March 19th-24th Canadian Music Week @ various locations. Over 1,000 artists play 60 venues across the city across six nights. Check out our top picks for the week!

WEDNESDAY

8:30 pm Speak Easy @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. A night of expression consisting of spoken word artists, rappers, singers, etc. There will be an open mic prior to the show, giving many the opportunity to share their dose of positivity. $5.

9 pm Fear Street @ Sex Laser, 1369 Dundas St W. Horror/sci-fi movie scores/songs from soundtracks, or spooky/cool stuff every Wednesday. Maybe you’ll talk about movies. Maybe you’ll dance with some zombies. Maybe you’ll fall into the Hell Mouth. $3 PBR before 11 pm.

10 pm Heart & Strokes @ Monarch Tavern (upstairs), 12 Clinton St. Time to get your dance on, every Wednesday until Armageddon! Come for the Heart, stay for the Strokes.

10 pm Sha Na Na @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. DJ Brittney (one half of the Bangs & Blush duo) plays jukebox hits and makeout songs all night long.

10 pm Bowie Bar Wednesdays @ Andy Poolhall, 489 College St. DJs Avery, Doc Benway, and Guests play music by David Bowie and Bowie-esque tunes. Drink specials until midnight.

10 pm Common People @ The Midpoint, 1180 Queen St. W. DJ Tigermilk plays a mix of post-punk, alternative, Brit-pop, seminal to current indie rock, and whatever else. $4 mixed drinks before 11 pm, $4 tequila, $5 Jameson, $5 pints of PBR, and $7 mug + shot.

10 pm I’m With The Band @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. Every Wednesday, a different band and their friends DJ in the front room. This Wednesday, Richie Volume (B-17, The Disraelis, Saffron Sect, Hoa Hoa’s) and friends play you some really nice Wednesday night jams while you drink fine liquors and (if you’re early enough) eat fantastic tacos. 4 AM LAST CALL.

THURSDAY

9 pm Cult 45 (CMW Event) @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. CMW and Monster Energy present Cult 45: exclusive vinyl 45 DJ sets from Nu-Mark, Diamond D, Mat The Alien, Vinyl Ritchie, Pump, and Illo. Hosted by Community 54. 4 AM LAST CALL. $10 or free with a CMW wristband. For guestlist, email guestlist@wrongbar.com.

10 pm Elevated: A Night With Toronto’s Rap Community @ Crawford, 718 College St. A special CMW event with performances and DJ sets by The Bass 6, Jake Bluez, Adriano Armani, Little T (13-year-old rap sensation!) feat. DJ Cross, DJ Soundskan, DJ Shortcut, and Mike Stoan. 4 AM LAST CALL. Limited wristbands/passes accepted. 

10 pm Under The Influence Birthday Tour @ Bass Line, 865 Bloor St. W. DJs Blaster (Montreal), Caff, F-Bomb, and others play hip-hop, dancehall, trap, and club on the big Bass Line Sound System. Part of the 8+ date tour celebrating Jesse Walker’s birthday.

10 pm Experiments With Ice @ Sex Laser, 1369 Dundas St. W. DJs Loose Tooth, Sarin, and D. Lush play obsolescent 2-bit drum-beat , techno-boredom, minimal waving , anachronistic spacebeat, industrial dumps, etc., etc., etc. $3 PBR before 11 pm.

FRIDAY

10 pm Indies Awards Afterparty (CMW Event) @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. CMW and Monster Energy present the Official Indie Awards Afterparty. With Colemen Hell, Plaster, Digits, Dirty Radio, Nightbox, and a DJ set by Diamond Rings. 4 AM LAST CALL. $10 or free with a CMW wristband. For guestlist, email guestlist@wrongbar.com.

10 pm Neat Neat Neat @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave. Anything and everything to the tune of Brit-pop, shoegaze, twee, indie, madchester, post-punk, new wave, and mod.

10 pm 1995 @ Mr. Pong’s Bar, 1576 Dundas St. W. DJ Scott Wade plays everything and anything circa-1995.

10 pm Toronto’s Best DJs (CMW Event) @ Crawford, 718 College St. DJs WLFPK, Blaster, and Aphiliyaded handle the main floor while DJs D-Bonez, Freeza Chin and Shai (Return of the Double Dragons), and D-Wiz (Still Fly) keep things sweaty in the basement. Drink specials include $5 Dock 57 Spiced Rye, $7 wide mouth Canadian bottles, and $10 1L of PBR (keep the cup). 4 AM LAST CALL. Limited wristbands/passes accepted.

