NXNE is not only filled with wonderful bands who play great music, it is also filled with incredible amounts of parties.  Some industry invite only, some in backyard and some on boats.  It just depends what your heart desires and where you want to go that day. Whatever the case may be: NXNE has you covered.

One week + a day until the official launch party of BAZZUL Studio’s collaboration collection with L A B & iD. It’s going down Saturday May 18 @ Brockton Collective.  We seriously cannot get enough of this exciting new local brand, and want you in on this major event.  Toronto’s very own Condocoon and Drang will be keeping you lit for the night with very special guest DJ Roberto Piqueras flying in from London, UK!  Preview a few pieces from Roberto’s newest collection, then head over to L A B & iD to buy everything you’ve seen from the night.

Reuben and the Dark is a project coming from Calgary’s own Reuben Bullock.  He has created a quartet of soaring harmonies, beautiful melodies, layered texture making up an honest indie rock sound.

This quartet will take you on a journey throughout the human heart serving you raw emotions into song and making every show an adventure.

I had the opportunity to sit down to give Reuben Bullock the Pink Mafia CMW Quick and Dirty but also review his show at the 159 Manning MUSI and Lame Frame event.

(1) What is your favourite thing about playing Canadian Music Fest?

All the people. It’s nice coming to a new city and getting to see all the activity. Lots of things going on… It’s a little crazy, but good to see so many people out every night.

(2) What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you while you’ve been on tour?

We played a show in Vancouver that bombed. It’s the only time I’ve ever walked out on a show. We were double booked with a bunch of punk rock bands… I was quitting smoking, and on edge. We only played three songs, during which I ended up breaking a string, breaking someone’s guitar drinking in the audience… It was really messy.

(3) Are there any bands you would really love to see during Canadian Music Fest?

We’ve been real busy, but we played a show with Besnard Lakes, I liked those guys. Looking forward to (Michael) Rault’s set to, this afternoon.

(4) Why should people listen to Reuben and the Dark?

I don’t know… If they like it, they should listen. We put a lot into this music. It’s always nice to have someone listening.

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So did Reuben’s co-sign of his music live up to the Pink Mafia seal of approval?  Getting to watch the quartet in the living room of 159 Manning was not only beautiful but showed a group of guys that exhibited a deep passion for the music they were playing.

The band’s sound of indie folk rock is slow, comforting and emotional. You feel an energy in Reuben’s booming voice that creates soul and expresses the deepest heartfelt emotion.  You felt as if Reuben was singing directly to you in this small living room show. He created a cute little banter between the crowd cracking very bad jokes and interacting as much as possible.

If you haven’t checked out Reuben and the Dark, this is definitely a band to watch and check out.

Photos by Yuli Scheidt

Michael Rault, from Edmonton, brings to you a vintage indie sound that blends all things past with present.  He has developed his own brand of psychedelic country blues boogie that will leave you stomping your foot.  His sound is one you simply cannot dislike.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Michael at the 159 Manning MUSI and Last Frame event to provide him with the Pink Mafia Quick and Dirty.  Here were the results:

(1) What is your favourite thing about playing Canadian Music Fest?

Since I’m new to Toronto (I just moved here recently from Edmonton), it is really nice to run into a lot of friends.  You know, there will be a lot of my fellow Edmonton ex-pats here and this entire week will just turn into one big party.

(2) What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you while you’ve been on tour?

So I had just gotten my learning licenses and we were driving along the Trans Canada Highway.  Everyone was taking turns driving and everyone has passed out.  But I mean, according to the law, my frontside passenger was awake (wink).  So we’re coming around this bend and there is a HUGE flock of birds that comes out of nowhere.  I didn’t really know what to do because I couldn’t really stop in the middle of the highway.  I don’t think I ended up killing a bird, but it was definitely a sight and I was totally freaked out.

(3) What is the best thing about playing a festival like Canadian Music Fest?

It is really great for exposure.  You get to play great gigs like this one, where it is small and intimate in someone’s house.  My manager just asked me if I’d be interested in playing the show and I said, “Hell ya.”  So here I am.

(4) Are there any bands you would really love to see during Canadian Music Fest?

Mac Demarco.  Peter who plays guitar for Mac’s band use to play guitar in my band.  We all kinda grew up in Edmonton together. So we keep telling each other we’re going to see each other play.  But it’s like ships passing in the night.

(5) Why should people listen to Michael Rault?

If you enjoy chilled out psychedelic and old school rock & roll, then you’re going to like my sound.  I think people will enjoy what they hear if they take a moment to stop and listen.

Photos by Yuli Scheidt

Formed in Ottawa,  Zoo Legacy is a band best described as the successful union of hip hop, rock and party anthems.  The group, which consists of front man Nick Pouponneau and Mark Milloy, Dominic and Samuel Goss, have started to make their mark on Canadian music thusfar having played big festivals and providing festival goers with unique flavah and sound.

I met up with them prior to their show at the SOHO HOUSE and gave them the Quick and Dirty CMW:

(1) So what is your favourite thing about playing a festival like Canadian Music Week?

