Executive producer Paul Nolin’s picks:

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This article was published 24/06/2010 (5916 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

1. RAUL MIDÓN / TOSHI REAGON QUARTET

Friday, June 25, WECC. Both Raul and Toshi are amazing singer-songwriters. Blind since birth, Raul quickly earned himself a reputation as a genuine talent after performing as a backup singer for the likes of Julio and Enrique Iglesias and Shakira. Toshi is a powerhouse performer who has shared the stage with the likes of Elvis Costello and Ani DiFranco.

2. Moreland and Arbuckle

Sunday and Monday, June 27 and 28, King’s Head Pub. A blistering fusion of Delta blues, folk, rock, traditional country, soul and more is expected from this hot U.S.-based group. They’re gonna tear up the King’s Head!

3. Elisapie Isaac

Sunday, June 27, Aqua Books. I caught this talented, young Inuk/Francophone singer in Montreal last fall and was charmed. Originally one half of the duo Taima, she is also making an appearance at Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair this summer.

4. The Budos Band

Wednesday, June 30, Pyramid Cabaret. Antibalas meets the Dap-Kings! An exotic and pulsating 10-piece Afrobeat group from the home of Sharon Jones, Daptone Records.

5. Opensouls

Saturday and Sunday, July 3 and 4, Old Market Square. This New Zealand-based group revives classic soul and R&B while breathing new life into the genre with their powerful originals. They’re in town for two nights playing for free as a part of the Wrap-Up Weekend.

 

Outreach co-ordinator Tyler Sneesby’s picks:

1. The Roots

Monday, June 28, Pantages Playhouse Theatre. Obviously. Arguably the best and most respected hip hop group of the last two decades. One of the few groups in any genre that can cross over without crossing over, because everything they do, they do so well.

2. Freeway and Jake One

Friday, June 25, Pyramid Cabaret. Philadelphia’s Freeway is a former member of Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella stable, while Seattle super-producer Jake One has made beats for everyone from De La Soul to 50 Cent. Earlier this year the two teamed up to make The Stimulus Package, one of the best hip hop records of 2010 so far.

3. Deerhoof

Monday, June 28, Pyramid Cabaret. A group that needs to be seen live, in large part due to their nymph-ish Japanese singer Satomi Matsuzaki and their frantic drummer Greg Saunier, Deerhoof has been making exciting, challenging experimental rock since the mid-’90s.

4. Think About Life and Bonjay

Sunday, June 27, Pyramid Cabaret. Think About Life is an indie dance-rock band from Montreal who have been stealing the show at festivals across Canada. Bonjay are an electro dancehall duo from Toronto in the same vein as Thunderheist and Ghislain Poirier. Both recently made CBC’s list of Top 10 Canadian bands destined to break in 2010.

5. Sugar and Gold

Tuesday, June 29, Pyramid Cabaret. This one should be really fun. Over-the-top, debaucherous fun. Sugar and Gold are an electro-disco group from San Francisco whose live show will be like a mix of Revolution-era Prince and modern groups like Chromeo or Glass Candy.