GovFest 2025 Band Listing
Show #1: Friday November 14th at Monarch Tavern
DT The Artist
Playing at: 7:50pm
DT The Artist man stands at 6’5”, Shift Leader by Day, Rapper/Soca Fusion artist on Nights and weekends. He has charted over 30 times between Itunes, Amazon, and Spotify, with his high energy music, and performances, be prepared, to have some fun, bounce, and maybe even visit the Caribbean.
3 DAYS FROM EARTH
Playing at: 8:30pm
3 DAYS FROM EARTH is a high energy Rock/Rock ‘n’ Roll Band formed in 2024 with Band Members – Arieh, Paul, Greg and Bruce. We’re all part of the MTO family in some way or the other and are equipped to entertain you to a different galaxy and back!!! We are guaranteed to Rock your Soul with our mix of original compositions and Rock Anthems that will have you singing, dancing and begging for more!!! So get ready ladies and gentlemen – 3, 2, 1…..Blast-off!!!
Support 3 DAYS FROM EARTH by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsThe Invisible Hands
Playing at: 9:10pm
A band of economists, they like it loud and they take no prisoners! The Invisible Hands bring a setlist loaded with your favourite classic punk, grunge, and alternative rock hits + some surprises you won’t want to miss!
Support The Invisible Hands by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsThe Swinging Pussycats
Playing at: 9:50pm
The Swinging Pussycats have been bringing their brand of 60’s inspired rock-n-roll, incorporating elements of reverb-drenched surf, garage rock and girl-group pop to audiences for more than a decade. Their sound is inspired by harmonic proto-punks such as the Ramones, fuzzy psychobillies The Cramps, Link Wray, Italian western soundtracks, 60’s beach movies and Japanese power pop that Sassy discovered while living overseas. The primary focus is using three or four chords to convince people to move their feet. Song themes tend to tackle the big questions – such as what would happen if a Beach party was disrupted by a volcano eruption and/or zombies.
Support The Swinging Pussycats by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsEvening Brunch
Playing at: 10:30pm
Evening Brunch serves up a sizzling spread of pop and rock covers from across the decades—always hot, always groovy, and never bland. Whether it’s classic jams or modern hits, we keep the vibe sunny-side up and get the crowd moving. With a setlist that’s stacked like pancakes and energy that’s eggs-tra contagious, Evening Brunch is the perfect recipe for a good time.
Support Evening Brunch by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsShow #2: Saturday November 15th at Monarch Tavern
ALL SPICED
Playing at: 7:50pm
All Spiced is once again turning up the heat with an all new spicy blend of new talent and adding more “Spice” to the All! Bringing a mixed band as opposed to an All Female Band to Govfest is a new experiment and we plan to entertain, but most of all, we plan to have fun with our Govfest fellow musicians and fans and friends. So put on your Spicy Red dancing shoes and dance away the Blues! Created in 2019 by Dolly Currie, All Spiced has participated in every single Govfest, including the Virtual Govfest during Covid in 2020. ALL SPICED is a ‘People’s Band! They choose music people know and love and invite everyone to sing along!
Support ALL SPICED by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsCaptains of Industry
Playing at: 8:30pm
The Captains of Industry have monopolized the niche of trans-Atlantic reinterpretation for a little…strategic consolidation. This cartel didn’t just acquire the classics—they executed a full-scale takeover of cultural soundscapes, extracting emotional equity and repackaging it for maximum shareholder delight. But don’t be fooled by their tax-deductible sincerity—these Robber Barons of rhythm are here to dominate your auditory assets.
Support Captains of Industry by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsThe Binds
Playing at: 9:10pm
Forming in the summer of 2014, The Binds have been bringing their flavour of blues, funk, and alternative rock to the Toronto music scene. After playing under a different band name for almost 3 years, the band changed direction and attitude in 2017, going full force with their craft. Fusing elements of a multitude of styles and artists, they have found an intricate, musically expressive niche to explore their sound.
