Hot Ticket for the week of May 1st - May 7th

Your blogTO music staff recommends these "hot tickets" for the coming week -

With OvertheTop Fest running this Thursday through Sunday, the mind boggles at all the indie choices. I'm de-boggling long enough to choose Detroit indie-pop darlings PAS/CAL who play along with NYC's Asobi Seksu. A pop-packed bill Saturday May 6th at Sneaky Dee's (431 College St.) $10 -- Beth

Rapper Arabesque hosts a War Child Benefit for the children in war-torn Iraq. It's a solid bill (Arabesque, Lal, Zaki, NYC emcee Akir) and a good cause. Thrusday May 4th at El Mocambo (464 Spadina Ave.) $10. -- Ryan

The Guillemots grace TO this Thursday with their sumptuous brand of pop genius. Formed in 2005, this charmingly obtuse UK pop outfit is relatively young, yet its music, a smorgasbord of lush, shimmering compositions is evidence of the band members' musical maturity. Big band jazz sounds play alongside the sweet, soft tinkle of ivories while frontman Fyfe Dangerfield's flair for strutting, theatrical vocals captivate. Whimsical art pop at its best. Thursday, May 4 at The Mod Club (722 College), $14.50, doors 7:00pm. -- Panthea

(Arabesque photo by Ian Ligertwood)