As solstice approaches, the freak flags are flying high:
Lemon Bucket Orchestra – Cuckoo
There was once a time when you could barely leave your west-end Toronto house without stumbling into this band in various parks or in Kensington Market or leading a parade somewhere for something. This was a long-ago time before there was a brass band on every corner (I will never complain about there being a brass band on every corner).
Toronto owes the Lemon Bucket Orchestra a major debt, in my mind, for livening up the streets of a music biz town where most modern musicians hide in their home studios and/or only play black-walled clubs where people don’t dance. From the Drom Taberna venue to the band’s various spin-offs and satellites, a lot of raucous acoustic good times in this town can be traced back to these Ukrainian/Balkan folk-punks.
But they no longer gig in their hometown often, and absence makes the heart grow even fonder. Their fifth album is their first album in seven years. This has always been a live band first and foremost, because nothing could ever replicate the full-body thrill of standing in a crowd of people, the Lemon Bucketeers among them, surrounding you with a full brass attack and bow-shredding violin, bopping with a buoyant crowd with hands in the air.
Produced by trumpeter Max Forster (Big Smoke Brass, Queen Kong), Cuckoo does everything a Lemon Bucket record should: bottle their live energy while leaving room for the less frantic moments, like the Ukrainian vocal opener “Shchedryj Vechor” or the haunting Macedonian ballad “Zjadi Zjadi.” Members have come and gone, but here a core sextet remains.
Lemon Bucket Orchestra play the Opera House this Saturday, June 15. There are surprisingly few other chances to see them locally until at least the fall. What was once ubiquitous is now scarce, so catch them while you can.
Man Man – Carrot on Strings
(Sub Pop)
This Philly band burst onto the scene 20 years ago, all dressed in white, pounding on a piano, playing metallic percussion and wielding horns—visceral, raw, wild, the kind of rock band you’d half-expect to find in the basement of a Balkan bar off the beaten path, the kind of band that makes your own precarious mental health make a lot more sense. It was also joyous and hella fun: the best kind of band to banish those blues. Somewhere along the way they started writing excellent yet still absurd pop songs, best captured on 2013’s On Oni Pond—for my money, one of the most underrated rock records of the 2010s.
There’s an unusually well-written new bio on the Sub Pop site here (also at the Bandcamp page).
There’s only been one Man Man album between now and then, so this feels like a comeback. This is a slinkier band now that they’re middle-aged, more likely to groove like Hall & Oates instead of getting angular like Zappa. There are fist-pumping, propulsive rock songs like “Blooodungeon” and the Tom Waits-meets-Tame-Impala “Pack Your Bags” and the country “Cherry Cowboy” and the ballad “Mulholland Drive” and the Oneida-ish noise jam “Odyssey” and the late-period Who of “Iguana,” while the single “Cryptoad” has lyrics about: “Two tech bros on the lawn / talking about their elongated Lambos / hell, no.”
Man Man. Yes yes. More more.
No North American tour dates any time soon; they’re in Europe this fall.
All news, no snooze
Carl Wilson provides the guide to June’s more experimental jazz gigs in Toronto and Hamilton that I cannot: Read his story on Tone and Something Else festivals here.
Have Not Been the Same readers: The New York Times has an excellent profile of Sarah McLachlan, which includes some early biographical details I wasn’t aware of. She plays Toronto this Wednesday at Ontario Place (where I saw her when she was first touring Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, at the Forum), with Allison Russell opening.
McLachlan’s fellow Nova Scotian Molly Rankin of Alvvays talks to Line of Best Fit about nine “pivotal” songs in her life. No secret that Rankin is a giant nerd, and I’m not surprised that she’s a Neil Young fan, but I really didn’t expect her to pick a track from Neil’s 1986 album Landing on Water—a much-maligned record that was the last straw for David Geffen, a record that has yet to get any Trans revisionism. Should it?