Support The Binds by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsMonotremes
Playing at: 9:50pm
Formed in 1968 while in high school in Jacksonville, Florida, Monotremes began playing throughout the South, where the group became notorious for their triple-guitar attack and lack of humility. The band grew their following through constant touring, documented on the infamous 1976 double-live album, where its recording claimed the lives of 17 men, a trio of female backup singers, and a goat. On October 20, 1977, a plane carrying the band between shows crashed in a wooded area in Mississippi, taking the lives of 4 members of the band, and yet another goat. In 1987, the lone surviving member reformed Monotremes. Decades later, they remain consummate road warriors. A hard-livin’, hard-lovin’, goat-fearing rock & roll band. Last of a dying breed. Monotremes
Support Monotremes by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsThe One-Offs
Playing at: 10:30pm
The One-Offs are the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services in-house party band! Composed almost entirely of Transportation Services personnel (and one CBC staffer), The One-Offs are 100% certified public-sector fresh! They play a fun mix of retro and current rock party tunes so that you don’t have to! Govfest finalists over the last two years, the One-Offs are happy to be back at Govfest to support its fundraising efforts for The United Way and Ryan’s Well!
Support The One-Offs by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsShow #3: Friday November 21st at Lee's Palace Dance Cave
Augustus
Playing at: 8:00pm
One word, “Energy”. It will speak for itself! Let’s live in the moment!
Support Augustus by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsGlobal Adjustment
Playing at: 8:40pm
What is the Global Adjustment? It’s both an essential force and an unknowable enigma. It’s been known to bring Treasury Board analysts to tears. In a divine act, the Global Adjustment has materialized as a five-piece music machine. These former coal miners and market manipulators are above the law, and here to lay down 500,000 volts of sound that will get more than just your electrons moving… Once this band rocks your world, the globe will need to be adjusted!
Support Global Adjustment by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsTreblemakers
Playing at: 9:20pm
Treblemakers was clandestinely formed in an Uxbridge garage during the pandemic by founding members Dave, Colin and Tony, who kept busy during lockdowns by perfecting their chops while practicing antisocial distancing. Soon after, they added guitarist Syd and started playing the annual Govfest! They went through a series of singers while continuing to annoy the neighbors, but after adding Joe and Karen on vocals (and Joe caving in and taking on the keys) they were ready to do some marginally serious gigging! They made it to the Govfest finals in 2024 fulfilling their dreams of playing at the legendary Elmo! The Treblemakers are absolutely stoked to be playing their 4th Govfest!
Support Treblemakers by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsTransit Bound
Playing at: 10:00pm
We will get you moving one way or another.
Support Transit Bound by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsKings of Cassels
Playing at: 10:40pm
The Kings of Cassels are a rock’n’roll cover band from Toronto, Canada. Formed from a collection of lawyers by day, their unique brand of entertainment fuses loose harmonies with a lack of practice that will make you want to move your feet (and get a drink). Hailed as “better than I thought” by someone who saw them once, Kings of Cassels come to you after performing internationally for a captive audience at their own firm’s retreat and headlining a band member’s own birthday party that one time.
Support Kings of Cassels by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsShow #4: Saturday November 22nd at Lee's Palace Dance Cave
Places of Comfort
Playing at: 8:00pm
Chris Cacciotti is a singer-songwriter writing under the name “Places of Comfort”. The songs weave stories of heartache, hope and the beauty found in life’s simplest moments. With soulful melodies and raw lyrics, each song is an invitation to reflect on the world around us – sometimes through a lens of nostalgia, and other times with a sense of resilience and renewal.
Support Places of Comfort by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsSorry; Not Sorry
Playing at: 8:40pm
“Sorry; Not Sorry” is a new band made up of old people that John (the funny-looking guy at the front) has done various projects with over the years — and somehow convinced to do it all again. While it might look like we’re hitching ourselves to the recent wave of patriotic Canadianism, we've been doing this for years, and our all-CanCon setlist comes from a genuine love of the music of our country… and a smidge of nostalgia. 100% CanCon, 0% autotune — you’ll definitely notice. Sorry (not sorry).
