There was a time not so long ago when music docs were hot. They were hot topics. They won Academy Awards. There was almost a glut: it was a golden age. But now? Mostly they’re hagiographies that are about as exciting as reading an NDA. Budgets have dried up; the streamers are scrambling. When I hear about a new music doc now, I almost dread it. My standards are high, and I can’t bear to be disappointed.
So when one of the most fascinating stories in Canadian music history was being developed into a film, I had concerns. I crossed my fingers and went to an advance screening of a landmark film that premieres at Hot Docs this week:
Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story
Jackie Shane was an unsung hero for most of her life. You had to be there—“there” being the Yonge Street strip in the mid-’60s. The same scene that spawned Ronnie Hawkins, the Band, David Clayton-Thomas and other notable exports. But unlike those names, if you weren’t there at the time you probably didn’t know about Jackie Shane. Here’s a history lesson that predates this film. It’ll only take a minute, I swear:
I grew up obsessed with Canadian pop music history, and I didn’t know Shane’s story until the mid-2000s. Why would I? Black queer artists didn’t make the history books; they didn’t get played on oldies radio, even if they had a No. 2 hit in Toronto in 1963. Not until a CIUT DJ named Elaine Banks pitched a doc to CBC on Jackie Shane. Here’s Banks talking about how that 2011 radio doc came to be:
When I left community radio in 2008, I pitched a documentary to CBC Radio on soul artist, Jackie Shane (see below). I didn’t know the first thing about documentary production, but I really wanted to know more about Jackie, an artist I’d played on my show a bunch of times but could find almost no information on. I got the green light to do the doc, and spent the next two years interviewing, digging in archives, pulling together every bit of information I could find, including discovering some of her unreleased material in Library and Archives Canada. When that documentary was released, it set off widespread curiosity about Jackie and renewed interest in her life and music. Years later, and shortly before she passed away, Jackie invited me to interview her on CBC. She shared some stories from her life and we talked about the documentary as the spark that led to her being located after living privately for many years, and to her music being rereleased, and what all that meant to her. It was not only Jackie’s first radio interview, it was also the first time we had spoken to each other, so it was a very exciting and emotional experience.
Here’s the original radio doc. The extremely elusive Shane granted Banks an interview in 2019, shortly before she passed. The audio is missing from this summary, which is worth reading regardless.
The renewed interest in Shane in the 2010s led to a re-release of the landmark live album, recorded at the Saphire Tavern, in 2011, and a career-defining compilation, Any Other Way, which came out on Numero Records just before Shane died. Its liner notes, written by York University prof Rob Bowman, were nominated for a Grammy.
A Nashville-born transgender performer, Shane was like nothing Toronto had ever seen. For audio evidence of the Jackie Shane experience, the best example is her live version of “Money (That’s What I Want),” which features one of the most swaggering monologues ever captured on wax: “This is the closest to Jesus Christ some of you will ever get!”
OK, but what about this new film?
It’s fucking fabulous.
It captures the Nashville backstory, the Toronto triumphs, the missing years and the mystery. It’s a story that might have had to wait until now to be told with the sensitivity and context it requires. The family and friends from Nashville fill in many blanks. Rob Bowman is there to talk about Toronto. There is no stunt casting of celebrity talking heads. Instead, young queer and trans artists talk about what Shane means to them. Co-directors Michael Mabbott (The Life and Times of Guy Terrifico) and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee (Passing) pace it all perfectly.
But the kicker is that they, too, like Banks and Bowman, got to speak to Shane before she died. Here’s the catch: it was on the phone, because she refused to leave her Nashville house. So the film features audio recording of that interview, set to Luca Tarantini’s stunning rotoscope animation (or what looks like rotoscope, because it’s obviously not based on actual footage, of which there is next to nothing. What do I know?). Check out this clip, about 30 seconds in, to see how they animate that interview:
Animation is all too often a cheap crutch in documentary filmmaking, ever since Searching for Sugar Man (which did it well). I’ve seen a lot of shitty animation in docs—I won’t name names. But this is totally gorgeous and stunning, befitting its subject. It looked even better on a big screen.