Hearts on Fire readers: Fucked Up’s new album, Another Day (might as well call it “Here’s another record”), comes out in August. They kick off their world tour in St. Catharines in July. Details here.
on straw-man arguments about the supposed death of music criticism in the age of monolithic stardom and standom.Ani DiFranco doc coming soon. If you’ve never read her memoir, I recommend it. Of course, books are almost always better than the movies, especially music docs ;) That said, I’ve heard amazing things about Stax: Soulsville USA, based on the Rob Bowman book, now on Crave, which I have yet to see.
Are you a parent of a boy? Worried about them going Rogan one day? You need to read this, by Ruth Whippman. Her book is out soon: BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity.
My current day job involves reading a lot about almost-daily innovations in AI and the billions of dollars being thrown at it, with the benefits and terrors that go along with it. The flip side of that is that unless fusion-powered electricity is proven viable tomorrow, there’s no way our current electricity grids can support the exponential growth in AI—or the much more necessary electrification of everything. Will we tolerate rolling blackouts so we can have AI-enhanced Siri on our phones? Or so that tech bros can continue their crypto circle jerk? Here’s more about that from The Logic.
On the lighter side, here’s a must-read LOL guide to the bumper-sticker resurgence you never saw coming, and Alice Coltrane’s role in it:
T.O. SHOWS YOU SHOULD KNOW
An entirely subjective and by no means comprehensive look at Toronto’s concert calendar, tailored to musically curious people who are probably (but not necessarily) over 40. My strong recommendations in bold.
Suggestions welcome. So are advertisers! Each post gets approximately 1K unique views. Drop me a line.
Don’t live in Toronto? Most of these artists are on tour, so check your local listings. Just kidding! There are no local listings anymore. Check the artists’ websites.
JUST ANNOUNCED (mark your calendars):
The Body & Dis Fig: July 5 at Velvet Underground
Mk.Gee: Oct 1 at History
Fidlar: Oct 7 at Phoenix
Mdou Moctar: Oct 9 at Concert Hall
Hanson: Oct 13-14 at Danforth Music Hall. Oct 13 with Matthew Sweet, Oct 14 with Phantom Planet.
Richard Thompson: Oct 22 at Concert Hall. But you should still see him at Hillside!
Tokimonsta: Oct 23 at Opera House
Fucked Up: Oct 31 at Great Hall #HeartsOnFire
Suzie Ungerleider & friends: Nov 14 at Hugh’s Room
Reuben & the Dark, Housewife: Nov 20 at Great Hall. Presented by No Music on a Dead Planet campaign.
Geoffroy: Nov 20-21 at Drake Underground
Caribou: Nov 24 at History #HeartsOnFire. In addition to November 23 at Massey Hall.
Travis: Feb 12 at Concert Hall
Apocalyptica (Metallica string quartet): Feb 13 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Tonight and every night!:
The Tranzac and Drom Taberna, the two venues closest to my heart, boast several acts a night and have the most eclectic lineups — just go! The equally busy Cameron House has mostly roots vibes; jazz is always happening at the Rex Hotel. Jazzintoronto.ca’s Instagram page has daily jazz listings at various venues. For the best in Toronto’s Latin and Caribbean scene, check Lula Lounge.
Coming this week:
NXNE: June 13-16 at various venues
Corinne Bailey Rae: June 13 at Danforth Music Hall
Fred Moten & Brandon Lopez, Lee & Gamble Unlimited, Roa Lee: June 13 at the Music Gallery
Doug Paisley: June 14 at Rivoli
Nourished by Time: June 14 at Baby G
Tyvek, XV, Psychbike: June 14 at Monarch
U.S. Girls, Eucalyptus, Cots: June 14 at the Tranzac. Fundraiser for this essential venue.
Quasi, Jeffrey Lewis: June 15 at the Garrison. Janet Weiss on the drums!
The Budos Band: June 15 at the Phoenix. Big up the baritone!
The Reverend Horton Heat: June 15 at the Horseshoe
Ruby Fleet, Shortcuts: June 15 at West End Phoenix (Bloor/Bartlett) 7 p.m.
Ross Daly’s This Tale of Ours: June 15 at the Music Gallery
Lemon Bucket Orchestra: June 15 at Opera House. Album release. See above.
