The National, NXNE 2013: Band Performing Free Show in Toronto as Part of Festival

The National are the first big name confirmed for this year's 2013 North By Northeast music and film festival set for Toronto in June and they'll play a free headlining concert at Yonge-Dundas Square on June 14. The group will be touring behind their as-yet untitled new studio album which comes out in May, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2010 release High Violet.

According to a press release issued today, the first wave of acts slated for NXNE includes Flag featuring original members of Black Flag, alt-country artists Calexico, Danish rock group Iceage, rapper Mickey Avalon, punk group Merchandise and Brooklyn duo Buke & Gase. Other confirmed artists include Montreal group Genetic Control, Imperial State Electric, Supersuckers, Milk Music and Joey Bada$$.

The festival's official site contains several other confirmed acts including numerous Canadian groups such as Hot Panda and Papermaps alongside the likes of Millencolin, Scottish singer-songwriter Michael Cassidy and acts from Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.

As an estimated 950 bands are expected to perform over the course of NXNE, more band announcements will be coming over the coming weeks.

Last year NXNE included a free concert by Flaming Lips at Yonge-Dundas Square which was notable as it came the same day tragedy struck Toronto's Downsview Park prior to Radiohead's planned concert. Radiohead's stage collapsed which caused the death of its drum technician Scott Johnson. Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne ended up dedicating the show to the Radiohead crew.