Festivals are taking over Vancouver and Montreal this weekend, and there's still plenty of other concerts happening around Calgary and Toronto this week. Check out our picks for the best concerts in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal below.
Vancouver
From September 22 to 25, Olio Festival will be taking over Vancouver for the third year in a row. Featuring a number of local artists, plus big names from abroad, if you're in town this weekend, be sure to check out the following shows as part of the festival's musical lineup. Olio will also be featuring skateboarding, film, art and comedy components. Day passes are going for $25 or you can pick up a weekend pass for $50. For the complete schedule and ticket information, head here, and check below for our recommended highlights.
Thursday, September 22
For a night of danceable pop music, head to Vancouver's Republic and check out Glass Candy and like-minded Italians Do It Better labelmates Chromatics. Consisting of singer Ida No and guitar and synth man Johnny Jewel, Glass Candy will definitely get the crowd dancing with their electro-pop sound and glammy rock posturing. The bill is filled out by the Radio Zero DJs.
Glass Candy
Chromatics
Radio Zero DJs
$23 at Republic
Friday, September 23
Often praised for their live performances, Ottawa's Bonjay will be hitting the stage at the incredible-sounding Fortune Sound Club as part of Olio Fest. Blending indie, dancehall and R&B, Bonjay are definitely one of the most unique-sounding acts you'll see this weekend. Backed by Sincerely Hana, Rico Uno, Skinny Pete and Pat Campbell, Friday is guaranteed to be a night jam-packed with great live music.
Bonjay
Sincerely Hana
Rico Uno
Skinny Pete
Pat Campbell
$15 at Future Sound Club
Saturday, September 24
Quickly gaining a reputation for his electronic manipulation of indie pop, Active Child will be making a stop in Vancouver this weekend to share his often laptop-assisted music with the crowd at Olio. Having shared the stage with acts like James Blake and White Lies, Active Child (aka Pat Grossi) should be a treat to watch for all in attendance. He will be sharing the stage on Saturday with British electronic artist Chad Valley and Vancouver's own Babe Rainbow.
Active Child
Chad Valley
Babe Rainbow
$13 at Electric Owl
Calgary
Thursday, September 22
PS I Love You, the Kingston, ON duo consisting of Paul Saulnier and Benjamin Nelson, continue their North American tour alongside Balkans with a stop at Calgary's the Gateway. Their 2010 album Meet Me at Muster Station has garnered a lot of acclaim, so why not check out the band live?
PS I Love You
Balkans
$12 to $20 at the Gateway
Saturday, September 24
Also rolling in to the Gateway this weekend is the Polaris Music Prize-winning Francophone band Karkwa. Touring their award-winning album Les Chemins de Verre, this band know how to put on an enjoyable live show -- even if you don't know French. Aidan Knight will be opening.
Karkwa
Aidan Knight
$10 to $12 at the Gateway
Sunday, September 25
J Mascis will be playing at Republik on Sunday evening. Touring in support of this year's Several Shades of Why, the Dinosaur Jr. frontman's stop in Calgary is a show you don't want to miss.
J Mascis
$29.75 at Republik
Toronto
Thursday, September 22
Beloved indie popsters the Shins will be playing at the Phoenix this evening. Despite not having released a new album since 2007's Wincing the Night Away, the Portland-based band will be stopping in Toronto as part of a small North American tour. It seems the possibility of hearing long-overdue new material was a popular draw, as tickets are sold out. Faces on Film are the supporting band.
The Shins
Faces on Film
$30 (sold out) at the Phoenix
Friday, September 23
They haven't released a new album in 15 years, but female-fronted post-punk band the Raincoats will be stopping in Toronto on a small seven-date tour. The reissue of the band's 1981 album Odyshape was released September 13, and the Raincoats will be joined by San Francisco weird-rock group Grass Widow.
The Raincoats
Grass Widow
$18 at Wrongbar
Saturday, September 24
Rootsy Toronto band the Beauties have been making a name for themselves, touring with members of Broken Social Scene and recording with Serena Ryder. Now you can catch them at Lee's Palace in Toronto this weekend. Supporting bands are Deep Dark Woods and Harlan Pepper.
The Beauties
Deep Dark Woods
Harlan Pepper
$12 advance, $15 door at Lee's Palace
Montreal
This year is a big one for Pop Montreal, which will be celebrating its tenth anniversary this weekend. Festival performers from across Canada and the world will descend on the city from now until September 25, and as always, there are a lot of stellar-looking shows to mark down on that calendar. For the complete schedule and ticket information, head here, and check below for our recommended highlights.
Thursday, September 22
Arcade Fire will kick off the weekend early with a free show tonight. Still riding the wave of last year's The Suburbs and this week's Polaris Music Prize win, this is a band you don't want to miss. If that's not enough to entice you, last year's Polaris winners Karkwa will be the supporting band. And, hey, it's free!
Arcade Fire
Karkwa
Kid Koala
Free at Place des Festivals Quartier des Spectacles
Friday, September 23
On Friday night Mission Santa Cruz will be hosting the Passovah Showcase, headlined by Montreal's own indie electro pop outfit Miracle Fortress. Other artists on the bill include Born Gold (formerly Gobble Gobble) and Cousins.
Miracle Fortress
DJ Thomas Carlo Promise
Born Gold (formerly Gobble Gobble)
Cousins
Cotton Mouth
Mozart's Sister
$12 advance, $15 door at Mission Santa Cruz: Salle STM
Saturday, September 24
SAT will be hosting the Hippos in Tanks Showcase on Saturday, starring a variety of electronic music that are guaranteed to wow crowds. Ford & Lopatin will close out the night, but not before big names in Canadian music like CFCF and d'Eon take to the stage.