Kevin Kane: June 15 at Jean Darlene Piano Bar (in alley behind the KFC at Dundas & Lakeview). Celebrating 35 years of the Grapes of Wrath’s Now and Again. #HaveNotBeentheSame
Big Freedia, Haviah Mighty: June 16 at David Pecault Square. Free, as part of Luminato Festival.
NXNE Day Party: June 16 in parking lot off Queen West between Augusta and Denison
Mas Aya, Colin Fisher: June 16 at Tranzac
Chris Brokaw, Picastro: June 17 at Baby G
The Umbrellas: June 17 at Monarch Tavern
Ann Powers talks about her new Joni bio; Sarah Slean sings Joni songs: June 17 at Toronto Reference Library, hosted by Tab Siddiqui. Details here and here.
John Orpheus: June 18 at the Rivoli. EP release.
Luka Kaplowsky: June 18 at Tranzac. Album release.
Sarah McLachlan, Feist: June 18 at Artpark in Lewiston, N.Y. (Niagara) #HaveNotBeentheSame #HeartsOnFire.
Sarah McLachlan, Allison Russell: June 19 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre #HaveNotBeentheSame
Jaime Wyatt: June 19 at Velvet Underground
Ariane Morin’s Klezmer Brass: June 19 at Emmet Ray 6 p.m. Presented by Toronto Klezmer Society
Toronto Klezmer Society Epic Jam: June 19 at Tranzac 9.30 p.m. Come join! Details here.
Laurel Halo, Sarah Davachi: June 19 at Great Hall
Mo Lowda & the Humble, The Thing: June 20 at Horseshoe Tavern. Headliner is a Philly indie rock band that could be sons of War on Drugs. But the opening act, The Thing, is the Scandinavian jazz trio, featuring saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, who once recorded with Neneh Cherry.
Los Campesinos!: June 20 at the Opera House
Dave Bidini, Ryan Wayne: June 20 at West End Phoenix office (Bloor/Bartlett), 7 p.m.
Coming sooner than later
NQ Arbuckle, Carolyn Mark: June 21 at Horseshoe. This double bill was one of my favourite shows last year. Great songs and guaranteed good times for old farts.
Arkells, Tegan & Sara: June 21 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre #HeartsOnFire
Tobi (rap) with Shout! the Band (brass): June 21 at the UoT Grove, Toronto Jazz Fest, 8.45 p.m.
Horsegirl, Cindy, Lal: June 21 at Velvet Underground
Matthew Barber sings Tom Petty: June 21 at Crow’s Theatre. Details here.
Arkells, Grouplove: June 22 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
SOS ABBA Experience: June 22 at Opera House. Not holograms!
The Teskey Brothers: June 22 at Massey Hall (two shows, including matinee)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band: June 22 at Concert Hall
Wake for X-Ray McCrae: June 23 at, yes, the Horseshoe, the venue he owned and booked from 1981-98. Featuring Stephen Stanley & H. Chris Brown, Tom and Thompson Wilson, Bazil Donovan and more. #HaveNotBeentheSame
Caroline Davis & Wendy Eisenberg: June 23 at Music Gallery
Jill Barber: June 23-24 at Jazz Bistro
Chief Adjuah (Christian Scott) & the Wisdom of Orixa, Dominique Fils-Aimé: June 24 at the UoT Grove, Toronto Jazz Fest 8.45 p.m., 6.45 p.m. respectively.
Richard Flohil’s 90th birthday: June 24 at Lula Lounge. Featuring Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar as the house band, and an all-star lineup (plus secret special guests) you’d expect for someone with more than six decades of experience behind the scenes in Canadian music. Details here.
The Church, Afghan Whigs, Ed Harcourt: June 24 at Danforth Music Hall
Ian Thomas: June 24 at Burlington Performing Arts Centre
Lip Critic: June 25 at Garrison
Maren Morris opening for Maroon 5: June 25 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
ML Buch, Joseph Shabason: June 25 at Longboat Hall
Santana, Counting Crows: June 26 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Andy Haas, Mike Milligan: June 26 at Sellers & Newel
Wolf Eyes w/ Anthony Braxton: June 26 at Great Hall
Myriam Gendron: June 27 at Collective Arts Taproom (Dundas and Markham), 8 p.m.
