By: Sheena Lyonnais
June 14, 2011

Australia’s uber sweet Lenka is rolling into town the night NXNE really kicks off, and while it’s not technically part of the festival we thought we’d give her a chance to speak her mind anyway.  Her alluringly sweet and catchy tracks like “Heart Skips A Beat” and “The Show” have landed her music in everything from Grey’s Anatomy to Easy A, not to mention numerous late night television performances. She talks to us about her new album Two and returning to the city that hosted her first sold-out show.

BY: Sheena Lyonnais
June 14, 2011

Calgary-turned-Montreal’s Braids are strong contenders for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize long-list (to be announced June 16) and for obvious reasons.  Their debut album Native Speaker is already a magnum opus of sorts, receiving high-praise and frequent comparisons to greats like Animal Collective. They combine subtly quirky lyrics with ambient, wispy indie rock and energetic performances, a balance they so elegantly achieve.  Bassist/guitarist Taylor Smith tells us about the band's past year and what to expect from their NXNE performances.

By: TJ Liebgott
June 14, 2011

Toronto's the oOohh Baby Gimmie Mores are a cocktail of eclectic sounds and genres.  Starting out as a hip hop duo, TOBGM began infusing live instruments into their act ultimately creating a unique booty-shaking band.  Think early Beastie Boy's with more edge, grit, vibe and a more modern sound.  TOBGM tell us more of what to expect from this year's NXNE showcase.

By: TJ Liebgott
June 14, 2011

Bastard are the kind of band that write songs soaked in whiskey that you would imagine coming out of LA's sunset strip scene in the 90's, except they are from Whitby, Ontario.  Don't let their hometown fool you though, this four-piece plays testosterone filled, balls-to-the-wall, straight ahead hard rock.  While it seems a ton of bands are going for this sound in Toronto, Bastard is one of the elite few doing it right.  Vocalist Ugly Bastard and drummer Slick Bastard join forces to tell us more.