Over the last few years, the average DJ event has morphed from something fresh into something so omnipresent that it's hard to get excited about. Luckily, Canada's #1 DJ Skratch Bastid is doing something to change that. This Saturday will see him pumping out jams at Toronto's Revival Bar, as he kicks off his highly-anticipated Skratch Bastid Presents series.

"I really think that we are going to achieve that goal of making people feel like its a once-in-a lifetime experience," Skratch told Naked Eye.

This weekend is the first of four unique events that aim to put a new spin on the concept of the DJ night. Dubbed Scratch, Scratch, Scratch (because it pairs the Bastid up with two other famous "Scratches") the night is all about collaboration, with appearances from local legend DJ Starting From Scratch and first-class beatboxer, Scratch from The Roots.

"We've had 3 rehearsals so far and they've been really exciting for me. Being around so long it does take a lot to get me excited so I can't wait until people see us all on stage bouncing ideas back and forth."

While the Scratches have been busy rehearsing, their preparation will not take away from the spontaneity of the event, which promises to be a cross between an improvisational freestyle and a live concert. To top things off, a visual multimedia component will be provided by Mixmotion Media, who will project images across the room based on the feel of what is happening on stage.

This week, there has been a lot of coverage on the latest battle in the war between entertainment industry figureheads and internet users. While stories of Somalian hijackers are still occasionally plastered across newspaper covers, the Western world's most sought-after pirates of today rob no ships, and brandish not daggers but mp3s, youtube videos and photographs.

Many young people are now growing up in an age where music is freely available at the click of a mouse. CDs are no longer ubiquitous. DVDs are a clunky and expensive alternative to streaming videos online. The transmission of photographs is so easy and commonplace that many probably have no idea that posting an image on a blog can even be illegal in the first place. But after years of the industry trying to grapple with the changes they have had to face as internet filesharing came to replace paying for media, authorities are finally starting to clamp down hard on infringement.

Toronto singer Melanie Fiona builds The Bridge between Canada and our neighbours to the south

Melanie Fiona is part of the burgeoning Toronto music scene that is set to surf a tidal wave of international success. The singer, whose single “Give It to Me Right” hit number 22 on the Billboard R&B charts, has recently enjoyed a ton of exposure and glowing press. A child of Guyanese immigrants, Fiona embodies Canada’s spirit of multiculturalism. She is fiercely proud of her nationality, and uncompromising in her aim to deliver ground-breaking soul/pop music with influences drawn from all across the world.

“I’m not an American artist, I’m not a black American artist,” Fiona told Naked Eye. “I’m mixed – I’m West Indian and I’m Canadian – so I need to make music that’s me, rather than try to fit into a culture that’s really not me. I’ve decided to have my music reflect that, so my music is diverse, it’s multicultural, it’s all of these things.”

Bad News Brown may be Montreal’s next big thing

Hip hop may be synonymous with many things, but harmonica has not traditionally been one of them. The street? Yes. Bling? Uh-huh. Drugs? About as much as Lindsay Lohan’s nose. But the little sorrowful instrument that calls to mind lonely Hoover-era hobos train-hopping from Oklahoma? Not so much – until now, that is. Bad News Brown, born Paul Frappier, has been matchmaking harmonica and hip hop over the course of the last decade and has made a name for himself by creating a unique fusion of diverse genres that are typically as divided as a grade seven dance.

Starting out as a hustling busker, Bad News Brown’s skills have taken him from the streets to the stage, affording him the opportunity to share the limelight with some of the industry’s biggest acts. In addition to collaborating with people such as Nas, Cypress Hill and De La Soul, the musician has opened for Snoop, The Eagles, Aerosmith, Tom Cochrane, 50 Cent, Ciara, and hip hop’s front man, Kanye West.

This Season’s Experts: Redfoo, Sky Blu and the Party Rock crew

LMFAO is nothing to laugh at when it comes time to party. Redfoo and Sky Blu, two artists from Los Angeles, California, have been hyping up North American clubs since the release of their album Party Rock last April. Hits such as “I’m in Miami Bitch” and “Shots” were remixed and held top spots in DJs’ playlists throughout summer. One could say that the uncle/nephew pair pretty much fell into the potion at a young age. “It’s safe to say we grew up in the business,” Redfoo informs us, in reference to his father, the legendary Berry Gordy (founder of Motown Records and responsible for artists such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5).