It's the last weekend of the month, but there are still plenty of live acts worth checking out, making their way across the country as the season winds down. So now is as good a time as any to get out and see some of the many bands and artists making stops in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. Here are some of the highlights coming up this week.
Vancouver
Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25
If you're hoping to catch Metallica as they make their latest appearance at Vancouver's Rogers Arena, you're in luck, as the band will be in town for two nights filming their performance to be included in their long-awaited 3-D movie. Expect a set list populated with favourites from their extensive catalogue, along with an explosive stage setup.
Metallica
$49.50 to $125 (Saturday sold out) at Rogers Arena
Saturday, August 25
Vancouver psych rock staples Black Mountain will treat the hometown crowd to their signature mix of nostalgic effects and retro riffs at this special outdoor show at the Waldork. Like-minded Toronto outfit Quest for Fire will be on hand as well, along with Ladyhawk, Basketball and Van Bingen, making this a deep bill that's tough to pass up.
Black Mountain
Quest for Fire
Ladyhawk
Basketball
Van Bingen
$15 at the Waldorf Hotel
Sunday, August 26 and Monday, August 27
As with their Toronto appearance last month, Swedish hardcore act Refused will be in town for two performances at the Vogue Theatre, meaning it will be difficult for their fans to miss their famously energetic live show. Recently reunited after a decade-long hiatus, the band have been on tour for weeks now, including their first-ever television appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon back in July. And although they don't have any newly recorded material on the table, their widely respected back catalogue should be more than enough to keep audiences happy.
Refused
TBA at the Vogue Theatre
Calgary
Friday, August 24
En route to their two-night stand in Vancouver, Refused will be making an appearance in Calgary, complete with a set list of influential tunes from their previous records. With a reissue of their highly praised The Shape of Punk to Come currently on shelves, audience members can expect a set list composed of tunes from their '90s heyday, which, luckily for them, hasn't been rendered any less powerful over time.
Refused
TBA at MacEwan Hall
Toronto
Thursday, August 23
Hot on the heels of their latest release (and their first in 16 years), the Australian duo behind Dead Can Dance will have plenty of tunes, both new and old, to offer audiences in Toronto this Thursday. Anastasis, which has already been met with positive reviews, sees Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry revisiting the consistently diverse inspirations they're known for, taking cues from various cultures in their signature blend of mysterious, ethereal world music.
Dead Can Dance
$49.59 to $99.50 at Sony Centre
Friday, August 24
One of the biggest end-of-summer tickets going this week is none other than Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, who will be taking the stage at the Rogers Centre to kick off the weekend. Coming off a European tour that wrapped just a few weeks ago, the Boss and company are back on the road supporting their latest album, Wrecking Ball, which dropped back in March, and have been living up to their reputation for extended and energetic live sets.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
$68.10 to $130.20 at Rogers Centre
Saturday, August 25
If you're up for a night of exuberant, local indie punk this weekend, head to the Horseshoe Tavern, where Toronto basement dwellers Topanga will be on hand to deliver plenty of hook-laden tunes with above-average enthusiasm. They'll be accompanied by the talents of garage pop duo Army Girls, along with Dangerbird and Sandman Viper Command, to round out the night's bill.
Topanga
Army Girls
Dangerbird
Sandman Viper Command
$8.50 advance, $10 door at Horseshoe Tavern
Montreal
Friday, August 24
It's been a relatively busy summer for genre-defiant indie unit Bruce Peninsula. They took their mix of folk, rock and gospel up north in July for the Dawson City Music Festival, and upon their return from the Yukon, made the significantly shorter trek from Toronto to New Brunswick's SappyFest. They'll be in town this Friday on one of their last dates of the summer, playing a show at Il Motore with Montreal's own James Irwin, now coming off the release of his buzzed-about debut, Western Transport.
Bruce Peninsula
James Irwin
TBA at Il Motore
Saturday, August 25
British musician and producer Bonobo (also known as Simon Green) has taken to the road this summer, following up the launch of a remixed version of his breakthrough album, Black Sands. Although usually accompanied by a full band, Bonobo DJ sets are just as big a draw for fans, and this weekend's audience can look forward to a night filled with beat-driven cuts from his most recent release, as well as a handful of familiarly laid-back grooves from his other works.
