Official Blog of City Sonic Toronto

It’s Christmas time, and there’s no need to be afraid of holiday music anymore: hardcore heroes Fucked Up have re-recorded the classic charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The band used part of the $20,000 they earned as Polaris Prize winners in September to fund the recording, which benefits three charities helping to bring an end to violence against native women in Canada. All 100% of the proceeds from sales of this song will go to Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (Montreal), DTES Power of Women Group (Vancouver) and Sisters in Spirit (Ottawa).

Oh, and the celebrity guest singers? Yo La Tengo, GZA, Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend), Bob Mould (Husker Du), Tegan & Sara, Andrew W.K., Kyp Malone (TV on the Radio), David Cross (comedian) and Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene).

You can buy it right now for 99 cents on iTunes. (Actually came out last week but we blame too much eggnog and free President’s Choice appetizers for our forgetfulness in pointing it out tout suite.) And of course there will be a 7″ vinyl version, coming in February.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Ghost, goblins, rocket candies and the annual Fucked Up festival! Damian Abraham and his hardcore brethren take over several downtown clubs for a weekend of heavy sonic shenanigans fit for all ages, featuring dozens of bands starting early and running late into the night. Tonight you can can catch the Polaris Prize winners at the Kathedral with the mighty Cro-Mags from NYC and more. But it’s Saturday October 31 that is the biggest treat: a set by legendary Toronto punks Youth Youth Youth (featuring notorious Rotate This manager Brian Taylor) alongside F. Up, Brutal Knights, Iron Lung and others at Sneaky Dee’s. Tickets: cheap. Thrills: priceless.