John Kastner hitting the highlights

May 11: NXNE’s annual Press Conference – Mill Street Brewery

NXNE revealed the complete, monster 2009 lineup in Music, Film, and Conference. Over 200 media, industry, and artists crowded the Mill Street Brewery to hear the festival news firsthand and partake of the fine suds & snacks on offer.

Partygoers heard NXNE Managing Director Andy McLean lay out the highlights from the festival’s Yonge-Dundas Square programming (Black Lips, the Burning Brides, GZA, the Cool Kids and more). Andy also outlined key Conference sessions like the Town Hall, the Gearheadz panel, and the Rivoli Sessions. Music Programming Specialist John Kastner (above) gave highlights of club showcase performances, and Film Programmer Ambrose Roche described some of the great Film Fest lineup (Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, I Need that Record, and more).

NXNE boys w/ Cityflitz's Andreas Kotal, Paul Pelton, & handiwork

Toronto FC stars Rohan Ricketts and Johann Smith were on hand to conduct prize draws and help direct attention to NXNE’s annual Put the Boot In charity soccer match, Sunday June 21. All proceeds from the game go to Right to Play–who were represented at Mill Street by Tania Wybenga and US Olympic silver medal-winning rower Michelle Guerette.

Johann Smith, Michelle Guerette, Andy McLean, & Rohan Ricketts

Dan Burke & Michael Hollett

Michael Barry (ex-Hidden Cameras), Lee Petrie (GTAA), Michael Beynon

VIP Super Passes and Priority Passes are now available. Click here to buy online, or visit our “Tickets” page for full descriptions and pricing on each pass. Five-day festival wristbands are also on sale. Check “Tickets” for details.

2008’s music festival lineup included: We Are Wolves, Redd Kross, Swervedriver, Monotonix, The Death Set, Ladyhawk, Hercules & Love Affair, Evan Dando, Sloan, People in Planes, Bedouin Soundclash, Peanut Butter Wolf, Money Mark, My Morning Jacket, The Stills, Bran Van 3000, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Great Lake Swimmers, Hidden Cameras, Sheek Louch, Brant Bjork, James Pants, Cormega, Oholics, The Besnard Lakes, Matt Mays & El Torpedo, Semi Precious Weapons, The High Dials, Lightspeed Champion, Platinum Pied Pipers, Rough Trade, The D’Urbervilles, Statik Selectah, The Carps, Hugh Cornwell, Alex Cuba, The Wet Secrets, Grand Analog, Small Sins, Matthew Barber, The Coast, Teenage Head, Julie Doiron, Donzelle, Winter Gloves, Arkells, .moneen., These New Puritans, Two Hours Traffic, Laura Barrett, The Meligrove Band, The Pack A.D., Kid Cudi, Black Diamond Bay, Hey Rosetta, Rebekah Higgs, Slim Twig, Shawn Hewitt…plus about 500 other great artists.

Something to look forward this month, besides the Super Bowl, a new U.S. president, and month-long deals on, well, everything. Together with our good friends at Just Entertainment, NXNE presents a great hip hop show featuring EL Da Sensei, from New Jersey, and Ghettosocks, in from Halifax.

The show is sponsored by NOW Magazine and happens on Friday, January 16 at the Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave.

Next Saturday, Jan 24, there’s another one to tell you about…stay tuned for details.

Saturday, November 15 NXNE joined the Downtown Yonge BIA in presenting 08 fest alumni The John Henrys live onstage, 6:00-7:00pm. The show was part of “Illuminite,” downtown’s annual holiday lighting ceremony. Despite a near-biblical rainstorm,

Yonge-Dundas drowned - even the buildings are unrecognizable

the John Henrys (who’d just driven down from Sault Ste Marie) delivered their usual tight set of country-roots tunes, leaving the crowd wet and happy. And that’s good, right?

The Evelyn Room

Celebrate the opening of NXNE 09’s submission period at the NXNE KICK-OFF SHOWCASE, taking over the legendary HORSESHOE TAVERN on Tuesday, November 11.

The NXNE KICK-OFF SHOWCASE brings together some of the best acts from NXNE 08, hand-picked by festival programmers. It’s a no-cover 102.1 the Edge Nu Music Nite featuring three great Canadian NXNE artists–plus one still-secret special guest.

9:00 pm: THE EVELYN ROOM

10:00 pm: THE GOLDEN HANDS BEFORE GOD CONDUCTS INCREDIBLE MAGIC BAND & THE SPIRITS

11:00 pm: SPECIAL GUEST!

12:00 midnight: THE HIGH DIALS

Every band onstage at the NXNE KICK-OFF SHOWCASE has recently been added to the NXNE TOP 60 TIP SHEET, a one-of-a-kind pipeline to national radio that gets the music of the best Canadian NXNE musicians straight out to over 250 music and program directors across the country. The NXNE TOP 60 TIP SHEET plugs homegrown artists directly into Canada’s broadcast network, from commercial radio to campus and indie stations—and it’s one more BIG reason for bands to apply to play NXNE in 2009.

NinjaSonik @ NXNE after party during Pop Montreal 2008 from Anne-Marie Bergeron on Vimeo.
NXNE hosted its usual all-nighter again during Pop Mtl.. It all turned out to be an awesome night with Ninjasonik taking the stage at around 3:30am underscoring the annual event is *the* place to hang Sat night at Pop Montreal…