Toronto music

This Week In Music: NXNE, Maylee Todd, Slowpitch, Kashka, Gord Downie, The Sadies, Shi Wisdom

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

NXNE adds more bands to bill, looks like a good festival now
Still not a fest people outside of Canada will travel to, but better than last year (who wants to go to Canada, anyway). Swans, Spoon, Le1f, Perfect Pussy, Tim Hecker, Glasser, Spiritualized, tUnE-yArDs, Ryan Hemsworth, Sleigh Bells, Oneohtrix Point Never, Fuck Buttons, Low, Small Black, METZ, and more have been added to the line up.

The Junction Music Festival 2014 Call For Submissions
Last year's Junction Music Fest looked like a swell little time, and submissions are now open for this year's festival.

New in Toronto music

‪Hieroglyphics by Maylee Todd‬

Temporary Gateway by Slowpitch

The Riverbend by Owen Pallett

Bloodlines by Kashka

Crater by Gord Downie, The Sadies, And The Conquering Sun

Mexican Aftershow Party by Kevin Drew

This week on Bandcamp

  • Up and coming Toronto R&B star Shi Wisdom has released a lovely EP called Intervention which you can find on Bandcamp here.
  • The Toronto Homicide Squad (just the band name not the real deal, sadly) have released the tracks from the Nein Bullets cassette for free download on Bandcamp.

Hot tickets

Sound image 2014 / March 7 / Analogue Gallery (673 Queen Street West)
Not a concert but the culmination of many, many Toronto concerts, Analogue Gallery's 3rd Annual Sound Image Music Photography contest and exhibition goes down next weekend. Only one photo will win the prize and glory - and full disclosure, some of our own photographers have concert shots in the show. The opening is RSVP only - click attending on the Facebook event or contact the gallery by phone (416 901 8001) or email (celia@analoguegallery.com).

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - March 7 / Sound Academy / $62
I'd probably go to this if it wasn't at Sound Academy, and the fact I'm still tempted says a lot about the show (all of this says a lot about Sound Academy, bleh). This is Japanese Harajuku pop superstar Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's first world tour. I can't lie, I wish the world looked like this video - I haven't seen colours like that since the wilds of highschool.

Long Winter / March 7 / The Great Hall / 7pm / PWYC
Last one! Cancer Bats, S.H.I.T., Greys, You'll Never Get to Heaven, Ravi Naimpally, JM, Pick a Piper, Brr, Grounders and So Young will play at the Great Hall. There will be dance performances, puppets, art, film, food, and 7"'s. Celebrate the end of one hell of a winter.

Trust / March 8 / Adelaide Hall (250 Adelaide St W) / $21
What was a duo of Robert Alfons and Maya Postepski has now become a solo, and to at least some degree this has changed the Trust sound - I think it's only gotten sparklier and weirder (Kate Bush would be proud), and Alfons was the one carrying the band live anyway. Be the judge for yourself by streaming Joyland here (it officially drops on March 4th) or at Adelaide Hall on March 8th with Mozart's Sister.

Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton / March 6th / Coda / 10pm / $20
Stones Throw Records enjoys a cult-like following among underground hip hop heads, and for good reason. The label (founded by Peanut Butter Wolf) has been home to legendary acts like J Dilla, Madvillain, Aloe Blacc and many more, and is the subject of a new film called Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton, which screens March 6 at the Bloor Cinema. As you may have already guessed, the event of the same name later that night at Coda is the official afterparty, and features DJ sets by Peanut Butter Wolf, J. Rocc, Jonwayne, and Knxwledge.

A Tribe Called Red / March 7th / Hoxton / 10pm / $25
Ottawa DJ collective A Tribe Called Red have been enjoying an extremely busy year thanks to the success of their second album Nation II Nation, which got them nominated for two Junos this year. Their reworkings of powwow music with club friendly beats has a timely political undercurrent, but their gigs are still full on parties.

More concerts: Just Shows

Recently announced concerts

  • Mindless Self Indulgence / April 1 / The Phoenix
  • The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart / April 26 / The Horseshoe
  • Shlohmo / May 3 / Opera House
  • Eels / May 27 / Winter Garden Theatre
  • Die Antwoord / June 5 / The Danforth

What we got up to this week

Still from Hieroglyphics by Maylee Todd


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Music

New entertainment complex officially opening in Toronto with Gwen Stefani concert

Ontario university to offer new Taylor Swift legal course this fall

Record store day is April 20 and here's how Toronto shops are celebrating

Canada's biggest music festival lands in Toronto this spring

Massey Hall is now selling concert tickets in Toronto for cheap

Someone in Toronto is selling a bag of 'high-quality' air from the same room Beyoncé was in

Shawn Mendes surprised fans by joining Noah Kahan on stage in Toronto

Police investigating after reports of druggings at Toronto nightclub