Balms, not bombs

Altin Gün, Sababa 5, Constantinople + Toronto live music listings

Here are three harmonious new records from the eastern Mediterranean and Caspian seas, on the off chance you need some beauty to offset the parade of horror from that region.

Altin Gün – Garip

(ATO)

I was a huge fan of this Dutch-Turkish band for years (2019, Hillside Festival!) before I realized that they’re a cover band: all their material comes from Turkish folk music and pop from earlier generations, filtered through a modern psychedelic new wave band with a killer rhythm section.

That’s why, at their last Toronto show a couple of years ago, there was a large Turkish contigent singing loudly to every song. I thought they were just rabid fans, which they may well be, but more likely it’s because they’ve known these songs their whole lives.

On Altin Gün’s sixth album, they turn their attention to one Turkish songwriter: Neşet Ertaş, who died in 2012. I won’t claim to know enough about the anatomy of Anatolian folk music to tell you much more, other than that this album’s title is Turkish for “poet,” and Ertaş normally accompanied himself only with the baglama (the string instrument wielded by this band’s Erdinç Ecevit Yıldız). The skeletal frame of the original songs allows Altin Gün wide leeway to interpret them however they want, like, say, turning “Suçum Nedir” into Aegean yacht rock, with lush strings and a soprano sax solo.

Notably absent here is keyboardist and vocalist Merve Daşdemir, previously the only woman in the band, who left in 2024 for a solo career. Both her voice and her synths are sadly missed, though Garip shows that she was icing on this cake, making a great band even better. Now they’re merely a great band. There are worse fates.

Altin Gün play the Danforth Music Hall on September 18, with Alex Maas of the Black Angels opening.

Sababa 5 – Ça va Ça va

(Batov/!K7)

What if Khurangbin played Middle Eastern wedding music — but with more chutzpah instead of chill-out vibes? Recall, if you will, that Dick Dale’s “Miserlou” was an eastern Mediterranean folk song (in several cultures), and then this jazzy surf-adjacent band makes hella sense.

Ça va Ça va is the fourth album in four years for this Israeli quartet (the “5” is a misnomer), and the first made in their new home in Paris. (Whether they moved there to escape fascism and apocalypse or for musical reasons, I’m unsure.) The melodies are all driven by the best-named man in the band, guitarist Ilan Smilan, whose fiery fingers play through clean channels and sound so neat that it’s easy to forget that he’s totally shredding. Keyboardist Eitan Drabkin rocks a Farfisa (or reasonable facsimile), and his interplay with Smilan is seamless.

Whether there’s a wedding on the eastern horizon for you or not, Sababa 5 should soundtrack your summer nights — assuming we’ll all be in the mood to celebrate anything.

Ablaye Cissoko and Constantinople – Estuaire

(Ma Case)

Kiya Tabassian is an Iranian setar player who moved to Montreal in 1990, and formed Constantinople, a band designed to fuse Persian music with other cultures. In this case, it’s West African kora music, a combo that works so well that this is the group’s third album with Senegalese griot Ablaye Cissoko. (Percussionist Patrick Graham is the third member on this outing.) It’s gorgeous, and, right now, an essential encapsulation of cross-cultural idealism.

Constantinople presents a Peruvian collaboration, Crossing the Andes, on May 21 at Trinity-St. Paul’s

All news no snooze

RIP drummer Terry Cox, 89; together with bassist Danny Thompson, who died in 2025, Cox formed the rhythm section of British folk band Pentangle. For a bunch of reasons, I went into a Pentangle wormhole in the last year, in part because Thompson and Cox bring a jazzy magic to this traditional music that I don’t hear in many of their contemporaries. Cox also earned his place in rock history for playing on “Space Oddity” and Elton John’s first two albums.

How was Bruce Springsteen’s recent E-Street show on the “Streets of Minneapolis”? Ho-lee shee-it, what a glorious and fiery and essential setlist for the “No Kings” era. Eveyln McDonnell reports for the NYT, Michaelangelo Matos reports for Uncut.

Miranda Mulholland, violinist, singer-songwriter and artist advocate, writes about authenticity vs. cynicism at the Junos.

