This Week in Music rounds up the latest news, releases and concerts coming to Toronto.

IN THE NEWS

Indie 88.1 set to hit the airwaves

No matter how you feel about the state of Toronto radio, this is very exciting news - Indie 88.1 will officially hit the airwaves this Wednesday at noon, marking what will hopefully be the start of a new era of radio in the city. For years, 102.1 The Edge was viewed as the station to listen to if you wanted to hear good Canadian indie rock. In recent years, though, the station has become watered down with overplayed top 40 tunes and a once-edgy morning show that has very close to slipping into total irrelevancy.

Indie 88.1 promises to offer an alternative to fans of Canadian indie rock, as well as a substantial amount of documentary and talk programming. I, for one, am very excited - here's hoping that the launch goes smoothly. Head on over to the station's official website if you want to offer some input on what they should play once they've launched. In the meantime, however, they're playing this on repeat.

THIS WEEK'S HOT TICKETS

MONDAY JULY 29 / IMAGINE DRAGONS / ECHO BEACH / 909 LAKESHORE W / $57.50 - $82.00 / ALL AGES

Imagine Dragons, out of Las Vegas, have released only one album - 2012's Night Visions - but they've already reached second place on the Billboard 200, and their second single, the dubstep-inspired "Radioactive," was called the "biggest rock hit of the year" by Rolling Stone magazine. Hyperbole aside, they do have a very unique sound, and while it remains to be seen whether or not they can continue their initial success, I'd suggest checking this show out if you have the opportunity. If nothing else, Echo Beach is an absolutely wicked venue.

SATURDAY AUGUST 3 / FATHER JOHN MISTY / DANFORTH MUSIC HALL / 147 DANFORTH / $19.50 / 19+

If you don't feel like shelling out 57 bones to see Imagine Dragons, wait until Saturday to get this week's live music fix. Father John Misty will take the stage at the Danforth Music Hall, with support from Night Moves. The Baltimore native has steadily released music since 2004, as a solo artist and as a member of bands Saxon Shore and Fleet Foxes. A close friend of mine is absolutely in love with the guy, and while I can't attest to being as a big a fan as she is, it's hard not to dig his style of music. Hell of a voice, too.

RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CONCERTS

• MAYER HAWTHORNE / DANFORTH MUSIC HALL / SEPTEMBER 6 / 8PM
• WILDCAT! WILDCAT! / WRONGBAR / SEPTEMBER 21 / 8PM
• NOAH AND THE WHALE / THE PHOENIX / OCTOBER 19 / 8PM
• SHAD / THE OPERA HOUSE / OCTOBER 19 / 8PM
• HOLY GHOST! / THE HOXTON / NOVEMBER 6 / 8PM

WHAT WE GOT UP TO LAST WEEK

• How Weird Canada will use $50K to rethink indie music distribution
• Courtney Love remains the queen of grunge
• Justin Bieber super fans radiate joy at Toronto concert

Photo of Father John Misty courtesy of Brennan Schnell on Flickr.