Having a hard time deciding what to get up to this week? Well, fret no more, friends, because Exclaim! is here to help. Read on to check out our top concert picks for Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
Vancouver
Thursday May 26
BC punk heroes Nomeansno are gearing up to head out on a month-long tour throughout Europe, but not before giving Vancouver some love. Nomeansno will be playing this show, as well as a second the very next night (May 27). This gives fans plenty of opportunity to see them off before the big trip, so be sure to make it out.
Nomeansno
Beekeeper
Hard Feelings
$22 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Friday, May 27
Sultry Swedish pop star Lykke Li is continuing her rounds through Canada, this time making a stop at Vancouver's Vogue Theatre. Whether you've been a fan since Youth Novels or are among her legions of new admirers since the release of Wounded Rhymes, any fan of catchy, danceable indie tunes would be smart to hit up this show.
Lykke Li
Grimes
$32.50 at the Vogue Theatre
Saturday, May 28
The boys from !!! (or Chk Chk Chk, for anyone who likes their band names spelled out phonetically) will be the first act to play Vancouver's newest venue, Electric Owl. A good choice, it seems: they're sure to have everyone excited for the show, as well as the new space, as they fill the room with their funky dance punk tunes.
!!!
Basketball
$20 at Electric Owl
Calgary
Thursday, May 26
The Cancer Bats showed us their loudest side yet on their last release, Bears, Mayors, Scraps and Bones, and have been sticking to it, bringing it full force during their live shows, alongside a collection of great, heavy acts. Their current tour is no different. If the lineup itself isn't enough to convince you to go, check out our review of the tour's Toronto date.
Cancer Bats
3 Inches of Blood
Barn Burner
Waster
$26.50 at the Gateway
Friday, May 27
Lauryn Hill hasn't given us a new release since 1998's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, but her fans are still excited and her tours continue to sell out. Obviously, she can put on one hell of a show. Read our review of her Toronto performance from January for a look at what keeps the crowds coming.
Lauryn Hill
$75 to $89 at Flames Central
Saturday, May 28
If it's long hair and leather that you're craving, Anvil have got you covered. And lucky for all of you diehards out there, the Canadian metal vets will surely have plenty of time to play a ton of material from their 30-odd-year career.
Anvil
$20 at the Gateway
Toronto
Thursday, May 26
Get the war paint ready, because Man Man have promised (via their Twitter) that this show is going to be a dance party. So head over to Lee's Palace tonight to see the Philly act tear it up with new songs off of their album, Life, Fantastic, which just came out May 10.
Man Man
$17.50 advance, $20 door at Lee's Palace
Friday, May 27
After having to cancel her original North American tour due to an arm injury, Anna Calvi is finally making it to Canada for her first headlining tour in North America. And it's about time. Everyone, from Brian Eno to Nick Cave, has been praising the English musician since she released her self-titled debut in December 2010. Check out the show to see what all of the much-deserved hype is about.
Anna Calvi
Cuckoo Chaos
$12 advance, $15 door at the El Mocambo
Sunday, May 29
The Radio Dept. may not be a household name in the Great White North, but in their home country of Sweden, they're kind of a big deal. So, wrap your weekend up on a high note with some catchy dream pop.
The Radio Dept.
Nightbox
$15 advance, $18 door at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
Montreal
Thursday, May 26
Austra's been on everyone's radar over the past few months. They released their debut album, Feel It Break, on May 17, to a slew of great reviews, and now they're taking their doom-filled, goth-inspired songs on the road, playing a few Canadian dates before they make their way to Europe.
Austra
Trust
d'Eon
$10 advance, $12 door at Il Motore
Saturday, May 28
If you're in Montreal and looking to dance this weekend, you're in luck, because Friendly Fires will be in town, with their electric dance stylings. They're yet another band hot off of a new release, Pala, which came out on May 16, so head to the show to hear the English trio bring the songs live.
Friendly Fires
Wise Blood
$20 advance, $22 door at Theatre Corona
Sunday, May 29
This is a big week for Mike Feuerstack and his project, Snailhouse. Not only did he release Snailhouse's eighth album only a few days ago (May 24), but he's also starting a cross-Canada tour to promote it. This specific hometown date is the big CD release show, so check it out to hear your favourite Snailhouse tunes, old and new alike.