I’m just catching up with the full list of winners at this year’s Junos now. As always, most of my favourites didn’t win anything (Saya Gray!) or were even nominated (Cold Specks!), but these are some winners I can get behind: the Beaches for group of the year and rock album (there was no “Lesbian of the Year” category), Mariel Buckley for contemporary roots, Bahamas and Begonia tied for “adult alternative,” Aysanabee for “alternative” and contemporary Indigenous, Sarah McLachlan for adult contemporary (her first album in years where it doesn’t sound like she’s phoning it in), Debby Friday for dance recording, Tobi, Jully Black and Saukrates for rap single, Melanie Fiona for “traditional” R&B, Daniel Caesar for contemporary R&B, songwriter and “international achievement,” Lou-Adriane Cassidy for francophone … and Maestro Fresh Wes for children’s album?!

Canadian country singer Lindi Ortega reflects on her life in the fast lane, now that she’s slowly rebuilding her music career after an enforced break.

You’ve seen all the “little free libraries,” but what about a “little film library” dedicated to experimental Canadian film? The BUS collective has installed on in the Wychwood neighbourhood, reports the Star.

“Arts organizations don’t need to last forever,” writes Emil Kang, arguing by overstaying their relevance, some arts institutions just take up space (and grant money) instead of rotating the crops and letting innovations share fertile soil.

Grayson Haver Currin writes about his experience at Knoxville’s Big Ears festival last month, the only event that could ever break my self-imposed U.S. travel ban. Nate Chinen’s field report makes me equally jealous. Steve Dollar filed this for Burning Ambulance. Note that none of those three writers seemed to be at the same gigs, nor at some of the ones that I would’ve attended, which speaks to the intense breadth of the programming.

Bassist Melvin Gibbs, whose band Harriet Tubman just played Big Ears and put out a new album featuring Georgia Ann Muldrow, also has a new book out called How Black Music Took Over the World. The NYT has an excellent profile.

Jia Tolentino has a very good long-form profile of Robyn in the New Yorker.

Lots of indie musicians are on Patreon to eke out some income they’d never see from royalties or touring, but WTF is Bob Dylan doing there?

Grace note

In the event you were forced to watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie over Easter weekend, please enjoy this funny, overthought analysis on themes of restorative justice and flawed hero narratives, with the caveat: “This post contains spoilers for two Mario movies that no one is watching for the plot.”

In other news: Jesus H. Christ, people, it’s the fucking moon.

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.

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)

Ace of Wands: April 28 at Sonic Boom 6 p.m.

Pascuala Ilabaca & Fauna: April 29 at Lula Lounge. Presented by Small World.

Choir! Choir! Choir! with Sarah McLachlan: May 9 at Massey Hall #HaveNotBeentheSame

Sonic Boom’s 25th anniversary with the Sadies, Kiwi Jr., Badge Époque Ensemble, Roach, the Get-Alongs, Paste, Sun Parker, special guests: May 9 at St. Anne’s Parish

Girma Woldemichael (Ethio-jazz saxophonist): May 9 at Redwood Theatre

Constantinople presents Crossing the Andes: May 21 at Trinity-St. Paul’s

Judy Collins: May 26-27 at Hugh’s Room

JazzInToronto Community Celebration: May 29-31 at various venues. Festival of local artists, put on by the team behind the daily listings site. Details here.

Skydiggers’ 40th anniversary: June 5 at Hugh’s Room #HaveNotBeentheSame

Fiery Furnaces(!): June 7 at Hugh’s Room. Pretty sure this is their first Toronto gig in at least 15 years. Blueberry Boat forever.

Mike McKenna book launch feat. Luke & the Apostles: June 13 at Hugh’s Room

Kurt Vile & the Violators: June 16 at History

Lambrini Girls, Big Special, Big Girl: June 20 at Concert Hall. Postponed from April 28, due to broken neck and brain injury.

