Despite their name, the Toronto-based Worst Pop Band Ever features Juno and Trille Or award-winning artists that have performed with everyone from the Sultans of String to Blue Rodeo; Bad Plus to the Shuffle Demons. With their mix of irreverent originals and deconstructed covers, they have filled festivals and clubs throughout North America and Asia, from St. John’s to Seattle to Taipei, and now have their sights set on the interwebs. You have been warned.

Chris Gale — Sax
Chris Gale is a leading saxophonist, composer, producer, and educator whose driving style and rich tone can be heard on hundreds of recordings. As leader and a sideman, Gale has performed around the globe in theatres, clubs, and at festivals, impressing crowds with his lyrical sensibility and soulful approach. Gale’s diverse musical career has led to performances with Randy Brecker, Jeff Healy, Arkells, Ron Sexsmith, Michael Kaeshammer, Colin James, Blue Rodeo, Johnny Reid, The Shuffle Demons, Brandi Disterheft, Tia Brazda, Oliver Jones, Richard Underhill, Powder Blues Band, and Jarvis Church. He is also a long-standing member of The Worst Pop Band Ever and co-founder of Hector Quartet, both of which tour regularly throughout Canada and the United States.

Adrean Farrugia — Keys
Award winning pianist and composer Adrean Farrugia began playing piano at the age of 12. By age 16 he recognized that he would dedicate his life to music. Since then he has become recognized as one of Canada’s most sought after pianists and composers, having shared the music he loves globally with various bands across Canada, the United States, London UK, Paris, Tokyo, Tel Aviv, Australia, Poland, and The Netherlands with artists such as Ernie Watts, Sheila Jordan, Brad Goode, Cyrille Aimee, Matt Dusk, Molly Johnson, Joel Frahm, Ernesto Cervini, The Worst Pop Band Ever and others. Adrean serves on the faculties of Mohawk College and Humber College and has conducted masterclasses and workshops for students at the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Sydney Conservatorium, the Polish Jazz Society Summer Workshop, and the University of Toronto. Adrean has played on more than 40 albums to date garnering 2 Juno awards, 8 Juno award nominations, a Mark Award for ‘Best Production Music Artist’ from the Production Music Association of America, ‘Pianist of the Year’ at the Hamilton Arts Awards, and a nomination for the Ontario Arts Council’s Louis Applebaum Composer’s Award. Adrean believes that music is a powerful form of communication that has the power to heal and inspire both the performer and the listener, as well as revealing a higher sense of being which exists in all people, and it is this belief that drives his continued journey and commitment to musical growth and sharing. Adrean Farrugia is endorsed by Shigeru Kawai Pianos.

Tim Shia — Drums
Whether it be a jazz festival gig with Rich Underhill; winning a Trille Or with Amelie et Les Singes Bleus; playing Cumbia’s with Quique Escamilla on CBC; adding percussion on a Electronica recording with Milosh (Rhye); to headlining a Hip Hop festival in Taiwan with LEO37, Tim Shia has been fortunate enough to play with a host of Juno and Grammy Award winning musicians in an array of genres. When he’s not performing, Tim has scored and licensed music for film and television including work for CBC, the Toronto Public Library, Teletoon and the NFB. He has given masterclasses and workshops on performance and improvisation at every level from Elementary to Post Secondary Institutions across Canada. He also hosted a radio show on Jazz Fm 91.1 called “Jazz is What?!”

Drew Birston — Bass
Drew is a versatile bassist, composer, producer and singer/songwriter living in Toronto, Canada. He has been contributing to the Canadian music scene as a composer and bassist for over 25 years and has toured the world with a variety of different artists. After completing jazz studies in Antigonish, NS and Montréal, QC, the Toronto music scene was calling and his good friend, Mark Mariash, invited him to come and audition for a pop band there. He got the gig with Lava Hay in 1992 and that opened up the incredibly rich and diverse scene that Toronto had to offer. From there he recorded and toured with The Leslie Spit Treeo, The Wild Strawberries, Melanie Doane, Chantal Kreviazuk, Justin Hines, Tomi Swick, Lily Frost and Moon V Sun. He has also had the great fortune to work with producers such as Brent Bodrug, Justin Abedin, Ron Lopata, Danny Leblanc, George Seara and Stephan Moccio and has appeared on over a 100 recordings. Along his musical journey, he joined good friends Chris McKhool and Kevin Laliberté’s band Sultans of String and has enjoyed recording 6 albums and extensive touring throughout Canada, US and the UK.

Make sure you check out How to Attend a Concert for information on how to view, how to interact with the artists during the concert, and how to meet up with friends for the concert.