Get on Go! Music Fest

The third annual GO! Music Festival is set to begin in Kitchener-Waterloo starting tomorrow night. Over 50 bands will play over two nights at several K-W locales; from downtown Kitchener to Uptown Waterloo. Started as a way to highlight local talent; this festival sponsored by The Beat Goes On has grown with every year and is even now attracting some mainstream talent. But the focus is still on the best and the brightest in up-and-coming musicians in the tri-cites. Here’s a rundown of who’s on the docket.

Sarah Slean – A musician that really needs no introduction. She recently received multiple Juno nominations for her fifth studio album, The Baroness, and now she headlines this third year of the Go Festival. http://www.myspace.com/sarahslean

Mobile – Breaking out on the scene in 2006 with their hit single “Out of My Head,” Mobile’s currently touring in support of their second album, Tales from the City. http://www.myspace.com/mobile

Sebastian Grainger – The singer and drummer for Canadian dance-punk duo Death From Above 1979 gets a little laid back with his new band, The Mountains. http://www.myspace.com/sebastiengrainger

Midway State – Need an introduction to Midway State? Turn on a radio and catch their Top 40 hit “Never Again.” http://www.myspace.com/themidwaystate

Mike Evin – The A’cappella man from Montreal instantly gets toes tapping wherever he plays. http://www.myspace.com/mikeevin

Spirits – A musical team-up between Ian Smith (The Miniatures) and Brad Germain (Marble Index), Spirits recently finished a tour with Mel C of Spice Girls fame, while watching their combined efforts become a force to be reckoned with in the music scene. http://www.myspace.com/spirits

Meredith Grant – In her own, quiet way, Meredith Grant’s made a big impression, often playing back up on the accordion for The Houseplants, Richard Laviolette and the Oilspills. Appropriately, she opens for Sarah Slean. http://www.myspace.com/theaccordionchick

Gran Casino – Described as the biggest thing to come from Waterloo since the Blackberry, these local boys will share the stage with Mobile and Midway State. http://www.myspace.com/grancasino

Flash Lightnin’ – Working their way back west, this power trio from Toronto makes a stopover at Go. http://www.myspace.com/flashlightnin

Kyp Harness – Doesn’t the guy that Ron Sexsmith calls “my favourite songwriter” sound like someone worth hearing? I thought so. http://www.myspace.com/kypharness

Violet Archers – A five-piece, pop rock band that passes through town every now and then, the Archers are as solid as they come. http://www.myspace.com/thevioletarchers

Paul MacLeod – Just back from a cross-country tour with Lucas Stagg, Paul MacLeod is welcomed back home in time for the Go Festival. http://www.myspace.com/macleodpaul

Jon Epworth – After playing with several bands out East for over a decade, Jon Epworth has set up shop in Toronto to try it on his own. http://www.myspace.com/jonepwort

Romney Getty – Already making a splash in the UK and New Zealand, Romney Getty comes back around to make her mark in her home and native land. http://www.myspace.com/romneygetty

The Speakeasies - “The Bootleggers of Fine Music” keep on truckin’ by headlining another local festival. http://www.myspace.com/thespeakeasiesreprise

Lucas Stagg – With the voice of Crash Test Dummies Brad Roberts, Lucas Stagg gives new root to Roots. http://www.myspace.com/lucasstagg

The Stars Here – One of the highlighted up-and-comers at this festival is this Waterloo-based alt-rock outfit. http://www.myspace.com/thestarshere

You & Me – The chilled sounds of 60s rockers like Chad & Jeremy, but with a hint of Montreal flavour for a modern touch. http://www.myspace.com/theyouandmeband

Run with the Kittens – Their name may be a little off-kilter, but the music is solid cool. You can enjoy the beatniky sounds of “Like a Leonard Cohen Novel” or dance your socks off to “Rhythm is a Techno.” http://www.myspace.com/runwiththekittens

Mike Alviano – This Kitchener folk rocker will only be playing another couple of shows locally before BC snaps him up for a month this July. http://www.myspace.com/mikealviano

Lynn Jackson – This folk artist has been a staple in the Southwestern Ontario music scene for years, and she’ll soon be on tour with Ambre McLean out east. http://www.myspace.com/lynnjackson

Life in Vacuum – A genuine, down and dirty punk band in K-W? Who would have thought? http://www.myspace.com/lifeinvacuum

Jing Bang Show – A great, funky little band that likes to let its music speak for itself. http://www.myspace.com/thejingbangshow

The Vestaloynes – “The Rodney Dangerfield of indie rock.” Their words not mine. I assume because they get no respect, but they should. http://www.myspace.com/thevestaloynes

The Sound Foundation – See these recent winners of Wilfred Laurier’s Last Band Standing competition and groove to their ska/rock sounds. http://www.myspace.com/thexsoundxfoundation

