Arkells

Arkells are a Canadian alternative rock band from Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 2006, the group consists of vocalists and guitarists Max Kerman and Mike DeAngelis, bass player Nick Dika, drummer Tim Oxford, and keyboardist Dan Griffin, all of whom met while studying at McMaster University. They started performing as Charlemagne but decided to rename themselves Arkells after another band with the same name threatened to start legal actions against them. Their debut album Jackson Square saw the light in 2008, quickly established the band as one of the most promising acts in the Canadian rock scene, earning them a Juno Award for New Group of the Year in 2010. Preceded by the single “Whistleblower,” their sophomore effort Michigan Left (2011) cracked the Top 5 of the Canadian Albums Chart and helped them win Group of the Year at the 2012 Juno Awards. Produced by Tony Hoffer, who had previously worked with Beck, The Kooks, and M83, a third album titled High Noon came out in 2014 and peaked at Number 3 in Canada. Following two victories at the Juno Awards 2015, including Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year, Arkells returned in 2016 with Morning Report, which featured guest spots by Lights, Tokyo Police Club, and Sum 41’s Steve Jocz. The album spawned the hit singles “Private School” and “Knocking at the Door,” both of which topped the alternative charts in their native Canada. In the subsequent years, releases like Rally Cry (2018), Campfire Chords (2020), Blink Once (2021) and Blink Twice (2022) helped cement their status as one of the finest exponents of modern-day Canadian rock, with singles "Arm in Arm" (2021) and "Past Life" (2022), cracking the top 10 and "You Can Get it" taking the Number 1 spot. In October 2023, the group released Laundry Pile, which landed at number 50 on the Canadian Billboard chart, followed eight months later by Disco Loadout, Volume I , which went to number 73.