You don’t need to see its youth crew-biting merchandise to know that Tubby Dog frequently ups the punx (sic). In fact, look no further than its bill on Thursday, October 21 for proof; it’s co-headlined by gritty punk trio Grown Ups and the glue-sniffing, bubblegum-with-bite power pop of Throwaways (a near-perfect band whose sound, as far as we could tell, is only missing a glockenspiel). Don’t miss Wastoids and Downers, either, who will get the show started.

Alternatively, for those more indie-pop inclined, head to the Republik to catch P.E.I.’s Paper Lions. Possessing a more refined — and perhaps more literate — sound than Two Hours Traffic or Boxer the Horse, the band is living proof that some of the nation’s biggest choruses still come from its littlest province (we should’ve listened to those Japanese tourists). Frequent Calgary visitors Library Voices open.

Next, CJSW’s funding drive kicks off at Broken City on Friday, October 22 with Lethbridge, Alberta’s Fist City. Led by twins Brittany and Kristin Griffiths, the group obscures its rock-solid pop foundation with spiky, squealing guitar leads and sassy, confrontational yelps; accordingly, its sugar-coated-sour brand of psych-pop is a veritable provincial treasure. Miesha and the Spanks — a speedy garage duo whose urgency strikes harder than most — opens the show.

The CJSW festivities continue — but wander in decidedly different directions — on Saturday, October 23 at the Ship & Anchor. Melancholy punk trio Ex-Boyfriends, which could positively take a musical tire iron to the knees of modern-day Matt Skiba, headline a deep bill that also features the considerable folk charms of Sidney York and the ’50s historical revisionism of The Lovebullies. Show up early for the sophisticated, landlocked surf of The Bownesians, too (which comes from Bowness, duh).

Or, for the more pompadour-inclined, head over to Palomino, also on October 23, to catch rockabilly master R.Overwater play with his full band, The County Reeves. The Garter Girls burlesque group brings its bawdy, low-brow performance to the stage with openers Brain Sauce, from Moose Jaw, Sask.

Finally, don’t miss The Porkbelly Futures when the group lands at the Ironwood on Tuesday, October 26. The former band of literary legend Paul Quarrington, which is in town for Wordfest, is sure to play some of its rollickin’ country favourites in memoriam. Consider it the musical accompaniment to Logan in Overtime.