The end of May has been cold and rainy in the 416 — hopefully as the forecast clears up, we can finally ditch the jackets and umbrellas when heading out to shows this week. Here are the seven can't-miss concerts coming to Toronto, including Massey Hall turning into Graceland for three days and Shakira's famously truthful hips making good on her promise. (No fightin'!)
Check out the rest of Exclaim!'s Canadian concert listings and tour announcements here.
Matt Berninger
The Concert Hall, May 26
Buy tickets here
Calling all Sad Dads of the Greater Toronto Area: the National's Matt Berninger will be making a stop at the Concert Hall for a headlining performance days before the release of his sophomore solo record, Get Sunk.
Shakira
Scotiabank Arena, May 26
Buy tickets here
Shakira's hips didn't lie when she promised to reschedule her world tour after running into logistical issues last fall, as she will finally bring the festivities to Toronto's Scotiabank Arena.
MIKE
The Opera House, May 28
Buy tickets here
"That's Showbiz!, baby!" Is something you may or may not have already said while listening to MIKE's breezy latest album, and may or may not repeat ad nauseam whenever the rapper performs a song from it at his show at the Opera House.
Pierce the Veil
Budweiser Stage, May 28
Buy tickets here
In case you didn't hear, Pierce the Veil are bringing the career-spanning I Can't Hear You World Tour to Budweiser Stage with Sleeping with Sirens for one of two Canadian dates this spring, where you too can be a king for a day.
Paul Simon
Massey Hall, May 27, 29, 30
Buy tickets here, here and here
Paul Simon technically retired in 2018, but sometimes you need 50 ways to leave your job. Catch him during one of three shows at the historic Massey Hall this week as part of his A Quiet Celebration Tour, where every city gets to temporarily become Graceland.
Sunny Day Real Estate
Danforth Music Hall, May 29
Buy tickets here
Emo vets Sunny Day Real Estate are bringing the sunshine back to Toronto when they return to the Danforth Music Hall for the second time since initially getting the band back together in 2022.
CJ Wiley
The Drake Underground, May 29
Buy tickets here
A true pinnacle of queer joy, local legend CJ Wiley will be celebrating the release of their debut record So Brand New this week at the Drake Underground alongside Nardos Almaz.