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Big names on the big stage at WSSF

What: WSSF DKNY Jeans Live Outdoor Concert Series Where: WSSF Main Stage When: April 11-20, 3 to 6 p.m. Get those BIC lighters ready and the paper cups too.

What: WSSF DKNY Jeans Live Outdoor Concert Series

Where: WSSF Main Stage

When: April 11-20, 3 to 6 p.m.

Get those BIC lighters ready and the paper cups too. Agree on a meeting spot in case you all get lost and get on down every afternoon to the throng of moving bodies that’ll be bouncing around the main stage at the base of Whistler Village Gondola. Whether you’re into the mosh or the mellow, hip-hop, rock or rap, there’ll be something for everyone at the WSSF DKNY Jeans Live Outdoor Concert Series. In between where the two mountains collide is one monumental production and a party celebrating music, considered the perfect accompaniment to action and adventure sports.

All up, there are over 30 bands on offer, including Juno award winners Swollen Members, heavy rockers I Mother Earth, high energy pop rock favourites Treble Charger, the internationally acclaimed Swedish cult band The Soundtrack of Our Lives, the up and coming Sweatshop Union and Kazzer, U.K. beatboxer Killa Kela, scratch master Kid Koala and many, many more from across the country and beyond.

Here’s the lineup for this week:

Friday, April 11 - I Mother Earth, Kazzer, WDC

I Mother Earth: With the release of their fourth album last week, The Quicksilver Meat Dream, I.M.E. believe it’s their most compelling musical statement to date.

Kazzer: The Canadian-born microphone wiz is doing very well with his debut release Pedal To The Metal and his live show promises to be a solid display of his aptitude for fluid rhymes and irresistible hooks.

WDC: As a four-piece, high-energy rock band with more than 1000 professional gigs to their credit, WDC has become a local icon in Whistler. The band has sold out of two independent releases and is celebrating their 2002 Vancouver C-FOX SEEDS victory with a new album, Negatives.

Saturday, April 12 - A-Team - Aceyalone, Abstract Rude, Tajai, Killa Kela and Mat The Alien

Aceyalone: An influential underground MC from Los Angeles, Aceyalone started with the hip-hop collective The Freestyle Fellowship, reknowned for their spoken word-edged jazz infused hip-hop.

Aceyalone also formed a group with Abstract called Tribe Unique and Mikah 9 called Haiku De Tat, which released the independent hit, Los Dangerous.

Abstract Rude: A skilful emcee from LA and a long-time collaborator with Aceyalone as a founding member of Abstract Tribe Unique.

Tajai: As a member of Souls of Mischief, one of the most revered emcee collectives in the underground, Tajai has been experiencing tremendous growth as a solo act.

Killa Kela: The U.K.’s best human beat boxer has travelled the world with his unique multi-vocalist abilities. See story in Entertainment.

Mat The Alien: UK bred, Mat the Alien moved to Canada in 1995 to set up residences in Whistler and Vancouver and quickly establishing a loyal following in the local hip hop scene.

Sunday, April 13 - The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, Grace Nocturnal, various DJs/ Jib Jam

The Soundtrack Of Our Lives: Formed in Gotheburg, Sweden, this international cult band have excellent songs, outstanding musicianship, and a powerful live presence. Trying to describe their style isn’t easy but there’s definitely some ’60s pop, soul and garage psychedelia, and a bit of ’70s high energy rock ’n’ roll, plus a tinge of boogie and blues.

Grace Nocturnal: Not wanting to generalize what their sound is, the members of Grace Nocturnal suggest "taking a balls to the walls, rock and roll, and start kicking some ass. Take off your clothes and act weird."

Monday, April 14 - Treble Charger, AlarmBell, Not By Choice

Treble Charger: From their grassroots days of ’90s indie-rock ingenuity, Treble Charger have been a veritable vortex of everything cool and cutting-edge in rock music.

AlarmBell: Ryan Dahle, the ex-singer and guitarist from Age of Electric and Limblifter has formed a new west coast super group with guitarist Dave Paterson (ex-Spitfires), bassist Meegee (ex-Saltines) and drummer Ian Browne (ex-Matthew Good Band).

Not By Choice: Formed in the hallowed halls of a faceless Ajax Ontario, secondary institution, Not By Choice are fuelled by high energy, high impact dedication to making solid music.

Tuesday, April 15 - Kia Kadiri, Billy and The Lost Boys, Girl Nobody

Kia Kadiri: From soulful singing to rap to spoken word, Kia Kadiri does it

all.

Billy and the Lost Boys: Top talent on the Vancouver punk scene. They ride the cliché and still deliver a powerful performance.

Girl Nobody: A Vancouver based five-piece band fronted by Polish-born singer Marta Jaciubek and compared to the likes of Stereolab, The Cranberries, Radiohead, Sugarcubes, the Cardigans and The Sundays.

Wednesday, April 16 - Swollen Members, Sweatshop Union, Brassmunk

Swollen Members: Their foundations hark back to 1996 when the members, including Mad Child and Prevail, began recording their first tracks together.

Sweatshop Union: Not just a hip hop group with diverse vocal styles and crisp, soulful beats — they are the breath of fresh air that hip hop fans have been waiting for.

Brassmunk: Toronto-based rap crew Brassmunk is comprised of the maestro Agile, and flame-spittin’ emcee’s May 19, S-Roc and Clip.

Thursday, April 17 - Billy Talent, The Salads, By A Thread

Billy Talent: The band's sound and attitude screams aggressive emotional punk rock with memorable songs that fire away like ammunition with precision hard-as-math rhythms.

The Salads: Likened to Sublime, these guys have held opening slots for Our Lady Peace, Blink 182, Sum 41, Scratching Post, Quiet Riot and Mudmen.

By A Thread: Formed from the ashes of Hardcore heavyweights, Strain, By A Thread has been a force to be reckoned with from the beginning.