Roney & Nani

Roney & Nani are a 20 year old hip hop/electro/pop/house duo born and raised in Toronto, ON. Their musical interests came to together while attending Etobicoke School of the Arts, and finally came to fruition while performing with another local Toronto artist Scotty Dynamo last summer. With a knack for performing and tearing up stages, Roney & Nani are currently working on new singles while looking good!

Ryan G. Hinds

Ryan G. Hinds is an award-winning singer, actor, dancer, activist, and writer. His debut EP ‘RGH’ (which features original music by Edi) took his diva-licious tour throughout North America. Recently, Ryan debuted ‘Stadium’ at Buddies in Bad Times theatre to rave reviews. Described as ‘Dazzling’ by NOW Magazine, his Sylvester-meets-James Brown-meets-Judy Garland stage show is best experienced at full volume and with maximum glitter.

With his free time, as if it sounds like that would be possible, Ryan participates in the ARTWHERK! Collective, a space for queer and trans emerging artists to showcase their work during Pride Weekend. This year that space returns to the Art Gallery of Ontario. For more info, check out http://www.artwherk.ca/

Coko Galore

Eclectic is the best word to describe Coko Galore. Drawing from influences of 80s rock, pop and hip-hop, Coko Calore brings a new flavour to the music scene, Growing up in the diversity of Toronto and being of mixed heritage, Miss Galore has a unique way of experiencing life. Coko Galore is embarking on the smart-pop and electro-philosophy movement, in which she infuses great music with intellectual lyrics. 

Coko Galore introduces a rare blend of retro/pop/rock/jazz and funk with a positive message, encouraging people to be true to themselves in their own style, their point of view and their way of life.

StinkMitt

StinkMitt are legends in their own time. Their debut LP Scratch n Sniff on Teenage USA Recordings was hailed as "an instant classic" and "a groundbreaking genre-fuck", while their live shows - which put the flashdance back in freestyling - are as infamous as they are massively entertaining.

Since 2002 StinkMitt have toured all worldwide, while their signature 80s trash look and potty-mouthed rapping has been copied many times over by artists achieving far more fame on far less talent. And, as StinkMitt is totally ahead of their time, it will likely take a few more years for the world to catch on. In the meantime, StinkMitt are here to save your life. Are you ready?

Crackpuppy

Woodhands

Woodhands is Dan Werb and Paul Banwatt, a synth and drums duo that’s intent on injecting electro pop with a dose of emotional intensity and a generous portion of glam rock swagger. With a live show that’s got to be seen to be believed, Woodhands creates big dance tracks that are built out of blood, sweat and tears without the assistance of any pre-recorded samples, laptops or other safety nets. Instead, they rely on some seriously monster drumming, finger-licking keytar work and some pretty punk rock vocals to get the party started.

Since the release of their debut album, Heart Attack, Woodhands has received all kinds of accolades for both their recorded work and their relentless live show,appearing on ‘Best of’ lists including recently being anointed one of the 10 Best New Bands On Earth by British tastemaker Q Magazine following their coverageof SXSW 2009. In short, kids are going crazy for this Woodhands dance party thing.

After spending the past year and a half touring Canada, the United States, China, and Japan in support of Heart Attack, and delivering a slew of remixes and cover songs that have kept the party going strong, Woodhands is back with a new batch of energetic, and darker, dance songs.

Their sophomore release, Remorsecapade, dives deeper into the emotional territory of Heart Attack, painting strangely compelling portraits of lost souls inhabiting the late night abyss of dance clubs (“I Should Have Gone With My Friends”), sweaty handholding (“Pockets”), and – of course – heartbreak, here described as ‘doubling’.

The songs of Remorsecapade run from the deceptive bubble gum pop arrangement of “Dissembler” to the explosive punk rock/electro hybrid of “Coolchazine”, and throughout, Woodhands offers listeners a rich journey through the scorched landscape of what their sweaty brand of electro has now become: risky, emotionally resonant, and highly addictive. Enjoy.

MEN

MEN began in 2007 as the DJ team of JD Samson and Johanna Fateman of the band Le Tigre. At the same time, JD became involved in another project, Hirsute, featuring Michael O'Neill and Ginger Brooks Takahashi formerly of the New York indie‐pop group The Ballet, and artist/writer Emily Roysdon. In 2008, MEN continued to tour as DJs, while Hirsute continued to write songs and create a live performance. Eventually, Johanna decided to take a break from the touring life, and the two projects merged to become one.

MEN is JD Samson, Michael O'Neill and Ginger Brooks Takahashi contributions from Johanna Fateman and Emily Roysdon. MEN is a band focusing on the energy of live performance and the radical potential of dance music. Our lyrics speak to issues such as wartime economies, sexual compromise, and demanding liberties. The music is like smashing Gang of Four into the Talking Heads a la 2009. MEN seeks to develop a live stage show that transcends traditional boundaries of performance art, live music and visual art.

