The best part of my work is going out to discover a great underground band that deserves that extra attention to grow creatively.  It feels like going out to a fabulous thrift store and rummage around all day looking for treasures. In the Toronto music scene, there are plenty of treasures playing their hearts out to be the next sensation to come from our creative city.

I have put together this list in no particular order, to try and describe these acts that are vying for your attention. If my description grabs your musical ya-ya’s then go find out where they are playing and treat yourself to a band you can call your own.

Doorstep Fire

This is a new punk band that is breaking on the scene right now. I caught them at the Rockpile and within the first song they had my full attention. The lead singer comes out and owns the entire stage and more. He is in your face and intense as hell. They run through all original songs that should get you mashing your face against somebody else face and then go back for more. They do a killer version of the Beastie Boys version of Sabotage. Punk Rock is usually a Hamilton thing, but Doorstep Fire is making sure Toronto gets a messy piece of the fiery paper bag.

Dandelion Highway

Dandelion Highway is a young folk band that released their debut EP last year. They are working on new material so they can begin headlining when asked. Like any great folk band, one of their best gifts is to create a warm and inviting set of music that gives you a safe place to unwind from life and to hear other wonderful stories. What makes this band stand out are the harmonies between Kayleigh and Chris. They create an atmosphere of simply hanging out at a friend’s place enjoying a day off. It is Kayleigh’s Irish accent that adds that special lilt that really brings forth that comfort of being at peace with your life.

Denielle Bassells

Denielle really has her unique way of bringing her sound to a new audience. She is not what you would expect right away. Her style leans heavily into a French cabaret show. It is an unexpected but a truly joyful experience. Some of her songs have a strange and fun and original personality to it.  She does have a variety of relationship songs that have their own twist and perspective to it.

She is the kind of artist that can twist and turn her career in any direction whenever she pleases. I can’t wait to see what she will do next.

Robojazz

Mathieu Fiset came to Toronto about a year and a half ago to see if he can find an audience here in Toronto. Originally from Quebec and then in his early 20’s he moved to China for five years developing his musical chops. He was taking a chance coming to a big city and competing with all these other musicians. Well, he did show up and teamed himself with some funky jazz musicians to create Robojazz. This is a top tier jazz band that can actually get you on a dance floor with their infectious grooves. If you love funk and/or jazz, this is a band that should be at the top of your list.

Orbiting Death Ray

This band was a bit of a surprise. I had seen Carmen North front another band a year or two ago. This day she is fronting a punk rock band called Orbiting Death Ray. They are a fairly new band with a style that is beginning to separate itself out from other Punk acts. Carmen North is the kind of front woman who knows how to get under your skin and getting you scratching all night long. This is one itch that is impossible to scratch unless you go see Orbiting Death Ray.

Mike Murray

Mike Murray is one of Toronto’s leading guitar players. I have seen him play with Yiannis Kapoulas, Paul DeLong’s One Word, Mikaal Hasan from Pakistan. I have also seen him do a killer tribute to Jeff Beck. This guy knows his way around a guitar like nobody’s business. His talent is he knows how to blend complex jazz piece and add hard rock guitar riffs to keep things exciting for his audience.

I can keep this really simple and say if you are a fan of high-quality guitar playing, Mike Murray should be next on your list of players to see. By the way, his band can play as well as he can, so you cannot walk away disappointed.

Zuffalo

Zuffalo is really an easy band to talk about. If you are a fan of Phish and the Grateful Dead, then you are going to be a fan of Zuffalo. With catchy pop/Rock riffs and wonderful extended jams, these guys will keep you feeling stoned in the best possible sense. Make sure you wear your tie-dye t-shirt when you go to their show. Just a piece of advice, I learned they are fans of chickens. They had a strong reaction when Butter came to one of their shows. So, grab colourful clothes and a rubber chicken and this band will be fans of yours.

Wayward Saints

My friend Darren Flowers is a part of this band, and he had been asking me out to see him for quite some time. Well, I finally got my opportunity when they played The Horseshoe Tavern earlier this year. My one regret is that I should have seen this band years ago.

There sound has that great Southern Rock energy. So, if you love bands like, The Allman Brothers, Humble Pie, The Rolling Stones, this is a band to start investing your energy into.

Lindsay Coleman is a female power vocalist whose potent vocals envelop the entire room drenched in that classic rock roar.

Goodnight Sunrise

Goodnight Sunrise is one of the hardest working Rock Bands today. They recently released their 4^th album, Get a Life. They formed in 2011 and are still refining their high energy live shows. They have established a way to put on a fabulous show that will leave you satisfied and tired. As a photographer, I always overshoot their shows, because there is so much happening on stage.

Do yourself a favour and see them when they are playing around town. If you don’t walk away loving this band, I will give you a pair of tickets to another show around town. That is a Challenge.

Plenty More

Putting together a top ten list is very difficult because I could continue to do a top 100 list. This is just a short list of bands that woke me up this year. I will go back and see them again and talk about them again. I am just providing some advice like a good friend. These are bands that you should check out. They are still playing the clubs and to make it to that next level will take people like you who are willing to fill these rooms so these bands can play better venues.

So, Toronto let’s make 2026 the year where you go out and discover new music!

The photo below is a bonus choice. The band is call Oddsfiche. They invited me out to see them play a street festival and I thought they were going to be a cheesy cover band. Well, I was wrong. They turned out to be an amazing hard rock band that brought me back to the mid 1970’s like Led Zeppelin. They create their own special noise. Their noise totally works for me. If you a hard rocker that likes things with a sonic twist, you should see this band.