The definitive guide to music performances, live shows, concerts, festivals and industry events in your city. Appear in this directory for free or book a spot. “Weekly Stories” Updated Thursdays.

FEATURE SPOT

Live Nation Announces Deal With Rogers for New Open-air Concert Venue

The entertainment company that owns Ticketmaster, Live Nation, unveiled plans earlier today, Sept. 26, to build the largest concert venue of its kind in the greater Toronto area on the YZD development site.

JUNO Awards Changes Affect Indigenous and South Asian Artists

Changes that affect the voting and nomination process for The JUNO Awards include the removal, merging and addition of new award categories, and new ways of tabulating votes.

Submissions for the 2025 JUNO Awards and Call for Judges open October 15. JUNO Week runs from March 27-30. Find out where and when the JUNOS will be aired and more about the changes.

FKA twigs and Bill Skarsgård Star in ‘The Crow’

FKA twigs, stars alongside Bill Skarsgård and Danny Huston in The Crow, a reimagining of the original 1994 film set for release this summer. The British vocalist and performance artist, whose given name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, is known for her creativity, style, bold stage presence and cutting-edge music and video productions. She plays singer Shelly Webster, soulmate to Eric Draven (Skarsgård) in the dark and moody fantasy. Her music has been part of the soundtrack of many productions. Two Weeks has been featured in Mr. Robot, The Originals, Hightown, Power, Dark Matter, a Burberry men’s fragrance ad starring Adam Driver, and was the opening theme music in season two of the Brazilian telenovela Hidden Truths. In the trailer for The Crow, we hear melodic industrial vocals and a wailing guitar from the track Take What You Want by Post Malone, featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Travis Scott, but it’s yet to be confirmed if FKA twigs sings in the film. We also catch glimpses of her dancing in the trailer as she does in her music videos. The Crow 2024 movie is based on the anti-hero character from the graphic novel by James O’Barr. The above photo of FKA twigs and Skarsgård was taken in the Kingsway Tram Tunnels in London, England on June 25.

WEEKLY STORIES

NEW

New Celeste song handpicked for “The Day of The Jackal” Series

The new single This Is Who I Am from BRIT music award-winner and Oscar nominee Celeste is the title song for Peacock and Sky’s new series The Day of the Jackal, an adaptation of the Frederick Forsyth novel of the same name. Handpicked by leading actors Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch, the hauntingly melodic This Is Who I Am plays during the show’s opening credits. The song is written by Celeste and showcases the raspy side of her vocals on this track as well as her talent for composition. The song is written and performed in the tradition of jazz and blues artists like Billie Holiday backed by instrumentalists of enormous talent. This Is Who I Am is produced by Kendrick collaborators Beach Noise. 

Emerging Artists Taking the Stage at SXSW

SXSW 25 announced a lineup of artists from various countries around the world performing at next year’s music festival. Among them are singer Justin Morales from Mexico, Dublin punk band Gurriers, Middle Eastern-influenced Indonesian psychedelic funk band Ali, Montreal’s angular art-punk ensemble La Sécurité, Virginia-based multi-instrumentalist and composer Yasmin Williams, Aussie rock band Delivery, Japanese environmental music legend Shiho Yabuki and new wave-pop sensation Twin Shadow, who will be launching his sixth album Georgie at SXSW. 

New Dates Added for Oasis Reunion Tour

The North American (NA) leg of the Oasis world tour will kick off in Toronto on Aug. 24, 2025. Oasis is the first band slated for a performance at the new 50,000-capacity open-air Rogers Stadium currently under construction in Toronto. The concert was scheduled for August 25, but a second show was inserted a day before for the same venue. Stadiums in Mexico City, North Rutherford, and Los Angeles have all added second dates. Chicago currently has only one show. This is one of the hottest tickets in any town lucky enough to land a show from brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher who are reuniting as Oasis after a 15-year split. It’s also been 16 years since the band played played a show in NA. Cage the Elephant will open for Oasis for the entire NA leg. General tickets go on sale on October 4 at noon. UK and Ireland shows that form the domestic leg of Oasis Live ’25 will stop in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin.

