With the weather becoming warmer and festival season right around the corner, this week's edition of Can't Miss Concerts, from May 18 to 24, features a slew of shows that should prime you for the festival season ahead. Before soaking up the sun in a field full of sweaty music lovers, why not attend some less frantic events?
This week's concerts are a mix of indoor and outdoor shows with performances from shoegazing black metal acts, to emerging rappers and loads of indie rock acts. Check out this week's picks for the best shows this week below before heading to our complete Concert Listings for even more.
Chance the Rapper
Fresh from winning multiple Grammys and receiving widespread critical acclaim, Chance the Rapper has had a good year since releasing his third mixtape, Coloring Book. The king of independent rap received his first number one single recently with a feature on DJ Khaled's "I'm The One," and now hip-hop fans can see him live at his show in Toronto this week.
5/24/2017 Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Deafheaven
Following a string of shows with Gojira and Code Orange, as well as a remix of Youth Code's "Lost At Sea" with goth-electro artist Chelsea Wolfe, Deafheaven is hitting up Canada for a couple of Ontario dates. The shoegazing black metal band have stops in Toronto and Hamilton and are bringing along Montreal drone act Big Brave before heading back across the border.
5/19/2017 Toronto, ON – The Garrison
5/20/2017 Hamilton, ON – Club Absinthe
Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville
Quebec's FIMAV is back for its 33rd edition with a stellar lineup of artists, including Anthony Braxton, Bent Knee and father-son duo Terry and Gyan Riley's debut Canadian performance. The festival will also be showing film screenings for the first time ever and has free art installations if you need a break from the music.
05/18-21/2017 Victoriaville, QC – Various Venues
The Jesus and Mary Chain
Nearly two decades after they released their last album, Scottish indie rock legends the Jesus and Mary Chain finally released a new record, titled Damage and Joy, earlier this year and are bringing those songs to North America for a short run of shows. This week, they make a stop in Vancouver before heading back to Europe for the summer festival season.
5/24/2017 Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
Pouzza Fest
Annual punk festival Pouzza Fest is back for its seventh edition with Lagwagon, the Flatliners and PUP leading the bill. Over 150 bands are set to play at various venues across Montréal, including free shows at an outdoor stage at Parterre du Quartier des spectacles. For $101.75, you can get a three-day pass that gives you access to every venue during the festivities, or buy single-day passes for $50.
5/19-21/2017 Montreal, QC – Various Venues
The Shins
The Shins recently returned from their second five-year hiatus with the long-awaited Heartworms and an almost entirely new lineup. Now the band are back on the road, and you can catch their brand of quirky guitar-pop in Edmonton and Calgary this week, or see them at one of their festival dates later this summer if you can't make it.
5/23/2017 Edmonton, AB – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
5/24/2017 Calgary, AB – MacEwan Hall
The xx
After sending personal invitations to live shows to fans that preordered their latest album, I See You, English indie-pop trio The xx are playing two back-to-back shows in Toronto with a concert in Montreal the following evening. If you're looking for dreamy, emotional vibes, check out the band at one of the dates below.
5/22/2017 Toronto, ON – TD Echo Beach
5/23/2017 Toronto, ON – TD Echo Beach
5/24/2017 Montreal, QC – Parc Jean-Drapeau
Young M.A
Brooklyn MC Young M.A dropped her debut EP earlier this year in advance of her first full-length, and has been making waves since her hit single "Ooouuu" was released last summer. Now, the ruthless rapper is headlining her own tour following a run of shows with 21 Savage, and will make three stops in Western Canada this week.
5/18/2017 Edmonton, AB – The Ranch Roadhouse
5/19/2017 Calgary, AB – Marquee Beer Market & Stage
5/21/2017 Vancouver, BC – Venue Nightclub
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for more upcoming shows.
This week's concerts are a mix of indoor and outdoor shows with performances from shoegazing black metal acts, to emerging rappers and loads of indie rock acts. Check out this week's picks for the best shows this week below before heading to our complete Concert Listings for even more.
Chance the Rapper
Fresh from winning multiple Grammys and receiving widespread critical acclaim, Chance the Rapper has had a good year since releasing his third mixtape, Coloring Book. The king of independent rap received his first number one single recently with a feature on DJ Khaled's "I'm The One," and now hip-hop fans can see him live at his show in Toronto this week.
5/24/2017 Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Deafheaven
Following a string of shows with Gojira and Code Orange, as well as a remix of Youth Code's "Lost At Sea" with goth-electro artist Chelsea Wolfe, Deafheaven is hitting up Canada for a couple of Ontario dates. The shoegazing black metal band have stops in Toronto and Hamilton and are bringing along Montreal drone act Big Brave before heading back across the border.
5/19/2017 Toronto, ON – The Garrison
5/20/2017 Hamilton, ON – Club Absinthe
Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville
Quebec's FIMAV is back for its 33rd edition with a stellar lineup of artists, including Anthony Braxton, Bent Knee and father-son duo Terry and Gyan Riley's debut Canadian performance. The festival will also be showing film screenings for the first time ever and has free art installations if you need a break from the music.
05/18-21/2017 Victoriaville, QC – Various Venues
The Jesus and Mary Chain
Nearly two decades after they released their last album, Scottish indie rock legends the Jesus and Mary Chain finally released a new record, titled Damage and Joy, earlier this year and are bringing those songs to North America for a short run of shows. This week, they make a stop in Vancouver before heading back to Europe for the summer festival season.
5/24/2017 Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
Pouzza Fest
Annual punk festival Pouzza Fest is back for its seventh edition with Lagwagon, the Flatliners and PUP leading the bill. Over 150 bands are set to play at various venues across Montréal, including free shows at an outdoor stage at Parterre du Quartier des spectacles. For $101.75, you can get a three-day pass that gives you access to every venue during the festivities, or buy single-day passes for $50.
5/19-21/2017 Montreal, QC – Various Venues
The Shins
The Shins recently returned from their second five-year hiatus with the long-awaited Heartworms and an almost entirely new lineup. Now the band are back on the road, and you can catch their brand of quirky guitar-pop in Edmonton and Calgary this week, or see them at one of their festival dates later this summer if you can't make it.
5/23/2017 Edmonton, AB – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
5/24/2017 Calgary, AB – MacEwan Hall
The xx
After sending personal invitations to live shows to fans that preordered their latest album, I See You, English indie-pop trio The xx are playing two back-to-back shows in Toronto with a concert in Montreal the following evening. If you're looking for dreamy, emotional vibes, check out the band at one of the dates below.
5/22/2017 Toronto, ON – TD Echo Beach
5/23/2017 Toronto, ON – TD Echo Beach
5/24/2017 Montreal, QC – Parc Jean-Drapeau
Young M.A
Brooklyn MC Young M.A dropped her debut EP earlier this year in advance of her first full-length, and has been making waves since her hit single "Ooouuu" was released last summer. Now, the ruthless rapper is headlining her own tour following a run of shows with 21 Savage, and will make three stops in Western Canada this week.
5/18/2017 Edmonton, AB – The Ranch Roadhouse
5/19/2017 Calgary, AB – Marquee Beer Market & Stage
5/21/2017 Vancouver, BC – Venue Nightclub
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for more upcoming shows.
