The last time NOW caught up with Sia Furler, the Australian pop star was getting ready for a 2011 tour that she was billing as her final tour indefinitely.
Back then, she was reeling from a diagnosis of Graves disease, which had caused her to collapse onstage in Vancouver the preceding August. Nobody knew what was wrong, but I knew something was so wrong with me, she told NOW in a rare interview.
Quitting touring meant she could focus on staying healthy while making a career switch to songwriting for top-40 acts like Rihanna and David Guetta.
There are all these kids who are hungry for [music], and writing songs for them allows me to stay at home and relax, she explained. I cant believe I didnt slip into this earlier. But, you know, the universe provides.
Does it ever. Five years later, Furler has reinvented herself as a hit-maker for the biggest stars in the world while balancing a career as a multimillion-selling solo artist. Her latest album, This Is Acting, mostly features pop songs rejected by Adele and Rihanna.
While her star has risen dramatically, shes scaled back on interviews and insists on obscuring her face when performing, usually with her now-signature oversized wigs.
Fans can likely expect something approaching a Cher-level parade of hairpieces when her Nostalgic For The Present tour, also featuring Miguel and AlunaGeorge, comes to town.
At the Air Canada Centre (40 Bay) on October 22. Doors 6 pm, all ages. $35-$149.50. On sale Friday (May 20). ticketmaster.ca.
Kris Wadsworth, Sergio Levels, CL, Hadi at Round Venue doors 10 pm. $5-$10. May 26.
Eddie C, Robert, Long Weekend Records at Secret Location doors 10 pm. $15 adv, $20 at the door. May 27.
Cellphone, Phantom at Coalition 9 pm. May 28.
Frigs, Blue Crime at Smiling Buddha June 2.
The National, Hayden, Kevin Drew, Max Kerman, Terra Lightfoot, Crystal Journey, Mother Tareka at New Vision United Church (Hamilton) Fundraiser for Syrian newcomer youth. Doors 6 pm. $100. supercrawl.ca. June 3.
Enter.Sake with Richie Hawtin, The Junkies, Greg Gow at Coda doors 10 pm. $46.80-$64.35. wantickets.com. June 3.
OBUXUM, Unusual Suspects, Stephen Surlin, DJ Rhea Fiasco at 76A doors 10 pm. $10. June 4.
BigiBrave, Fresh Snow, New Positions at Soybomb 9 pm. $10 at the door. June 4.
Promise Cherry Beach at Cherry Beach Outdoor dance party. 3-9 pm. $10 suggested donation. ilovepromise.com. June 5.
Sven Weisemann, Basic Soul Unit at Club 120 doors 10:30 pm. $10-$15. residentadvisor.net. June 10.
Blue Hawaii, Project Pablo, Artubus Records at Bambis doors 10 pm. $5. June 11.
Mark Knight at Cabana Pool Bar doors noon. $20. ticketmaster.ca. June 12.
The Burning Hell with Dave Bidini at Monarch Tavern 9:30 pm. $10-$12. ticketfly.com. June 15.
25th Anniversary Series/NXNE: Cancer Bats, Lord Almightys, Six Of Swords, Killer Whales at Bovine Sex Club Benefit for Princess Margaret Hospital Cancer Research. June 17.
NXNE: Schoolboy Q, Born Ruffians, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Land Of Talk, Highs, Tasha The Amazon at The Port Lands doors 1 pm. $49.50-$89.50, NXNE Port Lands two-day pass $79.50, VIP $149.50. nxne.com/tickets, ticketfly.com. June 17-18.
No Fest: Casper Skulls, Pet Sun, Pony at The Garrison (front room) Day party. Doors noon. Free. June 18.
Modern Baseball, Joyce Manor, Thin Lips at Opera House doors 7 pm, all ages. $23.50. soundscapesmusic.com, rotate.com, ticketfly.com. June 19.
Catfish and the Bottlemen at Lees Palace doors 8 pm. $25. -ticketmaster.ca. June 20.
Attica Riots, Bleeker Horseshoe details TBA. horseshoetavern.com. June 21.
Atari Teenage Riot Velvet Underground doors 9 pm. $30. soundscapesmusic.com, rotate.com, ticketweb.ca. June22.
Forget The Lies, Live The Reality with Shredded Nerve, Negation, V. Sinclair, Nick Klein, The Glass path, Sunken Cheek, Moss Harvest, Topiary, Death Kneel, E-Saggila Faith/Void doors 8 pm. $10 per night. June 24-25.
