SATURDAY, MAY 7TH

CULTURE | Toronto Freedom Festival
If April 20th is a day of celebration for those in the "Cannabis Culture," the Toronto Freedom Festival is a day of peaceful protest. This annual event almost didn't take place at this location this year, but now that permits and the like are in place, this will be an event filled with politics, music, merchandise and culture. A great live music lineup is promised, with notables DJ Sneak, Bangers & Mash, Rebel Emergency, and many more, including a special surprise guest... There will also be several pro-legalization speakers: some activists, some politicians, and others, making their case for pot legalization to a very sympathetic crowd. There will also be vendors and exhibitors, and of course.... food. A few attendees may have the munchies!
Queen's Park 12PM FREE

MUSIC | Bad Manners @ Lee's Palace
There will be some serious skanking going down at Lee's tonight! Second wave ska maestros, Bad Manners, are back at it, and in town for what will likely be a very packed show, if the turnout at last year's English Beat mid-week gig is any indication. Bad Manners were chart toppers in their day, and are still a favourite among ska lovers and partiers alike. Let's face it - there's no frontman like Buster Bloodvessel! Be prepared to move!
Lee's Palace (529 Bloor Street West) 9PM $25

MUSIC | Lowest Of The Low @ Massey Hall
This show is being billed as the "20th Anniversary Party" of the Low's "Shakespeare, My Butt" album. There is no denying that these guys were possibly the most influential alt-rock band in Canada back in their early '90s heyday. Other bands from the time get talked about a lot, but these guys get sung - their amazingly catchy melodies and memorable lyrics set them apart from their peers. Chart Magazine has cited "Shakespeare, My Butt" as being among the top ten greatest Canadian albums.... no mean feat!
Massey Hall (178 Victoria Street) 7:15PM $29.50 - $49.50

CLUBS | Reality Bytes (90's Night)
It's that good kind of retro! Reality Bytes is the place to get your '90s fix on the first Saturday night of every month. With drink specials before 11pm, and a host of happening DJs, what choice do you have? Surrender to the nostalgia and those sounds that are still way cool! DJs 4est, Lindzrox, and Jrox will be in the house, with guest DJ, Peachy Keen!
Augusta House (152 Augusta Avenue) 10PM FREE

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SATURDAY RADAR

• Rebekah Higgs w/ Brian Borcherdt + Kite Hill
• Friendlyness & The Human Rights w/ Riddim Riders
• Solid Garage 13 Yr. Anniversary

SUNDAY, MAY 8TH

ART | The Toronto Comic Arts Festival
The TCAF is held once every two years, and is a carefully planned event, striving to showcase new and exciting comic-oriented art. The festival also tries expand the boundaries around this artform, possibly giving it new legitimacy within the worlds of art and culture. Artists, publishers, collectors and the like will be gathered, representing this facet of pop-culture on an international scale. There will be works displayed, but also panel discussions, lectures, signings, and more. Definitely a cool way to spend a few hours! The show begins Saturday, and closes today at 5pm.
Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street) 11AM FREE

MUSIC | Alaniaris
Alaniaris is one of Toronto's best kept instrumental Rock secrets. This is possibly because they go well beyond the boundaries of Rock, a music with seemingly limitless possibilities. With a mandate of fusing Greek rebetiko music with an array of edgy influences from surf and post-punk to jazz/rock - all with an improvisational freedom - this trio really takes off, and will leave you feeling like you have seen and heard something spectacular! Catch them this afternoon during their residency at Somewhere There.
Somewhere There (227 Sterling Road, Unit 112) 5PM $8/pwyc

BRUNCH | Mother's Love brunch concert w/ Jesse Labelle
The Drake is the place to be for brunch on Mother's Day! There will be two seatings, one at 10:30am and another at 1:30pm, for those Mothers who have too much fun on Saturday night! Local pop-rock hearthrob Jesse Labelle will be providing the entertainment while you dine.
The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) 10:30AM and 1PM $34

SHOPPING | LAB Consignment and friends POP-UP SHOP at The Drake Hotel Sky Yard
After your brunch at The Drake, head 'skyward' and check out the cool mini-marketplace set up in The Drake's Sky Yard. Lab Consignment, whose HQ is on Ossignton, has put this together, featuring some great clothing, accessories, and other cool items from various designers from around the city, such as Alynne Lavigne, White Crow, and more.
The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) 11AM

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SUNDAY RADAR

• Mother's Day Breast Brunch Ever!
• Mother's Day Brunch or Afternoon Tea at Black Creek Pioneer Village
• "DEATH AND THE MAIDEN AND OTHER ROMANTIC ADVENTURES"

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.

Photo by Dallas Kwok in the blogTO Flickr pool.