Norah Jones, William Prince: June 27 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Barenaked Ladies, Sam Roberts Band, KT Tunstall: June 27 at Sobeys Stadium (York University). #HaveNotBeentheSame #NeverEndingPresent #HeartsonFire.
Roadkill: June 27 at Revue Cinema 9.30 p.m. 35th anniversary screening of perhaps the greatest Canadian rock’n’road movie ever made, one whose inspiration is detailed in Have Not Been the Same. Screenwriter Don McKellar and star Valerie Buhagiar in attendance.
Caifanes and Cafe Tacvba: June 28 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre.
Maurice Gordon Quintet plays Ernest Ranglin and Don Drummund: June 28 at CONTXT by Trane (Lansdowne/College) 7 p.m.
Lake Street Dive: June 28 at History
Pedro the Lion: June 28 at Great Hall
Neon Dreams: June 28 at Velvet Underground
Kurt Vile & Violators, Myriam Gendron: June 28 at Danforth Music Hall. Get there early and pay attention to the opener! Or go see her the night before at Collective Arts.
André 3000: June 28 at Massey Hall
Cory Henry: June 29 at the Concert Hall, Toronto Jazz Fest
Ali Brothers (Brownman and Marcus): June 29 at CONTXT by Trane (Lansdowne/College) 7 p.m.
Nick Maclean Quartet feat. Brownman Ali: June 30 at CONTXT by Trane (Lansdowne/College) 4 p.m.
Jhené Aiko: July 2 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
The Conscience Pilate, High Flyer: July 2 at the Horseshoe
Wilco: July 2-3 at Massey Hall. July 2 is with local Katie Cruel; July 3 with Cut Worms.
Janet Jackson, Nelly: July 3 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Jacob Gorzhaltzan: July 3 at Emmet Ray. Presented by Toronto Klezmer Society
Orville Peck, the War and Treaty, Goldie Boutilier: July 3 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre.
Future Islands: July 4 at Massey Hall
Heaven Stood Still: The Incarnations of Willy DeVille: July 4 at Paradise Theatre 7 p.m.
Daryl Hall, Elvis Costello & the Impostors: July 4 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre.
Madison Cunningham: July 4 at Concert Hall
Tomb Mold, Horrendous: July 4 at Lee’s Palace
Tamara Williamson performs The Break-Up Diet: July 4-7 at the Theatre Centre
Mother Mother, Cavetown: July 5 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
City and Colour, Metric, Sloan: July 5 at Born & Raised Festival (St. Catharines) #HeartsOnFire #HaveNotBeentheSame
L’eclair: July 5 at the Horseshoe. This Swiss electro-jam outfit, who backed up the Zambian rock band W.I.T.C.H. recently, return after an ecstatic show at the Monarch last year.
Os Mutantes: July 5 at Great Hall. Everything is possible! Except maybe the late Rita Lee making this gig.
Cola, Devon Welsh: July 5 at Garrison
Band of Horses: July 5 at History. Huh: I guess Mariposa doesn’t have a radius clause.
Mariposa Festival: July 5-7 in Orillia. Featuring Band of Horses, Donovan Woods, Okkervill River, Bahamas, Maestro Fresh Wes, Ben Caplan, Bry Webb, Shad, Cat Clyde, Carleigh Aikins, Colin Linden, Jeremie Albino, B.A. Johnston. And a “special performance” by Bruce Cockburn. Tickets here.
Alexisonfire, The Used, Counterparts: July 6 at Born & Raised Festival (St. Catharines) #HeartsOnFire
Big Shiny Saturday feat. The Tea Party, Headstones, I Mother Earth, Bif Naked, Treble Charger: July 6 at Sobey’s Stadium (York University)
Etran de l’Aïr: July 7 at Longboat Hall (Great Hall)
Killer Mike: July 7 at Danforth Music Hall
Neil Young & Crazy Horse: July 8 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre (in addition to May 20 show)
Steve Earle: July 8 at Danforth Music Hall. Also playing London, Hamilton, Ottawa and Kingston that same week.
