Summer may be slowly fizzling out, but there's plenty left in the tank when it comes to festivals and show. This week's Can't Miss Concerts, from August 18 to 24, is as strong as ever, featuring rap legend Ice Cube, pop-punk heroes Blink-182 and the Tragically Hip's final dates. If your thirst for live music isn't slaked by our picks below, be sure to check out our complete Concert Listings for a complete list of must-see concerts and events.
Arboretum Festival
Ottawa's Arboretum festival returns this week, bringing exciting artists new and old to our nation's capital for three days of sweet sounds. Highlights this year include drone experimentalist Tim Hecker, indie rock treasures Sloan and genre-bending rapper Mykki Blanco.
08/17-21/2016 Ottawa, ON – Multiple Venues
Blink-182
Beloved pop punkers Blink-182 were as gloriously juvenile as ever on this year's California, the group's seventh LP. Now, the lovable goofballs are out on the road again, swinging through Montreal and Toronto. If you're looking for a jolt of fun this week, you won't do much better than this.
08/20/2016 Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
08/21/2016 Toronto, ON – Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Camp Wavelength
Toronto's Camp Wavelength touches down this week, bringing some heavy hitters to the island for a few days of tight tracks and lake vibes. This year's lineup features buzz kings Cloud Nothings, new wave technicians Operators, synth-pop scions Young Galaxy and many more. If you've been looking for an excuse to hop on the ferry to get some island time, this is it.
08/19-21/2016 Toronto, ON – Artscape Gibraltar Point
Steve Earle and Shawn Colvin
Country-folk institution Steve Earle teamed up with fellow veteran Shawn Colvin this year for Colvin and Earle. Now, the pair are out on the road, with two stops slated for the West Coast this week. If parched melodies, sweet harmonies and gritty charm are your thing, Colvin and Earle will be right up your alley.
08/19/2016 Salmon Arm, BC – Salmon Arm Fair Grounds
08/20/2016 Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
Ice Cube
N.W.A. member and family film star Ice Cube has been in the midst of a career renaissance since the release of the Straight Outta Compton movie last year, and it appears the rap legend is showing no signs of slowing down. This week, he's hitting Toronto with a little help from fellow luminaries Earl Sweatshirt and Pusha T for a night called Future Island Fest. This is a lethal combination.
08/19/2016 Toronto, ON – TD Echo Beach
Riverfest Elora
Riverfest Elora hits Ontario this week for an all-Canadian affair of rock, pop, hip-hop and more. Bringing the goods this year are slick electro-funkers Chromeo, Prairie rockers the Sheepdogs and veteran MC Kardinal Offishall. It's a positive who's who of Canadian music stalwarts, making it unmissable for Ontario music fans.
08/19-21/2016 Elora, ON – Bissell Park
Weaves
Weaves made waves in a big way this year with the release of their self-titled debut LP, a record that was as easy to listen to as it was hard to categorize. Now the band are out on the road, taking their frantic, eclectic sound to a deservedly broader audience. It's time to get acquainted with this exciting new band if you haven't already.
08/18/2016 Calgary, AB – The Palomino
08/19/2016 Saskatoon, SK – Vangelis Tavern
08/20/2016 St. Malo, MB – Oroseau Campground
Sturgill Simpson
Sturgill Simpson turned in one of the best records of the year so far with A Sailor's Guide to Earth, positing a country sound divorced from pickup trucks and ice-cold beer and infused with rock, soul and psychedelia. If you're into the full-bodied outlaw sound, check out the Kentucky singer-songwriter for yourself at one of the dates below.
08/18/2016 Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
08/19/2016 Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
08/20/2016 Victoria, BC – Royal Theatre
A Tribe Called Red
A Tribe Called Red blend punishing dubstep, jiving instrumental hip-hop and traditional First Nations music to create their own genre-dodging musical mayhem. The trio are still going strong in 2016, stopping off in the Maritimes for three scintillating shows this week. If you're out East, you know what to do.
08/18/2016 Fredericton, NB – Boyce Farmer's Market
08/19/2016 Halifax, NS – The Marquee Ballroom
08/20/2016 Membertou, NB – Membertou Trade and Convention Centre
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip need no introduction. The legendary band's storied 32-year run comes to an end this week, as they arrive in their hometown of Kingston to play their final show. If you've never had the chance to see the group and are lucky enough to find a ticket, go be a part of Canadian music history.