Big Brave, the Body: July 11 at St. Stephen’s in the Fields

Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets: July 21 at Mod Club

Blue Rodeo, William Prince, Billiane: Aug 29 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre #HaveNotBeentheSame

Kim Gordon, Voyeur: Sept 11 at Opera House

Patrick Watson: Sept 25 at Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton

Lyle Lovett, the Hello Darlins: Sept 30 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre

The Limiñanas, Native Sun: Oct 27 at the Horseshoe

Tonight and ev-er-y night!:

The Tranzac, Drom Taberna, Cameron House and the Rex Hotel all have several great acts a night — just go! JazzInToronto.ca’s Instagram page has essential daily jazz listings at various venues. East-enders: always something on at Castro’s or Sauce on the Danforth or jazz at Hirut. Latin and Caribbean scene: Lula Lounge. Check out the eclectic lineup at the micro-intimate Sellers & Newel bookstore. The Whole Note lists classical events and more. Fans of experimental music, report to Earlobe. Hamiltonians need HamOntLive.

Coming this week:

Charlotte Cornfield: April 9 at Lula Lounge. Sold out.

June Millington (Fanny): April 9 at Hugh’s Room. A reminder that this Canadian-produced documentary is on Crave:

Dana Sipos, Miina: April 9 at Baby G

Labyrinth Ensemble: April 9 at Tranzac. Fundraising event for this organization promoting modal music of the Mediterranean and Asia.

Nancy Walker’s Four in One plays Thelonious Monk: April 9-11 at Rex Hotel 8 p.m.

Sue Foley: April 10 at El Mocambo

Taxi Chain: April 10 at Drom Taberna 8.30 p.m.

Middle Life: April 10 at Revue Cinema. Starring Peter Dreimanis and Leah Goldstein of July Talk in a romcom.

Collette Savard: April 10 at Tranzac 7 p.m.

Craig Dunsmuir's Dun-Dundasa 80, Jen Lo, Hypogeum: April 10 at Canadian Music Centre 7 p.m.

Colin Fisher’s Musica Universalis: April 10 at Tranzac 9.30 p.m.

Dirty Three: April 10 at Concert Hall. First Toronto show in 22 years!

Great Lake Swimmers: April 10 at Great Hall. New album Caught Light is their best in years.

Kaïa Kater: April 10 at Allied Music Centre (Massey Hall)

The Cluttertones (Allemano / Clutton / Driver / Posgate): April 10 at Sellers & Newel

Madeleine Peyroux: April 10 at Danforth Music Hall

Cancer Bats: April 10 at Opera House. 20th anniversary of Birthing the Giant.

Dwayne Gretzky: April 10-11 at the Phoenix

Sam Roberts Band: April 11 at Massey Hall. Playing 20th anniversary of Chemical City. You can read about this album’s troubled birth in #HeartsOnFire; Roberts gives an abbreviated version at Exclaim!.

Robyn Hitchcock: April 11 at the Horseshoe

Haley Heynderickx and Max García Conover: April 11 at Allied Music Centre (Massey Hall)

The Wedding Present: April 11 at Lee’s Palace. Playing 1991 album Seamonsters.

Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman, Sympathetic String Band, Nick Flanagan: April 12 at Tranzac 2.30 p.m.

Sonido Torontonico: Cumbia Lab: April 12 at Tranzac 10 p.m.

Chameleons: April 12 at Mod Club

Martin Loomer and his Orange Devils (big band): April 13 at Monarch Tavern 8 p.m.

Jaymz Bee’s Caravan of Music: April 13 at Old Mill Toronto. “24 bands and over 140+ musicians perfoming in 12 unique rooms.”

Raye: April 13 at CNE Coliseum

Snail Mail, Sharp Pins, Avalon Emerson & the Charm: April 13 at the Concert Hall. Expect a large turnout for buzz band Sharp Pins, a breakout act at the end of 2025 for ’90s indie rock nostalgists.

Art Brut: April 13 at Horseshoe Tavern

Josh Cole’s new works for improvising musicians (Homzy / Storring / Oswald / Kurtz): April 13 at 9.30 p.m.

Sunn O))): April 14 at 131 McCormack (off Weston Rd., north of St. Clair, near Stockyards). Sold out. New album out now.

Jake Xerxes Fussell and Sam Amidon: April 14 at Longboat Hall

Diana Krall: April 14-15 at Massey Hall

The Antlers: April 15 at Longboat Hall

Toronto Klezmer Society Epic Jam: April 15 at Tranzac 9.30 p.m. Come join! Sheet music and more info here.

