Time: 8 p.m.

Cover: none

Zoo Lion

It’s been a busy year for Calgary-based rockers Zoo Lion. http://www.zoolionmusic.com/

October 2011 marks the drop of their new EP Black Rhino, which features six songs that showcase what the band brings to the table — from hard rock to folk-rock fusions.

The four-piece just returned from Toronto where they placed third at Indie Week.

“Indie Week was a great opportunity for the band to really put ourselves out there and see how we could do in the big city,” said lead singer Craig Aikman. “We played six shows in six nights and met a ton people in the industry. It's a huge party, you have to be yourself and just enjoy it.”

Zoo Lion ranked second in this year’s FFWD Best of Calgary poll in the local band category. Currently they are building up a fan base in town while hitting the road to tour Canada for festivals and shows.

Many of the songs from the band’s third recording were hatched while the group was holed up in the dungy old Alberta boot factory building on the wrong side of the tracks in downtown Calgary.

They got to rock out the Saddledome stage at a sold-out stadium show when they opened for Bon Jovi in July 2010. That night 16,000 people got to take in their energetic rock show.

Joining forces in 2007, Zoo Lion has found chemistry that has synchronized into a fresh new sound crashing into Calgary’s growing rock scene.

Born and raised prairie boys, the band is comprised of the beating rhythms of Craig Aikman’s guitar, the groovy riffs of Matt Tysowski’s bass, the intense licks of Mark Heit’s guitar and the complex beats of Tyler Reimer’s drums.

Zoo Lion unleashed their second album, entitled Nothing Automatic, in April 2010 to follow up on their successful debut album Telling Your People (2008). While tracks off their second and third disc were laid down at MCC in Calgary, all three were recorded in Vancouver with the help of District Four Studio producers Aaron Nordeen and Shawn Penner. Parts have also been recorded at the legendary Mushroom Studios — which have seen so many iconic musicians in the past.
 Zoo Lion has caught the attention of the music industry by winning a handful of contests — including the 2009 Canadian Radio Star title from Calgary radio station CJAY 92 for their song “Pry,” which won them a week at the 2009 Canadian Music Week in Toronto.