08/18/2016 Kanata, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
08/20/2016 Kingston, ON – K-Rock Centre
Head to Exclaim!'s full Concert Listings for many more concerts and events.
Arboretum Festival
Ottawa's Arboretum festival returns this week, bringing exciting artists new and old to our nation's capital for three days of sweet sounds. Highlights this year include drone experimentalist Tim Hecker, indie rock treasures Sloan and genre-bending rapper Mykki Blanco.
08/17-21/2016 Ottawa, ON – Multiple Venues
Blink-182
Beloved pop punkers Blink-182 were as gloriously juvenile as ever on this year's California, the group's seventh LP. Now, the lovable goofballs are out on the road again, swinging through Montreal and Toronto. If you're looking for a jolt of fun this week, you won't do much better than this.
08/20/2016 Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
08/21/2016 Toronto, ON – Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Camp Wavelength
Toronto's Camp Wavelength touches down this week, bringing some heavy hitters to the island for a few days of tight tracks and lake vibes. This year's lineup features buzz kings Cloud Nothings, new wave technicians Operators, synth-pop scions Young Galaxy and many more. If you've been looking for an excuse to hop on the ferry to get some island time, this is it.
08/19-21/2016 Toronto, ON – Artscape Gibraltar Point
Steve Earle and Shawn Colvin
Country-folk institution Steve Earle teamed up with fellow veteran Shawn Colvin this year for Colvin and Earle. Now, the pair are out on the road, with two stops slated for the West Coast this week. If parched melodies, sweet harmonies and gritty charm are your thing, Colvin and Earle will be right up your alley.
08/19/2016 Salmon Arm, BC – Salmon Arm Fair Grounds
08/20/2016 Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
Ice Cube
N.W.A. member and family film star Ice Cube has been in the midst of a career renaissance since the release of the Straight Outta Compton movie last year, and it appears the rap legend is showing no signs of slowing down. This week, he's hitting Toronto with a little help from fellow luminaries Earl Sweatshirt and Pusha T for a night called Future Island Fest. This is a lethal combination.
08/19/2016 Toronto, ON – TD Echo Beach
Riverfest Elora
Riverfest Elora hits Ontario this week for an all-Canadian affair of rock, pop, hip-hop and more. Bringing the goods this year are slick electro-funkers Chromeo, Prairie rockers the Sheepdogs and veteran MC Kardinal Offishall. It's a positive who's who of Canadian music stalwarts, making it unmissable for Ontario music fans.
08/19-21/2016 Elora, ON – Bissell Park
Weaves
Weaves made waves in a big way this year with the release of their self-titled debut LP, a record that was as easy to listen to as it was hard to categorize. Now the band are out on the road, taking their frantic, eclectic sound to a deservedly broader audience. It's time to get acquainted with this exciting new band if you haven't already.
08/18/2016 Calgary, AB – The Palomino
08/19/2016 Saskatoon, SK – Vangelis Tavern
08/20/2016 St. Malo, MB – Oroseau Campground
Sturgill Simpson
Sturgill Simpson turned in one of the best records of the year so far with A Sailor's Guide to Earth, positing a country sound divorced from pickup trucks and ice-cold beer and infused with rock, soul and psychedelia. If you're into the full-bodied outlaw sound, check out the Kentucky singer-songwriter for yourself at one of the dates below.
08/18/2016 Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
08/19/2016 Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
08/20/2016 Victoria, BC – Royal Theatre
A Tribe Called Red
A Tribe Called Red blend punishing dubstep, jiving instrumental hip-hop and traditional First Nations music to create their own genre-dodging musical mayhem. The trio are still going strong in 2016, stopping off in the Maritimes for three scintillating shows this week. If you're out East, you know what to do.
08/18/2016 Fredericton, NB – Boyce Farmer's Market
08/19/2016 Halifax, NS – The Marquee Ballroom
08/20/2016 Membertou, NB – Membertou Trade and Convention Centre
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip need no introduction. The legendary band's storied 32-year run comes to an end this week, as they arrive in their hometown of Kingston to play their final show. If you've never had the chance to see the group and are lucky enough to find a ticket, go be a part of Canadian music history.
08/18/2016 Kanata, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
08/20/2016 Kingston, ON – K-Rock Centre
Head to Exclaim!'s full Concert Listings for many more concerts and events.
