This Week in Music: The xx hit Echo Beach, Billy Talent and Sloan added to NXNE, Primus 3D, UNITY Festival

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

IN THE NEWS

NXNE adds some huge last-minute shows

The 2013 edition of NXNE is only a week away, and the already-stacked lineup has gotten even beefier. The event's organizers announced in a press release last week that Billy Talent will headline a free outdoor show at Yonge-Dundas Square on Saturday, June 15. Throughout the day, several other bands will also take the stage, including Millencolin, Blinker the Star, Big Black Delta, We Are Scientists, Moon King, and more. It was also announced that Sloan will hit the stage at the Great Hall on June 14, featuring support from Super Friendz, Mike O'Neill, and a DJ set from Ben Gunning. The news wasn't all good, however, as Big Boi, who was scheduled to perform at YDS on June 16, was forced to pull out all of his shows for the next six weeks due to a knee injury. That aside, NXNE is looking like the can't-miss event of the summer. A full festival lineup and schedule can be found here.

Toronto's UNITY Festival returns

The fifth annual UNITY Festival has officially been announced, and some huge names will be making an appearance. The youth-minded hip-hop event, which runs from July 18 to 21 at several venues across the city, will feature a beatboxing competition at the Mod Club on opening day. Rahzel, perhaps the best beatboxer of all time, will take the stage after the competition. On July 20, which is National UNITY Day, Talib Kweli will headline an outdoor show at Yonge-Dundas Square, alongside Toronto MC Rich Kidd. Full details on the festival's events and shows can be found at the official website.

THIS WEEK'S HOT TICKETS

THURSDAY JUNE 6 / THE XX / ECHO BEACH / 909 LAKESHORE W / $59.50 - $99.50 / ALL AGES

Britsh indie-rockers The xx will hit the stage at Echo Beach on Thursday, kicking off what should be an awesome summer of outdoor concerts in the city. While I kinda think that the ticket price is a bit steep, The xx is definitely a band worth seeing live, especially at a venue like Echo Beach - if you haven't been there, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Grizzly Bear will also be performing, so this is guaranteed to be a night of warm, early summer winds and great tunes.

FRIDAY JUNE 7 / PRIMUS / DANFORTH MUSIC HALL / 147 DANFORTH / $40.75 - $50.75 / ALL AGES

I'm not a huge fan of Primus - I admit that I don't really "get" their style of music, but they're a band that has a rabid fanbase, so they must be doing something right. They've released seven albums, the most recent being 2011's Green Naugahyde, and have been touring regularly since reforming in 2010. What sets this tour apart from all the rest, however, is that it's in 3D...yeah, I'm not sure how that's going to work, either. It features "quad surround sound," and audience members will be given 3D glasses that will supposedly enhance the performance. Seems a bit gimmicky to me, but if you're a fan of the band, you'll probably dig it.

RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CONCERTS