Here's a look back at the bands from 2009. Stay tuned for this year's lineup!

Backdraft: Newzapalooza is wildly excited to announce the very special guest stars at this year's event — Toronto Fire's own Backdraft. Unconfirmed reports from entirely unreliable sources say these guys don't go anywhere without a retinue of calendar beefcake in tow. More credible sources say the band is plenty hot enough and keen to match up against the fourth estate.

The Doubts (The Globe and Mail): Two of the Globe’s rawkin’ combos have distilled themselves into one. Neil Teixeira (bass and vocals) and John Daly (guitar), from Newzapalooza Year 1 and 3 winners The Executive Garage Band, have teamed up with Eric Lam (keys and vocals), from Newzapalooza Year 2 champs Between The Lines, to form The Doubts. Joining them are BoomBox Erin Benoit on vocals, Bernie Serrao on guitar and vocals and Mark McLarney on skins. On weekends, the band plays bar gigs in towns like Barrie, Bradford, Burlington and others with names that begin with different letters.

Holy Joe and the Principles (Toronto Star): The first act to bring glitz, glamour and dancing girls to Newzapalooza, Holy Joe and the Principles are back again this year to demonstrate that style matters just as much as substance. Featuring Toronto Star newsmen Rob Cribb (sax, piano, vocals) David Henderson (bass) Donovan Vincent (guitar) and Maclean's photo editor Andrew Tolson (drums), Holy Joe will have the crowd praying for more — on their feet of course. The last time the group performed at Newzapalooza they finished a strong second, and their soulful, funky vibes had everyone groovin' and movin'.

Johnny Hondo (Toronto Star): In 2007 Little Prichard and the Deadlines rocked Newza with a short but memorable opening set. Reborn as Johnny Hondo and the Deadlines, they’re back with their inimitable wall of sound, melding classic crunch with liberal — some would say very Liberal — doses of social commentary. Their former bassist is now their drummer. Their former drummer is now their bassist. Their former rhythm guitarist is now their lead guitarist. Their singer is still their singer. And that’s a good thing.

The Screaming Headlines (Toronto Sun): Pesky, perky and populist, the Sun's lineup features Shreddin' Shawn MacIntosh on guitar from last year's victorious My Three Sons mashup. Jim Slotek fronts up, Sun alum Ian Harvey plucks the bass and J. Jonah Jenkins makes a racket in the back. Team Sun's been a perennial middle of the pack pick until capturing the honours last time out and the Headlines just don't want to let go.

Stimulus Package (Globe/CP): Just beneath the cultured surface of the Great Grey Globe beats the frenzied heart of Saturday night. Hook that up with the steadying influence of the nation's news co-operative and you've got a package guaranteed to stimulate more than just your economy.

The Thomson Triplets (Thomson Reuters News Agency): The members of this power trio rocked the 2008 Media Guild convention as part of a larger band. Maternity leave, an international transfer and a poorly-timed vacation have left it up to bassist Joe Foo, guitarist Steve Hawryluk, drummer Mike Noonan and their special guest Nick Sotiriou on vocals to support this worthy cause by doing the best they can, as loud as they can. What they may lack in talent is more than made up for in enthusiasm ... and volume.