photo Show

In celebration of NXNE’s 20th anniversary and as part of NXNE Art, The Black Cat plays host to IT’S BETTER TO BEG FOR FORGIVENESS THAN TO ASK FOR PERMISSION – The NXNE Photo Show.

While our beloved/talented photographers get access to capture the action, that doesn’t always mean things go quite as planned… join us to remember some festival highlights from over the years with photos from: Aaron Miller, Amanda Fotes, Albert Lee, Andrija Dimitrijevic, David Waldman, Dylan Leeder, Frederick Atangan, Ivy Lovell, Jackie Brown, Joseph Fuda, Kate Killet, Laura Pop, Lisa Marie Kruchak, Matthew Browszkowski, Natty Emme, Nick Merzetti, and Phil Brennen.

The Black Cat (3513 Dundas St W)

Open to public – Friday, June 13th to Wednesday, June 18th | 1:00 – 6:00 pm

Party – Tuesday, June 17th | 7:30 pm until late

More information on the schedulizer. Badges & wristbands available here.

Photo by Laura Pop

Art: The NXNE Photo Show was originally published on NXNE

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Film: Born To Ruin

After debuting his last two features on The Meligrove Band & Young Rival at NXNE, filmmaker Brendan McCarney is back for another debut. This time, he’s turning the camera on hometown favourites Wildlife.

Born To Ruin follows Toronto-based band Wildlife as they record their sophomore album, On the Heart. Recorded and mixed in Bridgeport, Connecticut with legendary producer Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, Local Natives,) with additional recording in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with Gus Van Go (Hollerado, The Stills, Rah Rah.)

The film is a candid and sincere look at life in the studio: writing, jamming, boredom, drinking, laughing, fighting, and celebrating. An incredibly honest view into the lives of five best friends, as they try to write and record an album to lift them beyond the Toronto indie-rock scene. Nothing censored. Nothing off-limits.

Shot by Brendan McCarney over 3 months, and edited by Mike Gillespie, Born To Ruin will inevitably change the common perception of life in a music studio.

Born To Ruin screens with At the Corner of Queen and Bathurst at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema on Saturday, June 14th at 3:00 pm. Check out the trailer below, then bring your question. Following the screening, director Brendan McCarney and Wildlife will participate in a Q&A.

Find out more on NXNE Film at the schedulizer. If you want all of NXNE Film, get your Badges & Wristbands over here. If you’re undecided and only want to see the one, individual tickets are here.

Film: Born To Ruin was originally published on NXNE

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Showcase: Hidden Pony Records @ The Horseshoe Tavern – June 20

Say sorry to your bosses, but you need to skip work. On Friday, June 20 Hidden Pony Records is celebrating five years – with some help from their friends at Indie88Toronto – and throwing a day-bash to celebrate. (You might notice that Odds are playing and the answer is: yes – those Odds. So you’re going to want to be there.)

You don’t need to bring a gift, but you might be lucky enough to walk away with one… Watch out for special prizing while you’re watching great bands. What a deal.

Need a ride there? Go with HAILO. The Taxi Magnet. Use the promo code “HBHP” and receive $10 off your ride. 

The Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen St W) | Friday, June 20th 12:00 pm – doors open 12:30 pm – Royal Tusk 1:30 pm – The Danks 2:30 pm – Rah Rah 3:50 pm – Odds

Let them know you’re coming via the Facebook event.

More to see and do at the schedule (assuming, of course, you’ve got your NXNE Badge/Wristband.)

Showcase: Hidden Pony Records @ The Horseshoe Tavern – June 20 was originally published on NXNE

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No NXNE is complete without a trip to The Garrison and Hand Drawn Dracula & Artificial Records are providing a great reason to not just stop by the Dundas and Ossington haunt, but stay there all night long. Tacos don’t hurt either.

The Garrison (1197 Dundas St W) | Friday, June 20th 8:00 pm – North America 9:00 pm – Tiers 10:00 pm – Weeknight 11:00 pm – Beliefs 12:00 am – Crystal Stilts 1:00 am – DOOMSQUAD 2:00 am – Wish

For more on the schedule, head over here. You’re also going to want to get your hands (or wrists, as it were) on NXNE Badges & Wristbands.

was originally published on NXNE

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Showcase: Toronto Pride @ The Drake Hotel – June 21

We’ve teamed up with Toronto Pride to help celebrate the first-ever WorldPride celebrations in North America – happening in the great city of Toronto.

Wave your rainbow flag proud, because headlining the showcase is Tom Robinson. Robinson was one of the first openly gay musicians and is someone who uses his music as a force for good, promoting LGBT rights. His single “Glad to be Gay” was written for a London gay pride parade in 1976, and remains an anthem to this very day. This will be Robinson’s only North American appearance.

