2017 marks Exclaim!'s 25th anniversary, but we're not wasting time dwelling on the past — we're looking forward to another great year in Canadian music. To kick things off, we're teaming up with concert promoter Dan Burke to present the Class of 2017 concert series, featuring five nights of some of the best up-and-coming bands and artists.
The series, which Burke began in 2014, boasts alumni including Dilly Dally, Fresh Snow, Jef Ellise Barbara and FRIGS, and shows no sign of slowing down.
"Given the size of the music community in the region, and the continuous stream of talent coming into it, I just thought it would be an interesting thing to do to liven up January and create a vehicle to showcase worthy talent," says Burke.
The festivities begin at the Silver Dollar Room on January 6, headlined by Windsor-via-Sackville garage rockers Partner and jangle-pop group the Seams (featuring members of Fake Palms, Elsa and U.S. Girls). Peterborough slack rockers the Lonely Parade, dream rockers VEINS and new supergroup SIGIL (FRIGS' Bri Salmena backed up by members of HSY) round out the bill.
The guitar rock continues on January 14 at the Horseshoe Tavern with the ever-raucous New Swears and groove-laden indie popsters the Kents taking the top of the marquee. The bill also features a trio of up-and-coming Toronto rock bands: Possum, Crazy Bones and the Detours.
On January 20 at the Silver Dollar, we're teaming up with Ride the Tempo — another staunch supporter of Canadian independent music — for an evening helmed by folksy singer-songwriter Kirty, atmospheric balladeer STACEY, electro-popstress Maccie and slow-burning Montrealer Helena Deland.
The next night (January 21), longtime underground explorers Wavelength will co-present a moody showcase featuring Whitby shoegazers Chastity, bizarro punks Cellphone, post-punks Sahara, Yi (featuring Jesse Crowe of Beliefs) and the Sulks.
The series will end on an anthemic note on January 28 at the Horseshoe Tavern with the idiosyncratic pop of Shy Kids, baroque rock of Common Deer, rock-'n'-rollin' SATE and twangy folk of Raven Shields.
Stay tuned to Exclaim! for interviews with several of the Class of 2017, and keep your eye on our Facebook page for ticket giveaways and maybe even a new band or two. Also, don't forget to check out the Facebook events for the latest updates.
Class of 2017:
01/06 Partner / The Seams - Silver Dollar Room
01/14 New Swears / The Kents - Horseshoe Tavern
01/20 Kirty / STACEY - Silver Dollar Room
01/21 Chastity / Cellphone - Silver Dollar Room
01/28 Shy Kids / Common Deer - Horseshoe Tavern
The series, which Burke began in 2014, boasts alumni including Dilly Dally, Fresh Snow, Jef Ellise Barbara and FRIGS, and shows no sign of slowing down.
"Given the size of the music community in the region, and the continuous stream of talent coming into it, I just thought it would be an interesting thing to do to liven up January and create a vehicle to showcase worthy talent," says Burke.
The festivities begin at the Silver Dollar Room on January 6, headlined by Windsor-via-Sackville garage rockers Partner and jangle-pop group the Seams (featuring members of Fake Palms, Elsa and U.S. Girls). Peterborough slack rockers the Lonely Parade, dream rockers VEINS and new supergroup SIGIL (FRIGS' Bri Salmena backed up by members of HSY) round out the bill.
The guitar rock continues on January 14 at the Horseshoe Tavern with the ever-raucous New Swears and groove-laden indie popsters the Kents taking the top of the marquee. The bill also features a trio of up-and-coming Toronto rock bands: Possum, Crazy Bones and the Detours.
On January 20 at the Silver Dollar, we're teaming up with Ride the Tempo — another staunch supporter of Canadian independent music — for an evening helmed by folksy singer-songwriter Kirty, atmospheric balladeer STACEY, electro-popstress Maccie and slow-burning Montrealer Helena Deland.
The next night (January 21), longtime underground explorers Wavelength will co-present a moody showcase featuring Whitby shoegazers Chastity, bizarro punks Cellphone, post-punks Sahara, Yi (featuring Jesse Crowe of Beliefs) and the Sulks.
The series will end on an anthemic note on January 28 at the Horseshoe Tavern with the idiosyncratic pop of Shy Kids, baroque rock of Common Deer, rock-'n'-rollin' SATE and twangy folk of Raven Shields.
Stay tuned to Exclaim! for interviews with several of the Class of 2017, and keep your eye on our Facebook page for ticket giveaways and maybe even a new band or two. Also, don't forget to check out the Facebook events for the latest updates.
Class of 2017:
01/06 Partner / The Seams - Silver Dollar Room
01/14 New Swears / The Kents - Horseshoe Tavern
01/20 Kirty / STACEY - Silver Dollar Room
01/21 Chastity / Cellphone - Silver Dollar Room
01/28 Shy Kids / Common Deer - Horseshoe Tavern
