That headline doesn’t refer to anything herein other than the featured band is touring all over the country all summer, and the weather outside in the weeks leading up to Canada Day weekend has been, well, both wet and hot.
The kind of weather where everyone wears as few clothes as possible, the kind of weather where it’s almost too humid to dance, the kind of weather where music whose origins are in hotter climes than yours seems most appropriate. Also: festival season.
This band is from Alberta, a province usually on fire and currently suffering drought, but they play music best appreciated in a rural juke joint somewhere on an incredibly humid night and with plenty of liquid to stay hydrated while you dance your blues away.
Blue Moon Marquee – Scream, Holler & Howl
I’m not predisposed to listen to the blues, except when it’s got a swing and is sung by either a gravel-voiced man or a torchy woman—or, in this case, both. Blue Moon Marquee sound like Tom Waits leapt straight from his lounge-lizard late ’70s to his rugged bluesy early 2000s without getting sidetracked by Kurt Weill or Robert Wilson. Late-period, late-night louche-y Bob Dylan also comes to mind. Nothing new under the moon, but whatever it is, it led to this album winning a Juno and sweeping the Maple Blues Awards, and, to my blues-ignorant ears, deservedly so.
Here’s an unusually good video—with choreography!
Both A.W. Cardinal and Jasmine Colette — both Alberta-born, but both being continental wanderers and now based on an island near Victoria — are compelling vocalists and strong instrumentalists: Colette is even more impressive for playing upright bass and drums at the same time. They toured as a duo for years, but their last two records featured prominent keyboards from Darcy Phillips (Jann Arden) and saxophonist Jerry Cook (Colin James Linden), both of whom make this music even slinkier and sexy than it already is—especially when Phillips is in full B3 mode and Cook pulls out his bari. Co-producer Duke Robillard also plays guitar here. The whole affair has a driving-on-Highway-2-late-at-night-listening-to-CKUA vibe.
Blue Moon Marquee play a free show this Sunday, June 30 at Harbourfront at 6 p.m. The rest of Harbourfront’s Canada Day weekend programming, including the TSO, Fefe Dobson and Kuné World, can be found here.
They will also be found July 5-6 at Mariposa Festival in Orillia; July 7 at Ottawa Blues Festival; July 19-21 at Hillside Festival (UNDER A FULL MOON); and Aug 10 at Kitchener Blues Festival. Other Ontario summer dates are in Kincardine, Brighton, Port Hope, Waterford, and St. Williams (Long Point) opening for Blue Rodeo. They’ll be back in Alberta for this year’s actual blue moon, on Aug. 19, at the Edmonton Folk Festival. Details here.
They’re not big enough to be booked in a late slot—yet—but this is music that goes down best after dark.
All news, no snooze
No-wave singer/saxophonist James Chance of the Contortions (and James White and the Blacks) has died at age 71. The New York Times obit is here. I did not know that he studied sax under David Murray. A huge influence on LCD Soundsystem and others, Chance made music that sounded like Sonic Youth covering James Brown—except good. Here’s a New Music piece from 1981. But this clip is better, from the film Downtown 81 (which is on Kanopy, BTW):
RIP Donald Sutherland, 88, who illuminated so many great films (Invasion of the Body Snatchers), was usually the best thing in terrible ones (M*A*S*H), and by all accounts — including this appreciation by Brian D. Johnson — was a fascinating guy to be around. Little wonder that he was won over by Kate Bush when she asked him to star in her 1985 video for “Cloudbusters.” I don’t think I ever fully understood that the video was about a real guy, Wilhelm Reich, or what a cloudbuster was or anything about the weird-ass concept of orgone.
