Sleeper hit

I'd never heard of Wintersleep prior to checking them out on a steamy Friday afternoon at the MBNA Stage, but they left a good impression. The band's membership comes mostly out of Halifax's punk and hardcore scene (a fair number of them are also in Contrived). Having outgrown their roots they've given their sound a more melodramatic, panoramic sound to good effect.

Paul Murphy gives a howl.



Jud Haynes; the sunlight was making for extreme contrasts of light and shade.



Tim D'Eon shakes it.



Loel Campbell sweated his heart out for Wintersleep's set, then did it again a quarter hour later for Holy Fuck's show. What a trooper.



I thought this was Mike Bigelow; since he isn't, I'll guess it's Jon Samuel, but who knows? As you can see from other shots his main gig is behind the keyboard.



Sleepy action!







They also have a pair of self-titled albums out and play the Virgin festival in Toronto Sept. 9; perhaps they'll be nice enough to make a quick detour up here around then.

• Show reminder: The D'Urbervilles and Department Of Foreign Affairs play Zaphod's.