Toronto live music picks for WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6 through TUESDAY JANUARY 12, 2010.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6 / IAN BLURTON & HURON / DAKOTA TAVERN / 249 OSSINGTON AVE / $5 / 19+
Toronto's IAN BLURTON plays the first of many dates at the Dakota Tavern in support of the release of his first official solo album Happy Endings. While the album features contributions from AMY MILLAN, KEVIN DREW and RAISING THE FAWN's SCOTT REMILA, Blurton will be joined a different set of musicians to recreate his solo work live. Having already served as the producer of HURON's debut album, Blurton has enlisted them to perform with him throughout his weekly Wednesday night residency at the Dakota (ongoing until February 24).
myspace.com/sirianblurton
myspace.com/huronband

THURSDAY JANUARY 7 / THE NIGHTLOSERS / LEE'S PALACE / 529 BLOOR ST W / $20 / 19+
Romanian 8-piece NIGHTLOSERS created quite the buzz when they sold out multiple performances at the Silver Dollar in 2008, making their one night stand at Lee's Palace this Thursday a hotly anticipated event. The group fuses elements of R&B, blues and country with an Eastern European influence, offering up an authentic take on Transylvanian folk music.
myspace.com/nightlosers

FRIDAY JANUARY 8 / THE ANVIL EXPERIENCE / PHOENIX / 410 SHERBOURNE ST / $25 / 19+
While ANVIL has released thirteen studio albums, it is their starring roles in the critically acclaimed documentary film Anvil! The Story of Anvil that has brought them attention recently. In support of the recent DVD release of the film, the heavy metal band has scheduled a 30-date tour across North America, with a lone hometown show at the Phoenix on Friday night.
myspace.com/anvilmetal

SATURDAY JANUARY 9 / AMOS THE TRANSPARENT / HORSESHOE TAVERN / 368 QUEEN ST W / $8 / 19+
Ottawa's AMOS THE TRANSPARENT headline the Horseshoe Tavern this Saturday night, kicking off what's sure to be a great 2010 for a very promising act. In addition to gaining momentum with the recent release of the My, What Big Teeth You Have EP, AMOS were recently awarded $50,000 in talent development funding through Live 88.5's Big Money Shot. They'll be joined by local indie rockers THE FREE PRESS, Peterborough's BIRTHDAY BOYS and London's THE BAD IDEAS.
amosthetransparent.com/
myspace.com/freepressmusic
myspace.com/birthdayboysmusic
myspace.com/thebadideasmusic

SATURDAY JANUARY 9 / JULIE DOIRON / THE COBURG / 533 PARLIAMENT ST / FREE
It was recently announced that JULIE DOIRON's I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day was the number one charting album of the year on Canadian campus radio, beating out acts like Joel Plaskett, Pink Mountaintops, and Metric. She'll be playing a free show at 533 Parliament on Saturday night, calling upon CONSTANTINES' WILL KIDMAN to open. Show starts at ten, and the last-minute facebook event promises "lots of new songs and old favourites."
juliedoiron.com

SUNDAY JANUARY 10 / WAVELENGTH 495: BAHAMAS, PARKS & REC, GREAT AUNT IDA / THE GARRISON / 1197 DUNDAS ST W / PWYC / 19+
With only five more Sunday night Wavelength shows to go before the weekly series shifts its focus to promote special events, 495 features an all-local line-up including PROOF OF GHOSTS, GREAT AUNT IDA, PARKS & REC and AFIE JURVANEN aka BAHAMAS. Doors at 9, and as always, it's PWYC ($5-10 suggested).
myspace.com/bahamasbreeze
myspace.com/parksandrecmusic
myspace.com/greatauntida
myspace.com/proofofghosts

TUESDAY JANUARY 12 / DUTCHESS & THE DUKE / SNEAKY DEE'S / 431 COLLEGE ST / $11.50 / 19+
The duo of JESSE LORTZ and KIMBERLY MORRISON comprise THE DUTCHESS AND THE DUKE, a predominantly acoustic project that spawned from a high school friendship and a mutual appreciation for punk rock and the local Seattle scene. They are touring in support of their sophomore effort Sunrise/Sunset, and they'll be joined by Connecticut garage rockers MEDICATION for an intimate show upstairs at Sneaks this coming Tuesday.
myspace.com/thedutchessandtheduke
myspace.com/rottenhomerecordings

TUESDAY JANUARY 12 / OWEN PALLETT / MOD CLUB / 722 COLLEGE ST / SOLD OUT / ALL AGES
No longer operating under the moniker of FINAL FANTASY, Toronto's OWEN PALLETT celebrates the North American release of Heartland with a hometown show at the Mod Club. He'll be joined by conceptual comedy duo LIFE OF A CRAPHEAD and DIAMOND RINGS, solo project of THE D'URBERVILLES frontman JOHN O'REGAN. Tickets are sold out, but craigslist has a few listings as of last night.
owenpalletteternal.com/
diamondringsmusic
amylamwebsite.com/craphead

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Round-up and photo by Matthew McAndrew. Photo: Amos the Transparent at Rancho Relaxo - January 2, 2009.