This week's Can't Miss Concerts, from June 9 to 15, feels like the official beginning of festival season, with Bestival Toronto, Banff's Performance in the Park and Unsound all kicking off what should be a music-packed summer. If festivals aren't your scene, this week also features indie-rockers Plants and Animals and emo/punk marauders Brand New. Read on to see our picks for the best shows this week, and check out our complete Concert Listings to see what we've missed here.
Bestival
Bestival returns to Toronto this year from June 11 to 12. This year, the festival's trading in its island vibes for a more accessible stage at Woodbine Park (hooray for no ferry!), but the lineup's as strong as ever, featuring psych-rock obsessives Tame Impala, Montreal pop experimentalist Grimes and the return of the Cure. It's definitely a must-see if you're in the city.
06/11-12/2016 Toronto, ON – Woodbine Park
Brand New
Long Island emo/alternative act Brand New returned this year with new single "I am a Nightmare". Now, they're stopping by Toronto and Montreal for a double-barrel blast of buzzsaw guitars, pounding drums and razor-sharp lyrics. Check them out at one of the dates below.
06/09/2016 Toronto, ON – Sound Academy
06/10/2016 Toronto, ON – Sound Academy
06/11/2016 Montreal, QC – Olympia Montreal
06/12/2016 Montreal, QC – Olympia Montreal
City and Colour
Ontario singer-songwriter Dallas Green traded in acoustic balladeering for R&B flourishes and airy psychedelia on last year's If I Should Go Before You, rewarding listeners with the best City and Colour album in years. Now, he's heading back out on the road with fellow folk luminary Shakey Graves to entice a whole new generation of listeners. Check them out at one of the dates below.
06/10/2016 Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place
06/11/2016 Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
06/12/2016 Regina, SK – Brandt Centre – Evraz Place
06/14/2016 Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre
06/15/2016 Thunder Bay, ON – Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
Performance in the Park
Banff National Park will host its annual Performance in the Park festival this Friday, June 10. This year's lineup features some strong headliners in the form of Montreal indie legends Stars, indie-folk act Bahamas, lively alternative outfit Hey Rosetta! and Ontario MC/radio host Shad — that is, if you're not already distracted by the stunning natural beauty of Banff in the summer.
06/10-11/2016 Banff, AB – Cascade Gardens
Plants and Animals
After a three-year hiatus, Plants and Animals returned in April with Waltzed in From the Rumbling, their most adventurous album yet. Adding strings and choir work to their tried and true alternative sound, the record represented unexplored territory for the Montreal three-piece. Now, they're taking those bold new arrangements out on the road for the first time. Check them out at one of the dates below.
06/10/2016 Winnipeg, MB – The Good Will
06/11/2016 Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina
06/13/2016 Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
06/14/2016 Calgary, AB – Marquee Beer Market and Stage
06/15/2016 Nelson, BC – Hume Hotel
Sunn O)))
Ferocious drone-metallers Sunn O))) touch down at two festivals this week: Toronto's Unsound and Montreal's Suoni Per Il Popolo. If you've been dying for a live set that's one part industrial hellscape, one part occult ritual and one part Buddhist chant, check the Seattle outfit out at one of the shows below.
06/10/2016 Toronto, ON – Hearn Generating Station
06/11/2016 Montreal, QC – Fairmount Theatre
Unsound Toronto
This year marks the tenth year of Luminato in Toronto, and with it comes the return of Unsound, the city's best experimental music festival. Pushing boundaries this year include Indiana footwork queen Jlin and left-field drone aficionado Tim Hecker. And, as mentioned above, Sunn O))) will also be performing. Stop by if you're in Toronto and want a peek into the future.
06/10-11/2016 Toronto, ON – Hearn Generating Station
Head to Exclaim!'s full Concert Listings for many more concerts and events
Bestival
Bestival returns to Toronto this year from June 11 to 12. This year, the festival's trading in its island vibes for a more accessible stage at Woodbine Park (hooray for no ferry!), but the lineup's as strong as ever, featuring psych-rock obsessives Tame Impala, Montreal pop experimentalist Grimes and the return of the Cure. It's definitely a must-see if you're in the city.
06/11-12/2016 Toronto, ON – Woodbine Park
Brand New
Long Island emo/alternative act Brand New returned this year with new single "I am a Nightmare". Now, they're stopping by Toronto and Montreal for a double-barrel blast of buzzsaw guitars, pounding drums and razor-sharp lyrics. Check them out at one of the dates below.
06/09/2016 Toronto, ON – Sound Academy
06/10/2016 Toronto, ON – Sound Academy
06/11/2016 Montreal, QC – Olympia Montreal
06/12/2016 Montreal, QC – Olympia Montreal
City and Colour
Ontario singer-songwriter Dallas Green traded in acoustic balladeering for R&B flourishes and airy psychedelia on last year's If I Should Go Before You, rewarding listeners with the best City and Colour album in years. Now, he's heading back out on the road with fellow folk luminary Shakey Graves to entice a whole new generation of listeners. Check them out at one of the dates below.
06/10/2016 Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place
06/11/2016 Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
06/12/2016 Regina, SK – Brandt Centre – Evraz Place
06/14/2016 Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre
06/15/2016 Thunder Bay, ON – Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
Performance in the Park
Banff National Park will host its annual Performance in the Park festival this Friday, June 10. This year's lineup features some strong headliners in the form of Montreal indie legends Stars, indie-folk act Bahamas, lively alternative outfit Hey Rosetta! and Ontario MC/radio host Shad — that is, if you're not already distracted by the stunning natural beauty of Banff in the summer.
06/10-11/2016 Banff, AB – Cascade Gardens
Plants and Animals
After a three-year hiatus, Plants and Animals returned in April with Waltzed in From the Rumbling, their most adventurous album yet. Adding strings and choir work to their tried and true alternative sound, the record represented unexplored territory for the Montreal three-piece. Now, they're taking those bold new arrangements out on the road for the first time. Check them out at one of the dates below.
06/10/2016 Winnipeg, MB – The Good Will
06/11/2016 Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina
06/13/2016 Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
06/14/2016 Calgary, AB – Marquee Beer Market and Stage
06/15/2016 Nelson, BC – Hume Hotel
Sunn O)))
Ferocious drone-metallers Sunn O))) touch down at two festivals this week: Toronto's Unsound and Montreal's Suoni Per Il Popolo. If you've been dying for a live set that's one part industrial hellscape, one part occult ritual and one part Buddhist chant, check the Seattle outfit out at one of the shows below.
06/10/2016 Toronto, ON – Hearn Generating Station
06/11/2016 Montreal, QC – Fairmount Theatre
Unsound Toronto
This year marks the tenth year of Luminato in Toronto, and with it comes the return of Unsound, the city's best experimental music festival. Pushing boundaries this year include Indiana footwork queen Jlin and left-field drone aficionado Tim Hecker. And, as mentioned above, Sunn O))) will also be performing. Stop by if you're in Toronto and want a peek into the future.
06/10-11/2016 Toronto, ON – Hearn Generating Station
Head to Exclaim!'s full Concert Listings for many more concerts and events
