To kick things off, two fine Ottawa singer-songwriters are swinging by the Ironwood on Friday, June 4. Chris Page draws from the same urgency-meets-melody wellspring as protest-folk pioneer Billy Bragg, with a whiskey rasp straight out of the pages of No Depression. Tour mate Jill Zmud is more laid-back, but her twang-laced vocals are still more than enough to break your heart. The indispensable Lorrie Matheson opens.

To keep the roots train rolling, head for Wheat and Water’s CD release at the Palomino on Saturday, June 5. This Calgary quintet’s songs are steeped in classic roots atmosphere, but with just enough alt in their country to satisfy even the most twang-averse out there. Locals Heart Failure Research Unit (which released a disc of its own at the end of May) will be there to lend a hand, along with Kingston, Ontario’s Tom Savage Trio.

Elsewhere that night, Calgary’s Night Committee will keep putting the “super” in “supergroup” — with members of Hot Little Rocket, Fake Cops, Fire Engine Red and more, there’s no denying these folks have paid their Calgary dues, and if the teaser tune the band posted on its website is any indication, its official debut is going to be a stunner. With the equally super Key to the City on the bill, you can’t go wrong.

Jumping ahead a bit, this coming Thursday, June 10 has a trio of can’t-miss shows, so get those decision-muscles ready. For the gothically inclined, catching the legendary Misfits at The Whiskey is a no-brainer. Though the band has only gotten more cartoony over the years, and the departure of Michael Graves bruised the band a decade ago, there’s no denying that the current Jerry Only-led trio puts on a hell of a show.

If psych-rock is more your scene, Consonant C splinter-group Deadhorse has you covered. The Horse has two members of Calgary’s much-missed chamber-pop collective, but you’d never guess it from its sound, which switches from ’70s-style party anthems to psychedelic freak-outs at a moment’s notice. It’ll flog its wares at Broken City alongside Psychic Alliance and The Latter Days.

Or, there’s always the indie-pop of An Horse, a Brisbane duo discovered by Calgary ex-pats Tegan and Sara (who have a huge following Down Under). The June 10 bill at The Republik also includes criminally underappreciated prog-poppers Bend Sinister (seriously, one of the best live shows in Canada) and Calgary’s Lions and Tigers and Bears.