New Album and Film from Tears for Fears

Tickets went on sale for British duo Tears For Fears, not for a live show, but for a concert film shot and recorded at the FirstBank Amphitheater at Graystone Quarry in Franklin, TN in the United States during their sold-out international Tipping Point Tour Part 2. Songs such as Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Shout, Sowing The Seeds Of Love, Mad World, and Head Over Heels are captured in Tears For Fears Live (A Tipping Point Film) to be screened in cinemas worldwide on October 24 and 26, 2024. The band also announced their first-ever official live album, Songs For A Nervous Planet, recorded at the same time as the film and is set for release on October 25. The album includes 4 brand-new studio tracks, including new single The Girl That I Call Home. 

Catfish and the Bottlemen Tour

In an epic end to their five-year hiatus onstage at Austin City Limits on October 4. Catfish and the Bottlemen will officially kick off their tour on October 5 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. They’ll play the Phoenix club in Toronto (Oct. 21) then head to Nashville, Chicago, Boston, New York and Philadelphia and other cities before wrapping up on November 3 at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. The band’s long-awaited tour arrives after February’s premiere of their comeback single Showtime. The song was a glimpse at their upcoming fourth studio album recorded and co-produced with multi-GRAMMY Award winning producer Dave Sardy (Oasis, LCD Soundsystem, Rolling Stones). Catfish and the Bottlemen’s summer 2025 is already stacked with sold-out headline dates, including Liverpool’s 32,000-capacity Sefton Park (July 11), Cardiff Castle in Wales (July 19 and 20), and Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh (Aug. 24). The band will also return to Reading & Leeds mainstage for a second time.

Tove Lo’s Label Signs googly eyes

Independent record label Pretty Swede Records founded in 2022 by Tove Lo signed their first artist. To date, googly eyes’ Starlet EP released on Sept. 27 marks the first release by Pretty Swede outside of Tove’s own projects, including Tove’s 2023 LP Dirt Femme and her collaborative 2024 HEAT EP with SG Lewis.

EnlighTEN x Global Toronto Music Festival 

To mark their 10-year anniversary, the Aga Khan Museum presents the Global Toronto Music Festival, in partnership with Small World Music, from September 28-29. The festival will feature a diverse lineup of free live performances, creative workshops, activities for the whole family, and a special cake-cutting ceremony. 

Global Toronto Music Festival

The Global Toronto Musician Festival (GTMF) will transform venues across Toronto into interactive hubs featuring curated live musical performances, industry talks and networking events. GTMF will unveil 20 jury-selected musicians across genres and cultures. The artists will headline a 4-day event from September 28 to October 1, through a mix of free and ticketed shows with diverse sounds embodying the city’s many cultural communities.

Ice Spice Collab with Central Cee on New Single

Ice Spice teams up with UK rapper Central Cee (Core Magazines article) on a song about cheating on their significant other, which led to a huge amount of gossip. People can’t seem to separate the personal from the professional or a role in a video from real life. Ice Spice embarked on a 24-date tour with stops at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, Rolling Loud Europe in Austria, Wireless Festival in London, shows in Toronto and cities across the U.S. The tour ends on August 31 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater, but there is a September 1 show at LIV, Miami Beach, Florida. Ice Spice did the talkshow circuit and is on a whole lot of lists — usually toward the top. She lit up the Empire State Building on the Y2K! World Tour as well as a lot of venues and will appear on the cover of the Rolling Stone in September. View the official video for Did It First: HERE.

The DC Jazz Festival 

The DC JazzFest at the Wharf is one of the premier music festivals in the nation, drawing enthusiasts from around the world every year over Labour Day Weekend. This year’s event, taking place from August 28-September 1, marks the 20^th anniversary and features an array of local and international jazz artists. With a dynamic fusion of styles and sounds, the festival is more than just a musical event; it’s a cultural experience.

Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land

Some of Jamaica’s brightest reggae stars left their homeland for a new life in Toronto, Canada. The new National Film Board (NFB) release Sounds & Pressure highlights the journey of these Jamaican-Canadian music icons. In a five-part series, the NFB documentary takes us from the island-capital of Kingston to vibrant multicultural centres like Kensington Market in downtown Toronto. Through archive film footage and interview we see and hear how Jamaican reggae artists — ska duo Roy & Yvonne, reggae artist Nana McLean, dancehall musician Johnny Osbourne, reggae artist Leroy Sibbles and recording studio owner Jerry Brown — planted roots in Canada.

Tickets for Leon Bridges and Oscar Peterson at 100

Tickets go on sale August 23 for Leon Bridges, The Leon Tour, with Hermanos Gutiérrez on Sunday, Oct. 27-28, 2024, and for the Oscar Peterson at 100: A Canadian Celebration event, which takes place on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Both shows will be at Massey Hall at the Allied Music Centre.

A Select List of Shows at Massey Hall in September

The September lineup of shows at Massey Hall (178 Victoria Street
Toronto) looks exciting. Here is a selection of shows from our editor. See Squeeze with special guests, The English Beat (Sept. 7), St. Vincent (Sept. 14), the Polaris Music Prize Gala (Sept. 17), and Sting (Sept 20).

Honey Jam Female Artists Showcase

Honey Jam, Canada’s iconic showcase of emerging female talent, returns for its 29th annual concert on August 29, at Toronto’s TD Music Hall (178 Victoria Street). As usual, the show promises an electrifying evening filled with music, empowerment, and celebration. Tickets are available for Honey Jam now.

Music Fete and Salsa Fest — Mont-Tremblant

It will be muy caliente for the very first edition of Salsa Tremblant! The Canadian Salsa festival project adds Tremblant to its summer tour. The pedestrian village at Tremblant, the highest summit in the Laurentians, will feature Latin culture, music and dance from August 23-25. The Fête de la musique, directed by Angèle Dubeau (August 31-September 2) celebrates musical diversity, from classical to jazz and world music from well-known and emerging artists. Both events are free.

UB40 Summer ‘Red Red Wine Tour’ – Canada/U.S.

The “Red Red Wine Tour” brings four-time Grammy nominees UB40 to the Boomstock music festival in Toronto on August 24.  The tour coincides with the recent release of the English pop-reggae band’s 45^th Anniversary album, UB45, currently at the top of the UK charts. Fans can look forward to UB40’s worldwide hit singles Red Red Wine, Food For Thought, and (I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You, plus new songs from UB45. Special guests on select tour dates will include The English Beat, Maxi Priest, Inner Circle and Third World. The group is mainly touring the U.S.  — for a third straight year. Bands at the Boomstock event on York University campus at The Bowl at Sobeys at Sobeys Stadium (1 Shoreham Dr, North York – Pioneer Village Subway Station) event include Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Chilliwack, Sweet, and The Box.

Amy Louie / Grossman’s Tavern Music Scholarship

The Amy Louie Grossman’s Music Scholarship (ALGMS) was created by the Louie family, owners of Grossman’s Tavern, in Amy’s memory. Amy’s vision was to support local musicians. The scholarship, valued at $2,000 CAD, aims to fulfill her dream by providing vital funding to help artists further their careers. Interested musicians or bands are encouraged to submit a proposal outlining their plans for the scholarship funds by September 23, 2024. The ALGMS winner and runner-up will be revealed during a fundraiser on October 8 at 7 p.m. at Grossman’s Tavern (377 Spadina Ave., Toronto), followed by live performances from the winners.

New music from Saukrates, Redman, Masta Ace

Toronto rapper, singer and producer Saukrates features Redman and Masta Ace on the single release My Pager Burnin Up (East Side of Thangs) off the upcoming album Bad Addiction. Plus, it’s been 25 years since Saukrates’ debut album release. The artist puts a new spin on a 42-track re-release of The Underground Tapes. Read the story in Core Music.

