Spring is upon us and soon the summer festival season will be in full swing. Before you go off camping out in the sun surrounded by thousands of other sweaty music fans, keep cool at some of the great shows happening in the city. If you're having trouble deciding what to see, we've narrowed it down for you in this week's selection of Can't Miss Concerts in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
Vancouver
Thursday, May 10
Sleepy Sun play the kind of psychedelic rock that is deeply rooted in the history of their hometown, San Francisco. On their recently released third album, Spine Hits, the group continue to explore heady rock riffs and intoxicating tones. This Thursday they'll be bringing their live show a little further up the West Coast to Vancouver, playing with like-minded locals Hallow Moon.
Sleepy Sun
Hallow Moon
$13 at Biltmore Cabaret
Friday, May 11
Bleary-eyed New Orleans MC Curren$y is best known for infusing clever lyrics into his raps about weed. Don't get it twisted, Curren$y is one of the most quick-witted rappers in the game. Fellow THC-inspired spitter Smoke DZA is joining Curren$y for a show in Vancouver on Friday night, along with a slew of other rappers including Cornerboy P and Young Roddy.
Curren$y
The Jets
Smoke DZA
Fiend 4 Da Money
Cornerboy P
Trademark
Young Roddy
$25 at Fortune Sound Club
Saturday, May 12
Since first emerging in 2010 with the support of Canadian R&B superstar Drake, Abel Tesfaye, aka the Weeknd, has released a trilogy of mixtapes celebrating the highs and lows of all-night partying culture. At first, the Weeknd famously averted the public eye, but these days he has a bunch of scheduled tour dates, including a sold-out show at the Commodore Ballroom on Friday night. This will be his first official concert in Vancouver.
The Weeknd
Sold out at Commodore Ballroom
Calgary
Thursday, May 10 & Friday, May 11
Touring in support of their eighth album, Northern Shore, Toronto's Skydiggers will be in Calgary for a two-night stand on Thursday and Friday. Originally formed in 1987, Skydiggers have always brought an open-minded approach to roots music. On Northern Shore, they continue to push the envelope, incorporating electronic influences into their folk and country songs.
Skydiggers
TBA at Ironwood Stage and Grill
Friday, May 11
Two of the biggest rock bands from both sides of the pond, the Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys, have joined forces for a North American tour. They will be rolling through Calgary on Friday for a show at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Black Keys
Arctic Monkeys
$35 to $55 at Scotiabank Saddledome
Saturday, May 12
Premier Canadian songwriter Ron Sexsmith has been crafting great pop songs since he first emerged on the scene in the alternative boom of the early '90s. His most recent effort, 2011's Long Player Late Bloomer, is another positive step in a strong career. Don't miss his show at the Bragg Centre in Calgary this Saturday for what is sure to be a captivating performance.
Ron Sexsmith
$20 to $33 at Bragg Creek Centre
Toronto
Thursday, May 10
Chicago punk act Rise Against will be descending on Toronto's Air Canada Centre with A Day to Remember and Title Fight in tow. If you're a fan of cathartic punk rock with hardcore and emo influences, this is definitely the show to see.
Rise Against
A Day To Remember
Title Fight
$49.50 at Air Canada Centre
Friday, May 11
Experimental indie act AIDS Wolf are calling it quits and playing their last show in Toronto this weekend at the Garrison. AIDS Wolf have been one of the most interesting acts to watch develop from 2006's The Lovvers LP straight through to last year's Ma Vie Banale Avant-Garde. This may be your last chance to enjoy AIDS Wolf's uncompromising weirdness in a live setting.
AIDS Wolf
Child Abuse
Gordon Monahan and Not the Wind
Not the Flag
$10 advance, $12 door at the Garrison
Saturday, May 12
Bratty garage rocker Ty Segall is playing at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto this Saturday. Advance tickets are already sold out but there might be some available at the door, so make sure to get there early. Indie psych band White Fence, who collaborated with Segall on the newly released Hair, will also be there, along with the Strange Boys and Toronto's own Teenanger.
Ty Segall
White Fence
The Strange Boys
Teenanger
TBA at Horseshoe Tavern
Montreal
Thursday, May 10
Although Alan Palomo of Neon Indian may have initially been lumped in with the chillwave fad, he has certainly proved himself as a musician beyond the confines of a dubious subgenre. His 2009 debut Psychic Chasms was full of hazy pop nuggets reminiscent of days wasted playing 8-bit videogames and watching colour TV. On Era Extraña, he expanded into a fuller R&B sound. Lemonade, an electronic indie group from Brooklyn, and Silent Diane, a dreamy and synth-heavy act from Austin, will be supporting.
Neon Indian
Lemonade
Silent Diane
$17 advance, $20 door at Cabaret Mile End
Friday, May 11
Katy Goodman got her start as bassist in the Vivian Girls, a group who spiked classic Phil Spector pop melodies with a punk edge. Her solo work as La Sera runs in a similar vein, but on her newest album Sees the Light, she has toned down some of the reverb that characterized her earlier solo work, which allows the songs to really shine through. Supporting La Sera is Crosses, as well as local Montreal band Freeway Fenner.
La Sera
Crosses
Freeway Fenner
$10 advance, $12 door at Il Motore
Sunday, May 13
If you're not in Toronto for the Ty Segall concert, you can catch him on Sunday in Montreal as the weekend winds down. White Fence and Strange Boys will still be there, but this time minus Toronto's Teenanger.
