Do you need a little more blues harmonica in your life? Or perhaps a cathartic, Faygo-drenched party to shake away your inhibitions? We can help with that: Below is our weekly edition of Can't Miss Concerts, providing you with a tempting list of live shows happening across Canada from April 6 through 12.
Get swept up in the experimental soundscapes of producer Nicolas Jaar or the visceral truth-tales of Mitski — or, for an even longer list of shows to check out this week, get yourself to our Concert Listings page.
Canadian Juggalo Weekend
Whoop whoop! Calling all Juggalos: Your favourite cult hip-hop duo, Insane Clown Posse have at last geared up to bring the madness to Canada this weekend. Set to feature performances from underground hip-hop artists as well as face painting booths and games, it's a Juggalo's dream weekend. ICP are gearing up to give you all the Faygo your heart could possibly desire (plus a little more), as they will be headlining each night of the weekend — may we suggest waterproof attire? Plus: the more face-paint the better.
04/07-08/2017 Calgary, AB – Stampede Corral
Rose Cousins
Perhaps you've already been acquainted with the sweet and sombre sounds of chanteuse Rose Cousins from past releases, but her latest offering, Natural Conclusion, brings the best of the Haligonian's innate ballad-writing abilities and her gorgeous instrumentals together. The Juno winner will be in the Maritimes this week for three shows, so if you haven't already, go check her out.
04/06/2017 Fredericton, NB – Wilmot United Church
04/07/2017 Moncton, NB – Tide and Boar Gastropub
04/08/2017 Charlottetown, PEI – Confederation Centre of the Arts
Diet Cig
The timing couldn't be better for Diet Cig's Toronto and Montréal shows this week; the New York garage-pop duo of Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman just released their first full-length album, Swear I'm Good at This. If you know anything about this duo, then you know to expect a show reverberating with energy as high as Luciano's stage kicks. Hear them perform their very fresh tunes live at two shows this week.
04/10/2017 Montreal, QC – Bar Le Ritz PBD
04/11/2017 Toronto, ON – The Drake Hotel
Jenn Grant
Since treating us to her album, Paradise, folk great Jenn Grant has been on the road in support of the new album, which finds the songwriter branching out into new, more synth-y territory while maintaining her usual musical consistency. This week, she'll make her way through Western Canada for three shows, serenading fans across British Columbia.
04/06/2017 Cumberland, BC – Waverley Hotel
04/07/2017 Victoria, BC – Sugar Nightclub
04/08/2017 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer
Have a hankering for an energetic, toe-tapping live show? Say no more: Blues-drenched Vancouver duo the Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer have a scintillating new record, Apocalipstick, which had us hooked from the first fuzzy notes of echoing harmonica on track one — and now they're bringing it on the road. Catch one of their spirited live shows this week in Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Ontario with opener and fellow blues musician Ryan McNally.
04/06/2017 Saskatoon, SK – Broadway Theatre
04/07/2017 Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre
04/08/2017 Thunder Bay, ON – Crocks
04/11/2017 Meaford, ON – Meaford Hall
Nicolas Jaar
Having made one of the Top 10 Dance & Electronic Albums of 2016 with Sirens, and having already hit Montréal and Toronto late last year, Chilean producer Nicolas Jaar is setting his sights on Vancouver this week. His mastery of layering danceable soundscapes with multi-genre rhythms makes him a must-see live act. This week is your chance to intimately experience his music live before he hits the larger stage of Osheaga, so it's something of a can't miss.
04/11/2017 Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
Kazoo! Fest
Kicking off its 10th year, Guelph, Ontario's not-for-profit Kazoo! Fest announced a whopping lineup back in February for their annual five-day festival. Their stages will see the likes of Constantines, Weaves, Jessy Lanza and U.S. Girls, alongside many other acts, as well as art exhibitions and audio and visual installations. Come Sunday (April 9), the festival will conclude with the fest's anticipated pancake breakfast show. For $65, a Crony Pass is your ticket to the entire festival, or your can obtain individual tickets for Friday or Saturday's shows.
04/05-09/2017 Guelph, ON – Various Venues
Mitski
Mitski has earned herself plenty of acclaim for her raw and evocative style of songwriting. Her extremely successful last album Puberty 2 was released in June of 2016, so fans surely know the album front to back by now. Sing all the words out yourself as she graces the stage in Vancouver this week.
04/07/2017 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
Whitney
Folk-rock duo Whitney released their debut album Light Upon the Lake in 2016, and now the Chicagoans are hitting the road in support. With their meticulous accent horns and bright guitar twangs, their songs are undeniably upbeat and summery, so if you're out west this week, go bask in their feel-good tunes. Singer-songwriter Julie Byrne will kick off the show in Vancouver.
