Canadian Music Week is almost here, in fact it’s just on the other side of this weekend: May 2nd-May 8, it is one of the biggest music festivals and conferences in North America, if not the world, and bands come from all over to play it. Recently we posted a preview of Folk and Country acts you should check out, but if mind rock groups are more your thing, we have you covered. Here are five bands to check out. The bonus? They’re actually all from Toronto, so if you live in the city and want to see them again, you shouldn’t have to wait too long.

Secret Broadcast

Originally from Calgary, Secret Broadcast have been around for a while and have opened for acts like Tokyo Police Club, Metric, and Matthew Good. Their recent album Filthy Souls is full of guitar-driven melodies with a heavy influence of Brit pop. They play Supermarket on May 2nd at 9pm.

Midday Swim

Midday Swim bring those easy going summer vibes that you miss all year long with their blend of indie rock and pop. You can catch them around midnight at what used to be Rancho Relaxo, and is now called the 300 Club on May 3rd.

Poor Young Things

Originally from Thunder Bay, all the members of Poor Young Things made the move to Toronto together, and for a while, they all lived together. Besides writing amazing songs, their live performance and chemistry stems from having grown up together. They recently released a new EP, and a new album shouldn’t be too far off. Catch them at 10pm on May 4th at Lee’s Palace.

Wildlife

Wildlife have been hidden away writing and recording their follow up to 2013’s …On The Heart. They write loud heartfelt rock songs and have a live show to match. Speaking of matching, they also make a strong case for the return of band uniforms. Catch them at Lee’s Palace on May 5th at 10pm.

Sam Cash & The Romantic Dogs

Sam Cash grew up in Toronto, very involved in the music scene and so it’s not surprising that he’s no amateur. He blends simple rock tunes with straight forward lyrics, and makes it very easy to have a good time. He plays at the Horseshoe Tavern on May 7th at 10pm.