This week's Can't Miss Concerts, from June 16 to 22, covers a gaggle of festivals, from the spacey Levitation Vancouver festival (whose headliner Flying Lotus appears above), to the forward-thinking MoSo Conference, to the two-day, genre-centric NXNE. If club shows are more to your liking, we've also got concerts featuring prog-metal pioneers Voivod, folk-rock rising star Angel Olsen and more. Read on to see our picks for the best shows this week and be sure to check out our complete Concert Listings to see more.
Levitation Vancouver
After a successful maiden voyage last year, Vancouver's Levitation festival returns to Stanley Park this week for three nights of mind-bending psychedelia and electronics. Leading this year's lineup are L.A. beat scion Flying Lotus, ambient wizard Tycho and Georgia bohemians Of Montreal. Whether you're a flower child or a wallflower, Levitation will sweep you off your feet.
06/16-19/2016 Vancouver, BC – Malkin Bowl
MoSo Conference
Music, tech and innovative ideas will collide in Saskatoon this week for the sixth annual MoSo Conference. This year, musical highlights include veteran singer-songwriter and reigning Polaris champ Buffy Sainte-Marie, Montreal electro-rockers Suuns and Vancouver garage marauders the Pack A.D. If you want a break from the sweet sounds in Saskatoon, the conference also features talks from leaders in music, design and journalism.
06/16-18/2016 Saskatoon, SK – Broadway and 10th Street
No Fest
If you're in Toronto and looking for something a little bit more DIY, mosey on down to what will surely be a packed Garrison for Buzz records' No Fest. Boasting some of the most exciting rockers around in Massachusetts' Speedy Ortiz, Washington noisemakers Chastity Belt and Toronto's own Greys, Fake Palms and Vallens, No Fest is a pint-sized hootenanny that packs just as big a punch as the bigger festivals.
06/17-18/2016 Toronto, ON – The Garrison
Northcote
Matthew Goud traded in punk for foot-stomping folk on last year's Hope is Made of Steel. Now he's back on the road, taking Northcote through Eastern Canada before heading back out west. If you prefer your acoustics with an edge, check him out at one of the dates below.
06/16/2016 Moncton, NB – Tide and Boar Gastropub
06/17/2016 Halifax, NS – Seahorse Tavern
06/18/2016 Fredericton, NB – Capital Complex
06/19/2016 Montreal, QC – Divan Orange
06/22/2016 Regina, SK – The Exchange
NXNE
Toronto institution NXNE returns this week for its 22nd consecutive year. Things are a bit different this year, however, with the festival's focus shifting from its club-hopping days of old to a more traditional outdoor festival atmosphere. Watch out for heavyweight headliners ScHoolboy Q and Father John Misty at the festival's brand new Port Lands stage setup. That doesn't mean that NXNE's completely abandoned its roots though, with garage monarchs King Khan and the Shrines, jazz vanguard Kamasi Washington and more still slated to pack Toronto's clubs.
06/13-19/2016 Toronto, ON – Various Venues
Angel Olsen
Angel Olsen turned heads in a major way with 2014's Burn Your Fire For No Witness, a scintillating folk-rock record that pushed all the right buttons. Now, she's finally announced a follow-up, due out in September. If teaser track "Intern" is any indication, Olsen's added a space-age synth sheen that complements her trademark warbling vocals surprisingly well. For a taste of Olsen's past, present and future, check her out at one of the dates below.
06/19/2016 Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre
06/21/2016 Saskatoon, SK – Amigo's Cantina
Voivod
Quebec prog-metallers Voivod have been pushing boundaries for over 30 years. It appears the band have no plans of slowing down any time soon, with a hearty run of shows through Canada's heartland on the docket this week. Fans looking for punishing metal grooves fused with brain-melting time signatures and chord changes should look no further.
06/16/2016 Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
06/17/2016 Regina, SK – The Exchange
06/18/2016 Winnipeg, MB – The Good Will
06/19/2016 Thunder Bay, ON – Crocks
06/21/2016 London, ON – Call the Office
Kamasi Washington
After delivering song-stealing performances on Flying Lotus's You're Dead and Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly, sax man Kamasi Washington proved he was finally ready for his close-up with last year's outstanding The Epic. Now, the modern jazz giant is bringing his virtuosic talents north of the border with three shows on tap this week, including the aforementioned slot at NXNE. Audiences can expect a blast of Coltranian sax fireworks and intriguing arrangements.