Also on the bill are rising Toronto acts WTCHS and Urvah Khan. Arrive early for a retrospective set of 70’s/80’s British queer-themed music by DJ Triple-X, starting at 8 pm, then stay late with Diggy The DJ.

Drake Hotel Underground (1155 Queen St W) | Saturday, June 21st 7:00 pm – doors open 8:00 pm – DJ Triple-X 9:00 pm – Tom Robinson 10:00 pm – WTCHS 11:00 pm – Urvah Khan 12:00 am – Diggy The DJ

Find the Facebook event here.

The NXNE schedule is over here. Tickets to get in for the show come with your NXNE Badge/Wristband.

Showcase: Toronto Pride @ The Drake Hotel – June 21 was originally published on NXNE

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Thus Owls - "Could I But Dream that Dream Once More" on Exclaim! TV

Before Thus Owls get to NXNE, Exclaim! catches up with the Swedish/Canadian group – who give us all a good reason to add them to our June schedules. Read the article below or over here.

THUS OWLS – “Could I But Dream that Dream Once More” on Exclaim! TV By Bradley Zorgdrager

Thus Owls are a truly international affair. The Sweden-to-Montreal transplanting of husband and wife duo Erika and Simon Angell resulted in the addition of two Canadians to a lineup that also includes Swedish bassist Martin Höper. “Could I But Dream that Dream Once More” takes that one step further, with lyrics based on passages from Japanese novelist Murusaki Shikubi’s Genji Monogatari. The main couple performed a “paired down” version of the track for Exclaim! TV.

The song, which kicks off with some unsettling Autoharp chords, is met with Erika’s silvery singing before Simon joins in with the twinkling plucking of his guitar. She appears lost in the song, while his brow is furrowed as he alternates between picking and strumming his instrument.

North By Northeast will see the group playing The Garrison in Toronto on June 18, followed by a string of Canadian dates throughout Ontario and Quebec.

Until then, view the haunting performance of the song based on a millennium-old tome in the player below.

Tour Dates: 06/30 Montreal, QC – Club Soda 07/01 Ottawa, ON – Marion Dewar Plaza (Ottawa Jazz Festival) 07/04 Québec, QC – Impérial de Québec 07/10 Sherbrooke, QC – Scène Extérieure and Boquébière (SherBlues & Folk Festival) 08/09 Kemptville, ON – Wolfe Island Music Festival 10/18 Ottawa, ON – The NAC Theatre

Filmed by Katherine Kwan Audio by Nash Bussieres Edited by Bradley Zorgdrager

NXNE 2014 tickets are available here, and that will get you in to see Thus Owls at The Garrison on Wednesday, June 18 at 11 pm. More details on that at the schedulizer.

Thus Owls – “Could I But Dream that Dream Once More” on Exclaim! TV was originally published on NXNE

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Wish - "Nothing to Say" on Exclaim! TV

Some band names are easy to Google. Others, considerably less so. Thankfully Exclaim! is there to do the heavy-lifting/research for us all and caught up with Toronto’s Wish – a band that definitely falls in the latter of the two Google categories. Find the article & video on Wish below or over at their website.

Wish – “Nothing to Say” on Exclaim! TV By Bradley Zorgdrager

Finding Toronto-based band Wish online is a bit like looking for a wish granting four-leaf clover: it takes some searching, and your efforts might appear fruitless at first, but ultimately perseverance will pay off.

Luckily for you, Exclaim! is aiming to make your hunt that much easier with an Exclaim! TV session of the tricky to trace dream pop act, which features members of Beliefs, Milk Lines and Decades.

Despite performing “Nothing To Say,” the collective certainly do have something to say, as the shimmering soundscapes are topped with vocals courtesy of Kyle Connolly (of Breeze/Elk fame). While the words are indecipherable, the way they easily mesh with the music only elevates Wish’s floating appeal.

You can catch Wish live on Friday, June 20 at The Garrison as part of North By Northeast (where they’ll presumably be less elusive than they are online).

In the meantime, watch the nearly Internet-invisible band while we’ve got them pinned down in the Exclaim! TV session below.

Filmed by Roberto Granados-Ocon Audio by Josh Korody Edited by Bradley Zorgdrager

We’re not genies, so we’re only giving you two chances to see Wish at NXNE. Stay up late to catch them Friday, June 20 at 2 am at The Garrison. If you’re not-so-much a night owl, they’re also playing NXNE Festival Village at Edward Day Gallery on Sunday, June 22 at 7 pm.

More information on the schedulizer & NXNE tickets are available here.

Wish – “Nothing to Say” on Exclaim! TV was originally published on NXNE