CHECK OUT THE TOP 12 ROCKSEARCH BANDS BELOW AND CAST YOUR VOTE!
VOTING CLOSES MAY 14TH AT 11:59 PM.
You can vote once per hour.
The top six bands will go head to head in a live showcase on May 22 at Warehouse Concert Hall.
______________________________________________________________________________
ROCKSEARCH CHAMPION PRIZING:
$2,000 to spend at Long & McQuade Musical Instruments
$1,500 in custom merch from Presstime Design and Screenprint
A band photoshoot courtesy of G3 Designs
A one-hour consultation with the Artist Development Team at 745 Music, founded by Jay Emmons of The Glorious Sons
$1,000 to spend courtesy of Protomanni & Associates
$1,000 to spend at Wings Up!
PLUS the opportunity to play a set at some great festivals:
Because Beer (July 12)
Canal Days (August 1 or 2)
Cicada Music & Arts Festival (October 3)
______________________________________________________________________________
READY TO VOTE? CLICK HERE!
______________________________________________________________________________
Black Paint is an alternative rock band with a reputation for stellar live performances around the GTA. They released their newest single with acclaimed producer Brian Moncarz (Alice Cooper, Our Lady Peace), "All Bad", on October 23rd, mastered by famed engineer Brian Lucey (Black Keys, Cage the Elephant).
They've played at festivals including Canadian Music Week and Aurorapalooza. They recently had their debut television appearance broadcast on CityTV, and recently opened for blues legend Phillip Sayce.
Feed After Midnite formed in 2018 and take a large amount of inspiration from horror movies, current events, and childhood memories. When they started they had a predominantly hard rock sound which evolved into heavier stylings but at the same time, remaining catchy and simple.
Those who enjoy many facets of hard rock and metal will appreciate Feed After Midnite, especially those who like Deftones, Avenged Sevenfold, Volbeat, and Faith No More.
Hollow Core is an alternative metal band from Hamilton Ontario, known for their explosive live shows, catchy lyrics and flashy solos.
In only five years, the group has released two Eps and a full length album "Dead End" with Rival Crown Productions. They've also played Voodoo Fest, Rocksearch, Wacken Metal Battle, and ripped the stage alongside the legendary Killer Dwarfs, all while being a fully independent group.
Born in the industrial sprawl of Southern Ontario, Live Animals are the visceral sound of cracked asphalt and restless nights. Fusing heavy grunge riffs with haunting melodies, their music channels the raw energy of '90s grunge-esque rebellion through a modern lens. Sweltering vocals tell stories of fractured dreams and quiet defiance, underscored by growling guitars and thunderous rhythm. Known for their sweat-soaked live shows, Live Animals draw audiences into a storm of high-energy emotion and catharsis.
With their debut single, This Ether, off of their upcoming ep: Who Gets Hunted, they, along with producer Jordan Hastings (Alexisonfire, Billy Talent, Say Yes) and co-producer/engineer Adam Michael (Say Yes), aimed at carving a dark, electrifying niche in Canada's underground music scene - a beacon for misfits and dreamers alike.
“…just another future song, lonely little kitsch.” – David Bowie “Diamond Dogs”
Lonely Little Kitsch is an alt-rock band from Niagara, Canada formed by Kristen Goetz and Nolan Jodes as a project without boundaries or expectations. As lifelong music fans and self-described "music nerds", they wanted to create their own brand of alternative music that wasn't defined by current trends or labels. The result is 100% unabashed, authentic LLK – no trying to fit into a specific genre or sound.
The release of their debut single, “The New Scene” caught an unexpected buzz for the duo, finding placement on CBC Radio across Canada, FM radio including 102.1 The Edge, and even a video feature for NHL games on Sportsnet. Since that first release, LLK’s subsequent singles have seen radio airplay throughout North America and beyond, TV features, and write-ups on notable music outlets.
In 2024 Kristen and Nolan brought in new band members Dave Haley (bass) and Waz Jenko (drums) to start playing live shows, quickly landing spots at bucket list Canadian venues, such as The Casbah, Lee’s Palace, Supercrawl, and Bridgeworks.
The band is currently finishing their first album, due for release later this year.
Hamilton's Lost Faculty is a band built on tension - melody and chaos pulling at each other, always on the edge of collapse but never losing control. They channel raw emotion through driving guitars and a rhythm section that never stops pushing forward that has captivated audiences all across Canada. Stepping away from the comfort of their more polished early sound, Lost Faculty has carved out a sharper, more urgent identity - one built for the stage. They thrive on energy and instinct which brings the kind of intensity that sticks with you long after the noise fades.
