Live music picks for WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 23 through WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 30, 2009.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 23 / ROCK YOUR STOCKINGS XMAS / SOUND ACADEMY / 11 POLSON ST / $15 / ALL AGES
EDGE 102 favourites REBEL EMERGENCY headline the Rock Your Stockings Christmas Bash at the Sound Academy alongside fellow rock/reggae group DODGER, Disband contestants STREET PHARMACY and Burlington, Ontario trio WALK OFF THE EARTH.
myspace.com/rebelemergencymusic
myspace.com/dodgermusic
myspace.com/streetfarmacy
myspace.com/walkofftheearth

WHAT'S IN THE BOX: 4TH EDITION / THE DRAKE / 1150 QUEEN ST W / $5 / 19+
The Drake Hotel launches the fourth edition of What's In the Box, an annual celebration honouring the best and brightest in live music that takes over both the underground and lounge for five nights straight. The festival kicks off on Boxing Day, and the best part: 5 nights, 5 bands, $5. Check out a full, day-by-day preview of What's In the Box below...

SATURDAY DECEMBER 26 / NIGHT ONE
DJ SKRATCH BASTID takes over the lounge on Saturday night, while a handful on electro-rock and dance acts get things going downstairs. The line-up is stacked with great local talent including THE CARPS, YOUNG EMPIRES, YOUNG FLUX, 84.85 and STYROFOAM ONES. Having already released a pair of EPs in the last couple of years, I hope 2010 finally marks the year in which THE CARPS release their long overdue debut full length.
myspace.com/thecarps
myspace.com/styrofoamones
myspace.com/the8485
myspace.com/youngflux
myspace.com/youngempires
skratchbastid.com

SUNDAY DECEMBER 27 / NIGHT TWO
James Mejia and BRIAN BORCHERDT'S Hand Drawn Dracula Records takes over the underground for a night of indie rock, while DJ DOUGIE BOOM spins upstairs in the lounge. The line up features a healthy chunk of HDD's roster including BISHOP MOROCCO, BY DIVINE RIGHT and Borcherdt's newest project FIELDS OF FUR. Borcherdt will step into the spotlight a second time for a DJ set with his band HOLY FUCK.
holyfuckmusic.com/
handdrawndracula.com/hdd-bishopmorocco
handdrawndracula.com/hdd-bydivineright
myspace.com/holycobras
myspace.com/dougieboom

MONDAY DECEMBER 28 / NIGHT THREE
Monday night features a DJ set from Swedish electronic group AIR FRANCE, whose psychedelic mix of disco, pop and electronica has them tipped to be an act to watch in 2010. They'll be joined by a trio of Toronto indie rock groups - THE D'URBERVILLES, GREAT BLOOMERS and SPOOKEY RUBEN. Monday also marks the beginning of a three night residency for classical pianist TODOR KOBAKOV in the Drake's lounge.
myspace.com/theairfrance
myspace.com/thedurbervilles
myspace.com/greatbloomers
myspace.com/spookeyruben
todor.ca

TUESDAY DECEMBER 29 / NIGHT FOUR
California's NOSAJ THING make their way north for night four of WITB, playing alongside Toronto's own OPOPO, MYMANHENRI and PICK A PIPER, a collective featuring members of CARIBOU and TENTH OF MAY. Expect a dance party downstairs while TODOR KOBAKOV continues his early residency upstairs in the lounge, after which DJ JAIME SIN takes over to close out the night.
myspace.com/nosajthing
myspace.com/mymanhenri
myspace.com/opopotunes
myspace.com/organmood
myspace.com/pickapiper
todor.ca
jaime-sin.com

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 30 / NIGHT FIVE
WITB closes out on Wednesday with a night of thumping house, techno and dance beats that sees Toronto's NOAH PRED playing alongside Glasgow electronic producer ALEX SMOKE, Montreal's PHEEK and NYC resident STEFNY WINTER. DJ JOHNNY HOCKIN and TODOR KOBAKOV split the duties in the lounge.
myspace.com/alexsmoke1
pheek.com
myspace.com/djstefny
noahpred.com
todor.ca/site
johnnyhockin.com

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Lead Photo: "Great Bloomers @ TARA Secret Sessions. Saturday, June 13, 2009" by ryanophoto, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.