Support Sorry; Not Sorry by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsVersion Control
Playing at: 9:20pm
Come on flee the noise with Version Control, the Crown lawyer band that plays the New Wave hits of the 1980s
Support Version Control by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsThe Final Final
Playing at: 10:00pm
No strangers to the Govfest scene, The Final Final enters the competition for what might be the seventh year in a row? The pandemic makes timelines difficult. (What even is time?) In years prior, members of the band have appeared in past acts like The Secondments and Late Shift. Across their time in Govfest, The Final Final have come to be known for playing high-energy rock hits. This year, they’ve upped the ante by committing to an actual theme. About halfway through shaping this year’s setlist, they came to realize the songs they were gravitating towards had something in common that matched up to a handy milestone that’ll hopefully make everyone feel like it’s 1995 again.
Support The Final Final by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsCanadian Idiot
Playing at: 10:40pm
Some dudes that have been gigging in metal bands since the 80s wrangled up some buddies and a beer league hockey teammate – who is also a Govfest veteran – to front a new Green Day cover band. This half hour debut set is intended to showcase the night’s worth of material that they’ll be bringing to watering holes around the area.
Support Canadian Idiot by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsShow #5: Thursday November 27th at The Tranzac
Gayle Aradanas and Tuestae
Playing at: 8:00pm
Gayle Aradanas is a Filipino-Canadian singer born in Scarborough. She studied vocal at the Royal Conservatory of Music and have performed at Rising Stars, and weddings, and Filipino Cultural events for PATAC and Rise Tribe. She is influenced by R&B, Soul, Hip Hop, Pop and Korean Pop music. She sings with her heart, and hopes that you feel stories told by her voice. She is joined by Tuestae, hailing from Toronto, Canada. Tuestae is an electronic music artist whose work draws from rhythm games, anime, and cinematic storytelling. Influenced by artists like Porter Robinson, Madeon, Lido, and Kanye West, they explore themes of longing and the pursuit of something more. With singles like Reach and Be, they begin the first chapter of the Yearn era — a growing world that captures the feeling of striving toward dreams just beyond reach. Together, they are sharing their first time live together on stage.
Michael Flint
Playing at: 8:40pm
Michael Flint is a Canadian singer born in Toronto’s Borough of East York with most of his childhood and adolescence spent in Scarborough before comfortably settling in midtown Toronto. He has performed as both a soloist and choral singer with various choirs over the years, and is no stranger to Govfest, having performed at Toronto’s Jazz Bistro. Michael’s tastes in music have varied from year to year singing songs he loves, which include styles like pop, folk and classical, but he prides himself on having sung publicly in seven languages, having studied twelve in total and having recently performed in Sweden as part of the Single Singers, an a cappella group featuring singers worldwide. Simply put, he just wants to sing and be part of something fun, that’s all.
The Precedents
Playing at: 9:20pm
Holy stare decisis, The Precedents are back! The Precedents are an all-OPS cover band made up of lawyers, whom some (mostly family and close friends) have described as talented, energetic and charismatic! On this year’s docket, the band stands charged with bringing down the (court)house. Incapable of being overturned, and endearing beyond all reasonable doubt, The Precedents’ blend of symphonic justice is beyond objection!
Support The Precedents by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsPandora’s Box
Playing at: 10:00pm
Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to unlock the music of your memories — because you’re about to open Pandora’s Box! This five-piece powerhouse brings the best of the ’60s, the ’70s, and a few unexpected surprises you didn’t know you needed.
Support Pandora’s Box by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsCrystal Alchemy
Playing at: 10:40pm
A special blend of rock, pop, jazz , blues and country. Covering several genres in a creative and refreshing style
Show #6: Saturday November 29th at The Duke
John Leadston
Playing at: 7:45pm
John Leadston, who many have called Park Ranger for over 40 years, (although he has been called a few other things from time to time). After spending most of his days managing out and about his parks, educating people about bears and pouring your drink into a cup to avoid getting a ticket...he also spent many a night writing songs and trying to play his guitar in front of pictures of his family....well after 25 years he finally "came out" of his garage and started playing in front of real people! Many open mics later, he joins us tonight after the drive down from the town of Huntsville to lay out a mix of covers and original music. Part way through, his friend Kent Paris will join him to round out his set.
