Photo: "evergreen" by Carl W. Hendl, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Events on Toronto's Radar for SATURDAY AUGUST 1 and SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2009
... lovingly handpicked from blogTO's events calendar

MUSIC | Cursive + Arietta at the Horseshoe
Omaha, Nebraska natives Cursive could be described as the mid-west's answer to Toronto/Guelph's Constantines - robust, soulful tunes and a rootsy feel, with a background in the ragged glory of punk rock. With Toronto indie-rockers Arietta.
Horseshoe, 370 Queen St W / 10pm / $15.50 / 19+

PARTIES | "Bigness"
Caribana's biggest name this year is Outkast superstar Big Boi, who makes a rare live appearance to promote his upcoming solo album "Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty" with a massive party at Polson Pier featuring a host of DJ's and MC's.
Sound Academy, 11 Polson St / $40 / 19+

MUSIC | Woodward Company / Religious Knives / Heaven / Mean Red Spiders at the Silver Dollar
A night of supercharged psych-rock with locals Woodward Company, Heaven and Toronto music scene legends Mean Red Spiders, with Brooklyn supergroup Religious Knives thrown in for good measure!
Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave / $8adv $10 door / 19+

PARTIES | Darkrave 110 - Pajama Party
Darkrave events are definitely taking themselves a little less seriously now than when they began hosting industrial / darkwave / techno nights a decade ago. This all-ages club night encourages attendees to bring their flannel and furry slippers - the perfect loose clothing to dance in!
Big Bop, 651 Queen St West / 9pm / $10-$20 / ALL AGES

MUSIC | Infected Mushroom + M.O + M&S
Israel's Infected Mushroom have one of the best live electronic music shows in the world, and are taking a break from performing at festivals and massive warehouse raves for this relatively intimate show in Toronto. Don't miss!
The Guvernment, 132 Queens Quay E / $15 / 19+

GALLERY | The Group Show
This fundraising show will have works on sale from emerging artists across Toronto, raising money to send Nina Gilmour to Mozambique alongside Shakespeare Link Canada and eight other Humber College theatre graduates to create an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet with an HIV/AIDS-related message.
Funktion Gallery, 1244 Bloor St. West / 7pm-11pm / FREE (works on sale)

FESTIVAL | 8th Annual Irie Music Festival
TD Canada Trust's Irie Music Festival celebrates Toronto's multicultural diversity with reggae, soul, worldbeat and gospel music, as well as dance performances, a literary tent and art exhibits. Performance highlights include Fab 5, Gramps Morgan and Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.
Saturday and Sunday / Queen's Park / 2pm-10pm / FREE / ALL AGES

Sunday, August 2

PARTIES | Toronto Legends: Mark Oliver
Mark Oliver is a Glasgow, Scotland native who was among the first to bring Acid House music to Toronto in the late 80's, and he still holds court as one of the top DJ's in the city, with this "Legends" showcase (also featuring fellow rave-era DJ's John E, Kenny Glasgow and Jelo) sure to draw a huge crowd.
Footwork Bar & Afterhours, 425 Adelaide St W / $20 / 10pm / 19+

POETRY | BOOKED: A Night of Poetry and Experimental Music
Leigh Beadon hosts a night of spoken word and acoustic music featuring live performances by Michael Dent, Blake Satyr, Mindi St Amand and Liz Worth, Spencer! and Dave Dodwell.
The Smiling Buddha, 961 College St

MUSIC | Wavelength 474
Toronto music series Wavelength has always ignored genre borders, but this show could be the definition of diversity, with theatrical jazz/cabaret singer Allie Hughes, Montreal's classical / electro-acoustic experimentalists The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death and Toronto indie-pop/rockers Ginger & Irene.
Sneaky Dee's, 431 College St / PWYC / 19+

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