Anyone who has been paying any attention to the great influx of Canadian music over the past few years will have heard of a band named The Arkells. This five-piece unit, which formed in 2006 during the members’ first year at McMaster University, has set itself apart with a Motown sense of rhythm, a ‘Springsteen-esque’ vocal style, and a Neil Young lyrical sensibility. By touching on such influences, the band has created blue-collar anthems that are resonating well with their newly acquired fan base. After the release of their 2008 full-length album, Jackson Square, with standout singles that include "Oh, The Boss Is Coming" and "Ballad of Hugo Chavez," The Arkells have enjoyed some radio success, which has helped them achieve a much-envied spot among their indie peers. With the help of the Dine Alone Records digital re-release of the six-song EP Deadlines in early 2008, members Nick Dika (bass), Mike DeAngelis (guitar and vocals), Max Kerman (lead vocals and guitar), Dan Griffin (keyboard, guitar, and vocals) and Tim Oxford (drums) have been pretty busy, to say the least.

The release of their 2007 EP proved to be a great decision after they drew the attention of Dine Alone Records, home to such bands as Bedouin Sound Clash and City and Colour—both groups that have enjoyed Canadian and international success. The Arkells have enjoyed sharing the stage with such great Canadian bands as Attack in Black, Bedouin Sound Clash, Black Lung, Matt Mays and El Torpedo, City and Colour, and The Black Crowes, among others. The Arkells have a bright future ahead thanks to their full-on, hard-hitting, passionate rock show, which they take to the road, proving to fans and unsuspecting onlookers alike that they deserve the attention they have received thus far. One can only imagine what will come next for these bright, young stars in the making.