IPO Hamilton 2018

Click on artist name to go to their music page
 
CLICK HERE to see IPO Hamilton 2018 Artist Yearbook Photos
 
 

Artists From The Hamilton/Toronto Area

 
The 905’s – The 905’s are blasting out of the suburbs with high energy power pop and punk-wave rock ‘n roll. It’s sleek, it’s fast, and it’s fun! In the grand tradition of fellow Canadians Teenage Head, and likeminded bands such as The Buzzcocks, Stiv Bators, and Johnny Thunders, The 905’s are here to get the party rockin’! If you want to sing along, dance, stomp your feet, or pump your fists in the air, check out their latest CD, Breakout, and their IPO showcase!
 
Across The Board – Crossing through genres of rock, country, indie and pop, Across The Board (or “ATB” for short) already have over 400 YouTube videos, 2016’s debut album, Jane On Fire, and their critically acclaimed 2017 EP, Amends, to their credit. They’ve also won four independent music awards and have been featured on the 2017 International Women’s Day Website in March of 2017, and at Canadian Music Week in 2017. Not ones to rest of their laurels, their brand new album, Sonic Boom, continues to build on their foundation of female-fronted power-vocals and genre-blending influences, bridging the gap between indie rock acoustics and country rock harmonics driven by classic guitar riffs, simple bass-lines and sophisticated contemporary rock beats. Check it out!
 
The Beat Club – A power pop trio in the classic tradition, The Beat Club combine old school punk rock, ‘60s pop, cool jazz, and contemporary fun! This is a band you must see live to experience them at their best!
 
Black Creek Reign – With a unique catchy sound made from a blend of funk, reggae, rock, soul, and a bit of everything in between, all joined under a warm and familiar umbrella of pop melodies, Black Creek Reign are a perfect fit for IPO! Their debut album, Excommunicado, is in the final mixing/mastering stage, and will be released soon…we can hardly wait!
 
James Clark Institute – The musical outlet of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist James Clark, their latest full-length release, Yesterday’s Misadventures, was produced by iconic Canadian musician/producer Moe Berg (The Pursuit Of Happiness). “James Clark is one of Canada’s songwriting treasures. His songs have a timeless quality born of a writer who studied the best and refuses to bow to the wind and rain of any current day. His lyrics never underestimate the audience’s intelligence and his melodies will stay with you long after the record has finished playing.” (Moe Berg) Fans of intelligent quirky introspective pop artists, such as John Lennon, Neil Finn, and Elvis Costello, should check it out!
 
Colour Film – Music for your mind’s eye. With songs that play like home movies rich in imagery, Colour Film is the stage name of Hamilton’s Matthew de Zoete. The moniker embodies his idea of songs as little films, wherein a combination of characters, stories, and emotions create a visual element in the listener’s mind. The songs achieve his ends brilliantly, with his voice and the shimmering arrangements often echoing the glorious melancholy of Elliott Smith, Badly Drawn Boy, and Pernice Brothers. Or, imagine Nick Drake cheering up a bit and meeting Beck.
 
The Fairest and Best – One of the most eclectic bands in Toronto, The Fairest and Best blend original pop, rock, soul, jazz, country and Latin influences into their music. Their debut EP, When I Feel like This, was featured in the playlists of over 100 radio stations across North America, Australia, Italy, and elicited numerous licensing contracts for television. Featuring award winning songs by singer and keyboardist Robert Graham, the band performs modern classics – timeless songs with memorable hooks, rich harmonies and superb musicality. Their live shows are always entertaining – infused with humour, big ideas and wide ranging appeal, so make sure to catch them at their IPO showcase!
 
The Foreign Films – Like the soundtrack to a distant summer, The Foreign Films create cinematic songs that remind us of our past while we contemplate our future. Their recently released Record Collector “album” is a three-disc magnum opus box set on180-gram vinyl, with each disc in an individual full-colour sleeve, plus a 12-page full-colour booklet, all housed in a sturdy full-colour slipcase. The songs on the “album” capture the high energy from their live performances, and seamlessly weave subtle measures of ‘60s psych pop, UK northern soul and ‘80s new wave into a bittersweet genre-bending pop confection. Very cool!
 
Just Jillian & Carmen Toth – IPO is proud to host this special combined set by two of Toronto’s most gifted singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalists. Just Jillian is the former lead guitar player for ADHD the band, and has played keys for Remote Wonder and bass for alternative synth pop band All Dressed. Her recently released debut solo album, What Day Is It?, makes subtle use of catchy pop choruses and pop-rock guitar riffs to put a lighthearted spin on thought-provoking lyrics. Carmen Toth is an IPO-veteran, both as a solo artist and as the front-woman of her band, Social Potion. Blessed with both a wide vocal range and a voice that can be gritty and sweet at the same time, Toth’s style has been compared to ‘80s and ‘90s era artists including Stevie Nicks, Tori Amos, Jane Siberry, Suzanne Vega and Cyndi Lauper, as can be heard on her recently released EP, Safety Net. We can’t wait to see and hear what they’ll do together!
 
