Hempfest, BFGs, And Catgut Concert Previews!!

In our second post of the day, we're focused on more concert previews in an unusually drawn out stretch of shows, this time focusing on metal/hard rock concerts going down tomorrow and on Monday night! Yes, our Pop Evil preview is coming too, likely on Tuesday. Read on below for these previews (including a festival's return and two punk/metal gigs on Monday), and of course, check out this month's Defunct Local Band Profile on Infrastrate in the post below this one!

Regional marijuana culture festival Hempfest returned for it's 15th installment (and third under it's current ownership) on Monday, and TOMORROW'S last day will see the return of hard rock! Sure, there hasn't been a sizeable contingent of local or metal bands since 2011, but the lineup's much larger than last year, and there's a mix of both regular Hempfest performers and tribute bands to take in, including headliners Mama Kin! This Toronto-based Aerosmith tribute band are a popular local sight (last seen here in April 2012), and they have a faithful and entertaining take on the original songs and look of Aerosmith, so they're worth checking out for sure! Mama Kin will actually have two sets tomorrow night at 7:30 & 9:00 PM, bookending a set by rappers Radar & J. Frost at 8:30 PM. The rest of the lineup in descending order includes a comedian of some kind at 7:00 PM, Hamilton folk/ska quintet Blind Mule at 6:00 PM, Radar & Blind Mule again at 5:30 & 4:30 PM, the finals of this year's Willy High Games at 4:00 PM, Newmarket punk band The Salads at 2:15 PM, a live speaker of some kind at 1:45 PM, and Remedy, a Southern Ontario-based Black Crowes tribute opening at 12:00 PM.

As usual, Hempfest is in it's usual home of Poplardale Road in nearby Ophir, Ontario (an hour east of the Soo), and tickets are $40 at the door and $50 if you're going today too (click here for today's schedule, but there's no heavier bands), while attendees with federal marijuana exemptions get in free (if you show your paperwork on arrival.) This year's Hempfest is generally 18+, but minors can attend with a guardian. For all details for this year's remaining events, check the above links! While I'd love to see more local talent, the expanded lineup is great to see, and tribute bands have a lot of success, so hopefully this year's Hempfest is another hit, and don't miss the last days! For a preview, here's Mama Kin playing "Dream On" last year!



Now to a surprisingly busy Monday for original metal/punk concerts, starting with another new show at The New American Pub courtesy of local concert promoter & musician Jamie Vincent! While not all ages like his other concerts, an entertaining mix of grunge and punk will hit this Bay Street venue on Monday night, including headlining Edmonton grunge rockers Catgut! Featuring Jamie's old Flint bandmate Jesse Silkie on drums, Catgut's alternative sound and punk sensibility give them a solid 1990s-esque sound that fans should like, even if it's not the most aggressive sound! Jamie's own grunge project Bad Back (featuring him on vocals & guitar and his Fuller bandmate Nathan Sauve on drums) will open for Catgut in their second live concert set, while the show itself will begin with a half-Nebraska Arms reunion courtesy of an unplugged set from Wayne Watkins & Dave Prendergast (expect acoustic punk songs.) Admission will be $5 on Monday night for this 19+ show, and doors open at 8:00 PM, which is somewhat early. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page!

Though the 19+ nature is odd given the promoter, fans of punk and alternative hard rock should find a lot to like, and the success of this show could be telling for future original hard rock/metal concerts at The New A, so don't bypass it if you're not going to see the BFGs! Check the above links for more details, and for a preview, here's Catgut live in Edmonton last year!



Finally for the regional metal/hard rock concerts through Monday, Toronto hardcore punk legends The Bunchofuckingoofs will hit The Roosevelt Hotel that night for a well anticipated concert in itself! Thirty years into their run, their aggressive, reckless, and heavy originals should get some great mosh pits going at The Rosie, and it will be awesome to see Crazy Steve Goof and company laying down their classic material in the Soo on Monday! Victoria garage punk trio The Last of the V8 Interceptors will join them for their first of two local concerts this year (they're opening for The Dayglo Abortions next month too), and while I don't know a lot on their sound, their Mad Max themes and punk talents should fit in well! Local support will come courtesy of hardcore punk quintet Destroilet (in their third show of the year) and the Rosie return of local grindcore/death metal trio Shit Liver, and both should fit in very well for this feast of hardcore punk and metal! Originally scheduled to be held at The Algonquin Pub before being relocated, this show is a 19+ event with a 9:00 PM start time and a $10 entry fee. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page!

I won't recommend hitting either Catgut ot The BFGs preferably, as they're different kinds of shows, but The BFGs will appeal to the hardcore punk angle more, so if you prefer that, be at The Rosie, and keep in mind The BFGs notoriety and success over their lengthy run! Both should be great shows, so go occupy a venue, and for a preview, here's The Bunchofuckingoofs playing "Go Get Screwed" live a couple months ago!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for our Swampstravaganza review either tomorrow or early Monday! Thanks everyone!