Any Other Way is essential Toronto music history. It’s essential queer and Black history. But it ain’t medicine: it’s extremely entertaining, emotionally affecting and thoroughly satisfying. It’s everything you want in a biographical doc, including an underdog/long-lost-legend angle.
So much of Jackie Shane’s story—both to those who know some of it, and to those who know none of it—is the element of surprise and mystery. Which is why I won’t say any more. Just go see this film, when and where you can.
Any Other Way plays April 27, 28 and May 4 at the Hot Docs festival (both at TIFF Lightbox and Hot Docs Cinema), and will show at many international festivals this spring and summer, including DOXA in Vancouver on May 11. It plays Canadian theatres this summer, and hits Crave sometime in the fall.
All news, no snooze
I mentioned the Tranzac club’s fundraising campaign recently; here’s an article in Billboard about my favourite musical space in Toronto.
Music is dangerous, part one: One of Iran’s most beloved rappers, Toomaj Salehi, has been sentenced to death for supporting the women’s movement there: first for protesting the death of a 22-year-old in police custody who was arrested for wearing an “improper” hijab, and more recently the schoolgirls who face legal action for celebrating their graduation by having fun.
Music is dangerous, part two: Chechnya has banned all music with tempos slower than 80bpm and no swifter than 116bpm. Music must “conform to the Chechen mentality and sense of rhythm,” according to a Russian news agency. What’s the opposite of cultural appropriation? Related: thanks to former Brave New Waves co-workers, I was reminded of Autechre’s “non-repetitive beats” release to protest Britain’s anti-rave laws of 1994.
Career opportunities
The Polaris Music Prize is hiring a director of partnerships. Are you savvy with sponsorships? Are you looking for a Toronto-based arts organization that doesn’t have as many problems as Hot Docs? Polaris is looking to fill this position sooner than later: application deadline is May 7. You don’t have to be Toronto-based. Details here. I’ll be sharing my ballot musings before voting for the long list soon, for paid subscribers only.
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!
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):
David Murray, Kahil El’Zabar: May 29-30 at CONTXT by Trane (254 Lansdowne Ave, above Bsmt254). Jazz legends in intimate space, 80 cap. Details here.
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.
Big Shiny Saturday feat. The Tea Party, Headstones, I Mother Earth, Bif Naked, Treble Charger: July 6 at Sobey’s Stadium (York University)
Schoolboy Q: July 18 at History
Regina Spektor: July 25 at History
Idina Menzel: Aug 13 at Massey Hall
Explosions in the Sky: Sept 14 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Death From Above 1979: Oct 4 at History
Stars: Oct 5 at Concert Hall. #HeartsOnFire 20th anniversary of Set Yourself on Fire. Third show added. First two shows sold out. Not happy to see that album title in the political news again.
Danny Michel, Steve Poltz: Nov 11 at Great Hall. Together again—they’re the new Steve Martin and Martin Short!
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:
Moon King, Lee Paradise: April 25 at Monarch Tavern
Eucalyptus, Isla Craig, Colin Fisher: April 25 at Tranzac
Kyp Harness album release: April 26 at the Cameron 6 p.m.
Devin Cuddy Band: April 26 at the Cameron 8 p.m.
Actors: April 26 at the Garrison
Stephen Stanley Band: April 26 at Horseshoe
Connie Kaldor: April 26 at Hugh’s Room
Alex Cuba, Raul Midón: April 26 at Koerner Hall
Greg McPherson: April 26 at West End Phoenix 7 p.m. Are you a fiftysomething Winnipegger? You should go see all your friends at this show.
