Through an incredibly fortunate bit of Twitter contest luck, I managed to score a free pass for the annual NXNE festival here in Toronto.  For those not in the know:

Now in its 18th year, North by Northeast Festivals and Conference (NXNE)has become the Canadian festival destination for emerging artists and major-label headliners, for music filmmakers, and for digital interactive innovators bridging the gap between technology and the arts. Seen as the most anticipated summer music event in Canada, NXNE Music, NXNE Film, and NXNE Interactive are an essential gathering for artists, industry, and fans. We’re based in Toronto, but bring a global perspective to our programming. NXNE’s mission is to

• provide a forum for the best new music, in which fans can catch emerging artists – tomorrow’s stars – and today’s most popular acts at intimate club venues
• screen the year’s most exciting music-themed films
• explore and develop common ground between the creative industries and the interactive world
• present Toronto with an annual marquee tourist destination festival by showcasing international headline performers at huge free outdoor concerts

For a music junkie like myself who has never been in possession of funding and/or time to fully immerse in this festival, it’s a dream come true.  A week of films, panels and performances?  Yes, please!

What I love about NXNE is that you can always catch great artists for free now via the Yonge-Dundas Square stage.  In the past, I’ve discovered Wintersleep in this manner, as well as enjoying several other tasty artists.  This year, my favourite artist, Matthew Good, is set for one such free set and I had already earmarked the night on my calendar.  Now, I find my schedule rather crowded and full!  Subject to change as I roll with the punches (including my convocation daring to fall in the middle of the festival), here’s my tentative plan for NXNE:

Monday June 11

8pm – Metric

Tuesday

4pm – Persecution Blues: The Battle For The Tote (Film)
6pm – Bring On The Mountain (Film)

Wednesday

Performances:

8pm – Avery Island
9pm – The Aves
10pm – Animal Talk
11pm – Sidney York
12am – Sacred Balance
1am – Volcano Playground
(1am Back-up Choice:  The Wind-Up Radio Sessions)

Thursday

2pm – My Anti is Bigger Than Your Censorship: Combating Internet Censorship Through Art & Satire (Panel)
4:30pm – The Art of Mobile Photography (Panel)

Performances:

7pm – Nash
8pm – Vacationer
9pm – White Rabbits
11pm – Mira Black
12am – Dead City Beat
1am – Bran Van 3000

Friday

2pm – Social Music Marketing: Brands, Bands and Fans (panel)
4:30pm – Politics+Comedy 2.0 (panel)

Performances:

7:30pm – Eight and a Half
8:30pm – Plants and Animals
9:30pm – Matthew Good
12am – Patrick Joseph
1am – Future History
2am – Cobra & Vulture

Saturday

1pm – Once In A Lullaby: The PS22 Chorus Story (Film)

Performances:

4pm – Art Vs Science
5pm – Hollerado
6pm – Oberhofer
7pm – of Montreal
8pm – Robyn Dell’ Unto
9pm – The Flaming Lips
11pm – Sara Johnston
12am – Holly McNarland
1am – Christien Summers

Sunday

2:30pm – My Father and the Man in Black (film)

Performances:

9pm – WAZU
10pm – Goodnight, Sunrise
11pm – Amos The Transparent
12am – Dream Jefferson

This is a fairly ambitious schedule, and admittedly, I may have to see partial sets in some cases as I play by ear.  I know who my must-sees are, but for now, I’m excited to see how much I can pull off.  I’ve strategically chosen venues near each other/opted to see several artists in a row within a venue, meaning there’s a good fifteen bands I’d like to see but can’t, but who cares?  Music! Free!

I’ll be documenting as much of the experience as possible for this blog, so stay tuned and get ready!