Like its southwestern counterpart, North By Northeast is a festival for the up and coming. A true music conference that lets the participate explore countless amounts of unknown bands in search for the next big thing. Sadly, most of the 600+ bands playing will never make it big. But for a select few, NXNE will be a launching pad into a successful career in the music business.  Because of this, we here at buffaBLOG have compiled a list of the top seven bands you don't know and need to see at this years NXNE. Who knows, maybe one of these bands will be the next Sleigh Bells or Vampire Weekend.






7. Unfamiliar Friends Party - Imported electronic dance music from Taiwan. Everything is upbeat and pop oriented with guitar, synth and drums that's almost catchy to a fault. Sometimes they sound a little jammy or too much like video game music but it's always dance friendly and impossible to stand still while listening.
YOUNG TO DIE by UnfamiliarFriendsParty


6. Hooded Fang - Light hearted indie pop consisting of some horns and small bits of synth to smooth out the edges. The girl and guy vocals that either harmonize or volley back and forth are reminiscent of Belle & Sebastian. Soft and cuddly music that offends no one.
Laughing by HoodedFang


5. Makeout Videotape - If you took a garage punk rock band and gave it a lounge singer you might have something like Makeout Videotape. Consisting of guitar, drums and lots and lots of reverb MV sound like Twin Shadow without the synth or Wavves at half speed and on antidepressants.
Makeout Videotape - Island Groovies by VeeAre



4. Little Girls - solid lo-fi post punk with a surf rock vibe & so much echo and reverb it's nearly impossible to understand the lyrics. All attitude, none of the fat.
Little Girls - Youth Tunes by Little Girls


3. Wildlife - Orchestral indie pop built around acoustic guitar rifts or simple piano leads that expand and explore a variety of different sonic landscapes. The unique vocals work like glue to hold this collage of sound together to form something that's beautifully odd. The easiest comparison would be Wolf Parade or Destoryer.
Wildlife - Stand in the Water by auteurresearch


2. No Gold - an interesting mixture of tropical sounds and triphop drums make this Vancouver band a must see. The gentle vocals are easy to like and the long quirky guitar solos take you places you didn't  know existed.
Rainforts by No Gold


1. Pop Winds - Hailing from Montreal, Pop Winds create sparkling electronic noise pop that's colorful and different. In some ways it's experimental and psychedelic but never too weird or obnoxious to enjoy. It's hard to compare them to anyone else but If I had to make a connection, I would say they remind me of Animal Collective.
Pop Winds - Feel It by Arbutus Records