As spring gets into full swing, we're here to guide you through the top picks for concerts happening across Canada. For the week of May 4 to 10, our Can't Miss Concerts boasts acts that range from the synth noir art of Lydia Ainsworth to the delectable electronic beats of UK producer Clark and more. If you find yourself still hungering for more shows, hop over to our Concert Listings, where you'll find a complete list of live music opportunities that will keep you satisfied until summer hits.
Lydia Ainsworth
Fresh off the release of her sophomore LP, Darling of the Afterglow, electro-pop chanteuse Lydia Ainsworth has already made some Canadian stops on her current tour, and she's got one left on her schedule. This week, West coast fans of Ainsworth's material can experience her powerful vocals and rich, synth-y soundscapes live in Vancouver.
05/04/17 Vancouver, BC – Fox Cabaret
City and Colour
Get ready to get your pedal steel fix. Alexisonfire vet and seasoned singer-songwriter Dallas Green's penchant for introspective and melancholic songs have garnered him a mainstay reputation in the folk scene under his City and Colour alias — not to mention his royalty status in the hardcore scene — and he recently gifted us with the release of a 12-inch as a follow-up to his 2015 LP, If I Should Go Before You. He's currently in the midst of a solo tour, and this week he'll be playing his beloved tunes at six shows in the Maritimes.
05/04/17 Truro, NS – Marigold Cultural Centre
05/05/17 Wolfville, NS – Convocation Hall
05/06/17 Pictou, NS – deCoste Centre
05/08/17 Fredericton, NB – The Playhouse
05/09/17 Halifax, NS – Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
05/10/17 Halifax, NS – Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
Clark
In February, English electronic maestro Clark gave us his latest album, Death Peak. Shortly after, he announced North American tour dates alongside co-headliner Com Truise and Aussie electronic opening act Roland Tings. Fans can expect an over-stimulating onslaught of dancers and lighting effects onstage, so prepare to be totally wowed by a high-energy show when the tour hits Vancouver this week.
05/05/17 Vancouver, BC – The Imperial
Close Talker
Less than a month after indie trio Close Talker dropped their latest album Lens, you'll be able to see them perform it live for the first time. The Saskatoon rockers have proven their knack for producing gorgeous, reverb-y tunes in the past, and the new album hears them carrying on the tradition. This week, you can catch them at one of their western Canada shows with Yes We Mystic, or in Ontario with Lost Cousins.
05/04/17 Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina
05/05/17 Regina, SK – The Exchange
05/06/17 Winnipeg, MB – The Good Will
05/10/17 Kingston, ON – The Grad Club
Father John Misty
Chances are you're familiar with Josh Tillman's Father John Misty musical alter-ego by now — be it from his acclaimed 2015 album I Love You, Honeybear, pull-quote worthy acid confessions in interviews or his recent Exclaim! cover, you've likely heard the name. On his politically potent latest LP, Pure Comedy, the "aimless, fake drifter, and the horny man-child momma's boy" explores the dark side of humanity in his lyrics and masterfully pairs them with full-bodied instrumentation. See how that sound fuses with his captivating stage presence when he graces the stage this week during a two-night Toronto residency.
05/05/17 Toronto, ON – Royal Alexandra Theatre
05/06/17 Toronto, ON – Royal Alexandra Theatre
Jessy Lanza
Last year, Canadian producer and singer Jessy Lanza's EP Oh No landed her on our list of Top 10 Dance & Electronic Albums. Her ability to layer hypnotizing vocals overtop '80s-inspired synths has made her a key player in the electro-pop scene at home and abroad. This week she'll be kicking off her North American with two stops in Alberta.
05/09/17 Edmonton, AB – The Needle Vinyl Tavern with Kate NV
05/10/17 Calgary, AB – The HiFi Club with Kate NV
Slowdive
If you're a fan of Slowdive, the band's latest concert announcements came as a borderline miracle. Then, the reunited shoegazers dropped another bomb with the unveiling of their first album in 22 years and lead single "Star Roving." Now, at last, the time has come for their North American tour and you can hear their new material live for the first time in Toronto and Montreal. Indie rocker Japanese Breakfast will serve as the supporting act at both shows.
05/05/17 Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
05/06/17 Montreal, QC – L'Olympia
Tasseomancy
Canadian dream folk outfit Tasseomancy's 2016 LP Do Easy captivated us track-by-track with its haunting harmonies, courtesy of twin singers Sari and Romi Lightman. With a recent CMW show under their belt, the group are just about ready to hop back onto the show circuit, playing three shows this week. If you find yourself in need of some sweet Lightman sister vocal magic, here's your chance.
