Great North Invasion

What if we lived in a world where people were freaked out by illegal immigrants from Canada? And the derogatory name for the threatening hordes of border-crossers was Great Lake Swimmers? That would be crazy, eh? In real life, that moniker belongs to a Toronto-based band that traffics in low-key, rustic folk songs, à la Iron & Wine and Sufjan Stevens. Led by the reverbed voice of Tony Dekker, the Swimmers' third album, Ongiara, features glacier-fresh melodies and an impressive lineup of guest musicians, such as ex-Wilco cat Bob Egan, who lends his banjo/guitar/organ skills to the atmospheric cuts. Via Maris and Arthur and Yu share the bill.
Fri., Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m., 2007