Support John Leadston by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsRTO (Rhythm to Overjoy)
Playing at: 8:25pm
RTO (Rhythm to Overjoy) is a feel-good band birthed from the harmony of the Global Talent and Settlement Services Division of MLITSD. Together with our family and friends, we’re bringing you some great music of yester-year! It’s time to get up, dance and sing along as we bring some Rhythm to Overjoy you every time!
Support RTO (Rhythm to Overjoy) by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsThe Last Minutemen
Playing at: 9:05am
“Citizens of the dance floor, your musical mandate has arrived! Tonight, The Last Minutemen are tabling a motion to abolish boredom and pass a bill of pure groove. Known for their genre-defying sound and improvisational flair, this Toronto-based band is here to deliver high-impact policy through rhythm, not paperwork. So suspend all standing orders, declare a recess from routine, and prepare for a performance that’s fully compliant with the Fun Act. Please welcome your duly elected officials of funk… The Last Minutemen!”
Support The Last Minutemen by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsThe Munkeys
Playing at: 9:45pm
A band born out of diplomacy and late night study sessions: The Munkeys! They’re a group of musicians met at the Munk School of Global Affairs, and instead of just writing policy memos, they decided to start a band!
Support The Munkeys by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsWhiskey Concussion
Playing at: 10:25pm
Whiskey Concussion is a rock cover band kicking out your favourite heavy hits from all decades – 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s and beyond. Based out of Toronto and Mississauga, they’ve been rocking the GTA and shattering ear drums for the past 10 years.
Support Whiskey Concussion by donating in their name at CanadaHelps2025 Grand Finale: Friday December 12th at Mod Club
Version Control
Playing at: 7:30pm
Come on flee the noise with Version Control, the Crown lawyer band that plays the New Wave hits of the 1980s
Support Version Control by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsRTO (Rhythm to Overjoy)
Playing at: 8:10pm
RTO (Rhythm to Overjoy) is a feel-good band birthed from the harmony of the Global Talent and Settlement Services Division of MLITSD. Together with our family and friends, we’re bringing you some great music of yester-year! It’s time to get up, dance and sing along as we bring some Rhythm to Overjoy you every time!
Support RTO (Rhythm to Overjoy) by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsTransit Bound
Playing at: 8:50pm
We will get you moving one way or another.
Support Transit Bound by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsThe Final Final
Playing at: 9:30pm
No strangers to the Govfest scene, The Final Final enters the competition for what might be the seventh year in a row? The pandemic makes timelines difficult. (What even is time?) In years prior, members of the band have appeared in past acts like The Secondments and Late Shift. Across their time in Govfest, The Final Final have come to be known for playing high-energy rock hits. This year, they’ve upped the ante by committing to an actual theme. About halfway through shaping this year’s setlist, they came to realize the songs they were gravitating towards had something in common that matched up to a handy milestone that’ll hopefully make everyone feel like it’s 1995 again.
Support The Final Final by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsThe Precedents
Playing at: 10:10pm
Holy stare decisis, The Precedents are back! The Precedents are an all-OPS cover band made up of lawyers, whom some (mostly family and close friends) have described as talented, energetic and charismatic! On this year’s docket, the band stands charged with bringing down the (court)house. Incapable of being overturned, and endearing beyond all reasonable doubt, The Precedents’ blend of symphonic justice is beyond objection!
Support The Precedents by donating in their name at CanadaHelpsThe One-Offs
Playing at: 10:55pm
The One-Offs are the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services in-house party band! Composed almost entirely of Transportation Services personnel (and one CBC staffer), The One-Offs are 100% certified public-sector fresh! They play a fun mix of retro and current rock party tunes so that you don’t have to! Govfest finalists over the last two years, the One-Offs are happy to be back at Govfest to support its fundraising efforts for The United Way and Ryan’s Well!
Support The One-Offs by donating in their name at CanadaHelps