In just 2 years, they have been celebrated for their frenetic live shows, tearing through iconic Canadian venues with sold-out performances at the Horseshoe Tavern, Casbah Lounge, Mills Hardware, and electrifying stages from East to West. 2025 will see Lost Faculty take festival stages throughout the summer as they finish up their debut LP. Their latest release, Tripper, was recorded at Julius Butty's Arc Recording Studio (City and Colour, Alexisonfire, Protest The Hero) in Hamilton, ON.
Lucky Honey is an indie-alt band from Southern Ontario, making waves across the province with their high-energy live shows, heartfelt songwriting, and infectious melodies. Formed in 2024, the band has already performed at major festivals like Burlington's Sound of Music and is set to take the stage at NXNE in Toronto and Supercrawl 2025. With over 40,000 streams and standout performances including a sold-out show at Mills Hardware and a live feature on CHCH, Lucky Honey is quickly becoming one of the region's most buzzed-about emerging acts, and they haven't even dropped a full EP yet.
Living the dream one nightmare at time. Based in Toronto, Pink Leather Jackets have been playing punk rock across southern Ontario for the last few years. They've released two EP's "Good Love" in 2019 and "Keep that Shit to Yourself" in 2023. From festivals to bars, venues to house parties Pink Leather Jackets are now sitting on a batch of brand new material ready to debut for Rocksearch 2025! Catch them live every Wednesday at The Wheatsheaf Tavern in downtown Toronto.
Though Propter Hawk began as a vehicle for writing drunken protest songs in a dimly lit Scarborough townhouse, it soon transformed into a fully fledged plan to bring rock and roll into the modern age. Described as 'a fiery celebration of both past and present, with enduring music that is full of energy, musicality, and rugged independence', the band formed in 2020, combining the grit of northern mining towns with the worldly sarcasm of Toronto's urban expanses into a zealous meld of seasoned musicians.
Fronted by vocal powerhouse Malorie Jo Blake, this 5 piece rock enterprise answers the sonic question of what would happen if Janis Joplin and Paul McCartney had a love child and gave it up for adoption to estranged uncles Otis Redding and Robbie Robertson. Employing vintage gear, a live horn section and recording to tape, the band cemented their signature twist on their adopted genre with hard hitting singles Theatre of the Whole World, Clean Old-Fashioned Hate and Telephone, followed by their exceedingly praised self-titled debut album. International radio play, feature on Sportsnet's Hockey Night in Canada, a shoutout in the Toronto Star's What To Listen To This Weekend, and impassioned shows across their native land have ascended their reputation to one of Toronto's most respected live acts.
Escaping to the studio once again, Propter Hawk is set to re-emerge with another volley of their distinct take on rock and roll of the past, present and future with their upcoming EP, Sorry!.
For the past three years, has been making waves in Southern Ontario's music scene with their own unique recipe of Alt-Rock, blending garage rock with post-punk and a hint of grunge. Known for high-energy performances with what seems to be an endless catalog of genre blurring music this power trio combines raw intensity with melodic finesse, leaving a lasting 'nostalgic' feeling over the audience.
In 2021, they released their ambitious double album Ninety Four, a 16-track project split into two distinct styles: the indie rock vibes of Ninety Four and the heavier grunge energy of '94. The album showcases the band's versatility, a strength they bring to their live performances.
Their hard work paid off. In 2024, they energized the crowd for Canada Day with a standout performance at Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie. The highlight of the year was being invited to perform the Gord Downie Wenjack Fund Raiser at The Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines.
The band's latest single, "April" released on December 13, 2024, has already earned over 1,900 Spotify streams and more than 11,000 YouTube views in its first month of release. It will be part of their highly anticipated EP "Dynamite Hut" releasing this spring.
Real Kevin's live shows have drawn comparisons to Weezer, The Pixies, and The Junction, but their unique energy sets them apart. As one reviewer put it: Whether through their powerful songwriting or electrifying performances, Real Kevin is a band you don't want to miss.
Small-Town Strip Club has been steadily building their name as they make strides in the indie world of rock. With over 1 million cumulative streams, the Stratford, Ontario, natives craft songs with personal writing, heartfelt storytelling, sharp lyricism, and a sound that blends blues, rock, country, and alternative influences. STSC has already made waves with their track "CHEAP SHOT," which served as the intro for Spittin' Chiclets, the world's #1 hockey podcast, and performed at the podcast's live show during NHL All-Star Weekend in Toronto in 2024.
They've shared stages with James Barker Band and BIG WRECK, playing to sold-out crowds of over 1,500. They've even brought their energy to a Hamilton Tiger-Cats CFL game playing pregame and at half-time. And in Summer 2024, STSC won Lucknow's Music in the Fields Emerging Artist Competition, awarding themselves a showcase to perform to thousands at the iconic Ontario music festival.
The Thick is a rock n' roll band from Toronto, ON established in 2015.
______________________________________________________________________________