Every year, some of the brightest musicians flock to Toronto for NXNE. Last time around, acts like Run The Jewels, St. Vincent, and Danny Brown, all had venues popping. With another terrific lineup yet again, this year won't be any different. Local talent is great and all, but some artists travel far and wide to be in Toronto for the festival—and you never know when they'll be in town again. Not sure who to check out first? Here are 10 extremely out of town acts you need to see if you’re in the city from June 17th-21st.
American Wrestlers
UK/USA
Twitter: @americanwrestle
Horseshoe Tavern: Fri, June 18, 2:00 AM
UK by way of St. Louis Missouri, American Wrestlers matches jangly shoegaze with a vocal delivery eerily similar to that of Phoenix’s Thomas Mars. If we were listening to this album on Instagram, it would definitely be through the Lo-Fi filter. Check out the excellent “I Can Do No Wrong” to get a feel for their vibe.
Ibeyi
France/Cuba
Twitter: @IbeyiOfficial
Mod Club: Wed, June 17, 10:00 PM
What happens when your father is a member of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club and you spend a good portion of your day listening to James Blake? Well, you get exactly what makes Ibeyi so damn interesting. The Diaz twins utilize Cajon drums and Yoruba lyrics to occupy some completely angelic breaks that throw us in some sort of audio dreamscape. Check out the nicely subtle Acceron Ra remix of "River."
Tink
USA
Twitter: @Official_Tink
Adelaide Hall: Wed, June 17, 1:00 AM
Berkeley Church: Thu, June 18 10:00 PM
Tink is one of hip-hop's most exciting voices. Since getting co-signed by the sensei Timbaland, she has multiple mixtapes under her belt, including the excellent Winter's Diary 2. Her growing vibe sits somewhere between Lauryn Hill and TLC. Tink can spit bars and hold her own singing hooks. If you haven't already, check her out.
Glass Animals
UK
Twitter: @GlassAnimals
Oxford quartet Glass Animals, put us all on alert with their trippy 2014 debut, Zaba. The group composes dance-driven, minimalist beats, but compliments them with some great R&B-inspired vocals. The psychedelics are in full effect here, but remain nicely balanced with some undeniably catchy tunes. Give “Gooey” another listen and tell us how right we are.
Vince Staples
USA
Twitter: @vincestaples
Berkeley Church - Church Stage: Thu, June 18, 11:00 PM
Odd Future affiliate Vince Staples has carved out his own niche as of late. Last year’s Hell Can Wait was chock-full of lyrical consciousness and gritty bangers. Those of us sleeping on the LA emcee were rightfully embarrassed. Go right your wrongs and catch Vince at the Berkeley Church on Thursday, June 18th.
Iceage
Denmark
Facebook: IceageCopenhagen
The Opera House: Thu, June 18, 10:00 PM
NXNE Hub (170 Spadina): Fri, June 18, 12:00 AM
Iceage is noisy in the best way. possible When they visited NXNE in 2013, it was one of the most festival's most talked about shows. These Danes are not for the faint of heart. Be prepared to get sweaty and angry. Visit them at the Opera House if you can handle distortion turned up to 11.
Jessica Pratt
USA
Twitter: @JessicaPrattSF
The Garrison: Wed, June 17, 11:00 PM
Berkeley Church: Thu, June 18, 7:00 PM
Ask your parents about Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell, and you’ll begin to understand what Jessica Pratt sounds like. The singer-songwriter blends folky Americana with unique and colorful little tinges, all making her a truly angelic package. If you're looking to get chill AF, head down to the Berkeley Church and catch her performance.
Dex Kwasi
Ghana
Twitter: @DexKwasi
Coalition: Fri, June 19, 12:00 AM
Dex Kwasi blends hip-hop, tribal, and acoustic overtones to form a sound he likes to call “Afro-Trap.” The dude is all over the place influence-wise, and thankfully it works in his favour. We have no idea what to expect when he performs this Friday, but it will likely end in him some new fans for this traveling talent.
Lower Dens
USA
Horseshoe Tavern: Wed, June 17, 12:00 AM
Baltimore's Lower Dens, makes rolling, anthemic, 80s-inspired rock. There is something inherently new feeling about the group, but yet, they still manage to evoke some sort of melancholic nostalgia. “To Die In LA” sounds like Bruce Springsteen borrowed some members of Fleet Foxes, and suddenly, they were all jamming out.
Ty Dolla $ign
USA
Twitter: @tydollasign
Yonge-Dundas Square: Sun, June 21, 8:00 PM
NXNE Headliner Ty Dolla $ign is a must-see. He’s already dropped a multitude of hits, and recently, worked with the gawds Kanye West and Paul McCartney. His hooks are warbly earworms that have you singing some downright dirty, R-rated lines. If you need to recite “Or Nah,” make sure you're sticking to the privacy of your car, and not the office lunchroom.