Florence and the Machine: April 16 at Raptors/Leafs Arena

Royal Wood, Fortunate Ones: April 16 at Massey Hall

Key spring dates

Gary Louris: April 17 at Hugh’s Room

The OBGMs: April 17 at Lee’s Palace

Limblifter, Grapes of Wrath: April 18 at Concert Hall

Courtney Marie Andrews: April 19 at Longboat Hall.

Heavenly, Cootie Catcher: April 21 at Great Hall

Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, and Brian Blade: April 25 at Koerner Hall

St. Paul & the Broken Bones: April 28 at Danforth Music Hall

Lambrini Girls: April 28 at Concert Hall. Postponed to June 20.

Dry Cleaning, YHWH Nailgun: May 1 at Concert Hall. Postponed from Jan 26

The Messthetics with James Brandon Lewis: May 2 at 918 Bathurst

Yumi Zouma, Ducks Ltd.: May 6 at Lee’s Palace.

Brad Mehldau with Kirill Gerstein: May 8 at Koerner Hall

Open Mike Eagle: May 8 at Sound Garage

Lowest of the Low: May 9 at Danforth Music Hall. Playing all of Shakespeare My Butt for its 35th anniversary. #HaveNotBeentheSame

Sleaford Mods: May 12 at, of course, the Mod Club

Bob Wiseman, Lily Frost: May 14 at Hugh’s Room

Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass: May 15 at Massey Hall. 60th anniversary of Whipped Cream. The man is 90 years old!

Buzzcocks: May 15 at Opera House

Hidden Cameras, Sook-Yin Lee: May 21 at Longboat Hall #HeartsOnFire

Courtney Barnett: May 22 at History

Ace of Wands, Skye Wallace: May 22 at Sound Garage. Album release for Ace of Wands

Abigail Lapell: May 22 at Hugh’s Room. Album release for Shadow Child.

Belle and Sebastian: May 25-26, at Massey Hall. Performing Tigermilk on May 25, If You’re Feeling Sinister on May 26.

Geordie Gordon, José Contreras: May 27 at the Burdock. Album release for a Toronto MVP.

Don Pyle (book launch): May 28 at Standard Time

Whitehorse, Chloe Doucet: May 29 at Danforth Music Hall

William Basinski: May 31 at Prepare the Ground Festival

Amyl & the Sniffers, L7: June 4 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre

James Blake: June 6 at History

All Things Go festival (a.k.a. Lilith 2026): June 6-7 at Ontario Place Amphitheatre. June 6 has Kesha, the Beaches and more; June 7 has Lorde, Wet Leg and more.

Black Country New Road, Horsegirl: June 17 at History

Lambrini Girls, Big Special, Big Girl: June 20 at Concert Hall. Postponed from April 28.

More Toronto concert listings until March 2027 are here and updated weekly for paid subscribers.

Here come the regulars

Every Monday: Tranzac open stage, 6.30 p.m. (Sign up at 6 p.m.)

Every Monday: Sean McCarthy’s Taproom Gang (trad jazz) at Steadfast Brewing 7 p.m.

Every Tuesday: Julian Fauth at Sauce on the Danforth 6.30 p.m.

Every Tuesday: swing night at Drom Taberna

Every Thursday: Strangetooth (bluegrass) at Tranzac 7 p.m.

Every Thursday: Good Enough Karaoke (live band) at Wheat Sheaf Tavern

Every Thursday: Corin Raymond at Cameron House, 6 p.m.

Every Saturday: The Happy Pals at Grossman’s, 3.30 p.m.

Every Saturday: Michael Louis Johnson and the Red Rhythm at Communist’s Daughter 4 p.m.

Every Saturday: Robertson & Kerr at Cameron House 8.30 p.m.

Every Sunday: Eastern European Brunch at Drom Taberna 1-4 p.m.

Every Sunday: John Borra at Communist’s Daughter 5 p.m.

Every Sunday: Colonel Tom at Cameron House 6 p.m.

Every Sunday: Doghouse Orchestra at Cameron House, 10 p.m.

Are you over 40 and/or did you grow up with freeform radio?

If so, curated Toronto concert listings from now until March 2027—are here for paid subscribers, and updated weekly.

Be kind to each other.

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