CMW 2013: Austra, Metric, Suuns, Stars Highlight Canadian Music Fest Lineup

Suffering from SXSW withdrawal already? Well, Canadian Music Week kicks off today in Toronto, and though not as chaotic (and BBQ-filled) as Austin, Texas, there's still a packed line-up of acts ready to make you do some venue-hopping.

Here's our list of best bets:

Tuesday, March 19
Rihanna, A$AP Rocky @ Air Canada Centre
Pop star Rihanna might have canceled a couple of gigs recently due to a bout of illness, but she picks up where she left off on her Diamonds world tour in Toronto with the second of a two-night stand at the Air Canada Centre.

Other options: Brews Willis @ Horseshoe

Wednesday, March 20
Daniel Romano @ Horseshoe
Known for his stints in Attack in Black and most recently playing guitar in City and Colour, Daniel Romano has undergone a conversion into an authentic old school country troubadour. His solo material, including his latest release, Come Cry With Me, finds the songwriter channeling his inner Hank Williams, producing some of the best country music in Canada right now.

Chvrches @ Mod Club
Glasgow electro-pop act Chvrches has been gaining a lot of buzz lately off of just a handful of singles. But based on the sugary pop confection that bursts with songs like "The Mother We Share," it's completely understandable why fans are craving more.

Stars @ Danforth Music Hall
Canadian indie-pop darlings Stars will be performing two nights at the Danforth Music Hall, promoting their latest release, The North.

Other options: Leif Vollebekk @ Rivoli

Thursday, March 21
Javelin @ Parts & Labour
New York DIY electronic duo Javelin cut 'n' splice sounds to create a dance-pop collage that will surely be just as great live as it is on record.

PS I Love You, Wildlife @ Great Hall
Kingston's PS I Love You will bring their reverb-filled garage rock to the Great Hall alongside local rock band Wildlife, who will be celebrating the release of their new album, ...On the Heart.

Other options: Coheed & Cambria, A Place to Bury Strangers @ Sound Academy, Action Bronson @ Hoxton, Efterklang, Nightlands @ Mod Club, Eight and a Half @ Gladstone Hotel

Friday, March 22
The 13^th Annual Independent Music Awards @ Kool Haus
The Indies return this year with a star-studded line-up of Canadian bands including headliners Metric, Diamond Rings, Cadence Weapon, Wooden Sky, Cold Specks, Yukon Blonde, Matt Mays, Canailles and 360. An afterparty will be held at Wrongbar and will feature a performance from local band Nightbox as well as a DJ set by Diamond Rings' John O'Regan.

Mac Demarco @ Sneaky Dee's
Montreal's Mac Demarco has really transformed his yacht rock shtick into something's that serious and incredibly catchy, making him definitely worth catching before he goes on to play bigger venues. If you miss him on Friday, though, you can still catch him at Parts & Labours on Saturday night.

Other Options: D-Sisive @ Annex Wreckroom, Besnard Lakes @ Lee's Palace

Saturday, March 23
Austra, Yacht Club, Lowell @ Danforth Music Hall
Electro-dance band Austra will bring their gothic dance party to the Danforth Music Hall, most likely debuting new songs off upcoming album, Olympia. With Austra are local '80s synth rockers Yacht Club (fronted by Fucked Up's Ben Cook) and Lowell, who will be making her Canadian debut this week at CMW.

Suuns @ Lee's Palace
Montreal's Suuns have recently returned with a new album Images Du Futur and promise more trippy electro-rock that sets this band up as potentially Canada's new Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

Other options: Mozart's Sister @ Comfort Zone, Charlotte Church @ El Mocambo (Downstairs), Boy @ El Mocambo (Upstairs), Cookie Duster (Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene), Badbadnotgood, Aidan Knight @ Horseshoe Tavern, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Sharon Van Etten @ Massey Hall