This week's Can't Miss Concerts features events happening from August 20 to 26, meaning the final month of summer is upon. Fortunately, there are plenty of festivals and shows you can attend before the season comes to an end. Check out our top choices below, and then visit our concert listings page to see what else you can squeeze into this week.
Arboretum Festival
The Arboretum Festival helps shape the future of Ottawa's music and arts scene: each of the hard-hitting speakers and forward-thinking artists are advocates for cultural progression. This year the event will feature Toronto doom-disco unit Austra and Montreal-based art-rockers, Braids, as well as the Weather Station, U.S. Girls, the Sadies, Queer Songbook Orchestra, Phedre, New Fries, Tweens, Shalabi Effect, Hayden and many others.
08/19-22/2015 Ottawa, ON – Multiple Venues
Homeshake
Peter Sagar once strummed alongside Mac DeMarco, but now the Montreal-based singer-songwriter is making a name for himself as Homeshake. The super-smooth slack-rocker will deliver selections from his 2014 solo debut, In the Shower, and a few from the forthcoming Midnight Snack, which will arrive on September 18 through Sinderlyn.
08/21/2015 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
Ponderosa
Ponderosa Festival's humble beginnings are rooted in an orchard, where a gathering of friends played music, tubed down the river and ate fruit right off the trees. It wasn't long until this tradition grew into a full-on festival that attracts hundreds of strangers while maintaining the friendly vibe. This year, the entertainment will be provided by Mounties, the Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer, Bear Mountain, Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party, Gay Nineties, Fake Shark Real Zombie, Savvie, High Ends and others.
08/21-23/2015 Rock Creek, BC – Rock Creek
Rifflandia
A single wristband for Rifflandia will provide access to two events; the first is an incredible music festival featuring Modest Mouse, Julian Casablancas + the Voidz, Chromeo, Mother Mother, Tokyo Police Club, Arkells and Joey Bada$$, with the support of Neon Indian, Blonde Redhead, Hollerado, the Zolas, Frog Eyes, Jay Malinowski and the Deadcoast and tons of other artists. The second event is Breakout West, a showcase that provides artists with the opportunity to perform for upwards of 500 industry professionals and 3000 fans. This valuable platform for performers is also opportune for fans to discover emerging artists and explore genres.
08/17-20/2015 Victoria, BC – Multiple Venues
Strangewaves
The Strangewaves Festival is happening this years because the organizers, all friends, made good on a series of day-drunk plans to throw a music festival. It's to our benefit: they've assembled the Famines, Bile Sister, Crystal Journey, Doom Tickler, Ducats, Egyptrixx, Fiver, HVYWTR, Jennifer Castle, Pucumber Sasssquah Family Band, Sour Pussy, TV Freaks, WTCHS, Wicked Rot and a lineup of other up and coming artists.
08/21-22/2015 Rockton, ON – Rockton World's Fairground
Twin Shadow
Twin Shadow is the indie pop project of Dominican-American singer, songwriter, producer and novelist George Lewis Jr. The polymath and co. are hitting the road to support 2015's Eclipse release, a fatalistically themed album brightened by twinkling synths and colourful soundscapes. Twin Shadow will also deliver selections from prior releases Confess (2010) and Forget (2012), to round out the set list with more sentiments about love (or, more accurately: the disillusioned pursuit of it).
08/26/2015 Vancouver, BC – Imperial
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for additional concerts and events.
Arboretum Festival
The Arboretum Festival helps shape the future of Ottawa's music and arts scene: each of the hard-hitting speakers and forward-thinking artists are advocates for cultural progression. This year the event will feature Toronto doom-disco unit Austra and Montreal-based art-rockers, Braids, as well as the Weather Station, U.S. Girls, the Sadies, Queer Songbook Orchestra, Phedre, New Fries, Tweens, Shalabi Effect, Hayden and many others.
08/19-22/2015 Ottawa, ON – Multiple Venues
Homeshake
Peter Sagar once strummed alongside Mac DeMarco, but now the Montreal-based singer-songwriter is making a name for himself as Homeshake. The super-smooth slack-rocker will deliver selections from his 2014 solo debut, In the Shower, and a few from the forthcoming Midnight Snack, which will arrive on September 18 through Sinderlyn.
08/21/2015 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
Ponderosa
Ponderosa Festival's humble beginnings are rooted in an orchard, where a gathering of friends played music, tubed down the river and ate fruit right off the trees. It wasn't long until this tradition grew into a full-on festival that attracts hundreds of strangers while maintaining the friendly vibe. This year, the entertainment will be provided by Mounties, the Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer, Bear Mountain, Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party, Gay Nineties, Fake Shark Real Zombie, Savvie, High Ends and others.
08/21-23/2015 Rock Creek, BC – Rock Creek
Rifflandia
A single wristband for Rifflandia will provide access to two events; the first is an incredible music festival featuring Modest Mouse, Julian Casablancas + the Voidz, Chromeo, Mother Mother, Tokyo Police Club, Arkells and Joey Bada$$, with the support of Neon Indian, Blonde Redhead, Hollerado, the Zolas, Frog Eyes, Jay Malinowski and the Deadcoast and tons of other artists. The second event is Breakout West, a showcase that provides artists with the opportunity to perform for upwards of 500 industry professionals and 3000 fans. This valuable platform for performers is also opportune for fans to discover emerging artists and explore genres.
08/17-20/2015 Victoria, BC – Multiple Venues
Strangewaves
The Strangewaves Festival is happening this years because the organizers, all friends, made good on a series of day-drunk plans to throw a music festival. It's to our benefit: they've assembled the Famines, Bile Sister, Crystal Journey, Doom Tickler, Ducats, Egyptrixx, Fiver, HVYWTR, Jennifer Castle, Pucumber Sasssquah Family Band, Sour Pussy, TV Freaks, WTCHS, Wicked Rot and a lineup of other up and coming artists.
08/21-22/2015 Rockton, ON – Rockton World's Fairground
Twin Shadow
Twin Shadow is the indie pop project of Dominican-American singer, songwriter, producer and novelist George Lewis Jr. The polymath and co. are hitting the road to support 2015's Eclipse release, a fatalistically themed album brightened by twinkling synths and colourful soundscapes. Twin Shadow will also deliver selections from prior releases Confess (2010) and Forget (2012), to round out the set list with more sentiments about love (or, more accurately: the disillusioned pursuit of it).
08/26/2015 Vancouver, BC – Imperial
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for additional concerts and events.