He explained to Dazed magazine in 2015:
“Barry Richardson, who was the hairdresser on Nic Roeg’s Don’t Look Now, asked me if I’d do a music video with Kate Bush. I told him no and we went on to other conversations. A couple of days later there was a knock on my door. I lived in the Savoy Hotel (in London). On the river. Suite 312. I loved it there. So cosseted. So private. Only the floor butler rang the door. I opened it. There was no one there. I heard a voice saying hello and I looked down. Standing down there was a very small Kate Bush. Barry had told her where I lived. What can you do? She wanted to explain what her video was about. I let her in. She sat down, said some stuff. All I heard was ‘Wilhelm Reich.’ I’d taken an underground copy of his The Mass Psychology of Fascism with me when I went to film (Bernardo) Bertolucci’s Novecento in Parma. Reich’s work informed the psychological foundations of Attila Mellanchini, the character Bernardo had cast me to play. Everything about Reich echoed through me. He was there then and now he was here. Sitting across from me in the person of the very eloquent Kate Bush. Synchronicity. Perfect. She talked some more. I said OK and we made ‘Cloudbusting.’ She’s wonderful, Kate Bush. Wonderful. I love that I did it.”
Mavis Staples is still alive, thank you very much (younger than Richard Flohil!), and thought seriously about retiring last year—but realized she still has a lot to do before she turns 85, this time with producer Brad Cook (Waxahatchee, Nathaniel Rateliff) and songs by Allison Russell, Tom Waits, Frank Ocean and Sparklehorse. It’s due next year. Grayson Currin has an excellent profile in the New York Times here.
Whether you think AI will either destroy the world or be the solution to absolutely everything, if you know anything about the basics of it and are appalled at the trillions of dollars being thrown in its direction you should absolutely read this very satisfying screed by someone on the inside. Too many zingers to quote.
More about Calgary’s water crisis and possible global solutions in The Narwhal here.
One of my favourite writers,
, author of Lou Keed: The King of New York and the essential Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York That Changed Music Forever (a big influence on Hearts on Fire) has joined Substack. His first post is about the new album with easily the best title of the year: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):
Controller Controller: July 25 at Low Bar (Bloor and Symington). Celebrating the 20th anniversary of History EP. Cue the red lights.
War, David Wilcox: Aug 2 at Festival of Friends, Hamilton. It will never not be funny to me that a band called War had a huge hit with “Why Can’t We Be Friends.” That was almost 50 years ago. Only one original War-monger remains, singer/keyboardist Leroy “Lonnie” Johnson. That said, this is the only classic-rock show that appeals to me this summer (other than Wilco and Sleater-Kinney). Spill all the wine! Bring your baby brother! Bass lines and bongos! Low riders! The world is still a ghetto and we’re all slippin’ into darkness. And I hear Wilcox is still a great live act, so let’s “Do the Bearcat” while we can. Free show.
The Verve Pipe: Aug 16 at the Horseshoe
Simply Saucer: Aug 17 at the Horseshoe #HaveNotBeentheSame
Darius Jones’s fLuXkit Vancouver: Sept 13 at Guelph Jazz Festival
New Future City Radio (Rob Mazurek, Damon Locks): Sept 14 at Guelph Jazz Festival
Supercrawl Hamilton: Sept 13-15. Featuring Explosions in the Sky, Matt Andersen, Danko Jones, the Sadies, Rich Aucoin, the Dears, Kaia Kater, much more. Details here.
JD McPherson: Oct 8 at Concert Hall
Xiu Xiu: Oct 19 at the Velvet Underground
Thee Sacred Souls: Oct 31 at History
James Vincent McMorrow: Nov 3 at Danforth Music Hall
Ratboys: Nov 8 at Lee’s Palace
Tycho: Nov 14 at History
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:
Myriam Gendron, Andre Ethier: June 27 at Collective Arts Taproom (Dundas and Markham), 8 p.m. Wrote about her last week. I’ve spent the last three years listening to and learning this song:
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.
Michael Peter Olsen’s 50th birthday party: June 30 at Baby G. The cellist to the stars (Hidden Cameras, Jim Guthrie, Arcade Fire, Zoon, K-OS, hundreds more) celebrates with ’80s cover band Reaganomics, a secret reunion gig and more. #HeartsOnFire
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. As much as I love Wilco, I would never associate them with rollerskate jams, and yet:
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.
