Akron/Family play at the First Baptist Church on Friday

This Sunday at Zaphod's, there's yet another indiescene veteran in town(in addition to Yo La Tengo last week), Giant Sand. The 20+ year-old Tucson indie rock band features Howe Gelb, who has an unlikely number of Ottawa connections: his latest solo album, 'Sno Angel Like You, was inspired by a winter-time trip to Ottawa and a Bluesfest set at a church with local singer-songwriter Jim Bryson and gospel choirs. Not only was the album inspired by Ottawa, but it also features locals Jeremy Gara (of The Arcade Fire) and the Voices Of Praise choir. It's all really a very cute story... you can read it in storybook form here.
Opening will be two bands out of Denmark, but most notably Under Byen, who have gotten plenty of press since the tour started. But they'll be hard pressed to gain the title of dial613's favourite Danish musical export.

Lots of great out-of-town Canadian talent stops by too, including Cadence Weapon, Great Aunt Ida, Hylozoists, Julie Doiron, Sloan, and Tokyo Police Club. If you haven't heard any of the above acts before, follow the links below (or google) to their websites and hear more.

Other notables include blogger-slobbered Beirut, enigmatic art-rock(?) quartet Akron/Family, and Ottawa favourites HiLoTrons, who play a curious set at an odd choice of venue, The Black Sheep Inn. Interesting...

What shows have you circled on your calendar this week?

Mon - 10.02.06
Mayor McCa (cd release), with Rhume* (solo), at The Clocktower Brew Pub

Tues - 10.03.06
KRS-One, with Vocode, Dee Jay Framed, D-Mas, at Babylon
ladyfest: Julie Doiron, with TunaHelpers, Kelsey McNulty*, at Club Saw
-->Julie Doiron - Dance All Night (website, myspace)

Thurs - 10.05.06
Beirut, with Animal Hospital, at Zaphod's
-->Beirut - Scenic World (website, myspace)
Great Aunt Ida, at End Hits
HiLoTrons*, with Naim Amor, Marianne Dissard, at The Black Sheep Inn
-->HiLoTrons - Look, Wow (website, myspace)

Fri - 10.06.06
Akron/Family, with Born Ruffians, at First Baptist Catholic Church
-->Akron/Family - Dylan Pt. 2 (website [psst.. it's OttAwa], myspace)
Kingston Fog*, with My Architects, Approaching Zero, Lucky Ron*, at Zaphod's
-->Kingston Fog - Astronaut (website, myspace)

Sat - 10.07.06
Cadence Weapon, with Tokyo Police Club, at Zaphod's
--> (website, myspace)
Hylozoists, with The John Henrys*, All Of Your Friends, My Architects, at Barrymore's
-->Hylozoists - The Fifty-Minute Hour (website, myspace)

Sun - 10.08.06
Giant Sand, with Under Byen, I Got You On Tape (7pm doors), at Zaphod's
-->Under Byen - Legesag (website, myspace)
-->Under Byen - Af Samme Stof Som Stof

* denotes local act

BONUS:
-->Howe Gelb (of Giant Sand) - But I Did Not
-->Aqua - Cartoon Heroes