FacebookWho: Teitur
What: Faroe-born, Copenhagen-based singer-songwriter Teitur Lassen is something of a star in Denmark thanks to his strummy, sad songs of broken hearts and such.
Why: His fourth English-language album Let The Dog Drive Home came out in 2010 and though it didn’t get a proper North American release, that doesn’t mean he can’t tour it over here anyways.
When: Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Where: The Great Hall in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: Support is still TBA.
How: Tickets for the show are $15 in advance but courtesy of LiveNationa, I’ve got three pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Teitur” in the subject line and your full name in the body; contest closes at midnight, March 1.

Video: Teitur – “Freight Train”

Liam MaloneyWho: Islands
What: Endlessly malleable Montreal pop outfit led by Nick Thorburn.
Why: Their latest album A Sleep & A Forgetting, an uncharacteristically dark and stark meditation on love and loss, was released earlier this week.
When: Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Where: The Music Gallery / St. George the Martyr Church in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: Kentucky’s Idiot Glee support.
How: Tickets for the show are $22.50 in advance but courtesy of Union Events, 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 Islands” in the subject line and your full name in the body; contest closes at midnight, February 23.
What else: There’s interviews with Thorburn at Exclaim, The Ottawa Citizen, Sticky, and The National Post while MTV asks for some advice on dating indie rockers (don’t) and The Los Angeles Times solicits a playlist of sad songs.

MP3: Islands – “This Is Not A Song”

Frank YangWho: Forest City Lovers, Snowblink, Snailhouse, Bocce, Kite Hill, Richard Laviolette, Octoberman, The Meek, Jenny Omnichord
What/Why: Local label Out Of This Spark is turning five years old in 2012, and they’re marking a half-decade of discovering, incubating and launching some of the area’s best new talent the way any good anniversary should – with family, friends and a tonne of great music. Details on the event over here.
When: Saturday, February 25, 2012
Where: The Tranzac in Toronto (19+)
Who else: What, the bands listed above aren’t enough for you? Come on.
How: Tickets for the show are $15 in advance but courtesy of Out Of This Spark, I’ve got a special prize pack to give away consisting not only of a pair of passes to the event, but a complete Out Of This Spark catalog on CD – that’s all ten albums listed here including the ones that are essentially out of print, like the first Friends In Bellwoods compilation that launched the label and the pre-Arts & Crafts reissue of Timber Timbre’s breakout self-titled album. Because you know the collector in you wants it. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to be Out Of This Spark” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, February 21.

MP3: Forest City Lovers – “Light You Up”
MP3: Snowblink – “Ambergris”
MP3: Snailhouse – “I Never Woke Up”
MP3: Octoberman – “Thirty Reasons”

Frank YangWho: Veronica Falls
What: English-Scottish foursome who on their self-titled debut, resurrected the spirit of ’80s indie-pop and gave it a dark, zombie-like edge. Found love in a graveyard, indeed.
Why: They toured North America in the Fall supporting The Drums – Toronto was lucky enough to get our own headlining show – but now they’re doing their own tour.
When: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Where: The Garrison in Toronto (19+)
Who else: San Francisco’s Brilliant Colors support. You can tell they’re American from how they spell “Colors” – incorrectly.
How: Tickets for the show are $10.50 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 be Valentines with Veronica Falls” in the subject line and your full name in the body.
What else: Scout checks in with drummer Patrick Doyle.

MP3: Veronica Falls – “Come On Over”
MP3: Veronica Falls – “Found Love In A Graveyard”

Ross GarrettWho: Die Antwoord
What: South African hip-hop outfit as dedicated to shock and spectacle – and viral videos – as beats and rhymes.
Why: Their second album Ten$ion is set to come out on Tuesday and they are wasting no time in taking it on the road in North America.
When: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Where: The Phoenix in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: No idea who is opening.
How: Tickets for the show are $29 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 Die Antwoord” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, February 10.
What else: The Philadelphia Inquirer talks to Die Antwoord’s Ninja. That’s his name, not his title.

Video: Die Antwoord – “I Fink U Freeky”
Video: Die Antwoord – “For Julie Naaiers”