04/06/2017 Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina
04/07/2017 Edmonton, AB – The Needle Vinyl Tavern
04/08/2017 Calgary, AB – Commonwealth Bar & Stage
04/10/2017 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for more upcoming shows.
Get swept up in the experimental soundscapes of producer Nicolas Jaar or the visceral truth-tales of Mitski — or, for an even longer list of shows to check out this week, get yourself to our Concert Listings page.
Canadian Juggalo Weekend
Whoop whoop! Calling all Juggalos: Your favourite cult hip-hop duo, Insane Clown Posse have at last geared up to bring the madness to Canada this weekend. Set to feature performances from underground hip-hop artists as well as face painting booths and games, it's a Juggalo's dream weekend. ICP are gearing up to give you all the Faygo your heart could possibly desire (plus a little more), as they will be headlining each night of the weekend — may we suggest waterproof attire? Plus: the more face-paint the better.
04/07-08/2017 Calgary, AB – Stampede Corral
Rose Cousins
Perhaps you've already been acquainted with the sweet and sombre sounds of chanteuse Rose Cousins from past releases, but her latest offering, Natural Conclusion, brings the best of the Haligonian's innate ballad-writing abilities and her gorgeous instrumentals together. The Juno winner will be in the Maritimes this week for three shows, so if you haven't already, go check her out.
04/06/2017 Fredericton, NB – Wilmot United Church
04/07/2017 Moncton, NB – Tide and Boar Gastropub
04/08/2017 Charlottetown, PEI – Confederation Centre of the Arts
Diet Cig
The timing couldn't be better for Diet Cig's Toronto and Montréal shows this week; the New York garage-pop duo of Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman just released their first full-length album, Swear I'm Good at This. If you know anything about this duo, then you know to expect a show reverberating with energy as high as Luciano's stage kicks. Hear them perform their very fresh tunes live at two shows this week.
04/10/2017 Montreal, QC – Bar Le Ritz PBD
04/11/2017 Toronto, ON – The Drake Hotel
Jenn Grant
Since treating us to her album, Paradise, folk great Jenn Grant has been on the road in support of the new album, which finds the songwriter branching out into new, more synth-y territory while maintaining her usual musical consistency. This week, she'll make her way through Western Canada for three shows, serenading fans across British Columbia.
04/06/2017 Cumberland, BC – Waverley Hotel
04/07/2017 Victoria, BC – Sugar Nightclub
04/08/2017 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer
Have a hankering for an energetic, toe-tapping live show? Say no more: Blues-drenched Vancouver duo the Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer have a scintillating new record, Apocalipstick, which had us hooked from the first fuzzy notes of echoing harmonica on track one — and now they're bringing it on the road. Catch one of their spirited live shows this week in Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Ontario with opener and fellow blues musician Ryan McNally.
04/06/2017 Saskatoon, SK – Broadway Theatre
04/07/2017 Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre
04/08/2017 Thunder Bay, ON – Crocks
04/11/2017 Meaford, ON – Meaford Hall
Nicolas Jaar
Having made one of the Top 10 Dance & Electronic Albums of 2016 with Sirens, and having already hit Montréal and Toronto late last year, Chilean producer Nicolas Jaar is setting his sights on Vancouver this week. His mastery of layering danceable soundscapes with multi-genre rhythms makes him a must-see live act. This week is your chance to intimately experience his music live before he hits the larger stage of Osheaga, so it's something of a can't miss.
04/11/2017 Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
Kazoo! Fest
Kicking off its 10th year, Guelph, Ontario's not-for-profit Kazoo! Fest announced a whopping lineup back in February for their annual five-day festival. Their stages will see the likes of Constantines, Weaves, Jessy Lanza and U.S. Girls, alongside many other acts, as well as art exhibitions and audio and visual installations. Come Sunday (April 9), the festival will conclude with the fest's anticipated pancake breakfast show. For $65, a Crony Pass is your ticket to the entire festival, or your can obtain individual tickets for Friday or Saturday's shows.
04/05-09/2017 Guelph, ON – Various Venues
Mitski
Mitski has earned herself plenty of acclaim for her raw and evocative style of songwriting. Her extremely successful last album Puberty 2 was released in June of 2016, so fans surely know the album front to back by now. Sing all the words out yourself as she graces the stage in Vancouver this week.
04/07/2017 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
Whitney
Folk-rock duo Whitney released their debut album Light Upon the Lake in 2016, and now the Chicagoans are hitting the road in support. With their meticulous accent horns and bright guitar twangs, their songs are undeniably upbeat and summery, so if you're out west this week, go bask in their feel-good tunes. Singer-songwriter Julie Byrne will kick off the show in Vancouver.
04/06/2017 Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina
04/07/2017 Edmonton, AB – The Needle Vinyl Tavern
04/08/2017 Calgary, AB – Commonwealth Bar & Stage
04/10/2017 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
Visit Exclaim!'s Concert Listings for more upcoming shows.