I just had a peek at the NXNE web site. They have been at it for 21 years. You can hear a free tune from about 40 acts who will be there this June. As for you L-D I bet we crossed paths. Favorite T.O. Act? Ill go first. Garbagemen. ☺
Hard to pick a favourite! Spent too much time around no-name acts that no one remembers, but for some reason I liked Bratty & The Babysitters. Good fun to dance to. I also had a huge crush on their keyboard player, Evelyne Datl, partly cuz I had a rumour that she didn't bat for the other team.
Also liked Mondo Combo a lot, in spite of the fact they played covers. ( John Dickie, Al Lerman, Gordie Leggat and possibly the toughest groovin bass player ever...) They played like they meant it, so that was always worth the price of admission.
Scott B Sympathy with Ian Blurton hot poopin that electric geetar. (!)
I also remember CBC/Macleans movie critic Brian Johnston had a band, kind of a poor man's parachute Club. ( I think they were called Gravy.) It was around the time Harrisite Dave Tsubouchi's " welfare people oughta haggle for dented tuna cans" affair, so in response there was a benefit gig called "Food Bands for the Food Bank".
And vale Jeff Plewman, Nash the Slash. Silent horror movies on the big screen while he fiddled like Nero possessed...