Toronto events on May 22nd, 2013

MUSIC | AMANDA MABRO + CHRIS ASSAAD DOUBLE BILL
Amanda Mabro and Chris Assad share a bill tonight at The Drake Hotel Underground. Mabro hails from Montreal, and has a sound that is an edgy combination of cabaret and pop. She has toured Canada, and also performed at the Brussels Opera House. Her 2011 album, Die To The Past, received favourable feedback from the Montreal Gazette. Toronto singer/songwriter, Chris Assad, abandoned a law career to pursue his music full-time. His songs are rootsy, and come with a soulful approach, with hints of pop, and some world music influences. His latest EP is entitled, Into The Light.
The Drake Hotel Underground (1150 Queen Street West) 8PM $20

Victoria Day events in Toronto, 2013

FOOD & DRINK | Brewer's Backyard: Queen Victoria's Secret
This afternoon, the Brewer's Backyard returns to Evergreen Brick Works to begin a new season of beer drinking at its finest, in the lovely Koerner Gardens and and Holcim Gallery. "Queen Victoria's Secret" is the Brewer's Backyard's 2013 kickoff event, and was a royal success last year! The idea here is one where the element of surprise is at work: the details of the food and beverage selection for today will not be revealed until the event begins, but the brewers can be revealed: Great Lakes, Oast House, Granite, and Left Field, with edibles coming from FeasTO. Brewer's Backyard regulars know that only selections fit for "royalty" will make the cut, so let yourself enjoy the suspense, and the afternoon!
Evergreen Brick Works, Koerner Gardens (550 Bayview Avenue) 12-4PM

Toronto events on May 15th, 2013

MUSIC | Flying Lotus with Thundercat at the Sound Academy
Flying Lotus is considered by many to be one of the great musical minds of recent times. Boasting Alice Coltrane as his aunt, FlyLo certainly lives up to this distinguished musical lineage in creating a new voice and direction for electronic music, evolving in an almost 'psychedelic' direction for instrumental hip hop, or "beat" music, as he calls it. Be warned, though: Flying Lotus live is a very different, much more upbeat and party-style experience than the deep cerebral tracks that are found on his albums. Tonight at what should be a rager at the Sound Academy, frequent collaborator and bass wizard, Thundercat, whose new single, Oh Sheit's It's X is making waves, will be in the house as well. This one will be heavy!
Sound Academy (11 Polson Street) 8PM $24

Toronto events on May 13th, 2013

MUSIC | Youth Lagoon, Majical Cloudz at The Great Hall
Youth Lagoon hits The Great Hall tonight. Singer/songwriter Trevor Powers performs under the moniker Youth Lagoon, and has been gaining popularity with critics and fans alike since his 2011 debut album The Year of Hibernation. His sound is energetic and poppy, yet atmospheric and sonically rich with sounds that are different and somewhat enigmatic. Youth Lagoon just released a new album entitled, Wondrous Bughouse, produced by Ben H. Allen (Animal Collective, Deerhunter), so new material is likely to be featured tonight. Majical Cloudz is also on tonight's bill. Should be good!
The Great Hall Toronto (1087 Queen Street West) 8PM $16.50

Toronto events on May 8th, 2013

FILM | Ryerson University Film Festival
Filmophiles needn't weep too much in the aftermath of Hot Docs. The Ryerson University Film Festival, aka RUFF, begins tonight, and takes place over two evenings at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema. This event gives the student filmmakers at Ryerson a chance to have their work screened in a real theatre environment, and to do some networking with industry folks who attend. This also gives local film buffs a chance to investigate the next generation of Toronto film creators. Twenty films will be shown over the course of tonight and tomorrow evening, and will definitely make for some interesting viewing.
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema (506 Bloor Street West) 7 PM $12 ($20 both nights)

Toronto events on May 6th, 2013

BOOKS & LIT | BookThug Spring Book Launch
BookThug is a Toronto publisher of poetry, fiction, and criticism that leans toward the experimental side of things. Their mandate is both to provide emerging experimental writers with a voice in the literary scene, and also to give established poets and authors a venue for experimentation. Tonight at Supermarket, the spring launch for BookThug's new releases will go down, and works by Chris Eaton, Stephen Collis, Phil Hall, Shannon Maguire, Kim Minkus, Tim Atkins, and others will be shared through readings by the creators themselves. Books will be available for purchase at the venue.
Supermarket (268 Augusta Avenue) 7:30PM