Josie Cotton

Singer-songwriter Josie Cotton entered the world stage in the early 80s with her controversial new wave hit, "Johnny are you Queer?" (featured in the Valley Girl movie and soundtrack). Cotton has recorded numerous records over the years, including 'Invasion of the B Girls.’ This campy but reverent homage to B-movie culture from the 60s & 70s consists of all theme songs from B-movies. In 2006 she released 'Movie Disaster Music,' one of her most critically acclaimed records to date, but her upcoming record 'Pussycat Babylon,' is the one fans have been waiting for.

Misstress Barbara LIVE with Girls On A Ducati

She’s an internationally renowned electronic artist who has performed at some of the world’s top clubs and worked alongside electronic music legends like Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin and John Digweed. Her DJing and production have earned her accolades and awards, including “Best Breakthrough Underground DJ” at the UK Underground Music Awards and most recently a nod for “Electronic Album Of The Year” in 2009’s GAMIQ awards (Quebec Indie Music Awards). But while she could easily rest on her laurels, Misstress Barbara (born Barbara Bonfiglio in Sicily, Italy) is embarking on a whole new adventure with the release of ‘I’m No Human’, her debut artist album – one that features contributions from Sam Roberts, Brazilian Girls and Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John.

For the album, Misstress Barbara has drawn on her background in electronic music production, while infusing it with a new sensibility. Starting the songwriting process on piano and guitar inspired her to experiment with chord changes and overlay her minimalist beats with lush melodies. The album also finds her singing for the first time, and with her intoxicating space age femme fatale sound, it’s a happy development that was born out of unhappy circumstances.

Though Misstress Barbara had been planning on making an album for years, the catalyst came in the form of tragedy when her father passed away on Christmas Eve in 2006. The next day, she wrote a poem and found that the words flowed easily. Soon she had a large collection of songs and headed into the studio – first her personal studio, where she did the majority of the production, then into outside facilities in her hometown of Montreal as well as Los Angeles, where she worked on arrangements and vocals bringing the album to life. The influence of her father followed her into these recording sessions. “I know he would be very, very proud. He played guitar, violin, piano,” Barbara says. On recording violins in the studio, she adds, “I had tears in my eyes. He would be so happy.”

Though her DJ career means she’s no stranger to performance, recreating the songs live is yet another new challenge she’s undertaken and conquered.  Evident from her sold out show for the closing weekend of the 2009 Montreal International Jazz Festival, performing at M For Montreal’s 2 largest annual events (M On The Quays, M For Metropolis), and most recently completing a 14 date tour through the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, the future looks bright. Having traveled and performing solo for the past 13 years, Misstress Barbara is energized by the dynamics a live band offers. “I love the sharing of emotion. I really love it,” she says.  And with I’m No Human, Misstress Barbara is making some new additions to her already-impressive list of accomplishments. Producer, DJ – and now captivating songwriter and musician.

Fagget Fairys

Fagget Fairy’s are here to get your feet moving and your ears tingling with big grimy bass lines, sensual vocals and saucy balkan styles. They’ve impressed crowds their rowdy performances. Carla Cammilla's superb mixing and knob twiddling and Ena's untouchable vocal performances might even make you fall in love. With their debut EP, ‘Samo Ti’, the Fairys' full length debut became a hot ticket, and it was quickly snatched up by Danish club-icon Kenneth Bager, and released in March 2009. Fagget Fairy’s are an explosive cocktail of lesbianism, true love, and relentless beats to make your feet move.

Sheila Chevalier is the producer and host of the weekly music ‘n culture program ‘Packin Attitude’, on www.ckln.fm.  Chevalier is a DJ on the regular in Toronto and part of the team that created the ongoing art party project, Trash Hospital. She’s been described by Fab Magazine as “...this original riot girl knows her music like no other. Especially when it comes to queer punk rock and electro...” When she unhooks her repertoire, it dips into the underground for a taste of the raw and the rare, hitting it with a deliciously propulsive sensibility.

Gangbangaz are Countess Christsmasher and Andrew Awesome. They met at a karaoke cathouse on the shoreline and fought over who got to sing Axel F. A mutual love of fire, unicorns and the disco stick sealed the deal, and since then they’ve spun at vodka soaked VIP events, panty raids, penthouse piss ups and scandalous sex parties (they've spun at some clubs too, but who hasn't). Expect this duo to drop some custom made mash-ups and exclusive edits to blow up the dancefloor. Together, they will rock you til you're sick.

Hosted by Kyle Kofsky and Shelley Marshall