Mariah, Reba, JHud, Tom Waits to judge International Songwriting Competition

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) reveals their judges. ISC provides opportunities for songwriters to have their work evaluated by top-tier music celebrities and industry professionals who select the winners. This year’s panel features artists and music industry leaders, Grammy winners, chart-topping artists, and influential music executives such as Mariah Carey, Paul Stanley (KISS), Jennifer Hudson, Elle King, Reba McEntire, Tom Waits, Armin Van Buuren, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kevin Roldan, Lilly Palmer, Jack DeJohnette, and Tom Hambridge. ISC Founder Candace Avery said that the competition is a rare opportunity for songwriters to have their music heard by some of the most influential voices in the music industry. ISC includes over $200,000 in cash and prizes and a grand prize of $25,000 in cash.

Billianne’s song ‘Crush’ was written on a boat

The new track Crush marks Billianne’s first ever pop single, a follow-up to Daydream, that cemented her status as an artist to watch. The 21-year-old Milton, Ontario singer-songwriter says, “Crush was written on a boat near the end of summer in northern Ontario. I was thinking about a crush I had a while ago and how consuming it feels.” Crush has been selected for heavy rotation on iHeartRadio Future Star. Billianne recently returned from a support tour across North America with Australian band Hollow Coves and recently played Montreal’s Osheaga Festival. She’ll go on her first tour overseas, with debut performances in London, Paris and Berlin and end the year as special guest to Donovan Woods on his fall tour including a night at Massey Hall, Toronto. 

I’ll take the lacy black pair, I guess.

Charli xcx releases Guess featuring Billie Eilish. Guess follows hot on the heels of the release of Charli’s critically acclaimed sixth studio album BRAT. Guess finds the duo teaming up for the very first time. From the snippet we heard, the song is built on a solid foundation of House music. All bras and underwear used in the music video have been donated to I Support The Girls. The donation is a kind gesture, likely to raise funds for the organization, but it does sound a bit unhygienic. “Um, thanks.”

Carole Pope Live at Hugh’s Room — Toronto

Activist-musician Carole Pope, who has earned three JUNOs, a Genie Award, and multiple independent music awards will be playing live at a local Toronto venue this September. Pope recently released the single, Speaking in Code, with Clara Venice following her Music for Lesbians EP. Contributors include Peaches, Alain Johannes and Rob Preuss. The EP sounds like it could be part of the soundtrack to The Rock Horror Picture Show, full of over-the-top vocals, sexual innuendos and puns but the usual raunchiness has given way to humour. Coincidentally, Pope is workshopping Rough Trade: The Musical, with actress-comedian Kate Rigg. The show is named after Pope’s band Rough Trade, which she formed with Kevan Staples. Pope has toured with David Bowie and performed around the world. She appeared in SUCK, a vampire movie with Moby, Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper and Henry Rollins. The artist has also contributed music to film and television, including Transparent, Love or Whatever, Pretty Hard Cases, and The L Word. Rough Trade was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2020) and the Canadian Music Week Indy Hall of Fame (2007). The show is at the new Hugh’s Room (296 Broadview Ave.) on Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Launch of TV portal to everything deadmau5 — Virtual Watch Party

After four years in the making deadmau5 introduces a new TV portal/streaming platform, which the musician calls the “new home for the horde.” deadmau5 mentioned the “cube 3.0 at Navy Pier watch party, Aug. 1st at 6 pm PT / 9pm ET,” in a post on Instagram. An image of the Cube v3 stage set that he and his team conceptualized and built is in the promo for the event. To make sense of it all, the deadmau5 performance at Navy Pier from several years ago will be televised on mau5trap.tv, for the official launch of their new portal or website. The site allows access behind the scenes, to concerts, unreleased music, fan rewards and special experiences for members. The band’s 2020 Navy Pier cube 3.0 show will broadcast today. Three minutes of live feed from deadmau5 and Rezzmau5 onstage at the Tomorrowland electronic dance music festival in Belgium three days ago is already on the site.