Claude Kent (of Clockwise) – Check out the latest Clockwise album, This is now…and then, or any of their equally awesome earlier releases, and you’ll be instantly hooked! Their sound is influenced by Elvis Costello, The Kinks, Joe Jackson and Squeeze, tempered with more contemporary artists like Crowded House and The Beautiful South, and they efficiently crank out three and a half minute pop songs with hooks that will stick with you long after that initial investment in time has been spent. Their classic Toronto power pop style fit right in at The World Famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, where they joined us for IPO four years in a row, and we’re very glad they did! Main man Claude Kent has some new tunes up his sleeve, and can rock ‘em with or without band – as he will at this special IPO solo performance!
 
Christine Leakey – Her debut, Tapping Trees In A Trinket Box of Treasure, is a lush cinematic with a dash of jazz and a pinch of pop album that puts a fresh spin on fusion revealing a new definition with every listen. The album was nominated for various awards including Hamilton Music Awards and Independent Music Awards for Best Eclectic Song, Best Adult Alternative and Best Album Art! It features an array of organic wind, reed, string and world instruments, along with a very rare collection of vintage and museum quality keyboards including the Chamberlin, Mellotron, Optigan, Orchestron and ARP 2600! Her second album, Wanderlust Wishing Well, produced by the ubiquitous Fernando Perdomo, is a quirky pop delight, mixing influences from ‘60s soft pop to gypsy swing and Saturday morning cartoon soundtracks!
 
Emily Mac – Born in Toronto and raised on Motown, Emily Mac takes her love of old school rock n’ roll, blues, jazz and R&B and gives you a new take on a classic sound with her bold sassy vocals. She’s recently been nominated for an Independent Music Award for her song “In Awe Of You,” and is recording for her debut album. She is also part of a collective of indie female musicians called Indigal, who record albums for charity and to help empower women in the music industry through collaboration and community, which is pretty cool!
 
Mr. Mouray – A man of impeccable 1950s style and taste, Mr Mouray has been reborn a half-century later through modern words and music. One of the many musical projects featuring the ubiquitous Jaimie Vernon, founder of one of the best pop music labels in Canada, Bullseye Records, and one of the foremost authorities on all things Canadian music. Vernon is the author of The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia, a hefty two-volume treasure-trove of information about Canadian artists both well- and lesser-known, a story-teller of Bardic proportions, and a pop-meister of the highest caliber, so this is one show you will not want to miss!
 
Pineapple Girls – Don’t let the name fool you, as the band is comprised of five guys, with not a single girl in it…but that doesn’t stop them from doing some very cool dreamy harmony pop with a definite girl group influence! Fans of artists such as The Beach Boys and The Tokens will also really dig this stuff!
 
Dave Rave – He began popping very powerfully indeed a near quarter century ago as part of the legendary Canadian bands Teenage Head (who have reunited) and The Shakers, and has often been referred to as “The Canadian Nick Lowe.” A recent CD, Live With What You Know, was nominated for a Grammy, as was one of its songs, “Anne Marie,” and he’s recently shown his enduring love for quirky ‘80s-style pop on Indicator, his latest release with The Governors! From 2010 to 2014 he played 50 IPO festivals in a row (yes, you read that right), and he still plays many of them…and we look forward to many more. Thank you, Dave, and a big congrats for Teenage Head’s entry in The Canadian Indie Hall of Fame!!
 
Standard Electric – Born from the ashes of the excellent Toronto band, The Snows, Standard Electric keeps the torch lit with sophisticated songwriting, a guitar-heavy indie sensibility, and Martha Boucher’s pristine vocals. Check out their recently released self-titled vinyl EP!
 
UK Cinema – Blooming from an eclectic spectrum of artistic influences ranging from filmic popular culture and independent cinema to ‘80s New Wave and contemporary acts of alternative indie, UK Cinema seeks to fuse a love for timeless music with the impassioned attempt to contribute its own. Their layered dream pop sound has sprung from a youthful adoration for players on the stage to the euphoric sounds of musical impressionism, from falling in love with a song to creating a song to fall in love with.
 
Justin White – His just released single, Nothing Left To Waste, blends anthemic indie rock, punk pop, and power pop in equal measure, and has us eagerly awaiting his first ever IPO showcase! Fans of The Ramones, REM, and Arcade Fire will want to check him out!