Special NxNE podcasts, episode 1.

I went to the North by Northeast music festival accredited to Zygiella.com. Welcome to my coverage! Over the following five special podcasts you will hear the interviews I conducted with musicians, writers, bloggers, photographers, and others during the festival. In addition you will also hear songs by artists who performed (and a couple who didn't) during the five days of NxNE. Highlights include a new D'Urbervilles song feat. hip hop artists New Slang, brand new tracks by METZ and La Casa Muerte, and as-yet unreleased songs by Burn Planetarium, The Schomberg Fair, and Evening Hymns. All the songs were chosen by the people I talked to. The conversations you'll hear touch on a variety of subjects, including the state of the music industry, the excitement and diversity of the festival, the travails of independent bands, and the music scenes in other cities. My sense from my travels and talks was that this year's NxNE was well programmed, more embracing of a variety of music styles, and felt more like a festival than in previous years. The bands I spoke with were having a good time, the fans were enjoying themselves, and everyone was finding something exciting to go see and hear.

Episode 1: Wednesday (17 June 2009)

My festival started at the launch party at the Berkeley Church on Queen East. I caught up with some friends, met a few new people, and had a couple free beers. Sufficiently tipsy, a friend and I cabbed over to the Drake to see the City Sonic films (really well done), and catch sets by J. J. Ipsen, The D'Urbervilles, Lioness, and Woodhands. I spoke with Tim Bruton and John O'Regan from The D'Urbervilles, Ming Wu, a photoblogger from Ottawa and first-time NxNEr, and Garry Tsaconas, a local photographer and avid show-goer. Featuring songs by The D'Urbervilles ("Worst Case Ontario [feat. New Slang and Green Go]," and Woodhands ("Electric Avenue [Eddy Grant cover]"). Hope you enjoy it!

Photo of John O'Regan performing at the Drake on 17 June 2009 by Garry Tsaconas.

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Stay tuned for the next 4 episodes, covering Thursday afternoon, Thursday night, Friday, and Saturday and Sunday.