Music, art, sports, fashion and culture summer camp — Pennsylvania

This could be seen as the “warped tour” of summer camps and make you wish you were 13 again. The weeklong (July 28-August 3) first of its kind Art-in-Action summer camp for young athletes, musicians and artists is being presented by Loyal to the Craft at Woodward camp. Vans, Volcom, and Nixon – brands that have shaped action sports culture, influenced the gear and style of action sports over generations, have all signed on as sponsors. Woodward will host performances and meet-and-greets with rising bands including high-energy duo Raue and 13-year-old artist, drummer, and Emmy-nominated actor Recker, Olive Vox (brothers Parker James and Caden Shea), Burn the Jukebox, a teen alt and pop-rock band from the Wilkes-Barre area of Pennsylvania , and Ekoh, who will lead a music immersion clinic and perform live during the Closing Ceremony Talent Show — there’s always a talent show. Vans legend Steve Van Doren will hang with the campers all week, grilling on the BBQ and slinging prizes. Vans is sending skate legends Christian Hosoi, Steve Caballero, Omar Hassan, Ray Barbee, and BMX rider Dakota Roche to be a part of the action. Their team will also host a series of creative sessions, including a portrait workshop with renowned cultural street artist Robert Vargas, and screen-printing workshops. 

Hall of Fame songwriter rewrites Beatles story

Gary Burr’s debut novel, Reunion, A Rock ‘n Roll Fairy Tale captures the No. 1 spot in new releases on Amazon days before its release. The award-winning songwriter has written hits for musicians like Reba McEntire, Christina Aguilara, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny Chesney, and Garth Brooks and collaborated with music legends like Carole King and Ringo Starr. His fictional novel removes Mark David Chapman, the man who shot John Lennon, from the equation in a freak auto accident. The book imagines a Beatles reunion concert organized by Paul McCartney, exploring old grievances and rekindled friendships. The clincher is the reunion concert with all the Fab Four members, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and — John Lennon — all in a room together, deciding if they will step out onto the stage 28 years after the Beatles break-up.

New comic book looks at Eminem’s life 

Rapper Eminem now has a comic book about his life. Unlike most comic book heroes who have a single alter ego, Marshall Mathers, also known as “Eminem” and “Slim Shady,” stands out with his dual personas. Considering the intense drama, tragedy, and triumph that have marked his life, the publishers suggest that it’s a wonder he doesn’t have a third alter ego. The 22-page Eminem biography released on July 17 was written by Eric M. Esquivel and illustrated by Martin Gimenez. It’s part of the Orbit comic book series, which has published stories about musicians John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, and Ozzy Osbourne. They plan to release rapper comic book biographies featuring Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, and Megan Thee Stallion later this year.

Father and Son Duo – Dueling Pianos — Toronto

Juno winning pianist and producer Eddie Bullen along with his son Quincy have put together beautiful arrangements for two pianos of classical, jazz and pop music punctuated with commentary about their relationship and their unique family history on their tours of Canada and China. Witness their upcoming performance live at Beaches United Church (140 Wineva Ave.) on July 23 and 24, with proceeds going to the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation.

Sueco drops new single ‘Outta My Head’

Sueco just released the video and the single Outta My Head from their forthcoming album Attempted Lover (album title of the year) in July. Positioned as alternative, they’re really just an old-school post-punk garage band with an impeccable sense of rhythm. They’re disarming in the video as a bunch of friends hanging out — in their parent’s garage. The music will take you back if you’re over 30 and be relatable if you’re not. Outta My Head is about a boy who thinks an evil girl is trying to lure the stud-faced singer into a relationship. He thinks that if he falls for her, he’ll look weak and lose his bad boy image. The cruel girl treats him like a tool so he tries to act cool, hence the angel vs. devil dichotomy in the lyrics. He struggles, but would rather die than look like a fool. “Found out that heaven is a place/Where you’re outta my head,” he sings. It’s the sing-song sounding melody, “Laa la-la-la la-la la-la … ” that does it for me. At the pace it’s going, the video should get 50,000 views in 23 hours (on June 29). Sueco’s 2019 debut single Fast reached gold status and attracted Offset and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie for the official remix. After his first full-length project Miscreant, he teamed up with Ty Dolla $ign, Wiz Khalifa, and Lil Yachty for Speed Of Life, Papa Roach on Swerve (feat. Fever 333 & Sueco), and Illenium on Story Of My Life (feat. Sueco & Trippie Redd).

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