If you're looking to wrap up the summer with a bang, then why not get together with your pals and make some lasting memories at a live show. There are tons of musical acts making their way to a city near you, keen to provide the perfect atmosphere for an epic night out. If you need a bit of help in narrowing down your options, then here are our top concert picks for this week in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
Vancouver
Thursday, August 18
New York outfit Obits have a few more dates left on their most recent tour in support of their sophomore release Moody, Standard and Poor. Bringing their bluesy punk to the West Coast, the band will make this their last Canadian stop in Vancouver this time around. With drummer Scott Gursky recently departing from the band, head to the Biltmore and check out how fill-in Alexis Fleisig handles the act's material.
Obits
Disappears
Hard Feelings
$12 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Friday, August 19
This week sees the release of the debut album, Out of Love, from indie supergroup Mister Heavenly, which means the band have taken to the road to share their live performance with fans across North America. With the Vancouver stop being the only Canadian date on the short tour, you don't want to miss your chance to see Man Man's Honus Honus, Islands' Nick Thorburn and Modest Mouse's Joe Plummer showcasing their new "doom-wop" tracks.
Mister Heavenly
$13 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Tuesday, August 23
Stanley Park will play host to the Decemberists early next week as part of the Concerts in the Park series. With founding member Jenny Conlee taking some time off to concentrate on her health, the rest of the band have been touring all summer and will be teaming up with Okkervil River to take the stage at the forest-wrapped Malkin Bowl. So check that weather forecast and don't pass up your chance to soak in the Decemberists' brand of indie folk.
The Decemberists
Okkervil River
Fruit Bats
$48.50 at Malkin Bowl
Calgary
Saturday, August 20
In its inaugural year, X-Fest is hitting Fort Calgary as it hopes to eventually join the alt-rock ranks of festivals like Lollapalooza and Coachella. With a lineup including Jane's Addiction, Weezer, Social Distortion and more transporting you back to the '90s, Calgary fans will want to get down early to get a prime spot and enjoy the day-long concert experience.
X-Fest 2011
Jane's Addiction
Weezer
Social Distortion
$79.29 to 129.29 at Fort Calgary
Sunday, August 21
Calgary's own Lab Coast are headlining a show at the cozy Weeds Cafe. The experimental indie rockers will be playing tracks from their most recent release, Pictures on the Wall, with supporting performances from former Beija Flor member Steven A. van Kampen (aka SavK) and more. It's sure to be a memorable set, ready to appeal to all of your senses, so do your best to check it out.
Lab Coast
SAvK
Dundas
Yankee Yankee
$5 at Weeds Cafe
Toronto
Thursday, August 18
To the delight of Toronto fans, Montreal psych-punks Ultrathin are emerging for their first show in two years. If you're pining for a night showcasing Canadian punk and garage rock talent, you'll definitely want to head down to Parts & Labour. Vancouver's Needles//Pins and Alberta's the Moby Dicks will be warming up the crowd.
Ultrathin
Needles//Pins
The Moby Dicks
$8 at Parts & Labour
Friday, August 19
Lil Wayne has been keeping busy as of late, and with the release of his first post-prison full-length Tha Carter IV on the horizon, he's been on the road fuelling anticipation. As if fans weren't excited enough about the prospect of seeing the rapper live, he's coming back with a bang, bringing along top acts Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Far East Movement and Lloyd. You won't want to miss what is sure to be one heck of a spectacle.
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Keri Hilson
Far East Movement
Lloyd
$43.25 to $200.75 at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Saturday, August 20
Canadian music mainstays Blue Rodeo are coming home and playing the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre and they've recruited successful singer-songwriter Steve Earle to open. Get ready to reflect upon 25 years of your favourite tracks from the award-winning country rock act.
Blue Rodeo
Steve Earle
$31 to $99.75 at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Montreal
Friday, August 19
Sympathy, the new album from Chicago five-piece Scattered Trees, serves as the catalyst for the band's current North American tour. Co-headlining many of the dates with the Alternate Routes, the group will be bringing their heartfelt make of pop to Montreal fans. If you're looking for a fun Friday night, then Casa del Popolo has got you covered.
