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

IN THE NEWS

Bloor Ossington Folk Festival rolls out lineup

Summer may be quietly winding down, but the festival scene is still going strong. And while the Bloor Ossington Folk Festival may not be the highest profile event out there, it still promises to offer a few great days of music in late September. Scheduled to run from September 20-22 at Christie Pits Park, the festival's main stage will host a number of bands, including Memoryhouse, The Golden Dogs, Catl., Pick a Piper, Minotaurs, The Schomberg Fair, Bidiniband, and more. In addition, vendors of all kinds will offer a variety of food, drinks, and wares. You can expect more names to be added in the weeks leading up the festival, so to keep up-to-date, head on over to the official website.

THIS WEEK'S HOT TICKETS

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 14 / JOHN MAYER / MOLSON CANADIAN AMPHITHEATRE / 909 LAKE SHORE W / $46.75 - $110.25 / ALL AGES

When it comes to John Mayer, there seems to be no middle ground - you either love him or you can't stand him. It's not difficult to see why a lot of people tend to lean towards the latter, as Mayer does often come off as extremely arrogant. But there's no denying his raw talent when it comes to the guitar, and while a lot of his music is predictable pop, he does have a few great tracks ("Neon," for example, is nothing short of magnificent). Phillip Phillips, he of American Idol fame, will offer support.

SATURDAY AUGUST 17 / BLUE RODEO / MOLSON CANADIAN AMPHITHEATRE / 909 LAKE SHORE W / $30 - $100 / ALL AGES

Blue Rodeo is one of the most beloved Canadian bands of their generation, and it's a status that's very well-deserved. The Toronto-based sextet, led by Jim Cuddy, has been on the scene for almost 30 years, and their body of work has been remarkably consistent. Even if you're not a fan of country, their music has enough of a rock-influenced sound to appeal to a very broad audience. I can't attest to ever having seen them live, but I'd reckon that this will be a can't-miss show.

RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CONCERTS

• LONDON GRAMMAR / BLK BOX / OCTOBER 4 / 8PM
• HUGH LAURIE / DANFORTH MUSIC HALL / OCTOBER 20 / 8PM
• BORN RUFFIANS / NOVEMBER 22 / DANFORTH MUSIC HALL / 7PM

WHAT WE GOT UP TO LAST WEEK

• Shotgun Jimmie talks Polaris Prize fantasies and new LP
• Breakout Toronto Bands: Isla Craig
• Drake taps Kanye and Diddy for best OVO Fest yet
• Breakout Toronto Bands: Beliefs
• 25 photos from the weekend rave at Downsview Park
• Grove Festival goes down easy, maybe a little too easy
• 6 lessons Toronto music fests could learn from Osheaga

Photo of John Mayer courtesy of wfuv on Flickr.