Frank YangWho: Cœur de Pirate
What: Montreal’s Béatrice Martin, already a star in Francophone parts of the world thanks to her piano-based Gallic pop, has finally set her sights on conquering English Canada.
Why: Following a triumphantly sold-out show at The Mod Club last November in support of her second album Blonde, she’s touring right up until the doctor tells her to stop – on account of her first baby being due in early Fall. So see her while you can!
When: Friday, June 1, 2012
Where: The Opera House in Toronto
Who else: Victoria’s Kandle opens things up.
How: Tickets for the show are $22.50 in advance but courtesy of Livenation and Grosse Boite, I’ve got a prize pack consisting of a pair of passes and a deluxe CD edition of Blonde to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Coeur de Pirate” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, May 27.
What else: Martin was recently listed as one of Macleans‘ Canadians under 25 to watch – which, if you think about it, is exactly what I’m facilitating here.

Video: Cœur de Pirate – “Golden Baby”
Video: Cœur de Pirate – “Adieu”

Frankie BatistaWho: Mayer Hawthorne
What: Ann Arbor-born, Los Angeles-based artist who specializes in giving a classic, old school soul sound a modern sensibility.
Why: His second studio album and major label debut How Do You Do was released late last year.
When: Friday, May 25, 2012
Where: The Hoxton in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Connecticut’s own The Stepkids open up.
How: Tickets for the show are $20 in advance but courtesy of Embrace, I’ve got two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Mayer Hawthorne” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, May 23.
What else: The Indianapolis Star and Billboard have feature pieces on Hawthorne and if you dial back to last year, a covers EP he released for free is still available to download.

Video: Mayer Hawthorne – “Henny & Gingerale”
Video: Mayer Hawthorne – “Dreaming”

Frank YangWho: Paul Weller
What: Britrock legend thanks to his time in The Jam, The Style Council, and his fruitful solo career. The Modfather, dammit.
Why: His latest album Sonik Kicks topped the UK charts on its release in March. His stature’s not quite as high in North America, but still enough to justify a handful of dates on this side of the pond.
When: Monday, May 21, 2012
Where: The Sound Academy in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: Toronto’s own Brit-worshipping The Holiday Crowd have been tapped to open this one up.
How: Tickets for the show are $59.50 in advance but courtesy of Collective Concerts, I’ve got one pair of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Paul Weller” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, May 17.

MP3: Paul Weller – “Around The Lake”
Video: Paul Weller – “Around The Lake”
Video: Paul Weller – “Green”
Video: Paul Weller – “That Dangerous Age”

Jason TangWho: Allen Stone
What: Unlikely-looking but wholly convincing funk/soul singer from the backwoods of Washington state.
Why: He put out his self-titled effort last year, his second self-released, digital-only record. He sounds like the past but he’s living in the future.
When: Friday, May 11, 2012
Where: The Mod Club in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Support comes from Sugar & The Hi Lows and ZZ Ward
How: Tickets for the show are $18.50 in advance but courtesy of LiveNation, I’ve got a pair of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Allen Stone” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me by midnight, May 9.

Video: Allen Stone – “Unaware” (live)
Stream: Allen Stone / Allen Stone

Dry The RiverI’ve talked a fair bit about British folk-rock band Dry The River over the past few months, thanks in large part to their rousing performances at SXSW in Austin in March and their Toronto debut supporting Bowerbirds shortly thereafter, but unless you were at those shows or one of their others, you had to take my (and everyone else who’s seen them’s) word for it – though their debut debut album Shallow Bed was released in the UK at the start of March, its only been available domestically in North America for a couple of weeks now.

That’s certainly enough time to have tracked down a copy for yourself, but if for whatever reason you haven’t done so, then procrastination may have been your friend. Courtesy of With A Bullet, I have three copies of Shallow Bed on CD to give away to. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to Dry The River” in the subject line and your full name and mailing address in the body, and have that in to me by end of day, May 13. And sorry, only residents of Canada are eligible to win.

MP3: Dry The River – “New Ceremony”
Video: Dry The River – “No Rest”
Video: Dry The River – “Chambers & The Valves”
Video: Dry The River – “Weights & Measures”