The best thing about playing a festival like this is just getting to be out there live and seeing the crowd react.  So many times, you’re playing in new venues and you don’t know what to expect.  It’s that buzz that you get of the unknown from the crowd and that you might garner some new fans from that.

(2) What is the weirdest thing you’ve had happen to you on tour?  I have heard from Lin (your manager) that you’re tour van can get pretty smelly.

(band laughs) It’s dirty and it can get smelly.  But weirdest thing?  Just recently we have been working on our new album and we shot a video in New York City.  So we had all this UV face-paint all over our face, like flames and devil markings.  Just weird random things for the video.

The video is wrapped for the day and we decide to go out to a club.  So inside the club Nick (the lead singer) keeps getting all these really strange looks. So he asks us if anything is wrong and we tell him, “Nah man. You’re good.”  But meanwhile, there is a blacklight inside the club and he forgot to wash a big neon flame off of his face.

(3) Are there any bands you would like to see during your Canadian Music Week experience?

The thing is, it goes by so quickly and we don’t have that much time to get out besides our own showcase.  We’re really excited (and privileged) to be playing with the Airplane Boys.  It would have been nice to see A$AP Rocky the other night, which isn’t really a part of Canadian Music Week.  We got to hang out with him and Snoop Dogg when we played Ottawa Bluesfest. So that was something.

(4) Why should people listen to Zoo Legacy?

Because we’re fucking awesome!  Ha, don’t print that.  But really, I think it’s because we’re bringing a whole new type of fusion.  It’s the direction music is going right now, with hip hop and indie rock.  Zoo Legacy is just bringing you the best of both worlds.

Photos by Yuli Scheidt

Canadian Music Week (or Fest, whatever you want to call it) took a lot of turd polishing before the gems could really be found.  That is saying something for a festival with over 1,000 artists in 60 venues.   Like that Slagging Off Tumblr that went viral over the CMW weekend, we were asking: is this the state of Canadian Music?

But not all was lost — as we did see some amazing acts who kept us happy, healthy and spirited.

Don’t have plans for the weekend but want something fun, interesting and different to do?  Look no further, as the MIDNIGHT MRKT is making its return to the city on Saturday March 16, 2013 at 461 King Street West.

This all-evening event pairs all the best of music, drinks and street-style food while showcasing the best of the best in local designers and artists in a beautiful space.  I had the chance to speak with Lucie Tic, who is performing this weekend at the MIDNIGHT MRKT.

And the Fashion God’s rejoiced in pure harmony as Dennis Adamidis managed to somehow outdo himself, propelling an already legendary Christmas Party to even newer heights! The House of Vintage annual Christmas Party was beyond amazing, far exceeding pretty stellar expectations. This exclusive guest-list-only event was brilliant. The main floor of the House of Vintage was naturally poised to be the perfect back drop for the most fashionable Christmas Party north of the border. The atmosphere embodied perfectly, the essence of community and self-expression. Intrinsically, this event dared to expose the most fanciful and sophisticated side of Parkdale, with zero pretentious preservatives added, impossible for an event as anticipated, supported and elevated as this.

The Group Hug Tour feat. Kreayshawn, Rye Rye, and Chippy Nonstop is in full effect and you can stop by in store to say HI. She’ll be at Community 54 (Toronto) November  18, Group Seven (Calgary)  December 8, Foosh (Edmonton) December 9, & LiveStock (Vancouver) December 11.

Kreayshawn will be instore from 3pm – 5pm and make sure to bring a copy of Somethin’ ‘Bout Kreay to get signed.

Sisters Sara Simms and Melle Oh have created a new graphic novel series called “The Future Prophecy” that features DJs as superheroes and villains. In the story, Sara is the lead superheroine who wields the power of the future of music. All of the main characters are based on Canada’s top EDM talent.

The first volume, ‘Arcanum’ is available for tablets and mobile devices in the iBookstore and Amazon as a free download for 30 days. Or you can download both on the Future Prophecy Website.

There is also a launch event for the series on December 01 at Mod Club, featuring DJs from the story performing as super hero’s and villain characters.

Eat to the Beat took place on October 16, 2012 and celebrated its 17th year raising funds and awareness for Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada at the Roy Thompson Hall.

Over 60 world class female chefs from the city of Toronto came out to prepare sweet, savory and sinful dishes for the thousands of foodies who attend the event.  The annual Eat to the Beat event takes place during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and helps attendees see that no one will ever face breast cancer alone.

Eat to the Beat, celebrating is 17th year, is in less than a week (October 16, 2012) and has gained a reputation has the event for foodies in the city to experience the talents of 60 female chefs – women supporting women for breast cancer.

Nuit Blanche is officially a week away (Saturday September 29). The annual all-night celebration of contemporary art will be taking over the streets of downtown Toronto from sunset to sunrise, and we will be right there with it. Pink Mafia will be exploring every corner, and live tweeting about it here. Join us, all night, tweeting about Nuit Blanche with the hashtag #PMBlanche

The all-night autumn-in-Toronto staple might be a bit much for the unprepared or the uninitiated, so we have created a list of gathered wisdom to help you make the most of it. We had so much fun remembering some of our favourite projects from years past, that we compiled them below to share with you.