Blackalicious, the Lemon Twigs and Austra Lead This Week's Can't Miss Concerts

Photo: Kim Jay

BY Laura MacInnes-RaePublished Jan 19, 2017

For this week's edition of Can't Miss Concerts — our weekly feature rounding up the best shows happening from coast to coast — help us beat winter with the artists that we think are worth standing out in the cold for. We are welcoming a heavy roster of shows this month, as January is coming in with a bullet. Below, you'll find the highlights from our Concert Listings running from January 19 to 25.
 
Alcest
 
Released in 2016, the fifth and latest studio album from French blackgaze auteurs Alcest, Kodama, was met with extreme praise. Be sure to grab yourself a ticket to see the band as they surge through their North American tour. They'll be joined by openers the Body and Creepers.
 
01/20/17 Montreal, QC - Les Foufounes Electriques  
01/21/17 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace  
 
Austra
 
This week marks the debut of Austra's eagerly awaited third album Future Politics. Lead by Katie Stelmanis, the Toronto-born electro-pop collective will be playing a hometown show before setting off to play Montréal and Quebec City. These will be the first shows at which the band will play Future Politics tracks, so they're ones not to be missed.
 
01/20/17 Toronto, ON - Mod Club
01/21/17 Montreal, QC - Fairmount Theatre
01/22/17 Quebec City, QC - Le Cercle
 
Big Winter Classic
 
Come one, come all and salute winter at Calgary's Big Winter Classic. The annual festival will be kicking off January 19 to 22, featuring Holy Fuck, Said the Whale, the Pack A.D. and many emerging Canadian acts to check out. Held at multiple venues, this is your chance to come celebrate four straight days of music. And, yes — there will be heaters.
 
01/19-22/17 Calgary, AB - Various Venues
 
Blackalicious
 
Since breaking their decade-long, record-less hiatus with Imani Vol. 1, Blackalicious have been jumping back onto the tour wagon, including Canadian dates. The funky Sacramento hip-hop duo are making three stops this week. You have from now until then to practice your alphabet aerobics — or you can leave it up to the band's Gift of Gab for the rhymes and Chief Xcel for the beats.
 
01/19/17 London, ON - Rum Runners
01/20/17 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
01/21/17 Ottawa, ON - Zaphod Beeblebrox
 
Blue Rodeo
 
Blue Rodeo have just begun the Canadian leg of their "1000 Arms Tour." You'll have plenty of opportunities to see the Canadiana-rockers, as they have a hefty schedule of shows lined up this week. Catch them with opener and fellow Canadian favourite Ron Hawkins & the Do Good Assassins.
 
01/19/17 Edmonton, AB - Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
01/20/17 Edmonton, AB - Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
01/21/17 Calgary, AB - Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
01/22/17 Calgary, AB - Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
01/24/17 Penticton, BC - South Okanagan Events Centre
 
The Lemon Twigs
 
If you squint your eyes ever so slightly, you might just be able to see a resemblance to that of a young Mick Jagger on the cover of the Lemon Twigs' latest album, Do Hollywood. Maybe you were present for the '70s or maybe you weren't around yet; either way, the D'Addario brothers will woo you all the way back into rock'n'roll's past with their exuberant wardrobe and blend of the sweet, sweaty and swirling sounds of the '70s. The Long Island throwbacks are ready to rock Montreal and Toronto on tour this week.
 
01/21/17 Montreal, QC - Casa Del Popolo
01/23/17 Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
 
Plaid
 
The acclaimed British electronic duo impressed the IDM world once again with their highly anticipated 2016 release, The Digging Remedy. Their North American tour hits Canada this week, and the electronic masterminds are guaranteed to have you dancing all night long.
 
01/20/17 Montreal, QC - Newspeak  
01/25/17 Toronto, ON - Velvet Underground
 
Joel Plaskett
 
Before Joel Plaskett kicks off his upcoming tour with his father in February, the Maritime sweetheart is set to play two dates this week. Plaskett will be accompanied by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra on Monday (January 23) and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra on Tuesday (January 25).
 
01/23/17 Edmonton, AB - Francis Winspear Centre for Music
01/24/17 Calgary, AB - Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
 
T.I.
 
T.I.'s got your back this month, with six upcoming Canadian show dates to promote his Us or Else EP. The TIDAL co-owner is still yet to announce the final release date for his upcoming album, Dime Trap, but here's hoping he drops some hints on this tour.
 
01/19/17 Edmonton, AB - The Ranch Roadhouse
01/20/17 Calgary, AB - Marquee Beer Market
01/21/17 Saskatoon, SK - Saskatoon Event Centre
01/22/17 Winnipeg, MB - Burton Cummings Theatre
01/23/17 Thunder Bay, ON - NV Nightclub
01/25/17 Guelph, ON - Guelph Concert Theatre
 
Winterruption 2017
 
Regina's Winterruption Fest is once again serving up a fresh plate of Canadian musical talent. This month, the Pack A.D., Elliott Brood, Said the Whale and many more will be taking the stage.
 
01/19-22/17 Regina, SK - Various Venues
 
 
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for more upcoming shows.
 

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