inTO Music: NXNE invades…everywhere

Yonge Dundas Square offers some major big ticket musicians–for FREE!

It’s that time of year again when the streets of Toronto fill with music enthusiasts and you can no longer get your favourite seat at the local watering hole. And like every year, I spend a solid hour looking through the schedule trying to pack in the most I can.

This is where the NXNE App comes in. Offering the most complete and up to date programming information for NXNE Music, Film, Comedy, Interactive and Art featuring a map to help navigate T.O., and links to Facebook, Instagram and twitter feed, so you’re always in the know. Available for iPhone and Android.

The big news this year is the lottery series where NXNE wristband and pass holders can gain free entry to some of the hottest shows in Toronto including The Weeknd on Thursday, June 13 at the Virgin Mobile Mod Club. Agnostic Front at Hard Luck Bar, Rancid and Dropkick Murphys at Echo Beach, The Man at Phoenix Concert Theatre, Postal Service at the Air Canada Centre and more.  Entry will be determined by random lottery.  You can find more information here.

If you’re into big shows and big crowds and don’t want to open your wallet, Grammy award winning recording artist Ludacris, star of Fast & Furious 6, will headline the show on Sunday, June 16 at Yonge-Dundas Square that currently features Joey Bada$$, Smif N’ Wessun, Fat Tony, The Underachievers and Mickey Avalon. Yonge-Dundas Square continues to be the main stage throughout the festival for free concerts with some big headliners.

I’ve asked people to send me recommendations on the bands that interest them and thought I’d highlight them here:

FLAG

FLAG are performing at the Opera House in the NXNE Spotlight series on the 14^th. They’re the band of former Black Flag members Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, Bill Stevenson, Dez Cadena, and Descendants guitarist Stephen Egerton.

British foursome Peace is bringing their riffed out pop and lovedrunk ballads across the globe to NXNE on the 15^th. With their debut LP In Love dubbed “the finest British debut of the year” on the cover of NME, the boys from Birmingham are set to make North America swoon on their first tour across the pond.

There are a few chances to Brazos see live – on the 14^th at Sneaky Dee’s and on the 15^th at St. James Park and The Great Hall. The band just released their new album, Saltwater. The band is masterminded by Martin Crane, though they record & play live as a 3-piece with Ian Chang on and Spencer Zahn on bass. “I think this record is about learning how to be alone. It’s an odyssey out into deep solitude in order to really get a grasp of myself,” describes Crane.

Jacuzzi Boys emerged from deep within the Florida wilds, three radioactive dudes cawing for their piece of electric rock pie. It’s been described as garage pop with a psychedelic twist. They will be at Lee’s Palace on the 17^th with Alabama surf rockers Man or Astro-Man?

And if you’re interested in live art, as NXNE moves beyond music to art and interactive, SUPERSKETCH, the live art and music event from South Korea is performing June 12^th at the Norman Felix Gallery. With the use of classic old school overhead projectors, our artists create dynamic visual performances in tandem with live performances from a cross section of some amazing musicians from the Toronto music scene. Bonus? Entry is free with a NXNE wristband.  

Keeping up with NXNE is even easier this year with foursquare check-ins and following friends on Twitter. There’s always a happening scene somewhere in the city. Follow me all weekend as I check-in and tweet on some of the sights and sounds of NXNE.