Alice Glass, DVSN, Tanya Tagaq to play Red Bull Music Festival

Red Bull dipped its toes into our city last year with its 3 Days In Toronto series, and the sugary energy drink-makers/surprisingly forward-thinking music selectors must have had good results – this year, they’re back with a whole festival. From October 17-25 Red Bull Music Festival doubles the number of events to six and also doubles down on what makes the brand so successful in the music market: tapping into what’s already exciting in the city and curating one-off shows in unusual venues. 

It starts on October 17 by pairing local electro-punk firebrand Alice Glass with the eye-catching Canadian video director Floria Sigismondi to transform the Distillery District’s Fermenting Cellar into a “phantasmagoric world.” It’s called The Doll’s House.

On October 18, it’s Round Robin, a collaboration with the local monthly Practice at the Great Hall for a night of improvised duets between Tanya Tagaq, Casey MQ, Maylee Todd, Skratch Bastid, Matthew Progress, Melody McKiver and others, including surprise guests.

October 19 is a collaboration between local R&B rising star DVSN and members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall. And on October 20 at the Design Exchange, it’s The Great Canadian Ball, a giant vogue ball featuring DJ Blackcat, Tamika, MikeQ and others.

October 22 features a conversation at Glenn Gould Studio between Cadence Weapon and legendary super-producer Scott Storch, who will surely talk about his rise, fall and more modest recent rise again.

Finally on October 25 at Ossington Tire, it’s Collision, a showcase of rising Toronto hip-hop with Lil Berete, Yasmine, the Sorority, Ebhoni and Pilla B.

October 17-25 at various venues. $10-$40. redbull.ca/TOFestival.

More Just Announced Toronto Shows

Nuit Blanche: Arrivals and Encounters: Bernice, Ziibiwan, Narcy, Pantayo, Obuxum at Aga Khan Museum Free. agakhanmuseum.org, nbto.com. September 29. 

Dressy Bessy, The Burning Peppermints at The Baby G doors 8 pm. $11.50. ticketfly.com. September 30. 

Next Music From Tokyo: Vol. 13: Mass Of The Fermenting Dregs, Otori, Elephant Gym, Paranoid Void, UlulU at Rivoli and Lee’s Palace 8 pm. $20-$30. nextmusicfromtokyo.com. October 5 (Rivoli) and 6 (Lee’s Palace). 

Steve Reich’s Six Pianos at Koerner Hall Russell Hartenberger, Greg Oh, Stephanie Chua, Ryan Scott and Midori Koga. 8 pm. $22-$67.50. soundstreams.ca. October 12. 

Lake Visions, Picastro, The Pinc Lincolns at The Baby G doors 8 pm. $10. October 16. 

Moontricks at Dakota Tavern doors 8 pm. $TBA. moontricksmusic.com. October 16. 

Japandroids at Phoenix Concert Theatre Indie88’s Up in Smoke Legalization Event. Doors 7 pm. $TBA. On sale September 21. ticketweb.ca. October 17. 

Red Bull Music Festival: Alice Glass, DVSN, Tanya Tagaq, Lil Berete, The Sorority, Scott Storch and others at various venues $10-$40. redbull.ca/TOFestival. October 17-25.

Noodles, Jess Connelly at The Garrison doors 8 pm. $15. ticketweb.ca. October 18. 

Death 2 T.O. VIII: Nyssa, The Effens, Brenda, members of Mimico, Weaves, Kaleidoscope Horse, Greys and others at Lee’s Palace Cover sets of Radiohead, Rob Zombie, New Order, Cyndi Lauper and more. Doors 8:15 pm. $15. ticketfly.com. October 26. 

Bif Naked, In My Coma at Adelaide Hall doors 7 pm. $30-$35. ticketfly.com. October 26. 

PRYDE (RUSSELL) at Velvet Underground doors 7 pm, all ages. $20-$40. ticketfly.com. October 28.  

QUEEN NAIJA at Velvet Underground doors 8 pm, all ages. $20. ticketmaster.ca. November 8.  

