From intimate holes in the wall to clubs with sound systems that could wake the dead, Canada is home to some very radical concert venues. This week, get out there and see a show in one of them; we've picked the best ones for you in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal, below.
Vancouver
Thursday, February 21
Experimental electronic duo Matmos are hitting the road to promote their freshly released album, The Marriage of True Minds. The record was inspired by telepathy, so we're expecting some pretty cool vibes from this one.
Matmos
$13 at Media Club
Thursday, February 21
Vancouver is one of four lucky Canadian cities Sparta will be touring this year. Last year, the post-hardcore group released a new single, "Chemical Feel," so expect to hear this and possibly some other new unreleased songs, as the band have been posting photos from studio sessions lately.
Sparta
In Media Res
$22 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Tuesday, February 26
Chillwave producer Toro y Moi will be soothing his Vancouver fans with tracks off his slinky new album Anything in Return. Don't miss opening performances from Sinkane and Dog Bite.
Toro y Moi
Sinkane
Dog Bite
$18 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Calgary
Friday, February 22
Just one night after their Vancouver show, Sparta will be bringing the noise to Calgary with a new line-up of openers.
Sparta
Stalwart Sons
Book of Caverns
$25 at Broken City Social Club
Tuesday, February 26
Don't miss Wu-Block, the epic collaboration between Wu-Tang and D-Block members as they bring their classic boom-bap beats to Calgary.
Wu-Block
Ghostface Killah
Sheek Louch
Trinity Chris
Charron
$40 at Commonwealth Bar & Stage
Wednesday, February 27
Los Angeles laid-back beat manufacturer Shlohmo took a well deserved break from beat-making after his Bad Vibes release in 2011, but he has now picked up the producing pace. His upcoming EP, Laid Out, will be available on March 5 and he's celebrating with a release party at the Hifi Club.
Shlohmo
D33J
$12 at Hifi Club
Toronto
Friday, February 22
Solange is now on tour to promote her True EP. She may not fill up a big arena like her superstar sister Beyonce, but she's got a more left-field soul sound that still oozes the same soul, energy and charisma her sister has.
Solange
$23 at the Hoxton
Friday, February 22
Trust will be playing a hometown show as part of their North American tour in support of last year's new album TRST. Opening performances from Diana and Eraas are a reason to show up early.
Trust
Diana
Eraas
$17.50 at Lee's Palace
Monday, February 25
The release of Mark Everett's new Eels album Wonderful, Glorious came with a bundle of tour dates, and Toronto is one of the two lucky cities in our country to swipe a show.
Eels
Nicole Atkins
$29.50 at Pheonix Concert Theatre
Montreal
Thursday, February 21
Slim Twig is on tour to promote his recent album Hound at the Hem. Catch the experimental songwriter when he rolls through Montreal.
Slim Twig
U.S. Girls
$10 advance, $12 doors at Casa del Popolo
Tuesday, February 26
A night after the Toronto Eels show, the lo-fi noise maker will be playing in Montreal. Don't miss it.
Eels
$25 at Theatre Corona
Tuesday, February 26
Beach Fossils' Dan Payseur has set proverbial sail to promote his second album Clash the Truth. We called the album his best work as of yet, so now's the time to see him live.
Beach Fossils
$12 advance, $15 at Il Motore
Vancouver
Thursday, February 21
Experimental electronic duo Matmos are hitting the road to promote their freshly released album, The Marriage of True Minds. The record was inspired by telepathy, so we're expecting some pretty cool vibes from this one.
Matmos
$13 at Media Club
Thursday, February 21
Vancouver is one of four lucky Canadian cities Sparta will be touring this year. Last year, the post-hardcore group released a new single, "Chemical Feel," so expect to hear this and possibly some other new unreleased songs, as the band have been posting photos from studio sessions lately.
Sparta
In Media Res
$22 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Tuesday, February 26
Chillwave producer Toro y Moi will be soothing his Vancouver fans with tracks off his slinky new album Anything in Return. Don't miss opening performances from Sinkane and Dog Bite.
Toro y Moi
Sinkane
Dog Bite
$18 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Calgary
Friday, February 22
Just one night after their Vancouver show, Sparta will be bringing the noise to Calgary with a new line-up of openers.
Sparta
Stalwart Sons
Book of Caverns
$25 at Broken City Social Club
Tuesday, February 26
Don't miss Wu-Block, the epic collaboration between Wu-Tang and D-Block members as they bring their classic boom-bap beats to Calgary.
Wu-Block
Ghostface Killah
Sheek Louch
Trinity Chris
Charron
$40 at Commonwealth Bar & Stage
Wednesday, February 27
Los Angeles laid-back beat manufacturer Shlohmo took a well deserved break from beat-making after his Bad Vibes release in 2011, but he has now picked up the producing pace. His upcoming EP, Laid Out, will be available on March 5 and he's celebrating with a release party at the Hifi Club.
Shlohmo
D33J
$12 at Hifi Club
Toronto
Friday, February 22
Solange is now on tour to promote her True EP. She may not fill up a big arena like her superstar sister Beyonce, but she's got a more left-field soul sound that still oozes the same soul, energy and charisma her sister has.
Solange
$23 at the Hoxton
Friday, February 22
Trust will be playing a hometown show as part of their North American tour in support of last year's new album TRST. Opening performances from Diana and Eraas are a reason to show up early.
Trust
Diana
Eraas
$17.50 at Lee's Palace
Monday, February 25
The release of Mark Everett's new Eels album Wonderful, Glorious came with a bundle of tour dates, and Toronto is one of the two lucky cities in our country to swipe a show.
Eels
Nicole Atkins
$29.50 at Pheonix Concert Theatre
Montreal
Thursday, February 21
Slim Twig is on tour to promote his recent album Hound at the Hem. Catch the experimental songwriter when he rolls through Montreal.
Slim Twig
U.S. Girls
$10 advance, $12 doors at Casa del Popolo
Tuesday, February 26
A night after the Toronto Eels show, the lo-fi noise maker will be playing in Montreal. Don't miss it.
Eels
$25 at Theatre Corona
Tuesday, February 26
Beach Fossils' Dan Payseur has set proverbial sail to promote his second album Clash the Truth. We called the album his best work as of yet, so now's the time to see him live.
Beach Fossils
$12 advance, $15 at Il Motore
