We've all been there. Picture it: You did your hair up big. You dug out your dancing shoes and put them on. Maybe you're in need of an escape from that 9-to-5 grind. The night is still young, you've rounded up the pals and that's when it hits you: You don't know where to let the night take you.
Luckily, we've done the dirty work for you. As we do every week, we've compiled our Can't Miss Concerts, all our top live show picks, for March 16 to 22 below. We've got a handful of unique Canadian artists, as well as punk-rock vets Green Day and Los Angeles R&B sensations the Internet. Be sure to pay a visit to our Concert Listings for an even heartier list of shows.
Basia Bulat
Perhaps you aren't sure how to pronounce it properly, but you've definitely seen Basia Bulat's name peppering bills across the Canadian music circuit. With her trusty autoharp and a delicate rasp in her voice, the Canadian songbird has crafted a very unique sound for herself that we've long been infatuated with. Bulat has three shows this week across Ontario where you can experience her performance for yourself.
03/16/17 Hamilton, ON – Mills Hardware
03/17/17 Bayfield, ON – Bayfield Town Hall
03/18/17 Kingston, ON – Grand Theatre
The Courtneys
Last month, Vancouver's favourite slacker pop outfit the Courtneys dropped their "well-crafted and delightfully infectious" sophomore album The Courtneys II. Their nostalgia-inducing fuzzy riffs are sure to have you dancing should you find yourself at one of their shows this week; grab yourself a ticket if you're in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon or Winnipeg.
03/16/17 Calgary, AB – Broken City
03/17/17 Edmonton, AB – Brixx Bar & Grill
03/18/17 Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina
03/19/17 Winnipeg, MB – The Good Will
Rose Cousins
Halifax-based singer/songwriter Rose Cousins is touring her latest album, Natural Conclusion. This week is your chance to see her debut the album and woo you with her clean-cut vocals and poignant piano ballads. Joining her on tour will be fellow Halifax-based band Port Cities.
03/16/17 Calgary, AB – Ironwood Stage & Grill
03/17/17 St. Albert, AB – Arden Theatre
03/18/17 Victoria, BC – St. Ann's Auditorium
03/19/17 Vancouver, BC – The WISE Hall
Green Day
After a rocky battle with rehab, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has returned to life on the road in support of the band's 12th studio album, Revolution Radio. The world will soon see Green Day return to the stage as they embark on their international tour. The punk-rock vets are diehards for fan interaction, so if you find yourself in the pit, there's a chance you could be summoned on stage to rock alongside them. Against Me! will be kicking off each show, so don't miss them in London, Hamilton and Montréal.
03/19/17 London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
03/20/17 Hamilton, ON – FirstOntario Centre
03/22/17 Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
The Internet
Los Angeles R&B collective the Internet have been delivering us smooth grooves for a few years now, racking up collaborations with the likes of Kaytranada, Vic Mensa, Tyler, the Creator and more. This week you can catch Syd's impeccably smooth vocals, matched with their mellow instrumentation grooves, at their Vancouver show.
03/16/17 Vancouver, BC – Imperial Vancouver
B.A. Johnston
You may know B.A. Johnston from his sardonic lyrics or his shirtless, beer-drenched performances, but you can catch both this week as the Hamilton everyman performs a string of shows across Ontario in support of his latest album, Gremlins 3. Get ready for some of his self-deprecating lyrical gold overtop catchy strumming.
03/16/17 Guelph, ON – Jimmy Jazz with Lee Reed
03/17/17 Hamilton, ON – This Ain't Hollywood with Dirty Jeans, Lee Reed
03/18/17 Bowmanville, ON – Manantler Craft Brewing Co with Lush Buffalo
Mother Mother
With a slew of dates out West this week in support of new album No Culture, outré pop outfit Mother Mother are setting out to play you more of their synth-y, tongue-in-cheek tunes. Known to put on quite the mean live show, the band will play in Alberta and British Columbia alongside gritty electro-artist K.Flay this week.
03/16/17 Edmonton, AB – Shaw Conference Centre with Beach Season
03/17/17 Grande Prairie, AB – Better Than Fred's
03/18/17 Red Deer, AB – Bo's Bar & Grill
03/20/17 Calgary, AB – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium with Beach Season
03/21/17 Nelson, BC – Hume Hotel
03/22/17 Kelowna, BC – Kelowna Community Theatre
Bill & Joel Plaskett
Hailing from Canada's East coast, father and son duo Bill & Joel Plaskett will be taking the stage together this week. Both respected musicians in their own right, they decided to join forces on album Solidarity this past February. This tour is one not to be missed, as it's sure to bring the Plaskett folk legacy to life onstage.
03/17/17 Montreal, QC – L'Astral
03/18/17 Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre (Southam Hall)
03/22/17 Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Centre
Tanya Tagaq
Inuit powerhouse Tanya Tagaq is now recognized as one of the most beguiling performers in Canada with her spellbinding, throat-singing-influenced experimental compositions. If you're a fan of her latest, politically-charged album Retribution, or you're interested in experiencing her unique improvisational style live, she'll be performing twice this week.
