This is the week of the Halifax Pop Explosion, which means there’s plenty of great acts touring through the Maritimes over the next week or two. Fredericton venues like the Capital, Crumbs and Nikki Zee’s are hosting a variety of acts that are sure to make this one of the best weeks for concerts of the year.
Wednesday, October 21
Slow Down, Molasses at Crumbs 8-11 $5
Slow Down, Molasses are on tour promoting their debut I’m An Old Believer. The record is a superb collaboration of Saskatoon musicians making guitar heavy folk rock – kind of like Broken Social Scene if Will Oldham were at the helm. For $5 this is sure to be a worthwhile show.
www.myspace.com/slowdownmolasses
Diemonds , Rusted Dawn at Nikki Zee’s $4.75 or FREE with Valid Student ID
Bringing their “Loud N’Nasty”tour through Fredericton is Diemonds, Toronto’s self-proclaimed “finest and filthiest” rock and roll band. This should be a messy affair, with Fredericton’s Rusted Dawn bringing a thrashy punch to the opening slot.
www.myspace.com/diemonds
www.myspace.com/rusteddawn
Thursday, October 22
Oh No Forest Fires, Olenka & the Autumn Lovers, Sports at the Capital
Oh No Forest Fires’debut EP The War on Geometry is a jagged and eclectic collection of pop songs. Their live set is said to be equally as rambunctious, so this should be a great show. Olenka has a fragile voice backed by a large cast of percussion and string instruments. She has a haunting baroque sound that should translate into an intimate performance.
www.myspace.com/ohnoforestfires
www.myspace.com/olenkalovers
www.myspace.com/sportstheband
Friday, October 23
Rose Cousins, Royal Wood at the Charlotte Streets Arts Centre
You may recognize Rose Cousins from the backing vocals she provided to Joel Plaskett’s latest Three, but more recently she has put the finishing touches to a new record The Send Off. Accompanying the folk songstress is Royal Wood, an Ontario singer-songwriter whose 2007 album A Good Enough Day is a fantastic collection of quiet love songs.
www.myspace.com/rosecousins
www.myspace.com/royalwood
Attack in Black, Bruce Peninsula, Yukon Blonde at the Capital $8
Attack in Black’s new album, Years (by One Thousand Fingertips), completes their turn to a rock and roll infused alt-country band. Bruce Peninsula are probably my favorite band on this list, and are an incredibly powerful live act. Made up of anywhere between six and twelve members, half of the band acts as a haunting gospel choir, with the other members providing strong back-up. Live reviews say Bruce Peninsula concerts can be a “moving experience”.
www.myspace.com/attackinblack
www.myspace.com/brucepeninsula
www.myspace.com/yukonblondeband
Saturday, October 24
Dan Mangan, Will Currie, Lake of Stew at the Capital
Vancouver resident Dan Mangan was recently named the XM Radio artist of the year. His self-referential lyricism and quick wit make for wily indie-folk. His record Nice, Nice, Very Nice is tons of moments of neck-hair-raised-intimacy. Will Currie and the Country French are a poppy rock band fronted by Will and Amanda Currie. Lake of Stew are a six-piece string band from Montreal, whose subtle approach to folk music is endearing and engaging.
www.myspace.com/danmangan
www.myspace.com/willcurrieandthecountryfrench
www.myspace.com/lakeofstew
Sunday, October 25
Mike Doyle, Benjamin Ross at Crumbs $5 or $3 w/ Student ID
Fredericton based music collective Foodclothingshelter Music presents this acoustic show at Crumbs. Ross and Doyle are both Fredericton residents, with a repertoire of powerful folk songs that should make this a relaxed and excellent end to your weekend.
www.myspace.com/thebenjaminrosssound
You Say Party! We Say Die! Play Guitar at the Capital $8
And if you’d rather close out your weekend with a party, come out to the Capital and see this punk-mixed dance show. YSPWSD have a rowdy live show that rarely allows for a stop to catch your breath.
www.myspace.com/yousaypartywesaydie
www.myspace.com/playguitarplayguitar
