Indie Week 2018 kicked off on Tuesday night with dual shows at Toronto's Revival. With more than 200 bands in the city to play over six nights, the combo of the upstairs/downstairs showcases and the official launch party was a great way to get the festival started.
In just a few short hours we had the chance to see two of our 10 Don't Miss Bands at Indie Week 2018, the 2017 winners of Best Of The Fest, and more.
We started our night of music upstairs with The Wolfe. This trio of badass rock and roll women from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan have already started making a name for themselves in music circles, finishing as a Top 4 finalist in the 2017 CBC Searchlight contest. And on Tuesday night Siobhan, Gabrielle, and Tesa gave Toronto a quick taste of what they've got to offer.
Musically they've been compared to Metric, U2, and The Cranberries. But in person, we saw hints of Hole, Garbage, and even Toronto rock quartet The Beaches as these three women owned the stage. With a smooth combination of guitar, bass, and drum work, The Wolfe presented their own brand of rock & roll that felt a little grungy, a little graduated garage-y, and a whole lot of ready for the next step. Keep an eye on The Wolfe and don't miss them at their three remaining Indie Week 2018 shows.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
We immediately segued into our second don't miss band of the week when we went downstairs at Revival to see Hamilton, Ontario's The Redhill Valleys.
There's a reason we put this rootsy country quartet on our list. We've had the chance to see them live and write about them over the last two-plus years. Each and every time we've seen them perform they have been stronger. On Tuesday they showed off their smooth harmonies to go along with their rolling instrumentals. We also LOVE the fact that Chelsea and Danielle are right there in the spotlight, showing off their prowess as singers and musicians along with Tim and Matt.
The Redhill Valleys play The Cameron House on Wednesday night and The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern on Thursday night. Put this band on your list, you won't regret it.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Chilean power-rock trio, Adelaida was next on the upstairs stage, and they attacked it with all of the effort and enthusiasm we could have hoped for. With driving guitar and bass and drums that not only complemented but helped propel the music even further. Adelaida has been named Rock Artist Of The Year in Chile, and even after just a short set at Revival, we can see why.
Make your way to see Adelaida at The Hideout on Friday night and The Bovine Sex Club on Saturday night to see it for yourself.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
We got back to Ontario talent when Double Experience hit the upstairs stage. The rockers came down the 401 and brought rock and roll with them. Having played hundreds of shows across 16 countries since they started playing together in 2011, Double Experience know what they're doing. And in a short set on Tuesday, the self-proclaimed nerd rockers showed us all that they were up to the Indie Week task. And when they closed the set with just a little taste of Rush's classic Tom Sawyer, they had the attention and appreciation of everyone in the room.
Get out to see Double Experience on Thursday night at Cherry Cola's and Friday night at The Painted Lady to check them out.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The last band we caught on Indie Week's 2018 opening night were the 2017 Best Of The Fest winners, ETNO. The Brazilian rockers hit hard from the jump. They used their short set to capture the attention of the Toronto audience and remind us all why they won last year. And boy did they ever. They hit hard and played their rock & roll without reservation. Yes, we might not have been able to sing along to their songs, but we were still all in. All in and ready for more.
ETNO's got three more shows at Indie Week 2018, don't miss them Wednesday at Revival, Thursday at Cherry Cola's, and Saturday night at The Bovine Sex Club!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Photo Credits: Trish Cassling