Ocean Alley at Horseshoe doors 8 pm. $20. ticketfly.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, horseshoetavern.com. November 11. 

Iggy Azalea, Cupcakke, Meghan Thee Stallion at Rebel doors 7 pm, all ages. $49.50-$60. ticketmaster.ca. November 12. 

Jay Rock, Reason at Mod Club Rescheduled from September 16. Doors 8 pm, all ages. Starting at $25. ticketweb.ca. November 12.  

Classified, Choclair, Maestro Fresh Wes at Opera House Openers added. Doors 7 pm, all ages. $30. ticketmaster.ca. November 16.

Tommy Youngsteen: Bruce Springsteen’s The River + Xmas Motown Tribute at Horseshoe doors 9 pm. $18.50. ticketfly.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. November 16. 

Pop Evil, Royal Tusk at Lee’s Palace doors 8 pm. $22.50. ticketfly.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. November 17. 

H.E.R. at Rebel doors 7 pm, all ages. $36.50-$50. ticketmaster.ca. November 19. 

Preoccupations, Protomartyr, Rattle at Lee’s Palace doors 8:30 pm. $20. ticketfly.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. November 23. 

Single Mothers at The Garrison doors 9 pm. $17. ticketfly.com. November 24. 

Jeffrey Lewis & Los Bolts at The Baby G doors 8 pm. $12. ticketfly.com. November 27. 

Charlotte Cardin at Danforth Music Hall doors 7 pm, all ages. $20-$40. ticketmaster.ca. November 30. 

Cult Leader, Primitive Weapons, God Mother at Hard Luck Bar doors 7 pm. $13.50. On sale September 21. ticketfly.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. December 2. 

Dilly Dally at Lee’s Palace doors 8:30 pm. $16.50. ticketfly.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. December 6. 

Alvvays, Snail Mail at Danforth Music Hall Fourth show added. Doors 7 pm. $25-$35. ticketmaster.ca. December 6-9. 

The Forgotten Rebels at Lee’s Palace doors 8:30 pm. $20. ticketfly.com. December 7. 

Gang of Youths at Phoenix Concert Theatre doors 8 pm. $22-$27. ticketweb.ca. December 7. 

Wild Child at Lee’s Palace doors 8 pm. $16.50. ticketfly.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. December 9. 

Stars, My Brightest Diamond at Danforth Music Hall Second date added. Doors 7 pm. $37-$42. ticketmaster.ca. December 12-13. 

Melissa Etheridge at Queen Elizabeth Theatre The Holiday Show. Doors 6:30 pm, all ages. $55-$125. On sale September 21. ticketmaster.ca. December 14. 

Shad, Bonjay at The Great Hall Second show added. Doors 7 pm. $15. ticketmaster.ca. December 14-15. 

Busty and the Bass at Mod Club doors 7 pm. $22.50. ticketfly.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. December 14-15.  

Noname at Danforth Music Hall 7 pm. $TBA. On sale September 21. ticketmaster.ca. January 3. 

Sarah Brightman at Danforth Music Hall 9 pm. $TBA. On sale September 21. livenation.ca. February 10.

Adrianne Lenker (of Big Thief), Luke Temple at Longboat Hall doors 8 pm. $20. ticketfly.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. February 18.

The Trews at Danforth Music Hall doors 6 pm. $30-$45. On sale September 21. ticketmaster.ca. February 23.

Matthew Good at Danforth Music Hall Solo acoustic tour. Doors 7 pm. $39.50-$59.50. On sale September 21. ticketmaster.ca. March 14. 

JosÉ GonzÁlez & The String Theory at Danforth Music Hall doors 7 pm. $55-$69.50. ticketmaster.ca. March 26. 

Cher, Nile Rodgers & Chic at Scotiabank Arena Nile Rodgers & Chic added. 8 pm. $106-$706. ticketmaster.ca. April 22. 

Steven Page at Danforth Music Hall 7 pm. $56.30. ticketmaster.ca. May 4. 

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