Once again, Exclaim! has compiled a list of Can't Miss Concerts with a little something to please everyone; from hip-hop fans to politically charged punks and indie rockers to eccentric art freaks, we've found something to satisfy your musical needs between July 30 and August 5. Check out the highlights below and then head over to our concert listings for more live music goodness.
Electric Eclectics
Electric Eclectics is an experimental festival with a lineup of challenging, progressive performers including Mykki Blanco, DOOMSQUAD, Soupcans, Special Costello, Mimico and Sages, as well as DJs GlitClit, Monogamyth and Garbage Body. In addition to the boundary-pushing sounds, the festival programme includes visual art from Leslie Putnam, Digital Forest Collective and W. Mark Sutherland. The sonics and visuals will collide at Big Head Valley, which is a perfect scenic backdrop for this explosion of the arts.
07/31-08/02/2015 Meaford, ON – Big Head Valley
METZ
Toronto-based trio METZ are dragging their sludgy post-hardcore sound to the West coast this week. The band are beloved for their forceful vocals, fuzzed-out riffs and damaging breakdowns that have been further brutalized on their 2015 release, II. Witness the chaos that ensues when they perform tracks from the album in Saskatchewan and Alberta for the first time.
07/30/2015 Saskatoon, SK – Amigo's Cantina
07/31/2015 Calgary, AB – Republik
08/01/2015 Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
Osheaga
This year marks the tenth anniversary of one of Montreal's biggest music and arts festivals, Osheaga. The celebration drew a crowd of approximately 135,000 last year, and this year's lineup looks just as good: Florence and the Machine, Kendrick Lamar, the Black Keys, Weezer, Alt-J, Of Monsters and Men, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Caribou, Hot Chip, the Decemberists, ScHoolboy Q, St. Vincent, Future Islands, Milky Chance, Young the Giant, Brand New, Tyler, the Creator, Father John Misty, the Kills, Toro Y Moi, Alvvays and many more are slated to perform.
07/31-08/01/2015 Montreal, QC – Parc Jean-Drapeau
OVO Fest
The sixth annual OVO Fest is set to take over Toronto for three days, headlined by the 6 God himself. Joining Drake will be J. Cole, Big Sean, YG, Jeremih, Bas, comedian Kevin Hart and mysterious "special guests" that have made the festival famous. Last year's surprises included Lauryn Hill, Trey Songz, Usher and 50 Cent, so fans can expect something even bigger for this special "6ixth" edition.
08/01-03/2015 Toronto, ON – Molson Amphitheatre
Rise Against
Rise Against are hitting the road in support of their seventh studio album The Black Market, which stays true to their stand against social ills ¬— this is sure to trigger minor riots at the show. Rise Against will be joined by fellow post-hardcore outfits letlive and Killswitch Engage.
07/02/2015 Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
08/04/2015 Calgary, AB – Big Four Building
08/05/2015 Edmonton, AB – Shaw Conference Building
Sappyfest
The good people of Sappy Records are throwing the 10th edition of Sappyfest this week, which will include beer gardens, a zine fair, karaoke, film and an onslaught of music. The lineup includes Angel Olsen, B.A. Johnston, Crosss, Doldrums, Mozart's Sister, Nancy Pants, PUP, Speedy Ortiz, the Lonely Parade and plenty of your other favourite indie artists.
07/31-08/02/2015 Sackville, NB – Multiple Venues
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for additional concerts and events.
Electric Eclectics
Electric Eclectics is an experimental festival with a lineup of challenging, progressive performers including Mykki Blanco, DOOMSQUAD, Soupcans, Special Costello, Mimico and Sages, as well as DJs GlitClit, Monogamyth and Garbage Body. In addition to the boundary-pushing sounds, the festival programme includes visual art from Leslie Putnam, Digital Forest Collective and W. Mark Sutherland. The sonics and visuals will collide at Big Head Valley, which is a perfect scenic backdrop for this explosion of the arts.
07/31-08/02/2015 Meaford, ON – Big Head Valley
METZ
Toronto-based trio METZ are dragging their sludgy post-hardcore sound to the West coast this week. The band are beloved for their forceful vocals, fuzzed-out riffs and damaging breakdowns that have been further brutalized on their 2015 release, II. Witness the chaos that ensues when they perform tracks from the album in Saskatchewan and Alberta for the first time.
07/30/2015 Saskatoon, SK – Amigo's Cantina
07/31/2015 Calgary, AB – Republik
08/01/2015 Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
Osheaga
This year marks the tenth anniversary of one of Montreal's biggest music and arts festivals, Osheaga. The celebration drew a crowd of approximately 135,000 last year, and this year's lineup looks just as good: Florence and the Machine, Kendrick Lamar, the Black Keys, Weezer, Alt-J, Of Monsters and Men, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Caribou, Hot Chip, the Decemberists, ScHoolboy Q, St. Vincent, Future Islands, Milky Chance, Young the Giant, Brand New, Tyler, the Creator, Father John Misty, the Kills, Toro Y Moi, Alvvays and many more are slated to perform.
07/31-08/01/2015 Montreal, QC – Parc Jean-Drapeau
OVO Fest
The sixth annual OVO Fest is set to take over Toronto for three days, headlined by the 6 God himself. Joining Drake will be J. Cole, Big Sean, YG, Jeremih, Bas, comedian Kevin Hart and mysterious "special guests" that have made the festival famous. Last year's surprises included Lauryn Hill, Trey Songz, Usher and 50 Cent, so fans can expect something even bigger for this special "6ixth" edition.
08/01-03/2015 Toronto, ON – Molson Amphitheatre
Rise Against
Rise Against are hitting the road in support of their seventh studio album The Black Market, which stays true to their stand against social ills ¬— this is sure to trigger minor riots at the show. Rise Against will be joined by fellow post-hardcore outfits letlive and Killswitch Engage.
07/02/2015 Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
08/04/2015 Calgary, AB – Big Four Building
08/05/2015 Edmonton, AB – Shaw Conference Building
Sappyfest
The good people of Sappy Records are throwing the 10th edition of Sappyfest this week, which will include beer gardens, a zine fair, karaoke, film and an onslaught of music. The lineup includes Angel Olsen, B.A. Johnston, Crosss, Doldrums, Mozart's Sister, Nancy Pants, PUP, Speedy Ortiz, the Lonely Parade and plenty of your other favourite indie artists.
07/31-08/02/2015 Sackville, NB – Multiple Venues
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for additional concerts and events.