concerts toronto may

The top concerts in Toronto for May 2015

May is looking to be a very busy month for concerts in Toronto. Festival season gets underway, but in addition to the beginning of what will be a very busy few months for major music events, there's a host of one-off concerts worth your time and money.

These are the Toronto concerts I'm most looking forward to in May 2015. For additional suggestions, check out our roundup of dance parties and our top picks for CMW.

Feast in the East (May 2nd, Jam Factory Co.)
Feast In The East celebrates its four year anniversary with Garage rock, Experimental Pop and .. lasagna. The all ages event features seven piece instrumental outfit Eucalyptus, Sisters My Suitor, Solo drum compositions of Steve Kado and Garage punk trio The Soupcans. A $10 advance ticket gets you through the door with lasagna.

Buffy St.Marie (May 7th, Koerner Hall)
Back in Canada fresh off her support slot for Morrissey, legendary Cree signer-songwriter Buffy St.Marie stops by the gorgeous Koerner Hall early on in the month. Tickets start at $35.

National Drone Day (May 9th, Various Spaces)
National Drone Day comes but once a year, and the folks over at Weird Canada are making sure it's well represented across our fine country. Described on the website as 'a Canada-wide celebration of experimental, ambient, and drone music', NDD has Toronto events at both Ratio and the Tranzac.

Final Blocks Party (May 9th, Tranzac)
After 12 years and over 70 releases, Blocks Recording Club is calling it quits, but not without a final gathering. Slated to play the event are Nifty, Austra, The Barcelona Pavilion, Bob Wiseman, The Phonemes, Hank, Matias, Ninja High School and Les Mouches! Maybe there will be a game of Manhunt after?

Marker Starling (May 10th, Lula Lounge)
Fresh off a new album, Rosy Maze, Marker Starling (who played under the name Mantler for many years) brings his smooth, almost Steely Dan-esque songmaking plus a nine-peice backing band to Lula Lounge.

Babymetal (May 12th, Danforth)
Hybrid electronic-metal/idol group Babymetal bring their entertaining live show to the Danforth Music Hall in May. Fronted by three teenage girls and backed by a legit six piece metal band (who are also members of Cross Hard, DELUHI, and the Blue Man Group among others), the group has energy to spare.

Vessel & O/H (May 14th, Double Double Land)
Bristol-based producer Seb Gainsborough brings his post-punk influenced techno offering Vessel to Toronto in what's sure to a be a dark and sweaty Thursday night at Double Double Land. Ontario Hospital (O/H) is direct support with Linus Booth and Andrew Ross getting the room started.

Primal Scream (May 15th, Danforth)
Get your rocks off as the Scream return to Toronto for the first time since 2009 (due to last year's cancellation). If the set lists continue as they have of late, expect representation across most of Primal Scream's albums, from Screamdelica up to last year's More Light.

Melt-Banana (May 17, Lee's Palace)
Japanese grind innovators Melt-Banana are still touring strong off the strength of 2013's Fetch and are planning another stop at Toronto's Lee's Palace. If it's anything like their last visit, expect core duo Yasuko Onuki and Ichirou Agata to play a spastic, deafening set all on their own, save for the drum machine. SK

Boys Noize + Tiga (May 21st, The Hoxton)
Boys Noize Records celebrates its 10 year anniversary of putting out accessible, party-ready dance music at the Hoxton with sets by Tiga, Djedjotronic, SCNTST, Ryme and naturally, Boys Noize.

Raekwon (May 22nd, The Phoenix)
Less than a month after the release of his sixth solo full length, Fly International Luxurious Art, Wu-Tang member and Ice H20 Records label founder Raekwon hits the Phoenix this month.

Sebadoh (May 27th, Lee's Palace)
Lou Barlow led Sebadoh's return to Lee's Palace in late May in front of their brand new release, a cover of Rush's 1981 track, Limelight. You can get the limited 7" picture disk, which features a bubbly Canadian celebrity's mug on wax here.

Bonobo DJ Set (May 29th, The Hoxton)
Brighton-born electronic musician Bonobo comes through Toronto to play a special DJ set at the Hoxton to top off a busy month of live music. Watch out for guests Bruce Trail, Sunclef and a live set by The Kount open the night.

What did I miss? Add your May concert picks to the comments.

With contributions from Aubrey Jax and Shazia Khan. Photo via Babymetal


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