05/04/17 Halifax, NS – Seahorse Tavern with Mega Bog, Fake Buildings
05/05/17 Fredericton, NB – Read's Newsstand & Café with Mega Bog, Counting on Downstairs
05/06/17 Montreal, QC – Drones Club with Mega Bog, Fred Thomas
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for more upcoming shows.
Lydia Ainsworth
Fresh off the release of her sophomore LP, Darling of the Afterglow, electro-pop chanteuse Lydia Ainsworth has already made some Canadian stops on her current tour, and she's got one left on her schedule. This week, West coast fans of Ainsworth's material can experience her powerful vocals and rich, synth-y soundscapes live in Vancouver.
05/04/17 Vancouver, BC – Fox Cabaret
City and Colour
Get ready to get your pedal steel fix. Alexisonfire vet and seasoned singer-songwriter Dallas Green's penchant for introspective and melancholic songs have garnered him a mainstay reputation in the folk scene under his City and Colour alias — not to mention his royalty status in the hardcore scene — and he recently gifted us with the release of a 12-inch as a follow-up to his 2015 LP, If I Should Go Before You. He's currently in the midst of a solo tour, and this week he'll be playing his beloved tunes at six shows in the Maritimes.
05/04/17 Truro, NS – Marigold Cultural Centre
05/05/17 Wolfville, NS – Convocation Hall
05/06/17 Pictou, NS – deCoste Centre
05/08/17 Fredericton, NB – The Playhouse
05/09/17 Halifax, NS – Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
05/10/17 Halifax, NS – Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
Clark
In February, English electronic maestro Clark gave us his latest album, Death Peak. Shortly after, he announced North American tour dates alongside co-headliner Com Truise and Aussie electronic opening act Roland Tings. Fans can expect an over-stimulating onslaught of dancers and lighting effects onstage, so prepare to be totally wowed by a high-energy show when the tour hits Vancouver this week.
05/05/17 Vancouver, BC – The Imperial
Close Talker
Less than a month after indie trio Close Talker dropped their latest album Lens, you'll be able to see them perform it live for the first time. The Saskatoon rockers have proven their knack for producing gorgeous, reverb-y tunes in the past, and the new album hears them carrying on the tradition. This week, you can catch them at one of their western Canada shows with Yes We Mystic, or in Ontario with Lost Cousins.
05/04/17 Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina
05/05/17 Regina, SK – The Exchange
05/06/17 Winnipeg, MB – The Good Will
05/10/17 Kingston, ON – The Grad Club
Father John Misty
Chances are you're familiar with Josh Tillman's Father John Misty musical alter-ego by now — be it from his acclaimed 2015 album I Love You, Honeybear, pull-quote worthy acid confessions in interviews or his recent Exclaim! cover, you've likely heard the name. On his politically potent latest LP, Pure Comedy, the "aimless, fake drifter, and the horny man-child momma's boy" explores the dark side of humanity in his lyrics and masterfully pairs them with full-bodied instrumentation. See how that sound fuses with his captivating stage presence when he graces the stage this week during a two-night Toronto residency.
05/05/17 Toronto, ON – Royal Alexandra Theatre
05/06/17 Toronto, ON – Royal Alexandra Theatre
Jessy Lanza
Last year, Canadian producer and singer Jessy Lanza's EP Oh No landed her on our list of Top 10 Dance & Electronic Albums. Her ability to layer hypnotizing vocals overtop '80s-inspired synths has made her a key player in the electro-pop scene at home and abroad. This week she'll be kicking off her North American with two stops in Alberta.
05/09/17 Edmonton, AB – The Needle Vinyl Tavern with Kate NV
05/10/17 Calgary, AB – The HiFi Club with Kate NV
Slowdive
If you're a fan of Slowdive, the band's latest concert announcements came as a borderline miracle. Then, the reunited shoegazers dropped another bomb with the unveiling of their first album in 22 years and lead single "Star Roving." Now, at last, the time has come for their North American tour and you can hear their new material live for the first time in Toronto and Montreal. Indie rocker Japanese Breakfast will serve as the supporting act at both shows.
05/05/17 Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
05/06/17 Montreal, QC – L'Olympia
Tasseomancy
Canadian dream folk outfit Tasseomancy's 2016 LP Do Easy captivated us track-by-track with its haunting harmonies, courtesy of twin singers Sari and Romi Lightman. With a recent CMW show under their belt, the group are just about ready to hop back onto the show circuit, playing three shows this week. If you find yourself in need of some sweet Lightman sister vocal magic, here's your chance.
05/04/17 Halifax, NS – Seahorse Tavern with Mega Bog, Fake Buildings
05/05/17 Fredericton, NB – Read's Newsstand & Café with Mega Bog, Counting on Downstairs
05/06/17 Montreal, QC – Drones Club with Mega Bog, Fred Thomas
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for more upcoming shows.
