Are you going to TURF this year? If you are, we’ve put together a list of bands you need to check out! If not? Here’s who you’re missing!

Friday:

Skinny Lister

Get into the folk-rock mood with Skinny Lister, a six-piece group from London.  With rousing harmonies and upbeat tunes, they will definitely get everyone in the mood for the weekend, when they hit the Rebellion stage at 5:15pm.

 

Dwayne Gretzky

If you’ve never seen Toronto’s own supergroup cover band named after a famous hockey player. Put them on your list. Every time they play, it’s a huge party. But for TURF this year, they’re doing something special: They’ve done the Beatles; they’ve done The Last Waltz; they’ve done the 90s – but this time, they cover The Tragically Hip. Their Lee’s Palace show is sold out, but you can catch them at Fort York on the Battle of York stage at 5:20pm.

 

Matt Mays

Matt Mays is an Ontario-native who grew up out east and toured for a while as the front-man of Matt Mays & El Torpedo. You may remember their hit Cocaine Cowgirl that was played on all the radio stations, all the time back in the mid 2000s. If you’re not feeling the Dropkick Murphys on Friday night, check out the Battle of York stage at 8:15 for an equally entertaining show.

 

Saturday:

The Sheepdogs

The Sheepdogs bring that southern/70s blues rock vibe and mix it with Canadiana from the prairies. They were also the first unsigned band to make it on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Without a doubt, the boys from Saskatoon are the perfect band to see at 6pm on the East stage.

 

Whitehorse

Whitehorse is comprised of two solo artists, Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland who also happen to be married to each other. After playing in each other’s bands for years, they decided to put their own solo careers aside with the goal of creating a new band, and they haven’t looked back. The musicianship is extraordinary and the chemistry is amazing.

Sunday: 

Sun-K

TURF’s last day will start off with one of Toronto’s best bands, Sun-K.  A group of really talented guys who have created amazing blues-infused rock. They’ve played many venues and festivals across Canada in the past two years, supporting their debut album Northern Lies. If you see them at TURF, you might just hear some new tunes from their upcoming sophomore album, still in the works.  If you can, check them out tomorrow night at The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, as part of the TURF Club Series, or catch them on Sunday at 2:10pm on the Battle of York stage.

 

Julia Jacklin

Make sure to take a listen to Australia’s Julia Jacklin, an amazing singer-songwriter with a superb voice and great guitar playing.  Her songs are full of realism and a touch of sadness to counter the jangle of the music.  Go sway and enjoy Julia’s performance on the Rebellion stage at 4:30 pm.

 

Adam Baldwin

Adam has been touring with Matt Mays for almost a decade, but released his first solo EP in 2013 and his debut album this past June. The album was made in Toronto during the lead up to the federal election and the Blue Jays playoff run, which can be felt through the songs on the album.