Tyler Childers, S.G. Goodman: July 9 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Jah Wobble: July 10 at Great Hall. The bassist/bandleader will be toting his new memoir and playing Public Image Ltd. songs.
Mt. Joy: July 10 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Amanda Marshall, Colin James, Ahi: July 12 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Billy Talent, Cancer Bats: July 12 at Because Beer Festival, Pier 4 Park, Hamilton #HeartsOnFire
Five Alarm Funk: July 12 at Axis Club
Four Winds Music Fest feat. Bahamas, Joel Plaskett, Great Lake Swimmers, Daniel Romano’s Outfit, Terra Lightfoot, Boy Golden, more: July 12-14 in Durham (the town, not the county; between Guelph and Owen Sound, near Flesherton). Info here.
Alanis Morissette, Joan Jett: July 13-14 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Ben Howard, John Francis Flynn: July 13 at History. I know nothing about the headliner, but the Irish Flynn is often mentioned in the same breath as Lankum and Lisa O’Neill.
Tokyo Police Club, Dizzy, Cuff the Duke: July 13 at Because Beer Festival, Pier 4 Park, Hamilton
Pup, NoBro, Daniel Romano’s Outfit, Status/Non-Status: July 14 at Because Beer Festival, Pier 4 Park, Hamilton
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wand, IronTom: July 15 & 17 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Mike Campbell (Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers): July 16 at Danforth Music Hall
Ibibio Sound Machine: July 17 at Adelaide Hall.
John Williams (clarinet): July 17 at Emmet Ray. Presented by Toronto Klezmer Society
Unwound (!), Wednesday: July 18 at Concert Hall
Schoolboy Q: July 18 at History
Hillside Festival: July 19-21 featuring Richard Thompson, Aysanabee, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings with Daniel Lanois & Terra Lightfoot, Bombino, Messthetics with James Brandon Lewis, Nobro, Patrick Watson, Beings (Steve Gunn, Jim White, Shahzad Ismaily, Zoh Amba), Medicine Singers w Yonatan Gat & Lee Ranaldo, Five Alarm Funk, Land of Talk, Rich Aucoin, Ashley MacIsaac and much much more. Details here.
3 Inches of Blood: July 20 at Danforth Music Hall
Looking ahead
Totally Tubular Festival: Thomas Dolby, Tom Bailey, Men Without Hats, Bow Wow Wow, Modern English, New Romantics: July 24 at Great Canadian Casino (Woodbine Racetrack)
Felice Brothers: July 24 at Longboat Hall
Regina Spektor: July 25 at History
Skratch Bastid’s BBQ: July 27-28 at the Bentway
Slash, Warren Haynes Band, Robert Randolph, Keb Mo, more: July 28 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Tinariwen: July 31 at the Phoenix
Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, the Linda Lindas: Aug 1 at Skydome
Heart, Journey, Def Leppard: Aug 2 at Skydome.
DIIV: Aug 2 at Concert Hall
PartyNextDoor: Aug 2 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre. Not a fan of this act, at all, but this is the best name possible for an artist from Mississauga.
Jennifer Lopez: Aug 2-3 at Raptors/Leafs Arena CANCELLED
Electric Eclectics Festival: Aug 2-4 at the Funny Farm in Meaford, Ontario. Weirdos unite! Details here.
Sleater-Kinney: Aug 3 at Danforth Music Hall.
Big Brave: Aug 3 at Garrison
Zemertov: Aug 7 at Emmet Ray. Presented by Toronto Klezmer Society
Billy Idol, Platinum Blonde: Aug 9 at Raptors/Leafs Arena.
Karan Aujla: Aug 10 at Raptors/Leafs Arena.
Joel Plaskett Emergency: Aug 10 opening for Alan Doyle at Ontario Place Ampitheatre #HeartsOnFire
Future, Metro Boomin: Aug 11 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Avril Lavigne: Aug 12 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Idina Menzel: Aug 13 at Massey Hall
Black Flag: Aug 13 at Rockpile. Playing music from their first four years.
