Basia Bulat

This overlooked singer-songwriter is another example of Canada’s talent pool being discovered first in the UK. Already signed to Rough Trade with an album slated for late April, this London, ON-based chanteuse is a diamond in the rough. Her voice suggests the lovechild of Joni Mitchell and Antony Hegarty (likely not), and the way she whimsically accelerates her own style of folk music shows some punk edge. Plus that handclap rhythm section is to die for! Touring across Canada in March with Great Lake Swimmers, she’s bound to steal the show. (www.myspace.com/basiamyspace)