Scattered Trees
The Alternate Routes
Paul Dempsey
$8 advance, $10 door at Casa del Popolo
Vancouver
Thursday, August 18
New York outfit Obits have a few more dates left on their most recent tour in support of their sophomore release Moody, Standard and Poor. Bringing their bluesy punk to the West Coast, the band will make this their last Canadian stop in Vancouver this time around. With drummer Scott Gursky recently departing from the band, head to the Biltmore and check out how fill-in Alexis Fleisig handles the act's material.
Obits
Disappears
Hard Feelings
$12 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Friday, August 19
This week sees the release of the debut album, Out of Love, from indie supergroup Mister Heavenly, which means the band have taken to the road to share their live performance with fans across North America. With the Vancouver stop being the only Canadian date on the short tour, you don't want to miss your chance to see Man Man's Honus Honus, Islands' Nick Thorburn and Modest Mouse's Joe Plummer showcasing their new "doom-wop" tracks.
Mister Heavenly
$13 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Tuesday, August 23
Stanley Park will play host to the Decemberists early next week as part of the Concerts in the Park series. With founding member Jenny Conlee taking some time off to concentrate on her health, the rest of the band have been touring all summer and will be teaming up with Okkervil River to take the stage at the forest-wrapped Malkin Bowl. So check that weather forecast and don't pass up your chance to soak in the Decemberists' brand of indie folk.
The Decemberists
Okkervil River
Fruit Bats
$48.50 at Malkin Bowl
Calgary
Saturday, August 20
In its inaugural year, X-Fest is hitting Fort Calgary as it hopes to eventually join the alt-rock ranks of festivals like Lollapalooza and Coachella. With a lineup including Jane's Addiction, Weezer, Social Distortion and more transporting you back to the '90s, Calgary fans will want to get down early to get a prime spot and enjoy the day-long concert experience.
X-Fest 2011
Jane's Addiction
Weezer
Social Distortion
$79.29 to 129.29 at Fort Calgary
Sunday, August 21
Calgary's own Lab Coast are headlining a show at the cozy Weeds Cafe. The experimental indie rockers will be playing tracks from their most recent release, Pictures on the Wall, with supporting performances from former Beija Flor member Steven A. van Kampen (aka SavK) and more. It's sure to be a memorable set, ready to appeal to all of your senses, so do your best to check it out.
Lab Coast
SAvK
Dundas
Yankee Yankee
$5 at Weeds Cafe
Toronto
Thursday, August 18
To the delight of Toronto fans, Montreal psych-punks Ultrathin are emerging for their first show in two years. If you're pining for a night showcasing Canadian punk and garage rock talent, you'll definitely want to head down to Parts & Labour. Vancouver's Needles//Pins and Alberta's the Moby Dicks will be warming up the crowd.
Ultrathin
Needles//Pins
The Moby Dicks
$8 at Parts & Labour
Friday, August 19
Lil Wayne has been keeping busy as of late, and with the release of his first post-prison full-length Tha Carter IV on the horizon, he's been on the road fuelling anticipation. As if fans weren't excited enough about the prospect of seeing the rapper live, he's coming back with a bang, bringing along top acts Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Far East Movement and Lloyd. You won't want to miss what is sure to be one heck of a spectacle.
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Keri Hilson
Far East Movement
Lloyd
$43.25 to $200.75 at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Saturday, August 20
Canadian music mainstays Blue Rodeo are coming home and playing the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre and they've recruited successful singer-songwriter Steve Earle to open. Get ready to reflect upon 25 years of your favourite tracks from the award-winning country rock act.
Blue Rodeo
Steve Earle
$31 to $99.75 at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Montreal
Friday, August 19
Sympathy, the new album from Chicago five-piece Scattered Trees, serves as the catalyst for the band's current North American tour. Co-headlining many of the dates with the Alternate Routes, the group will be bringing their heartfelt make of pop to Montreal fans. If you're looking for a fun Friday night, then Casa del Popolo has got you covered.
Scattered Trees
The Alternate Routes
Paul Dempsey
$8 advance, $10 door at Casa del Popolo
