Animal Collective, Badlands Summer Music Festival and Festival D'ete Lead This Week's Can't Miss Concerts

BY Matthew RitchiePublished Jul 4, 2013

Summer festival season is in full swing, but even those who'd rather stay indoors and beat the heat will find a reason to peel themselves off the couch in this week's edition of can't miss concerts. Read below to see our picks for Canada's must-see shows during the week of July 4-10.

Animal Collective

After cancelling a chunk of their North American tour this past winter, Animal Collective return to Canada in support of 2012's Centipede Hz. Catch the avant-garde electro outfit play an intimate gig at Toronto's Danforth Music Hall with fellow Maryland noise-prankster Dan Deacon, followed by a stop at the Ottawa Bluesfest, where the group will be taking the main stage ahead of headliners Weezer.

7/9 Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall
7/10 Ottawa, ON - LeBreton Flats

Badlands Summer Music Festival

If going to the rodeo isn't really your thing, head to Calgary's inaugural Badlands fest to hear some of the biggest names in EDM, including Afrojack and Steve Aoki, as well as a performance from indie-pop duo Matt & Kim.

7/5-7 Calgary, AB - Olympic Park

Festival d'été

Over 1.5 million concertgoers will flood Quebec City's historic Plains of Abraham and surrounding clubs this week for Festival d'été. This year's incarnation will feature headline performances from the likes of the Black Keys, Eagles of Death Metal, Belle & Sebastian and hip-hop heavy-hitters the Wu-Tang Clan. With passes to the entire festival going for a cool $76, this concert series shouldn't be missed.

7/4-10 Quebec City, QC - Various Locations

Fun.

Grammy Award-winning guitar pop three-piece Fun. comes to Ontario to play a pair of gleeful sets in support of their 2012 smash Some Nights. Arrive early to the Toronto date of the tour to catch an opening performance by Tegan and Sara, who are joining up with the New York City-based rock group in between dates on their current headlining tour.

7/6 Toronto, ON - Downsview Park
7/7 Ottawa, ON - LeBreton Flats

Wanda Jackson

Rockabilly veteran Wanda Jackson may be 75 years old, but that's not stopping her from hitting the touring circuit, with a stop this week in Montreal and a pair of nights at Toronto's cozy Cadillac Lounge. Look out for new tracks from her upcoming Sugar Hill Records release, Unfinished Business, due out in early October.

7/4 Montreal, QC - Metropolis
7/5 Toronto, ON - Cadillac Lounge
7/6 Toronto, ON - Cadillac Lounge

Toronto Urban Roots Festival

Celebrating all things modern and folk, the Toronto Urban Roots Festival (aka T.U.R.F.) lays it down at the historic Fort York with performances from the likes of drunk punks Flogging Molly and the Hold Steady, indie vets Yo La Tengo, East Coast legends the Joel Plaskett Emergency and many more.

7/4-7 Toronto, ON - Fort York

Leif Vollebekk

Canadian-folk troubadour Leif Vollebekk brings his recent LP, North Americana, to Sherbrooke for a free set, followed by three nights in Montreal at the Musée d'art Contemporain. Catch the rising folk rocker at this unique venue as part of the Montreal Jazz Festival.

7/4 Sherbrooke, QC - La Petite Boite Noir
7/5 Montreal, QC - Musée d'art Contemporain
7/6 Montreal, QC - Musée d'art Contemporain
7/7 Montreal, QC - Musée d'art Contemporain

Martha Wainwright

Singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright returns to the homeland to kick off her cross-Canada tour with a special set at Montreal's expansive Théâtre Maisonneuve. Look out for songs off her 2012 LP, Come Home to Mama, and maybe a few of her covers from the recently released tribute album to her late mother, Canadian-folk artist Kate McGarrigle.

7/4 Montreal, QC - Théâtre Maisonneuve

For more shows headed your way, click over to Exclaim!'s new Concert Listings.

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