10 pm Late Nights @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. DJs LoloLacey and YoBrotherford play hip-hop and R&B. Free before 11 pm, $5 after.

10 pm Air Horns @ Andy Poolhall, 489 College St. Vocalist Lido Pimienta (Colombia) joins DJs Fathom, Dos Mundos, and Caff. Dance to the best in tropical bass, dancehall, hip-hop, R&B, and

club (and grab a pool table or play one of the new pinball games, too)! Free before 10 pm, $5 before midnight, $10 after.

10 pm Foundry 2013 @ Blk Box Theatre, 1087 Queen St. W. Foundry is a collaborative month-long series of showcases dedicated to forward-thinking global talent in non-traditional spaces. The first project of its kind in Toronto, they’ve integrated several concepts to create an immersive, multi-sensory experience for our city’s music lovers: the conversion of a unique location; thoughtful series based curation with international artists and local tastemakers; as well as experimentation with technology and music. Featuring Martyn, Kevin McPhee, Nautiluss, and Mymanhenri; curated by 92 BPM. $15 advance tickets available at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Play De Record, and online. $15 reduced guestlist (valid until midnight and does not guarantee entry) available here.

10 pm All That 2 Year Anniversary @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. A 90’s night like no other! DJs Streets and LK play mostly hip-hop, dirty R&B, and club kid jams in celebration of their two-year anniversary. $5.

10 pm Open @ Margret, 2952 Dundas St. W. DJ Corey Dawkins plays neo-soul, hip-hop, reggae, house, R&B, futuristic beats, and more.

10 pm Brilliantine Presents: Actions #1 @ The May, 876 Dundas St. W. The launch of Brilliantine into the future. With DJs Linus Booth, Anti Hero, Futurewife, Vanity Muscles, Sweet Track, Hemingway, and Cyclist.

10:30 pm Tiger Bar Bounce: Freaks & Geeks Edition @ Tiger Bar (basement of the Crown & Tiger), 414 College St. Remember that short-lived TV show Freaks & Geeks? How could anyone forget? The bestworst 80s high school times with James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones… DJs Che and Nikita on music (classic rock, indie, etc.), Freaks & Geeks episodes on the big screen, drinks on the cheap, decorations on the walls, costumes encouraged. $4 beers!

10:30 pm Ugly II @ Magpie, 831 Dundas St. W. Throw some glitter on it and put your dukes up! Featuring the Busted Beauty Pageant, with the Grand Supreme Prize awarded to attendee deemed the most busted/smashed-up/thrashed. DJ Zeidy Sevilla plays post, garage, no-wave; DK Fox Xoft plays rock ‘n’ roll, punk, post; DJ K8 plays dance, darkdisko, tech.

10:30 pm Fuck U Fridays @ Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St. This month, FUF brings you performances by Monty Cantsin Amen, Ulysses Castellanos, and Mizz Duval + a hot burlesque number by El Toro. Toronto’s only punk rock drag queen Jenna Syde takes the stage for the Midnight Erotic Cabaret. Montreal’s Plastik Patrik guest DJs, spinning his own unique brand of electro-punk alongside resident DJ Triple-X. $5.

11 pm 7777777 Life Support: Indie Slamfest @ Detour Bar, 193 Baldwin St. DJ Adam Golfetto drops early 2000s indie bombs all night Come out to hear your favourite indie track, stay for all the other shit he’s going to play.

11 pm CMW Night 3 with Skratch Bastid @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. The Bastid has become one of Canada’s most in-demand DJs and respected producers. But it didn’t happen overnight. After pumping out mixtapes and earning a loyal following in his hometown of Halifax, Skratch began making an international name for himself through DJ competitions like the DMC, ITF and Cincinnati’s Scribble Jam, which he won three times. From there, the redhead went viral. Seriously, Youtube that shit. 4 AM LAST CALL. $10 or free with a CMW wristband.

SATURDAY

10 pm Toronto’s Best DJs (CMW Event) @ Crawford, 718 College St. DJs Sean Caff, kungfucandy, NaNa, and Kwesi handle the main floor while DJs DJ Combo, Law (music video dance party legend), and Vekked keep things sweaty in the basement. Drink specials include $5 Dock 57 Spiced Rye, $7 wide mouth Canadian bottles, and $10 1L of PBR (keep the cup). 4 AM LAST CALL. Limited wristbands/passes accepted.