Land of Talk: April 27 at the Great Hall
The James Clark Institute: April 27 at the Rivoli
Sunglaciers: April 28 at Baby G (free show)
Rebecca Hennessy Trio (Michael Herring, Kevin Breit): April 28 at Sellers & Newel
Belle & Sebastian, the Weather Station: April 29 at History. Finally! First time back here in five years, with two great new albums in between, plus this brand new single:
Jon McKiel, Louie Short: April 29 at Baby G
Nicki Minaj: April 30 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Veda Hille, Holy Oak Family Singers: May 1 at Tranzac. Very rare Toronto appearance by this recently reappreciated Vancouver legend.
Mike Boguski Trio: May 1 at Sellers & Newel
Architects: May 2 at Rebel
Ilana Glazer (Broad City): May 2 at Elgin Theatre
The Hold Steady: May 2-3 at Great Hall. May 2 with Ducks Ltd., May 3 with Mall Crimes is sold out.
Coming sooner than later
Jessica Moss, Gabe Levine, Erik Ruin: May 3 at Arrayspace. Members of Black Ox Orkestar previewing new experimental work “inspired by anarchist Yiddish poetry, made for the catastrophes and hopes of the present.”
Miesha and the Spanks, Thunder Queens: May 3 at Collective Arts Brewing. Riot grrrl, Calgarian style.
Ty Segall: May 3 at Danforth Music Hall
Teenage Fanclub: May 3 at the Concert Hall. Note: original member Gerry Love is no longer in the band, and has been replaced by Euros Childs of Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci.
Gwen Stefani: May 3 at Great Canadian Casino Resort (Woodbine Racetrack)
Ken Tizzard & Music for Goats: May 3 at Cameron House 6 p.m. Album release party
The Hold Steady, Pkew Pkew Pkew: May 4 at Concert Hall.
The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie: May 4 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
The Decemberists, Ratboys: May 6 at History
Jenny Omnichord, Spruce Needles: May 6 at Bar Orwell
Hot Water Music, Quicksand: May 7 at Danforth Music Hall
Kamasi Washington: May 7 at History. New “dance” album out earlier that week.
Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, Nicolette & the Nobodies: May 7 at the Garrison
Suzie Ungerleider: May 8 at the Rivoli.
Kronos Quartet: May 9 at Koerner Hall. 50th anniversary tour.
TransCanada Highwaymen: May 9 at Burlington Performing Arts Centre #HaveNotBeentheSame
Art of Time Ensemble: May 9-11 at Harbourfront Centre Theatre. Tribute to Joni Mitchell featuring Hawksley Workman, Sarah Slean, Abigail Lapell, Jasmyn, more. Final shows for the AoT, packing it in after 25 successful years.
Chastity Belt: May 10 at Great Hall
Communism: May 10 at Dakota 10 p.m.
The Sadies, Skydiggers, Paul Langlois Band: May 10 at Concert Hall #HaveNotBeentheSame #NeverEndingPresent #HeartsOnFire
Craig David: May 11 at History
Jon Cowherd / Brian Blade / John Patitucci, Larnell Lewis / Joy Lapps: May 11 at Koerner Hall
Ichi-Bons, the Kewpie Dolls, the Slow Drags, Fuzz Vultures, Thee Rogue Telstars: May 11 at Owl’s Club (Dovercourt and Shanly)
Jann Arden & Rick Mercer in conversation: May 12 at Roy Thomson Hall (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.)
Julia Holter: May 13 at Great Hall
The Alarm, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Blow Monkeys, Belouis Some: May 13 at El Mocambo.
Mk.Gee: May 13 at the Phoenix
Ride: May 14 at Concert Hall
James Brandon Lewis, the Messthetics: May 14 at Velvet Underground. Wrote about this here.
Hermanos Gutiérrez: May 15 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Dudes, chill.
Laura May Grace: May 15 at Axis Club
Colin Stetson: May 16 at Axis Club
Cindy Lee, Freak Heat Waves: May 17 at Longboat Hall Concert Hall. Venue upgraded to one 3x the size of the original, after an unusually high Pitchfork score for the new record. Hey wait, do reviews matter?!