Alienation, Fragment, Mueco, Absolut, Pure Pressure at Coalition doors 9 pm, all ages. $10 at the door. June 24.
DVSN at Mod Club doors 8 pm. $20. ticketmaster.ca. June 30.
Timeless Canada Day Weekend: Freddie McGregor, Marcia Griffiths, Sanchez, Pinchers, The Human Rights, Steele at Sound Academy doors 9 pm. $50-$80, VIP $150. playderecord.com. June 30.
Hotnuts Summerwinds with Christeene, DJs Produzentin & Das Hussy at The Garrison Pride party. Doors 10:30pm. $20 at the door, $14 adv. hotnuts.bpt.me. July 2.
Blockorama: Black Is Black with Dbi.young Anitafrika, The Prancing Elites, Alison Hinds and more at Pride Wellesley Stage doors 12:30 pm. pridetoronto.com. Free. July 3.
Oaf, Wild Side, Chlorine, Pure Pressure, Siyahkal at Faith/Void doors 7:30 pm, all ages. $10 at the door. July 7.
Five Alarm Funk at Horseshoe doors 8:30 pm. $10. On sale May 19. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, ticketfly.com, horseshoetavern.com. July 7.
25th Anniversary Series/MCN Festival: The Sinisters, Cola Heads, Pity, Grey Bush Bovine Sex Club July 9.
Lil Jon Cabana at Pool Bar doors noon. $20. ticketmaster.ca. July 9.
Zella Day at Mod Club doors 7 pm. $18. ticketmaster.ca. July 12.
DZ Deathrays at Adelaide Hall doors 7 pm. $15-$20. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, ticketfly.com. July 16.
All Day I Dream Of Toronto Skies: Lee Burridge, Matthew Dekay, YokoO at Fort York Garrison Common doors 2 pm. $63.50-$41.50. ticketweb.ca, residentadvisor.net. July 17.
Disclosure at Echo Beach doors 6 pm. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, ticketweb.ca. August 2.
Todrick Hall at Queen Elizabeth Theatre doors 6:30 pm, all ages. $38.50-$99.50. ticketfly.com. August 6.
Oliver Heldens at Cabana Pool Bar doors noon. $25. ticketmaster.ca. August 7.
Zakk Wylde, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, Jared James Nichols at Phoenix Concert Theatre August 8.
Honne at Mod Club doors 7:30 pm. $18.50. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, ticketfly.com. August 10.
Case / Lang / Veirs at Danforth Music Hall Second show added. Doors 7 pm, all ages. $44.70-$74.70. On sale May 19. ticketmaster.ca. August 16 and 17.
The Love train Tour with Soul Clap, Wolf + Lamb, Nick Monaco (live), The Black Madonna at Venue TBA doors 2pm. $30. ticketweb.ca. August 21.
Barbra Streisand at Air Canada Centre 8 pm. $99-$510. On sale May 25. ticketmaster.ca. August- 23.
Doom Over T.O. Music Festival with Low Orbit, Mars Red Sky, Horse Lung, Foghound, NLP, Muffler Crunch and others at Smiling Buddha Hard rock music festival that supports local charities. Kick-off party free, $15/day, 3-day wristband $25. August 25-27.
Tribulation at The Garrison doors 7:30 pm. $16.50. rotate.com, ticketfly.com. September 5.
Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour with Puff Daddy, Lil Kim, Mase, Faith Evans, Marion Winans, 112, Total, Carl Thomas, The Lox, French Montana at Air Canada Centre 8 pm. $39.50-$125. On sale May 20. ticketmaster.ca. September 6.
Violent Soho, Meat Wave at Lees Palace doors 8 pm. $20. soundscapesmusic.com, rotate.com, ticketfly.com. September 7.
Young The Giant, Ra Ra Riot at Sound Academy 8 pm, all ages. $29.50-$51.50. On sale May 20. ticketmaster.ca. September 21.
UIC at Horseshoe doors 9 pm. $15. On sale May 19. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, ticketfly.com. September 24.
Symphony X at Mod Club doors 7:30 pm. $33.50. rotate.com, ticketfly.com. October 3.
Sia, Miguel, AlunaGeorge at Air Canada Centre doors 6 pm, all ages. $35-$149.50. On sale May 20. livenation.com, ticketmaster.ca. October 22.
Pentatonix, Us The Duo at Air Canada Centre doors 8 pm. $32-$82. On sale May 20. ticketmaster.ca. November 7.
Troye Sivan at Sound Academy doors 6:30 pm. $31. On sale May 20. livenation.com, ticketmaster.ca. November 8.
Get more concert listings here.
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