06/17/2016 Toronto, ON – The Danforth Music Hall
06/20/2016 Montreal, QC – Metropolis
06/21/2016 Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
Head to Exclaim!'s full Concert Listings for many more concerts and events.
Levitation Vancouver
After a successful maiden voyage last year, Vancouver's Levitation festival returns to Stanley Park this week for three nights of mind-bending psychedelia and electronics. Leading this year's lineup are L.A. beat scion Flying Lotus, ambient wizard Tycho and Georgia bohemians Of Montreal. Whether you're a flower child or a wallflower, Levitation will sweep you off your feet.
06/16-19/2016 Vancouver, BC – Malkin Bowl
MoSo Conference
Music, tech and innovative ideas will collide in Saskatoon this week for the sixth annual MoSo Conference. This year, musical highlights include veteran singer-songwriter and reigning Polaris champ Buffy Sainte-Marie, Montreal electro-rockers Suuns and Vancouver garage marauders the Pack A.D. If you want a break from the sweet sounds in Saskatoon, the conference also features talks from leaders in music, design and journalism.
06/16-18/2016 Saskatoon, SK – Broadway and 10th Street
No Fest
If you're in Toronto and looking for something a little bit more DIY, mosey on down to what will surely be a packed Garrison for Buzz records' No Fest. Boasting some of the most exciting rockers around in Massachusetts' Speedy Ortiz, Washington noisemakers Chastity Belt and Toronto's own Greys, Fake Palms and Vallens, No Fest is a pint-sized hootenanny that packs just as big a punch as the bigger festivals.
06/17-18/2016 Toronto, ON – The Garrison
Northcote
Matthew Goud traded in punk for foot-stomping folk on last year's Hope is Made of Steel. Now he's back on the road, taking Northcote through Eastern Canada before heading back out west. If you prefer your acoustics with an edge, check him out at one of the dates below.
06/16/2016 Moncton, NB – Tide and Boar Gastropub
06/17/2016 Halifax, NS – Seahorse Tavern
06/18/2016 Fredericton, NB – Capital Complex
06/19/2016 Montreal, QC – Divan Orange
06/22/2016 Regina, SK – The Exchange
NXNE
Toronto institution NXNE returns this week for its 22nd consecutive year. Things are a bit different this year, however, with the festival's focus shifting from its club-hopping days of old to a more traditional outdoor festival atmosphere. Watch out for heavyweight headliners ScHoolboy Q and Father John Misty at the festival's brand new Port Lands stage setup. That doesn't mean that NXNE's completely abandoned its roots though, with garage monarchs King Khan and the Shrines, jazz vanguard Kamasi Washington and more still slated to pack Toronto's clubs.
06/13-19/2016 Toronto, ON – Various Venues
Angel Olsen
Angel Olsen turned heads in a major way with 2014's Burn Your Fire For No Witness, a scintillating folk-rock record that pushed all the right buttons. Now, she's finally announced a follow-up, due out in September. If teaser track "Intern" is any indication, Olsen's added a space-age synth sheen that complements her trademark warbling vocals surprisingly well. For a taste of Olsen's past, present and future, check her out at one of the dates below.
06/19/2016 Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre
06/21/2016 Saskatoon, SK – Amigo's Cantina
Voivod
Quebec prog-metallers Voivod have been pushing boundaries for over 30 years. It appears the band have no plans of slowing down any time soon, with a hearty run of shows through Canada's heartland on the docket this week. Fans looking for punishing metal grooves fused with brain-melting time signatures and chord changes should look no further.
06/16/2016 Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
06/17/2016 Regina, SK – The Exchange
06/18/2016 Winnipeg, MB – The Good Will
06/19/2016 Thunder Bay, ON – Crocks
06/21/2016 London, ON – Call the Office
Kamasi Washington
After delivering song-stealing performances on Flying Lotus's You're Dead and Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly, sax man Kamasi Washington proved he was finally ready for his close-up with last year's outstanding The Epic. Now, the modern jazz giant is bringing his virtuosic talents north of the border with three shows on tap this week, including the aforementioned slot at NXNE. Audiences can expect a blast of Coltranian sax fireworks and intriguing arrangements.
06/17/2016 Toronto, ON – The Danforth Music Hall
06/20/2016 Montreal, QC – Metropolis
06/21/2016 Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
Head to Exclaim!'s full Concert Listings for many more concerts and events.