Emily Nussbaum in conversation with Stacy Lee Kong: July 3 at Paradise Theatre, presented by West End Phoenix. RSVP here.
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
Coming sooner than later
Mother Mother, Cavetown: July 5 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre
City and Colour, Metric, Sloan: July 5 at Born & Raised Festival (St. Catharines) #HeartsOnFire #HaveNotBeentheSame
The Body & Dis Fig: July 5 at Velvet Underground
Psychic Weapons, Artificial Light, Timehole: July 5 at Sneaky Dee’s. Yes, that’s the correct venue, which I didn’t think still had live music. 6.30 p.m., before the mo’ emo crowd take over for their dance night. Psychic Weapons are the new-ish band led by Derek Westerholm of Torontopian favourites the Creeping Nobodies.
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. Stage schedules are 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
Nico Paulo, José Contreras: July 7 at Baby G
Neil Young & Crazy Horse: July 8 at Ontario Place Ampitheatre. I know people who had religious experiences at the May long weekend 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. UPDATE: The weekend schedule is 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)
Felice Brothers: July 24 at Longboat Hall
Regina Spektor: July 25 at History
Skratch Bastid’s BBQ feat. Alchemist, Slum Village: 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
Village People, Crash Test Dummies, Ray Materick: Aug 3 at Festival of Friends, Hamilton. Free.
Looking ahead
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. Stage schedule here.
Iron & Wine: Aug 17 at Danforth Music Hall
Brittany Howard, Julian Taylor: Aug 17 at CNE Bandshell
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
Bahamas, Jeremie Albino: Aug 18 at CNE Bandshell
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
Moneen: Aug 23 at CNE Bandshell
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
April Wine(ish): Aug 31 at CNE Bandshell
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
The Cult: Sept 6 at History
Squeeze, the English Beat: Sept 7 at Roy Thomson Hall
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 the Phoenix
Amen Dunes: Sept 17 at Concert Hall
Mo Kenney: Sept 17 at Baby G
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
Bad Religion: Sept 24 at Danforth Music Hall
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)
Claire Rousay: Sept 26 at Monarch Tavern
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
Mk.Gee: Oct 1 at History
Julien Baker: Oct 1-2 at Concert 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
Fidlar: Oct 7 at Phoenix
OMD: October 8 at History
Nada Surf: Oct 8 at Great Hall
The Psychedelic Furs, The Jesus and Mary Chain: Oct 9 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Chromeo: Oct 9 at History
Sepultura: Oct 9 at Rebel. Farewell tour (apparently).
Mdou Moctar: Oct 9 at Concert Hall
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.
Hanson: Oct 13-14 at Danforth Music Hall. Oct 13 with Matthew Sweet, Oct 14 with Phantom Planet.
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.
Richard Thompson: Oct 22 at Concert Hall. But you should still see him at Hillside!
Tokimonsta: Oct 23 at Opera House
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 Phoenix
Ben Caplan: Oct 29 at Allied Music Centre (inside Massey Hall)
Fucked Up: Oct 31 at Great Hall #HeartsOnFire
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
Suzie Ungerleider & friends: Nov 14 at Hugh’s Room
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
Reuben & the Dark, Housewife: Nov 20 at Great Hall. Presented by No Music on a Dead Planet campaign.
Sturgill Simpson: Nov 20-21 at Massey Hall
Geoffroy: Nov 20-21 at Drake Underground
Caribou: Nov 23 at Massey Hall. Never underestimate how good Dan Snaith’s Caribou band is live. #HeartsOnFire
Caribou: Nov 24 at History #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
Sister Sledge: Nov 30 at Living Arts Centre, Mississauga
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
Travis: Feb 12 at Concert Hall
Apocalyptica (Metallica string quartet): Feb 13 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre
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
Talib Kweli: May 2 at Living Arts Centre, Mississauga
Be kind to each other.
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