03/16/17 Saskatoon, SK – Broadway Theatre
03/18/17 Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Centre
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for more upcoming shows.
Luckily, we've done the dirty work for you. As we do every week, we've compiled our Can't Miss Concerts, all our top live show picks, for March 16 to 22 below. We've got a handful of unique Canadian artists, as well as punk-rock vets Green Day and Los Angeles R&B sensations the Internet. Be sure to pay a visit to our Concert Listings for an even heartier list of shows.
Basia Bulat
Perhaps you aren't sure how to pronounce it properly, but you've definitely seen Basia Bulat's name peppering bills across the Canadian music circuit. With her trusty autoharp and a delicate rasp in her voice, the Canadian songbird has crafted a very unique sound for herself that we've long been infatuated with. Bulat has three shows this week across Ontario where you can experience her performance for yourself.
03/16/17 Hamilton, ON – Mills Hardware
03/17/17 Bayfield, ON – Bayfield Town Hall
03/18/17 Kingston, ON – Grand Theatre
The Courtneys
Last month, Vancouver's favourite slacker pop outfit the Courtneys dropped their "well-crafted and delightfully infectious" sophomore album The Courtneys II. Their nostalgia-inducing fuzzy riffs are sure to have you dancing should you find yourself at one of their shows this week; grab yourself a ticket if you're in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon or Winnipeg.
03/16/17 Calgary, AB – Broken City
03/17/17 Edmonton, AB – Brixx Bar & Grill
03/18/17 Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina
03/19/17 Winnipeg, MB – The Good Will
Rose Cousins
Halifax-based singer/songwriter Rose Cousins is touring her latest album, Natural Conclusion. This week is your chance to see her debut the album and woo you with her clean-cut vocals and poignant piano ballads. Joining her on tour will be fellow Halifax-based band Port Cities.
03/16/17 Calgary, AB – Ironwood Stage & Grill
03/17/17 St. Albert, AB – Arden Theatre
03/18/17 Victoria, BC – St. Ann's Auditorium
03/19/17 Vancouver, BC – The WISE Hall
Green Day
After a rocky battle with rehab, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has returned to life on the road in support of the band's 12th studio album, Revolution Radio. The world will soon see Green Day return to the stage as they embark on their international tour. The punk-rock vets are diehards for fan interaction, so if you find yourself in the pit, there's a chance you could be summoned on stage to rock alongside them. Against Me! will be kicking off each show, so don't miss them in London, Hamilton and Montréal.
03/19/17 London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
03/20/17 Hamilton, ON – FirstOntario Centre
03/22/17 Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
The Internet
Los Angeles R&B collective the Internet have been delivering us smooth grooves for a few years now, racking up collaborations with the likes of Kaytranada, Vic Mensa, Tyler, the Creator and more. This week you can catch Syd's impeccably smooth vocals, matched with their mellow instrumentation grooves, at their Vancouver show.
03/16/17 Vancouver, BC – Imperial Vancouver
B.A. Johnston
You may know B.A. Johnston from his sardonic lyrics or his shirtless, beer-drenched performances, but you can catch both this week as the Hamilton everyman performs a string of shows across Ontario in support of his latest album, Gremlins 3. Get ready for some of his self-deprecating lyrical gold overtop catchy strumming.
03/16/17 Guelph, ON – Jimmy Jazz with Lee Reed
03/17/17 Hamilton, ON – This Ain't Hollywood with Dirty Jeans, Lee Reed
03/18/17 Bowmanville, ON – Manantler Craft Brewing Co with Lush Buffalo
Mother Mother
With a slew of dates out West this week in support of new album No Culture, outré pop outfit Mother Mother are setting out to play you more of their synth-y, tongue-in-cheek tunes. Known to put on quite the mean live show, the band will play in Alberta and British Columbia alongside gritty electro-artist K.Flay this week.
03/16/17 Edmonton, AB – Shaw Conference Centre with Beach Season
03/17/17 Grande Prairie, AB – Better Than Fred's
03/18/17 Red Deer, AB – Bo's Bar & Grill
03/20/17 Calgary, AB – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium with Beach Season
03/21/17 Nelson, BC – Hume Hotel
03/22/17 Kelowna, BC – Kelowna Community Theatre
Bill & Joel Plaskett
Hailing from Canada's East coast, father and son duo Bill & Joel Plaskett will be taking the stage together this week. Both respected musicians in their own right, they decided to join forces on album Solidarity this past February. This tour is one not to be missed, as it's sure to bring the Plaskett folk legacy to life onstage.
03/17/17 Montreal, QC – L'Astral
03/18/17 Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre (Southam Hall)
03/22/17 Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Centre
Tanya Tagaq
Inuit powerhouse Tanya Tagaq is now recognized as one of the most beguiling performers in Canada with her spellbinding, throat-singing-influenced experimental compositions. If you're a fan of her latest, politically-charged album Retribution, or you're interested in experiencing her unique improvisational style live, she'll be performing twice this week.
03/16/17 Saskatoon, SK – Broadway Theatre
03/18/17 Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Centre
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for more upcoming shows.
