Torontoist’s Guide to CMW 2013

Canadian Music Week runs from March 19-24. Not sure where to go or who to see? Don't worry. We have you covered.

By Chris Dart

Photo by luke.champion from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.

Canadian Music Week might not be as sexy as its fair-weather cousin, NXNE. There are no outdoor shows, and cycling between venues is way less fun in the freezing rain. That said, there are still tonnes of good acts.

In addition to improving their electronic and heavy music offerings by pairing with various local promoters, this year CMW also has more film and comedy than ever, and an almost ridiculously varied line-up. Whether you’re looking for megastars (A$AP Rocky and Rihanna), blogger approved buzz bands (CHVRCHES and Light Asylum), or great artists that no one has heard of yet, there will be something that matches the description

A few broad bits of advice:

Figure out a plan of attack: Venues for CMW are far more spread out than they are for NXNE. If you want to try to hit both The Opera House and Wrongbar in the same night, you’re going to have to be very, very strategic.

Beware the late last call: We know how excited Torontonians get when our weirdly Victorian last call gets extended, but if you’re serious about seeing six nights worth of bands, you may want to pass on the late night/early morning Jägerbombs, at least in the early part of the week.

See something other than music: There are six nights of great film and excellent stand-up comedy going on. Make sure to include that in your CMW diet as well.

Don’t lose your wristband: Seriously, don’t lose your wristband.

And now, for our genre-by-genre picks…