Metz: May 17 at Danforth Music Hall.
Trey Anastasio & Classic Tab: May 18 at History.
P’tit Belliveau: May 18 at Garrison
Neil Young & Crazy Horse: May 20 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre. Also playing same venue on July 8.
Nana Mouskouri: May 21 at Massey Hall
Buck Meek (of Big Thief): May 22 at Horseshoe Great Hall
Kaia Kater, Abigail Lapell: May 22 at Allied Music Centre (inside Massey Hall)
Celebrating Gordon Lightfoot: May 23 at Massey Hall. Featuring Blue Rodeo, Allison Russell, Aysanabee, Burton Cummings, Meredith Moon, Sylvia Tyson, the Good Brothers, Tom Cochrane, William Prince, and even more heavy hitters announced recently. Most likely will not suck. Sold out.
Echo & the Bunnymen: May 23 at History
Saga, Harlequin, Images in Vogue: May 23 at Classic Bowl Mississauga
Honeymoon Suite, Streetheart, Lee Aaron: May 24 at Classic Bowl Mississauga
Brainiac: May 24 at the Horseshoe
Art of Noise (!!!!), Spoons: May 25 at Classic Bowl Mississauga. Details here. The current Art of Noise lineup is founding members J.J. Jeczalik and Gary Langan (Paul Morley and Anne Dudley were in recent one-off reunions, but not this tour; Trevor Horn is presumably focusing on his recent Buggles reunion). Joining them is Neal X from Sigue Sigue Sputnik—another name I didn’t expect to see in 2024 live music listings.
Limblifter: May 25 at Horseshoe Tavern
Bruce Cockburn: May 25 at Massey Hall
Shannon & the Clams: May 25 at the Concert Hall
Gary Clark Jr.: May 26-27 at History
The Damned, the Ichi-Bons: May 27 at Danforth Music Hall
Eamon McGrath: May 30 at Dakota Tavern.
Loony: May 31 at Opera House
Khruangbin: May 31 - June 2 at History.
Camera Obscura: June 1 at the Concert Hall
Walk Off the Earth: June 1 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Glass Beams: June 2 at the Phoenix
Looking ahead
Okkervil River, the Antlers: June 3 at the Great Hall
Katie Tupper: June 5-6 at Drake Underground
Charlotte Day Wilson: June 6 at History
Julie Doiron w/ band, Carson McHone: June 6 at the Monarch Tavern #HaveNotBeentheSame #NeverEndingPresent
Boeckner: June 7 at Horseshoe. The man who once wrote a song called “This #HeartsOnFire.” I wrote about his career here and here.
Pixies, Modest Mouse, Cat Power: June 8 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Allie X: June 8 at Opera House
Róisín Murphy: June 10 at History
Kim Gordon: June 10 at Axis
Snotty Nose Rez Kids: June 10 at Allied Music Centre (inside Massey Hall). Headlining the International Indigenous Music Summit.
Spencer Krug: June 11 at Baby G #HeartsOnFire
Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik, Warren G: June 12 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
NXNE: June 12-16 at various venues
Corinne Bailey Rae: June 13 at Danforth Music Hall
Doug Paisley: June 14 at Rivoli
Quasi, Jeffrey Lewis: June 15 at the Garrison
The Budos Band: June 15 at the Phoenix
The Reverend Horton Heat: June 15 at the Horseshoe
NXNE Day Party: June 16 in parking lot off Queen West between Augusta and Denison
Chris Brokaw, Picastro: June 17 at Baby G
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
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. The opening act, The Thing, is the same Scandinavian jazz trio, featuring saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, who once recorded with Neneh Cherry.