P!nk, Sheryl Crow: Aug 14 at Skydome
Washed Out: Aug 14 at Danforth Music Hall
Tedeschi Trucks Band, Margo Price: Aug 15 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Blink 182, Alexisonfire, Pierce the Veil: Aug 15 at Skydome
Avril Lavigne: Aug 16 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Midge Ure: Aug 16 at El Mocambo
Elora RiverFest: Aug 16-18 featuring Fleet Foxes, Violent Femmes, Sudan Archives, Corb Lund, Chali 2na & Cut Chemist, Wild Rivers, Bully, Moneen, Mariel Buckley, Nicolette & the Nobodies, Nyssa, Population II, more. Details here.
Iron & Wine: Aug 17 at Danforth Music Hall
A Flock of Seagulls: Aug 17 at El Mocambo
NOFX: Aug 17-18 at Downsview Park. Final tour.
New Kids on the Block, Paula Abdul, DJ Jazzy Jeff: Aug 17-18 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Childish Gambino: Aug 18 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Mike.: Aug 18 at History. Not joining him: Dave.
Santigold: Aug 19 at Rebel.
Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Timbaland: Aug 19-20 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Bush (X), Jerry Cantrell, Candlebox: Aug 19 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Nate Dell-Vandenberg: Aug 19 at Emmet Ray. Presented by Toronto Klezmer Society
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: Aug 21 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
The Beaches, Dizzy, Valley: Aug 22 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre. Beaches by the beach! Also: tix are only $30.
Passenger: Aug 22 at Massey Hall
Ducks Ltd.: Aug 22 at Longboat Hall
Blue Rodeo, Matt Mays, Begonia: Aug 24 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre #HaveNotBeentheSame
Mae Martin, Tig Notaro & Fortune Feimster’s Handsome podcast taping: Aug 24 at Danforth Music Hall.
Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Fefe Dobson, more: Aug 24 at Burl’s Creek (Oro-Medonte)
Billy Talent, All-American Rejects, Silverstein, more: Aug 25 at Burl’s Creek (Oro-Medonte) #HeartsOnFire
Deep Purple, Yes: Aug 25 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
The Gaslight Anthem: Aug 25 at History
Cage the Elephant: Aug 27 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Sean Paul, DJ Premier: Aug 28 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Ladytron: Aug 30 at the Phoenix
Raekwon: Aug 30 at Opera House
Peter Hook & the Light (performing Joy Division and New Order): Aug 31 at History
Cigarettes After Sex: Sept 1 at Raptors/Leafs arena
Usher: Sept 2-3 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Bikini Kill: Sept 3 at History
Marika Hackman: Sept 5 at Drake Underground
Weezer, Flaming Lips, Dinosaur Jr.: Sept 8 at Raptors/Leafs Arena. The dream of the ’90s is alive!
Stone Temple Pilots, Live, Soul Asylum, Our Lady Peace: Sept 8 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre. The dream of the ’90s is alive! I can’t believe this and the Weezer bill hit town on the same day. Choose your team.
Jeff Lynne’s ELO: Sept 9 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Spoon: Sept 10 at Danforth Music Hall.
Sierra Ferrell: Sept 10 at Massey Hall
The Killers: Sept 10-11 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Pulp: Sept 10-11 at History. Help the aged!
Paul Weller: Sept 13 at History
Buzzcocks: Sept 13 at Opera House
Mia Sheard sings Joni Mitchell: Sept 13-14 at Hugh’s Room
St. Vincent: Sept 14 at Massey Hall
Boy Golden: Sept 14 at Opera House
Explosions in the Sky: Sept 14 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Cat Power: Sept 14 at Fallsview Casino. That’s right, ’90s weirdos, you’re in your casino years now.
The Dears: Sept 15 at Great Hall. #HeartsOnFire
The Hives: Sept 16 at History.