Ty Segall
White Fence
The Strange Boys
$13 advance, $15 door at Il Motore
Vancouver
Thursday, May 10
Sleepy Sun play the kind of psychedelic rock that is deeply rooted in the history of their hometown, San Francisco. On their recently released third album, Spine Hits, the group continue to explore heady rock riffs and intoxicating tones. This Thursday they'll be bringing their live show a little further up the West Coast to Vancouver, playing with like-minded locals Hallow Moon.
Sleepy Sun
Hallow Moon
$13 at Biltmore Cabaret
Friday, May 11
Bleary-eyed New Orleans MC Curren$y is best known for infusing clever lyrics into his raps about weed. Don't get it twisted, Curren$y is one of the most quick-witted rappers in the game. Fellow THC-inspired spitter Smoke DZA is joining Curren$y for a show in Vancouver on Friday night, along with a slew of other rappers including Cornerboy P and Young Roddy.
Curren$y
The Jets
Smoke DZA
Fiend 4 Da Money
Cornerboy P
Trademark
Young Roddy
$25 at Fortune Sound Club
Saturday, May 12
Since first emerging in 2010 with the support of Canadian R&B superstar Drake, Abel Tesfaye, aka the Weeknd, has released a trilogy of mixtapes celebrating the highs and lows of all-night partying culture. At first, the Weeknd famously averted the public eye, but these days he has a bunch of scheduled tour dates, including a sold-out show at the Commodore Ballroom on Friday night. This will be his first official concert in Vancouver.
The Weeknd
Sold out at Commodore Ballroom
Calgary
Thursday, May 10 & Friday, May 11
Touring in support of their eighth album, Northern Shore, Toronto's Skydiggers will be in Calgary for a two-night stand on Thursday and Friday. Originally formed in 1987, Skydiggers have always brought an open-minded approach to roots music. On Northern Shore, they continue to push the envelope, incorporating electronic influences into their folk and country songs.
Skydiggers
TBA at Ironwood Stage and Grill
Friday, May 11
Two of the biggest rock bands from both sides of the pond, the Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys, have joined forces for a North American tour. They will be rolling through Calgary on Friday for a show at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Black Keys
Arctic Monkeys
$35 to $55 at Scotiabank Saddledome
Saturday, May 12
Premier Canadian songwriter Ron Sexsmith has been crafting great pop songs since he first emerged on the scene in the alternative boom of the early '90s. His most recent effort, 2011's Long Player Late Bloomer, is another positive step in a strong career. Don't miss his show at the Bragg Centre in Calgary this Saturday for what is sure to be a captivating performance.
Ron Sexsmith
$20 to $33 at Bragg Creek Centre
Toronto
Thursday, May 10
Chicago punk act Rise Against will be descending on Toronto's Air Canada Centre with A Day to Remember and Title Fight in tow. If you're a fan of cathartic punk rock with hardcore and emo influences, this is definitely the show to see.
Rise Against
A Day To Remember
Title Fight
$49.50 at Air Canada Centre
Friday, May 11
Experimental indie act AIDS Wolf are calling it quits and playing their last show in Toronto this weekend at the Garrison. AIDS Wolf have been one of the most interesting acts to watch develop from 2006's The Lovvers LP straight through to last year's Ma Vie Banale Avant-Garde. This may be your last chance to enjoy AIDS Wolf's uncompromising weirdness in a live setting.
AIDS Wolf
Child Abuse
Gordon Monahan and Not the Wind
Not the Flag
$10 advance, $12 door at the Garrison
Saturday, May 12
Bratty garage rocker Ty Segall is playing at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto this Saturday. Advance tickets are already sold out but there might be some available at the door, so make sure to get there early. Indie psych band White Fence, who collaborated with Segall on the newly released Hair, will also be there, along with the Strange Boys and Toronto's own Teenanger.
Ty Segall
White Fence
The Strange Boys
Teenanger
TBA at Horseshoe Tavern
Montreal
Thursday, May 10
Although Alan Palomo of Neon Indian may have initially been lumped in with the chillwave fad, he has certainly proved himself as a musician beyond the confines of a dubious subgenre. His 2009 debut Psychic Chasms was full of hazy pop nuggets reminiscent of days wasted playing 8-bit videogames and watching colour TV. On Era Extraña, he expanded into a fuller R&B sound. Lemonade, an electronic indie group from Brooklyn, and Silent Diane, a dreamy and synth-heavy act from Austin, will be supporting.
Neon Indian
Lemonade
Silent Diane
$17 advance, $20 door at Cabaret Mile End
Friday, May 11
Katy Goodman got her start as bassist in the Vivian Girls, a group who spiked classic Phil Spector pop melodies with a punk edge. Her solo work as La Sera runs in a similar vein, but on her newest album Sees the Light, she has toned down some of the reverb that characterized her earlier solo work, which allows the songs to really shine through. Supporting La Sera is Crosses, as well as local Montreal band Freeway Fenner.
La Sera
Crosses
Freeway Fenner
$10 advance, $12 door at Il Motore
Sunday, May 13
If you're not in Toronto for the Ty Segall concert, you can catch him on Sunday in Montreal as the weekend winds down. White Fence and Strange Boys will still be there, but this time minus Toronto's Teenanger.
Ty Segall
White Fence
The Strange Boys
$13 advance, $15 door at Il Motore
