Inspired by and in response to the lack of East Coast acts on I (heart) Music’s Hottest Bands in Canada, v. 2006 [as well as their 20 Hottest Bands in Ottawa] I have been contacting reporters, bloggers, label owners and other industry folks to comment on who the hottest bands are this side of Montreal right now.

There was a surprising lack of anyone really from the East Coast in the Best Of poll – yet I’m aware of any number of bands that are worthy of being part of such a list. Numerous people in the comments for the poll commented on the lack of acts from these parts. Matthew of i (heart) music responded to my inquiry regarding the lack of bands with the following, in part:

I think the reason that so few Maritime artists were mentioned was because they’re so far away from the centre of Canadian media (and the bulk of the country’s population, too) that it’s hard for them to get noticed by people here.

Fair and true [and there was Sloan in the list as well as some Dependent artists - see the rest of the list]. [Aside: our label is called From Here To There Records in part due to the geographic barriers East Coast artists have to overcome].

He also mentioned that artists likely to get media attention from the East Coast aren’t likely to be indie darlings that bloggers/critics would likely be into – also true. I suspect that there will be a definite indie slant to the results of the East Coast poll as well so….

Here’s hoping some acts that appear on this East Coast listing might make it onto the Best Of Canada next year. Watch for the list in the not to distant future.