10 pm Light Asylum + Kontravoid (CMW Event) @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. CMW and Monster Energy present DJ sets from Light Asylum and Kontravoid with support from Natural Animal, Kings of the North, Paradise Animals, and Lucine. 4 AM LAST CALL. $10 or free with a CMW wristband. For guestlist, email guestlist@wrongbar.com.

10 pm Myth Paradise Music @ The Midfield, 1434 Dundas St. W. A night of appreciating the good things in life: music, drinks, music, food, music, friends, music. Todd and Nep will provide the music. Christopher and Giuseppe will provide the drinks. The chefs will provide the food. You and your friends will provide the people.

10 pm Shake, Rattle & Roll (CMW Event) @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. A sexy, sweaty dance party! 60’s pop, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll played for you by the Bangs & Blush ladies. $5 with limited wristbands/passes accepted.

10 pm The Cure & Joy Division/New Order Fest @ Nocturne, 550 Queen St. W. Two rooms devoted to three of the most important bands of the 20th century! Zone 1: The Cure Fest with DJ Lazarus. Zone 2: Joy Division/New Order Fest with DJ Griz. $10.

10 pm Foundry 2013 @ Blk Box Theatre, 1087 Queen St. W. Foundry is a collaborative month-long series of showcases dedicated to forward-thinking global talent in non-traditional spaces. The first project of its kind in Toronto, they’ve integrated several concepts to create an immersive, multi-sensory experience for our city’s music lovers: the conversion of a unique location; thoughtful series based curation with international artists and local tastemakers; as well as experimentation with technology and music. Featuring Bicep, Members Only, and Lapelle; curated by Evening Standard. $15 advance tickets available at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Play De Record, and online. $15 reduced guestlist (valid until midnight and does not guarantee entry) available here.

10 pm Beam Me Up Disco @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. March’s edition is a special one, with the illustrious Dave Allison (a.k.a. Ed Wizard and Disco Double D) coming all the way from Montreal to help residents A Digital Needle and Cyclist bring you those soulful disco gems you can’t get enough of. $7 advance tickets available online, $10 at the door. 

10 pm Felix Cartal (CMW Event) @ The Hoxton, 69 Bathurst St. DJ set from Vancouver’s Felix Cartal with support from KTRON and Smoothcrooks. 4 AM LAST CALL. $15 advance tickets available at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Play De Record, and online. For guestlist, email steven@thehoxton.ca.

10 pm Discoball @ Margret, 2952 Dundas St. W. DJ Betti Forde plays french house, 90’s club, disco, and more!

10 pm F’unreal @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. Music for your dancing pleasure – anything goes! With pals Well Said, Slater, L-Sos, Kek, and Ty. $5.

10 pm All Souled Out @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. DJs Big Jimmy Mills and Sylvermayne play hip-hop, funk, soul, R&B, make-you-wanna-boogie dance party music.

11 pm CMW Night 4 with Paul E Lopes, Kaewonder, Dougie Boom & Lucie Tic @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. DJs Paul E. Lopes, Kaewonder, Dougie Boom, and Lucie Tic spin hip-hop, disco, funk, and more! 4 AM LAST CALL. $10 or free with a CMW wristband.

SUNDAY

2:30 pm Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour @ Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W. “The Banff Mountain Film Festival, a program of The Banff Centre, is the largest, and one of the most prestigious, mountain festivals in the world. Hot on the heels of the festival held every fall in Banff, Alberta, the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour hits the road. The 2012/2013 World Tour features a collection of the most inspiring action, environmental, and adventure films from the festival.” $20.

10 pm Mustache Rides Presents: Just Show Up @ Crawford, 718 College St. Performances by Boats, Mystics, First Base, Sam Adamyk Band, Sam Coffey and the Iron Lungs, Teenager, Sonic Avenues, and Ultimatemost High + DJ Joel French on the decks. 4 AM LAST CALL. $10 (note: this is not a CMW event so wristbands/passes will not be accepted).

10 pm Soul Machine @ Czehoski, 678 Queen St W. Funk and soul with DJ Caff. Wine, beer, and liquor specials all night long!

~ Caitlyn Holroyd 
(For event submissions, email caitlyn_holroyd@hotmail.com)