Ford & Lopatin
Sleep ∞ Over
CFCF
d'Eon
$15 advance, $17 door at SAT
Vancouver
From September 22 to 25, Olio Festival will be taking over Vancouver for the third year in a row. Featuring a number of local artists, plus big names from abroad, if you're in town this weekend, be sure to check out the following shows as part of the festival's musical lineup. Olio will also be featuring skateboarding, film, art and comedy components. Day passes are going for $25 or you can pick up a weekend pass for $50. For the complete schedule and ticket information, head here, and check below for our recommended highlights.
Thursday, September 22
For a night of danceable pop music, head to Vancouver's Republic and check out Glass Candy and like-minded Italians Do It Better labelmates Chromatics. Consisting of singer Ida No and guitar and synth man Johnny Jewel, Glass Candy will definitely get the crowd dancing with their electro-pop sound and glammy rock posturing. The bill is filled out by the Radio Zero DJs.
Glass Candy
Chromatics
Radio Zero DJs
$23 at Republic
Friday, September 23
Often praised for their live performances, Ottawa's Bonjay will be hitting the stage at the incredible-sounding Fortune Sound Club as part of Olio Fest. Blending indie, dancehall and R&B, Bonjay are definitely one of the most unique-sounding acts you'll see this weekend. Backed by Sincerely Hana, Rico Uno, Skinny Pete and Pat Campbell, Friday is guaranteed to be a night jam-packed with great live music.
Bonjay
Sincerely Hana
Rico Uno
Skinny Pete
Pat Campbell
$15 at Future Sound Club
Saturday, September 24
Quickly gaining a reputation for his electronic manipulation of indie pop, Active Child will be making a stop in Vancouver this weekend to share his often laptop-assisted music with the crowd at Olio. Having shared the stage with acts like James Blake and White Lies, Active Child (aka Pat Grossi) should be a treat to watch for all in attendance. He will be sharing the stage on Saturday with British electronic artist Chad Valley and Vancouver's own Babe Rainbow.
Active Child
Chad Valley
Babe Rainbow
$13 at Electric Owl
Calgary
Thursday, September 22
PS I Love You, the Kingston, ON duo consisting of Paul Saulnier and Benjamin Nelson, continue their North American tour alongside Balkans with a stop at Calgary's the Gateway. Their 2010 album Meet Me at Muster Station has garnered a lot of acclaim, so why not check out the band live?
PS I Love You
Balkans
$12 to $20 at the Gateway
Saturday, September 24
Also rolling in to the Gateway this weekend is the Polaris Music Prize-winning Francophone band Karkwa. Touring their award-winning album Les Chemins de Verre, this band know how to put on an enjoyable live show -- even if you don't know French. Aidan Knight will be opening.
Karkwa
Aidan Knight
$10 to $12 at the Gateway
Sunday, September 25
J Mascis will be playing at Republik on Sunday evening. Touring in support of this year's Several Shades of Why, the Dinosaur Jr. frontman's stop in Calgary is a show you don't want to miss.
J Mascis
$29.75 at Republik
Toronto
Thursday, September 22
Beloved indie popsters the Shins will be playing at the Phoenix this evening. Despite not having released a new album since 2007's Wincing the Night Away, the Portland-based band will be stopping in Toronto as part of a small North American tour. It seems the possibility of hearing long-overdue new material was a popular draw, as tickets are sold out. Faces on Film are the supporting band.
The Shins
Faces on Film
$30 (sold out) at the Phoenix
Friday, September 23
They haven't released a new album in 15 years, but female-fronted post-punk band the Raincoats will be stopping in Toronto on a small seven-date tour. The reissue of the band's 1981 album Odyshape was released September 13, and the Raincoats will be joined by San Francisco weird-rock group Grass Widow.
The Raincoats
Grass Widow
$18 at Wrongbar
Saturday, September 24
Rootsy Toronto band the Beauties have been making a name for themselves, touring with members of Broken Social Scene and recording with Serena Ryder. Now you can catch them at Lee's Palace in Toronto this weekend. Supporting bands are Deep Dark Woods and Harlan Pepper.
The Beauties
Deep Dark Woods
Harlan Pepper
$12 advance, $15 door at Lee's Palace
Montreal
This year is a big one for Pop Montreal, which will be celebrating its tenth anniversary this weekend. Festival performers from across Canada and the world will descend on the city from now until September 25, and as always, there are a lot of stellar-looking shows to mark down on that calendar. For the complete schedule and ticket information, head here, and check below for our recommended highlights.
Thursday, September 22
Arcade Fire will kick off the weekend early with a free show tonight. Still riding the wave of last year's The Suburbs and this week's Polaris Music Prize win, this is a band you don't want to miss. If that's not enough to entice you, last year's Polaris winners Karkwa will be the supporting band. And, hey, it's free!
Arcade Fire
Karkwa
Kid Koala
Free at Place des Festivals Quartier des Spectacles
Friday, September 23
On Friday night Mission Santa Cruz will be hosting the Passovah Showcase, headlined by Montreal's own indie electro pop outfit Miracle Fortress. Other artists on the bill include Born Gold (formerly Gobble Gobble) and Cousins.
Miracle Fortress
DJ Thomas Carlo Promise
Born Gold (formerly Gobble Gobble)
Cousins
Cotton Mouth
Mozart's Sister
$12 advance, $15 door at Mission Santa Cruz: Salle STM
Saturday, September 24
SAT will be hosting the Hippos in Tanks Showcase on Saturday, starring a variety of electronic music that are guaranteed to wow crowds. Ford & Lopatin will close out the night, but not before big names in Canadian music like CFCF and d'Eon take to the stage.
Ford & Lopatin
Sleep ∞ Over
CFCF
d'Eon
$15 advance, $17 door at SAT
