MUSIC | First Aid Kit @ The Great Hall
Swedish folk 'sister-group' First Aid Kit plays a much-anticipated show at The Great Hall tonight. This folk duo, made up of Johanna and Klara Sรถderberg, have been at it for a bit, having gotten the ball rolling by sending a demo to a Swedish radio station over 5 years ago, and then word spread even more via one of their videos covering a Fleet Foxes tune. Jack White approached them at one point for a single, as well, and their second album, "The Lion's Roar," was just released earlier this year, beginning its life on the Swedish charts in the #1 position. They are joined on tonight's bill by the folk-rock band Peggy Sue from the UK.
The Great Hall (1087 Queen Street West) 9PM $18

BOOKS & LIT | Kevin Chong's "My Year of the Racehorse" book launch
The Gladstone Hotel is the place to be tonight for the book launch of Kevin Chong's "My Year of the Racehorse". Chong is a bestselling author whose talents have been acknowledged by The New York Times and other publications of note. Chong's latest work examines the world of the racetrack, complete with bookies, and other characters that straddle worlds that are both seedy and glamourous. Chong also has some tips for fledgling gamblers! Journalist Douglas Bell will be our host, and engage the author in an interview/discussion format.
The Gladstone Hotel, 2nd floor gallery (1214 Queen Street West) 7:30PM $5 / free with book purchase

FILM | Green Screens presents There Once Was an Island: Te Henua e Nnoho
As part of NFB Mediatheque's "Green Screens" series, "There Once Was an Island: Te Henua e Nnoho" will be shown tonight. This film examines a moment of crisis and difficult decision making for the people of the Polynesian community of Takuu whose homes have been ravaged by a tidal flood: should they stay, and remain at risk, or leave and lose everything, especially their culture and language? This film won The Planet in Focus Environmental Film Festival's award for Best International Feature Film.
NFB Mediatheque (150 John Street) 7PM $6

MUSIC | EASTERWEEN
Tonight, John Southworth provides the music, and bassist Andrew Downing takes care of the arrangements for the first of a two night run of "Easterween", a 12-song project evoking a "hallucinatory" journey, with Brecht, Weill and David Lynch cited as influences for this work, which promises to be an experience! A stellar cast of Toronto musicians will deliver the goods, too. Southworth and Downing will be joined by Kevin Turcotte on trumpet, trombonist William Carn, Peter Lutek on clarinet, guitarist David Occhipinti, Joe Phillips on double bass, and violinist Aleksandar Gajic.
Lower Ossington Theatre (100A Ossington Avenue) 8PM $15

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

NADA SURF - Sonic Boom in-store
Through the Clearing We Could See Them, new works by Victor Romao
Les Coquettes Speakeasy

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 krygene in the blogTO Flickr pool