Snailhouse
Katie Moore
$10 advance, $12 door at La Sala Rossa
Vancouver
Thursday May 26
BC punk heroes Nomeansno are gearing up to head out on a month-long tour throughout Europe, but not before giving Vancouver some love. Nomeansno will be playing this show, as well as a second the very next night (May 27). This gives fans plenty of opportunity to see them off before the big trip, so be sure to make it out.
Nomeansno
Beekeeper
Hard Feelings
$22 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Friday, May 27
Sultry Swedish pop star Lykke Li is continuing her rounds through Canada, this time making a stop at Vancouver's Vogue Theatre. Whether you've been a fan since Youth Novels or are among her legions of new admirers since the release of Wounded Rhymes, any fan of catchy, danceable indie tunes would be smart to hit up this show.
Lykke Li
Grimes
$32.50 at the Vogue Theatre
Saturday, May 28
The boys from !!! (or Chk Chk Chk, for anyone who likes their band names spelled out phonetically) will be the first act to play Vancouver's newest venue, Electric Owl. A good choice, it seems: they're sure to have everyone excited for the show, as well as the new space, as they fill the room with their funky dance punk tunes.
!!!
Basketball
$20 at Electric Owl
Calgary
Thursday, May 26
The Cancer Bats showed us their loudest side yet on their last release, Bears, Mayors, Scraps and Bones, and have been sticking to it, bringing it full force during their live shows, alongside a collection of great, heavy acts. Their current tour is no different. If the lineup itself isn't enough to convince you to go, check out our review of the tour's Toronto date.
Cancer Bats
3 Inches of Blood
Barn Burner
Waster
$26.50 at the Gateway
Friday, May 27
Lauryn Hill hasn't given us a new release since 1998's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, but her fans are still excited and her tours continue to sell out. Obviously, she can put on one hell of a show. Read our review of her Toronto performance from January for a look at what keeps the crowds coming.
Lauryn Hill
$75 to $89 at Flames Central
Saturday, May 28
If it's long hair and leather that you're craving, Anvil have got you covered. And lucky for all of you diehards out there, the Canadian metal vets will surely have plenty of time to play a ton of material from their 30-odd-year career.
Anvil
$20 at the Gateway
Toronto
Thursday, May 26
Get the war paint ready, because Man Man have promised (via their Twitter) that this show is going to be a dance party. So head over to Lee's Palace tonight to see the Philly act tear it up with new songs off of their album, Life, Fantastic, which just came out May 10.
Man Man
$17.50 advance, $20 door at Lee's Palace
Friday, May 27
After having to cancel her original North American tour due to an arm injury, Anna Calvi is finally making it to Canada for her first headlining tour in North America. And it's about time. Everyone, from Brian Eno to Nick Cave, has been praising the English musician since she released her self-titled debut in December 2010. Check out the show to see what all of the much-deserved hype is about.
Anna Calvi
Cuckoo Chaos
$12 advance, $15 door at the El Mocambo
Sunday, May 29
The Radio Dept. may not be a household name in the Great White North, but in their home country of Sweden, they're kind of a big deal. So, wrap your weekend up on a high note with some catchy dream pop.
The Radio Dept.
Nightbox
$15 advance, $18 door at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
Montreal
Thursday, May 26
Austra's been on everyone's radar over the past few months. They released their debut album, Feel It Break, on May 17, to a slew of great reviews, and now they're taking their doom-filled, goth-inspired songs on the road, playing a few Canadian dates before they make their way to Europe.
Austra
Trust
d'Eon
$10 advance, $12 door at Il Motore
Saturday, May 28
If you're in Montreal and looking to dance this weekend, you're in luck, because Friendly Fires will be in town, with their electric dance stylings. They're yet another band hot off of a new release, Pala, which came out on May 16, so head to the show to hear the English trio bring the songs live.
Friendly Fires
Wise Blood
$20 advance, $22 door at Theatre Corona
Sunday, May 29
This is a big week for Mike Feuerstack and his project, Snailhouse. Not only did he release Snailhouse's eighth album only a few days ago (May 24), but he's also starting a cross-Canada tour to promote it. This specific hometown date is the big CD release show, so check it out to hear your favourite Snailhouse tunes, old and new alike.
Snailhouse
Katie Moore
$10 advance, $12 door at La Sala Rossa
