Our picks for the top things to do in Toronto on the weekend of April 29-May 2 including Austra at Roy Thomson Hall, Hot Docs, the May Day Rally and the Storytelling Festival.
Hot Docs
The annual film festival for non-fiction lovers kicks off today but we’ve already started watching and reviewing movies. Films about Sesame Street, Poly Styrene and Helen Keller are among our favourites. Keep checking our review directory for the latest reviews and read our cover story about films focusing on gig work and the fight to regulate ride-hailing and delivery apps. Plus: a conversation with filmmakers Tanya Talaga and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers about finding parallels in Indigenous stories from different parts of the country.
April 29-May 9. $13, ticket packages $55-$125, unlimited pass $259. hotdocs.ca
Austra at Roy Thomson Hall
Toronto singer Katie Stelmanis and her electro-pop band are dusting off the songs from her 2020 album HiRUDiN for their first live performance in support of the record. The Austra show comes to you – pre-recorded – from the familiar pristine stage of Roy Thomson Hall.
April 29 at 3 pm. Pwyc, minimum $5. songkickpresents.com
Everbloom Virtual Music Festival
This new free virtual R&B and hip-hop festival is putting on a second showcase, partnering each artist with a local Toronto business that was hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Performers include Tanisha, Zenesoul, Melo Griffith, Elyssa Plaza and more.
April 30 at 7 pm. Free. everbloomfestival.com
The Walls
Soulpepper’s Around The World In 80 Plays series of audio dramas continues with Argentinian playwright Griselda Gambaro’s political drama about a man being interrogated by mysterious figures. Beatriz Pizano directs Augusto Bitter, Carlos González-Vio and Diego Matamoros.
April 29 to June 30. soulpepper.ca
May Day Rally
The annual grassroots celebration marking International Day of the Worker in going virtual by people around the world in commemoration of the struggle for the eight-hour workday and other labour victories. Canada’s largest unions, socialist organizations and representatives from the NDP are among the groups participating in this year’s online rally.
May 1. 1-4 pm. Facebook.com
Mayworks Festival
Coinciding with May Day, the month-long annual community festival of working people and the arts kicks off this weekend and features an online program of exhibitions, film screenings, panels, music, artist talks and performances by artists working at the intersection of art, social justice and labour. Participating artists include author Michael DeForge and collective Tea Base.
May 1-31. All events are free, some may require registration. mayworks.ca
Storytelling Festival
The 42-year-old indie festival devoted to all things storytelling’s theme this year is “Listening to the voices of nature. Traditional teacher Kahontakwas Diane Longboat will open the event with Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen, the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, which gives greetings to the natural world. Check out the full program here.
May 1-16. Pwyc. torontostorytellingfestival.ca