Early registration for Indie Week ends April 9

The big day might not come until November, the deadline for early Indie Week registration is April 9 – just a few weeks away.

It’s one of Canada’s biggest events in indie music with acts from around the world coming in for five jam-packed days and nights of workshops, performances and meeting other like-minded artists.

The early bird registration fee of $25 is a $10 savings and that’s just the beginning of the opportunities.

There are countless opportunities for performing in clubs of all sizes across Toronto, from legendary venues like the Horseshoe Tavern to newer gems like The Joint, with stages and bars open until 4 a.m. The fun begins with a launch party on November 13 at Revival Bar, a chance to check out other bands, meet industry reps, talk with fans and enjoy two floors of performances.

Then there’s the conference itself – outside of the performances, a list of speakers will provide industry insight and historical perspective. This year’s speakers haven’t been finalized or announced yet, but previous speakers include producer Eddie Kramer, Michael Wekerle of the Dragon’s Den and El Mocambo, John Densmore of The Doors, Ian D’Sa of Billy Talent, agent Ralph James and Juno winner Tom Wilson.

Ok, so what’s in it for the bands?

There’s the Indie Week Awards, the Indie 101 Music + Tech conference, a Health and Wellness Day, listening sessions, industry panels, a minimum of two 30-minute gigs, with sound equipment and a basic backline provided. You’ll meet dozens of other bands from across the country and around the world.

Applications are open for all genres of music, other than comedy and cover bands, and the only stipulation is that bands or solo artists cannot be signed directly to a major label. If your band is working with an independent label with a major distribution agreement, you’re still eligible.

The week ends with an awards ceremony honouring artists and others across a number of categories, followed by live band karaoke at the Bovine Sex Club, which Indie Week considers one of its greatest traditions. Who knows who might show up to take the mic?

More information is available here – but don’t forget, the deadline for early bird registration is April 9.