Here we go. Six bands, two solo artists and one comedian make our “best live music” picks of the weekend. That’s right. A comedian.

With such an amazing amount of great music happening lately, we’ve decided to change up the format of Sound Decisions a bit by focusing on one specific show each night.  As always, you can find a complete listing of Fredericton live music on Emma Chevarie’s blog, Music Runs Through It.

So, where were we? Oh right, we were talking music, and great music at that. Check it out – three big shows. Three big nights. Rise your fists, tap your toes, bang your heads.

Thursday

By Canadian indie standards, Ken Mode’s list of accolades is a mile long.  The band won the inaugural JUNO award for Best Heavy Metal/Hard Album of the Year in 2012 for their album, Venerable, and the inaugural West Coast Music Award in the same category the following year for their album, Entrenched.  That album was also long-listed for the Polaris Prize and received another JUNO nomination last year.  Put that in your pipe and smoke it.  Continue reading…

Ken Mode+Fuck The Facts+Life in Vacuum+Garrett Jamieson | The Capital Complex | October 15, 2015 | Doors at 9:00 p.m.| $10

Friday

Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys, featuring Gordie MacKeeman (fiddle, cello, acoustic guitar, feet percussion, vocals), Peter Cann (guitars, banjo, vocals), Thomas Webb (guitars, bass, banjo, steel guitar, vocals) and Mark Geddes (bass, percussion, mandolin, piano) weave together a refreshing mix of invigorating songs, traditional-leaning ideas, and modern influences infused with solid instrumentation, rockabilly-inspired rhythms and toe tapping reels – all polished by MacKeeman’s stunning fiddle work. Continue reading…

Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys & Vishten | The Fredericton Playhouse | October 16, 2015 | 7:30 p.m. | Buy Tickets

Saturday

We’ve been pretty lucky. In just over a year, Cape Breton expat Greg MacPherson has been out east three times.  His last visit was during Shivering Songs where he laid down a barn-burning performance at The Capital, with the whole bar shouting along with is songs.  He delivered request after request, played some new stuff, some old stuff. The man’s a powerhouse performer. Paired with KIll Chicago and Cedric Noel, this night will go down in history. Be there.

Greg MacPherson+Kill Chicago+Cedric Noel | The Capital Complex | October 17, 2015 | 10 p.m. | $10

For a more comprehensive list of live music happening this week, check out Emma Chevarie’s blog Music Runs Through It.