Jessica Pratt: Sept 17 at Great Hall
Amen Dunes: Sept 17 at Concert Hall
Charlie XCX and Troye Sivan: Sept 18 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Phosphorescent: Sept 18 at Great Hall
Jane’s Addiction, Love and Rockets: Sept 18 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Hans Zimmer: Sept 19 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Frank Turner: Sept 19-22 at Great Canadian Casino (Woodbine Racetrack). Support acts: Henry Rollins on Sept 19, Nobro on Sept 20, the Dirty Nil on Sept 21 and Bedouin Soundclash on Sept 22.
Shovels & Rope: Sept 20 at Lee’s Palace
The National, War on Drugs, Lucius: Sept 20 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Idles: Sept 20 at Coca-Cola Coliseum (Exhibition Place)
Wanda Sykes: Sept 20 at Meridian Hall
Keane: Sept 20 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Idles: Sept 20 at CNE Coliseum
Blue Hawaii: Sept 20 at Drake Underground
Big Sugar: Sept 21 at Concert Hall
Pansy Division: Sept 21 at Monarch Tavern.
Sting: Sept 20-22 & 24-25 at Massey Hall.
Vampire Weekend, Cults: Sept 24 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Korn: Sept 25 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Michael Kiwanuka, Basia Bulat: Sept 25 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
PJ Harvey: Sept 25-26 at History
Dropkick Murphys: Sept 26 at Great Canadian Casino (Woodbine Racetrack)
Neko Case: Sept 27 at Danforth Music Hall.
Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame: Sept 28 at Massey Hall, featuring Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane, Keelor/Cuddy, Diane Tell.
Luna Li, Mother Tongues: September 28 at Danforth Music Hall
The Marley Brothers (including Ziggy, Damian and Stephen): Sept 29 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Kings of Leon, Phantogram: Oct 1 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Herbie Hancock: Oct 1 at Massey Hall
Billie Eilish: Oct 1-2 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Marcos Valle: Oct 2 at Opera House. Exceedingly rare appearance by this now-80-year-old bossa nova legend.
David Sedaris: Oct 2 at Massey Hall (in addition to sold-out April 7, 2024 date)
Stars: Oct 3-5 at Concert Hall. #HeartsOnFire 20th anniversary of Set Yourself on Fire. First two shows sold out.
Death From Above 1979: Oct 4 at History
Ron Hawkins: Oct 4 at Rivoli. #HaveNotBeentheSame
Get Up Kids, Smoking Popes: Oct 4 at Danforth Music Hall
Raffi: Oct 5 (2 shows) at Massey Hall
Lemon Twigs: Oct 5 at Lee’s Palace
Social Distortion, the Bellrays: October 5 at History
Atarashii Gakko: Oct 6 at History
Yard Act: Oct 7 at Axis Club Concert Hall
OMD: October 8 at History
Nada Surf: Oct 8 at Great Hall
Chromeo: Oct 9 at History
Sepultura: Oct 9 at Rebel. Farewell tour (apparently).
The Black Keys, the Head and the Heart: Oct 11 at Raptors/Leafs Arena Cancelled
Nia Archives: Oct 10 at Danforth Music Hall
Billy Bragg: Oct 11 at Massey Hall
Fontaines DC: Oct 11 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Illuminati Hotties: Oct 12 at Longboat Hall
La Luz: Oct 12 at Horseshoe Adelaide Hall
Air: Oct 12 at Massey Hall. Playing Moon Safari. And completely sold out.
Johnny Marr w/ James (the band, you know, “Laid”): Oct 14 at History. In the words of one friend, “Marr plays a pile of Smiths songs in his set, sounds great, won’t cancel at random, and won’t make you feel like you’re supporting fascists if you go to his show.”
Anohni and the Johnsons: Oct 15 at Massey Hall. This artist never tours. Their last record was one of their best. This will be a treat. Presale: June 12, code: EMBANOHNI
Kokoroko: Oct 16 at Opera House
Pokey Lafarge: Oct 17 at Great Hall
Justin Timberlake: Oct 17-18 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Beat: (’80s King Crimson performed by Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Steve Vai, Danny Carey): Oct 18 at Massey Hall
Dream Serenade (10th anniversary): Oct 19 at Massey Hall. Tickets here. Artists TBA.
Cyndi Lauper: Oct 20 at Raptors/Leafs Arena. Farewell tour (apparently).
