Live music picks for WEDNESDAY MARCH 21 through SUNDAY MARCH 25, 2012

WEDNESDAY MARCH 21 / BLACKIE AND THE RODEO KINGS / MASSEY HALL / 178 VICTORIA / $35 - $55 / ALL AGES

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings have been on the scene for more than 15 years, and will be bringing their King and Queens Live show to Massey Hall. They released the album Kings and Queens last year, and each of the disc's 14 tracks sees the band joined by a different female artist, including names such as Roseanne Cash and Emmylou Harris. The band will be joined by several of these ladies on this tour, and their brand of alt-country/folk rock is really something to behold, so this show gets a very high recommendation.

THURSDAY MARCH 22 / I MOTHER EARTH / SOUND ACADEMY / 11 POLSON / $44 / ALL AGES

If you were around during the 90s, and if you had even a small appreciation for alt-rock at the time, you know that I Mother Earth was one of the biggest bands that came out of Canada during that time. After an eight year hiatus, they're back, and they'll be performing two sold out shows at the Sound Academy. Fans of the band already know that they're fantastic live, and if you're new to the IME world, you really owe it to yourself to somehow score tickets to one of these shows.

FRIDAY MARCH 23 / THE TREWS / QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE / 190 PRINCES' BOULEVARD/ $41 - $51 / ALL AGES

I've always been a fan of The Trews, and the only time I've seen them live was when they performed a free acoustic show at Sheridan College's pub. Of course, this show isn't free, but take it from me - this is a group that's worth seeing live. The band is still touring in support of their album Hope & Ruin, which was released almost a year ago. Poor Young Things will offer support.

SATURDAY MARCH 24 / FANFARLO / MOD CLUB / 722 COLLEGE / $16 / 19+

Fanfarlo, out of London (that's London, UK, mind you), are known for their eclectic lineup of instruments, including mandolins, trumpets, and musical saws. That's not something you see/hear every day, but it's a sound that they've perfected. The band released their sophomore album, Rooms Filled With Light, three weeks ago, and by all accounts it's a fine piece of work. If you're a fan of indie pop, this is the show for you this week.

SUNDAY MARCH 25 / A GREAT BIG PILE OF LEAVES / HARD LUCK BAR / 812 DUNDAS / $10.50 / 19+

This gets my vote for must-see show of the week. I wasn't even familiar with A Great Big Pile of Leaves until I was researching this week's blog, and now, I can honestly say I'm a full-blown fan. This is just fun, catchy indie-rock, and I imagine that seeing these guys live would be a rare treat. Their 2010 debut Have You Seen My Prefrontal Cortex? is available for free on the band's website, so really, there's no excuse to not check it out.

RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CONCERTS

March

• Nicolas Jaar at Revival Bar on March 23. Advance tickets $21.00 (plus s.c.).
• Tyvek at Parts & Labour on March 23. $10.00.
• Sleigh Bells at the Phoenix on March 26. $25.00.
• Andrew W.K. at the Phoenix on March 27. $23.50.
• Flatfoot 56 at the Hard Luck Bar on March 29. $10.50.

April

• Sydney Blu at the Hoxton on April 7. $15.00.
• Dev at the Mod Club on April 9. $20.00.
• Laidback Luke at the Hoxton on April 12. $25.00.
• Kaiser Chiefs at the Opera House on April 17. $35.50.
• Tanlines at the Wrongbar on April 17. $10.50.
• Nick Lowe at the Phoenix on April 23. $34.00.
• Acid Mothers Temple at the Garrison on April 26. $15.00.
• Dragon Ritual Drummers at the El Mocambo on April 27. $10.00.

May

• Frankie Rose at Parts & Labor on May 2. $11.50.
• Fortune at the Garrison on May 3. $12.50.
• Eleanor Friedberger at the Garrison on May 4. $15.00
• Justin Rutledge at the Horseshoe Tavern on May 5. $17.50.


• Grouplove at the Wrongbar on May 9. $18.00.
• Maine at the Phoenix on May 9. $23.50.
• Never Say Never at the Mod Club on May 9. $25.00.
• Allen Stone at the Mod Club on May 11. $18.50.
• Mark Langean at the Mod Club on May 15. $21.00.
• Rat Scabies and Brian James at Lee's Palace on May 17. $14.50.

Beyond

• Radiohead with Caribou on June 16 at Downsview Park. $81.00
• Laura Marling at the Phoenix on June 17. $25.00
• LMFAO with Far East Movement and more at the Molson Amphitheatre on July 4. $34.50 - 69.50.
• tUnE-yArDs at the Phoenix on August 1. $21.00.
• The Black Keys with The Shins at the Molson Amphitheatre on August 4. $35.00 - $.59.50.
• Justice & M83 with Austra and Buraka Som Sistema at Fort York:Garrison Common on August 4. $49.00 (+s.c.).
• Il Volo at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts on August 25. Price TBA.
• Gordon Lightfoot at Massey Hall from November 14 - November 17. $45.00 - 85.00.

For more music listings, head on over to our events calendar.

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Photo of the Trews by Shayne Kaye on Flickr