Riot Fest announces Toronto 2015 line-up

After much Twitter banter, Riot Fest has revealed it's Toronto line-up for 2015 and early bird tickets for $99.98, which sold out within an hour. 

Here are tunes from the bands that I would most like to see. Of course, one of the best things about all these festivals, is discovering new artists and bands, so my hope is to post a number of feature posts on specific bands over the coming months. And the fine folks at Riot Fest will be announcing more bands June 16.

I had a fantastic time at Riot Fest 2014. Click this link for all my posts and pics. I'm sure it will be just as fun this year.

Sadly, one of the biggest issues for Toronto music fans is the fact that The Toronto Urban Roots Festival, or TURF, is the same weekend, and their line-up is pretty stacked and getting more so with each announcement.

On to the music:

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, who I saw live at TURF 2013, and had to miss at The Horseshoe this past March due to illness. An amazing live band, for sure.

The Joy Formidable. One of my all-time favourite bands, who is way overdue for a Toronto show!

Rancid, who will perform …And Out Come the Wolves in its entirety

Motörhead. This could be the last time to see Lemmy live on stage.

Against Me!, who I saw opening for The Gaslight Anthem. These guys are a killer live band!

Echo & the Bunnymen

Alexisonfire, who were already announced back in March.

Andrew W.K.

D.O.A.

Die Mannequin. I really, really want to see this band live.

OBGMs

Dead Milkmen

All Time Low

Coheed & Cambria

Eagles of Death Metal

New Die Mannequin

Toronto's punk/metal survivors Die Mannequin have put out a new album. It's called Neon Zero and it marks an evolution in the band's sound, taking in bits of dance music along with their punk/metal roots. Check out some tunes:

"Bad Medicine"

"Sucker Punch"

Pic from Facebook.

Hard Core Logo 2 - Die Mannequin

A Canadian-made movie called Hard Core Logo, directed by accomplished Canadian director Bruce McDonald, came out in 1996. It starred, among others, Hugh Dillon, the singer for the Headstones, who was branching out into acting. He's done a lot of acting since then, including starring roles on TV's Durham County and Flashpoint.

Bruce McDonald is back with Hard Core Logo 2.  This time, starring Care Failure, singer of Die Mannequin. Here's the trailer.

Here's Die Mannequin with two great tracks, "Do It Or Die" and "Saved by Strangers" from Unicorn Steak, in case you're not familiar with them.





This is the vid for "Miss Americvnt" from Die Manneqiuin's 2009 album FINO+BLEED.  Depending on where you work, it may be NSFW.



Their new album Danceland is out in May.

And here's some Headstones.