Slift: Oct 20 at Lee’s Palace. Super heavy French psych rock band who make King Gizzard look like lightweights. Can we get Montreal’s Population II on this bill?
Maggie Rogers: Oct 22 at CNE Coliseum (a.k.a. Coca Cola)
The The: Oct 22 at Massey Hall. First album in a quarter-century out this fall.
Drive-By Truckers: Oct 22 at Danforth Music Hall. Playing Southern Rock Opera.
David Cross: Oct 25 at Danforth Music Hall
Sisters of Mercy: Oct 26 at History. Yes, five days before Hallowe’en, and no, Public Enemy will not be opening.
Dwayne Gretzky: Oct 26 at Massey Hall
Iron Maiden: Oct 26 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Tenille Townes: Oct 26 at Danforth Music Hall
Arc du Soleil: Oct 27 at Great Hall
Ben Caplan: Oct 29 at Allied Music Centre (inside Massey Hall)
Devonté Hynes with Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Nov 1 at Roy Thomson Hall
Patrick Watson with Orchestre FILMharmonique: Nov 2 at Meridian Hall
Mickey Guyton: Nov 2 at… the Velvet Underground? That’s an odd choice for an Opry artist.
Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band: Nov 3 & 6 at Raptors/Leafs Arena. Rescheduled from Nov 14 & 16, 2023.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Nov 5 at Concert Hall. #HeartsOnFire
Engelbert Humperdinck: Nov 6 at Massey Hall. FWIW this is “The Last Waltz” for Mr. Humperdinck (not his real name).
Kacey Musgraves, Lord Huron, Nickel Creek: Nov 7 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Elisapie: Nov 8 at Opera House
Chantal Kreviazuk: Nov 9 at Massey Hall. Celebrating 25 years of her second album, Colour Moving and Still, to be re-released on vinyl.
Danny Michel, Steve Poltz: Nov 11 at Great Hall. Together again—they’re the new Steve Martin and Martin Short!
La Femme: Nov 13 at Opera House
Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams: November 14-16, 21-23, 2024 at Skydome. Good luck! Death to Ticketmaster!
Rich Aucoin: Nov 16 at Longboat Hall
Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief): Nov 16 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Pond: Nov 19 at Danforth Music Hall
Rufus Wainwright: Nov 20 at Koerner Hall
Sturgill Simpson: Nov 20-21 at Massey Hall
Caribou: Nov 23 at Massey Hall. Never underestimate how good Dan Snaith’s Caribou band is live. #HeartsOnFire
Jim Cuddy: Nov 27 at Massey Hall. Non-Torontonians: He’s also playing every possible town in Ontario this year, to promote sixth solo album.
Tokyo Police Club: Nov 27-29 at History. Final shows.
Women’s Blues Revue: Nov 29 at Massey Hall
Cuff the Duke: Nov 30 at Longboat Hall. New album in September, their first in 10 years. #HeartsOnFire
Shakira: Nov 30 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Donovan Woods: Dec 5 at Massey Hall
Alvvays: Dec 5-7 at Concert Hall
The Dead South: Dec 7 at Massey Hall
Choir! Choir! Choir!: Unsilent Night: Dec 21 at Massey Hall (2 p.m. & 8 p.m.)
Aerosmith, Black Crowes: Jan 7 at Raptors/Leafs Arena. Rescheduled for the second time, more than a year after the original date. Apparently Steven Tyler’s vocal cords were in worse shape than originally diagnosed. Original tickets from November 2023 honoured.
Sum 41: Jan 28 & 30, 2025, at Raptors/Leafs Arena. Final shows of final tour.
Branford Marsalis: Feb 8 at Koerner Hall
Los Lobos (acoustic): March 8 at Koerner Hall
Big Smoke Brass: March 11 at Allied Music Centre (Massey Hall)
Chilly Gonzales: April 22 at Massey Hall. #HeartsOnFire
Max Richter: April 29 at Massey Hall
Be kind to each other.
If you value this work, please consider a paid subscription (monthly or annually), or drop something in the tip jar.