You could sit around in front of your fireplace, complaining about the Canadian cold, or you could fix the situation — get out of the house and find some warmth in one of our country's fine concert venues. Find out who's playing must-see events in Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Toronto this week with our concert picks below.
Vancouver
Friday, February 1
After calling it quits in 2007, Edmonton punk-rockers Choke are reuniting for a seven-show Canadian tour titled Dead Band Rocking, with some exciting supporting performances from Invasives and Hopelus. The band haven't made any new music since the break-up, so you can expect to hear a refreshing take on old tracks.
Choke
Invasives
Hopelus
$15 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Sunday, February 3
Sacramento rappers Blackalicious will be playing the Fortune Sound Club in Vancouver with Northwest Division and J Deniss, just a couple nights after they stop in Victoria. The hip-hop duo haven't released an album since 2005's The Craft, but hopefully these shows will see the live debut of tracks Blackalicious recently promised that never saw the light of day.
Blackalicious
Northwest Division
J Deniss
$20 at Fortune Sound Club
Tuesday, February 5
Indie rockers Built to Spill have been promising a new album to fans for a while now, so fans will be hoping the band throws some new material into their setlist on this tour. Finn Riggins opens.
Built to Spill
Finn Riggins
$25 at the Rickshaw Theatre
Calgary
Thursday, January 31
Folk couple Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland, aka Whitehorse, are trekking across Canada to promote their latest album The Fate of the World Depends on This Kiss. Attack in Black man turned troubadour Daniel Romano opens, so this is a must-see Canadian spectacular.
Whitehorse
Daniel Romano
$30.25 at Knox United Church
Toronto
Thursday, January 31
Hip-hop producer Just Blaze has teamed up with trap sensation Bauuer as they prepare to launch their Big League Tour across North America. Don't miss them as they meet up in Toronto to create some ground-shaking bass.
Just Blaze and Bauuer
$15 at the Hoxton
Friday, February 1
Bubbling synth-noir duo Purity Ring are performing at the Phoenix for a sold out crowd! We suggest scrounging up some tickets, because you don't want to miss these breakthrough artists on this headlining tour.
Purity Ring
Young Magic
Sold out at the Phoenix
Friday, February 1
Toronto's very own Maylee Todd will be sharing her musical creativity with a hometown show at the Music Gallery with Jesse Futerman. Maylee's always got new projects on the go, but we've got our fingers crossed she'll perform her new single "Baby's Got It."
Maylee Todd
Jesse Futerman
$10 at the Music Gallery
Tuesday, February 5
Brooklyn-based duo Buke and Gase are on tour to promote their buzzed-about new album General Dome. We hear they're a fantastic live act, so be sure to check them out as they strum their self-made instruments at the Drake.
Buke and Gase
$11.50 advance, $13 door at the Drake (Underground)
Montreal
Thursday, January 31
Ambient electronic producers Mountains are on tour to promote their awe-inspiring new experimental album Centralia with opening performances from Event Cloak and Le revelateur.
Mountains
Event Cloak
Le revelateur
$11 advance, $13 door at Casa del Popolo
Saturday, February 2
Julie Doiron released her ninth solo album So Many Days late last year and is now on tour to belt it out for the Montreal crowd. Don't miss opening spots from Elgin-Skye and Construction and Deconstruction.
Julie Doiron
Elgin Skye
Construction and Deconstruction
#13 advance, $15 door at Casa Del Popolo
Monday, February 4
A day before their show in Toronto, Buke and Gase will be performing for their Montreal fans. Don't miss it!
Buke and Gase
$11 advance, $13 door at Il Motore
Tuesday, February 5
Prolific garage-rocker Ty Segall is on tour to promote his newest solo album Twins. Don't miss him at le Cabaret Du Mile End with opening acts from K-Holes and Ex-Cult. Who knows? He might have even recorded a new album by the show's start!
Ty Segall
K-Holes
Ex-Cult
$15 advance, $20 door at le Mile End
Vancouver
Friday, February 1
After calling it quits in 2007, Edmonton punk-rockers Choke are reuniting for a seven-show Canadian tour titled Dead Band Rocking, with some exciting supporting performances from Invasives and Hopelus. The band haven't made any new music since the break-up, so you can expect to hear a refreshing take on old tracks.
Choke
Invasives
Hopelus
$15 at the Biltmore Cabaret
Sunday, February 3
Sacramento rappers Blackalicious will be playing the Fortune Sound Club in Vancouver with Northwest Division and J Deniss, just a couple nights after they stop in Victoria. The hip-hop duo haven't released an album since 2005's The Craft, but hopefully these shows will see the live debut of tracks Blackalicious recently promised that never saw the light of day.
Blackalicious
Northwest Division
J Deniss
$20 at Fortune Sound Club
Tuesday, February 5
Indie rockers Built to Spill have been promising a new album to fans for a while now, so fans will be hoping the band throws some new material into their setlist on this tour. Finn Riggins opens.
Built to Spill
Finn Riggins
$25 at the Rickshaw Theatre
Calgary
Thursday, January 31
Folk couple Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland, aka Whitehorse, are trekking across Canada to promote their latest album The Fate of the World Depends on This Kiss. Attack in Black man turned troubadour Daniel Romano opens, so this is a must-see Canadian spectacular.
Whitehorse
Daniel Romano
$30.25 at Knox United Church
Toronto
Thursday, January 31
Hip-hop producer Just Blaze has teamed up with trap sensation Bauuer as they prepare to launch their Big League Tour across North America. Don't miss them as they meet up in Toronto to create some ground-shaking bass.
Just Blaze and Bauuer
$15 at the Hoxton
Friday, February 1
Bubbling synth-noir duo Purity Ring are performing at the Phoenix for a sold out crowd! We suggest scrounging up some tickets, because you don't want to miss these breakthrough artists on this headlining tour.
Purity Ring
Young Magic
Sold out at the Phoenix
Friday, February 1
Toronto's very own Maylee Todd will be sharing her musical creativity with a hometown show at the Music Gallery with Jesse Futerman. Maylee's always got new projects on the go, but we've got our fingers crossed she'll perform her new single "Baby's Got It."
Maylee Todd
Jesse Futerman
$10 at the Music Gallery
Tuesday, February 5
Brooklyn-based duo Buke and Gase are on tour to promote their buzzed-about new album General Dome. We hear they're a fantastic live act, so be sure to check them out as they strum their self-made instruments at the Drake.
Buke and Gase
$11.50 advance, $13 door at the Drake (Underground)
Montreal
Thursday, January 31
Ambient electronic producers Mountains are on tour to promote their awe-inspiring new experimental album Centralia with opening performances from Event Cloak and Le revelateur.
Mountains
Event Cloak
Le revelateur
$11 advance, $13 door at Casa del Popolo
Saturday, February 2
Julie Doiron released her ninth solo album So Many Days late last year and is now on tour to belt it out for the Montreal crowd. Don't miss opening spots from Elgin-Skye and Construction and Deconstruction.
Julie Doiron
Elgin Skye
Construction and Deconstruction
#13 advance, $15 door at Casa Del Popolo
Monday, February 4
A day before their show in Toronto, Buke and Gase will be performing for their Montreal fans. Don't miss it!
Buke and Gase
$11 advance, $13 door at Il Motore
Tuesday, February 5
Prolific garage-rocker Ty Segall is on tour to promote his newest solo album Twins. Don't miss him at le Cabaret Du Mile End with opening acts from K-Holes and Ex-Cult. Who knows? He might have even recorded a new album by the show's start!
Ty Segall
K-Holes
Ex-Cult
$15 advance, $20 door at le Mile End