The Mississippi Kings – These blues brothers are from Hamilton, not Mississippi, but they’re still pretty smooth with the southern sound. http://www.myspace.com/mississippikings

The Disguises – If you’re ever in a car chase put on “Jacob Eldermyers Bleedin’ Heart.” http://www.myspace.com/thedisguisesband

Sexdwarf – Definitely not what it sounds like, this band is steadily building a fan base in the tri-cities for their psychedelic sounds. http://www.myspace.com/sexdwarfband

Todd Donald – Folk with a comedic sharp edge, Todd Donald has been a best kept secret in Kitchener for years. http://www.myspace.com/todddonald

Darin Yorston – Sounding like an old fashioned country crooner, Yorston takes a break from his monthly show at the Cloak & Dagger in Toronto and heads West. http://www.myspace.com/darinyorston

Sioux Newberry – This one half of Newberry Vs. Newberry is hitting her stride as a solo artist with her unique blend of folk, country and jazz. http://www.myspace.com/girlnewberry

King Roller – An unbelievably solid country/rock band from right here in K-W, currently on a high after releasing their self-titled debut album. http://www.myspace.com/kingroller

Gentlemen Husbands – A pretty decent indie rock four-piece making the rounds across Ontario. http://www.myspace.com/gentlemenhusbands

Carly & Mark – An old-fashioned folk/roots band that sound anything but old-fashioned. http://www.myspace.com/carlyandmark

Leif Vollebekk – Don’t let the name fool you, he’s from Quebec and his music owes a lot to Radiohead. http://www.myspace.com/leifvollebekk

Don Vail – A touch of Moby making his way up and down the 401. http://www.myspace.com/donvail

The Stone Angels – The name of this Kitchener band is no subtle hint as to what they’re all about, they rock! http://www.myspace.com/thestoneangelsmusic

Anti-Qs – From Niagara Falls comes a hint of East Coast rock dressed up as a garage band. http://www.myspace.com/theantiqs

Davey Parker Radio Sound – Invasion rock improved for the modern age, DPR has one ear on the past and another on the future. http://www.myspace.com/daveyparkermusic

Happy Camper & the Blue, Blue Heron – Yeah, they’re a folk rock band, obviously.
http://www.myspace.com/happycamperandtheblueblueheron

Ascot Royals - Southern rock with a twist, the Ascot Royals have a sound like no other. http://www.myspace.com/theascotroyals

Synaesthetic – Far from the 80s as you can get, London, Ontario’s “best boy band” are excellent hardcore rockers. http://www.myspace.com/thesynaesthetic

The Perpetrators – These hardcore blues rockers come to Go! all the way from Winnipeg. http://www.myspace.com/wpgperpetrators

Jerry Leger – With a voice like a young Elton John, Jerry Ledger schedules a stop at Go! in the midst of hectic touring schedule. http://www.myspace.com/jerryleger

John McGown – It may be country/folk, but John McGown sure knows how to rock a guitar and a harmonica. http://www.myspace.com/johnmcgownmusic

Mark Perak – If John Mayer was cool, he’d be Kitchener’s Mark Perak. http://www.myspace.com/markperak

Modernfield Recordings

Night Crash Noir – A relatively new band, Night Crash Noir is going places with their unique brand of grungy disco. http://www.myspace.com/nightcrashnoir

The Randalls – Combining psychedelic rock and the blues, this Milton band has been making press everywhere they go. http://www.myspace.com/therandallsofmilton

Josh Gabriel – This folk rocker splits his time between Toronto, Ottawa and Guelph. His acoustic rhythm is cool and contagious. http://www.myspace.com/joshgabrielcanada

Eye Rhyme – Part metal, part progressive rock, this Kitchener band aims to tame the same trail blazed by Rush and I Mother Earth Before them . http://www.myspace.com/eyerhyme

Dead Hour – They might kind of look like Evanescence, but this K-W band has a very acoustic sounding rhythm. http://www.myspace.com/deadhourmusic

CityWide Panic – These Waterloo rockers are in the enviable position of playing the hometown show. http://www.myspace.com/citywidepanic

Red Balloon

Rep By Pop – I saw a picture of these guys and all I can say is you can’t normally wear that much plaid without being grunge. And a drummer in a suit? Bold choice. http://www.myspace.com/repbypop

The Nuke

The Johnnys – These Toronto-based garage punks are coming off a strong showing at Canadian Music Week. And for the record, only two of them are named ‘Johnny.’ http://www.myspace.com/thejohnnysrock

Darlings of Chelsea – Their My Space page says it all, they “Rock, Rock, Rock” http://www.myspace.com/darlingsofchelsea

For more information about the GO Music Festival, including times and locations, visit the festival’s website, http://www.gomusicfestival.ca/