Los Campesinos!: June 20 at the Opera House
Arkells, Tegan & Sara: June 21 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre #HeartsOnFire
Arkells, Grouplove: June 22 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
The Teskey Brothers: June 22 at Massey Hall (two shows, including matinee)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band: June 22 at Concert Hall
Jill Barber: June 23-24 at Jazz Bistro
The Church, Afghan Whigs, Ed Harcourt: June 24 at Danforth Music Hall
Ian Thomas: June 24 at Burlington Performing Arts Centre
Maren Morris opening for Maroon 5: June 25 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Santana, Counting Crows: June 26 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Andy Haas, Mike Milligan: June 26 at Sellers & Newel
Norah Jones: June 27 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Barenaked Ladies, Sam Roberts Band, KT Tunstall: June 27 at Sobeys Stadium (York University). #HaveNotBeentheSame #NeverEndingPresent #HeartsonFire.
Caifanes and Cafe Tacvba: June 28 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre.
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!
André 3000: June 28 at Massey Hall
Jhené Aiko: July 2 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Wilco: July 2-3 at Massey Hall. July 2 is with local Katie Cruel; July 3 with Cut Worms.
Daryl Hall, Elvis Costello & the Impostors: July 4 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre.
Janet Jackson, Nelly: July 3 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Orville Peck, the War and Treaty, Goldie Boutilier: July 3 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre.
Future Islands: July 4 at Massey Hall
Mother Mother, Cavetown: July 5 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
City and Colour, Metric, Sloan: July 5 at Born & Raised Festival (St. Catharines) #HeartsOnFire #HaveNotBeentheSame
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
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.
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
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 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 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
Mike Campbell (Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers): July 16 at Danforth Music Hall
Ibibio Sound Machine: July 17 at Adelaide Hall.
Unwound (!): July 18 at Concert Hall
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
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)
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.
Jennifer Lopez: Aug 2-3 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
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.
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
P!nk, Sheryl Crow: Aug 14 at Skydome
Tedeschi Trucks Band, Margo Price: Aug 15 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre.
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
Mike.: Aug 18 at History. Not joining him: Dave.
Santigold: Aug 19 at Rebel.
Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Timbaland: Aug 19 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Bush (X), Jerry Cantrell, Candlebox: Aug 19 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
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
Blue Rodeo, Matt Mays, Begonia: Aug 24 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre #HaveNotBeentheSame
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
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.
Pulp: Sept 10-11 at History. Help the aged!
Paul Weller: Sept 13 at History
St. Vincent: Sept 14 at Massey Hall
The Hives: Sept 16 at History.
Amen Dunes: Sept 17 at Concert Hall
Charlie XCX and Troye Sivan: Sept 18 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
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.
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
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
PJ Harvey: Sept 25-26 at History
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
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.
Raffi: Oct 5 (2 shows) at Massey Hall
Social Distortion, the Bellrays: October 5 at History
Yard Act: Oct 7 at Axis Club
OMD: October 8 at History
Chromeo: Oct 9 at History
The Black Keys, the Head and the Heart: Oct 11 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
La Luz: Oct 12 at Horseshoe
Air: Oct 12 at Massey Hall. Playing Moon Safari. And completely sold out.
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
Maggie Rogers: Oct 22 at CNE Coliseum (a.k.a. Coca Cola)
Drive-By Truckers: Oct 22 at Danforth Music Hall. Playing Southern Rock Opera.
Dwayne Gretzky: Oct 26 at Massey Hall
Iron Maiden: Oct 26 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Tenille Townes: Oct 26 at Danforth Music 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
Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band: Nov 3 & 6 at Raptors/Leafs Arena. Rescheduled from Nov 14 & 16, 2023.
Kacey Musgraves, Lord Huron, Nickel Creek: Nov 7 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
Chantal Kreviazuk: Nov 9 at Massey Hall. Celebrating 25 years of her second album, Colour Moving and Still, to be re-released on vinyl.
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
Tokyo Police Club: Nov 27-29 at History. Final shows.
Shakira: Nov 30 at Raptors/Leafs Arena
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 show of final tour.
Chilly Gonzales: April 22, 2025 at Massey Hall. #HeartsOnFire
Be kind to each other.
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