Bonobo
Poirier
Ghostbeard
Construct
$20 at Societe Des Arts Technologiques
Vancouver
Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25
If you're hoping to catch Metallica as they make their latest appearance at Vancouver's Rogers Arena, you're in luck, as the band will be in town for two nights filming their performance to be included in their long-awaited 3-D movie. Expect a set list populated with favourites from their extensive catalogue, along with an explosive stage setup.
Metallica
$49.50 to $125 (Saturday sold out) at Rogers Arena
Saturday, August 25
Vancouver psych rock staples Black Mountain will treat the hometown crowd to their signature mix of nostalgic effects and retro riffs at this special outdoor show at the Waldork. Like-minded Toronto outfit Quest for Fire will be on hand as well, along with Ladyhawk, Basketball and Van Bingen, making this a deep bill that's tough to pass up.
Black Mountain
Quest for Fire
Ladyhawk
Basketball
Van Bingen
$15 at the Waldorf Hotel
Sunday, August 26 and Monday, August 27
As with their Toronto appearance last month, Swedish hardcore act Refused will be in town for two performances at the Vogue Theatre, meaning it will be difficult for their fans to miss their famously energetic live show. Recently reunited after a decade-long hiatus, the band have been on tour for weeks now, including their first-ever television appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon back in July. And although they don't have any newly recorded material on the table, their widely respected back catalogue should be more than enough to keep audiences happy.
Refused
TBA at the Vogue Theatre
Calgary
Friday, August 24
En route to their two-night stand in Vancouver, Refused will be making an appearance in Calgary, complete with a set list of influential tunes from their previous records. With a reissue of their highly praised The Shape of Punk to Come currently on shelves, audience members can expect a set list composed of tunes from their '90s heyday, which, luckily for them, hasn't been rendered any less powerful over time.
Refused
TBA at MacEwan Hall
Toronto
Thursday, August 23
Hot on the heels of their latest release (and their first in 16 years), the Australian duo behind Dead Can Dance will have plenty of tunes, both new and old, to offer audiences in Toronto this Thursday. Anastasis, which has already been met with positive reviews, sees Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry revisiting the consistently diverse inspirations they're known for, taking cues from various cultures in their signature blend of mysterious, ethereal world music.
Dead Can Dance
$49.59 to $99.50 at Sony Centre
Friday, August 24
One of the biggest end-of-summer tickets going this week is none other than Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, who will be taking the stage at the Rogers Centre to kick off the weekend. Coming off a European tour that wrapped just a few weeks ago, the Boss and company are back on the road supporting their latest album, Wrecking Ball, which dropped back in March, and have been living up to their reputation for extended and energetic live sets.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
$68.10 to $130.20 at Rogers Centre
Saturday, August 25
If you're up for a night of exuberant, local indie punk this weekend, head to the Horseshoe Tavern, where Toronto basement dwellers Topanga will be on hand to deliver plenty of hook-laden tunes with above-average enthusiasm. They'll be accompanied by the talents of garage pop duo Army Girls, along with Dangerbird and Sandman Viper Command, to round out the night's bill.
Topanga
Army Girls
Dangerbird
Sandman Viper Command
$8.50 advance, $10 door at Horseshoe Tavern
Montreal
Friday, August 24
It's been a relatively busy summer for genre-defiant indie unit Bruce Peninsula. They took their mix of folk, rock and gospel up north in July for the Dawson City Music Festival, and upon their return from the Yukon, made the significantly shorter trek from Toronto to New Brunswick's SappyFest. They'll be in town this Friday on one of their last dates of the summer, playing a show at Il Motore with Montreal's own James Irwin, now coming off the release of his buzzed-about debut, Western Transport.
Bruce Peninsula
James Irwin
TBA at Il Motore
Saturday, August 25
British musician and producer Bonobo (also known as Simon Green) has taken to the road this summer, following up the launch of a remixed version of his breakthrough album, Black Sands. Although usually accompanied by a full band, Bonobo DJ sets are just as big a draw for fans, and this weekend's audience can look forward to a night filled with beat-driven cuts from his most recent release, as well as a handful of familiarly laid-back grooves from his other works.
Bonobo
Poirier
Ghostbeard
Construct
$20 at Societe Des Arts Technologiques
