The Rolling Stones played two shows, D’Angelo lived up to all his enigmatic hype (and then some) and Blue IV made her Toronto debut in a Yorkville café. In terms of summer music excitement, that must be it, right? Wrong. August closes the summer tour-and-festival season with four city-stoppers and, hopefully, less humidity.
Get into The Grove
Originally slated for the quaint tourist town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Grove Music Festival came to its senses and relocated to Toronto and the almost-as-serene nature enclave of Fort York Garrison Common. It’s being billed a “boutique musical experience,” but we think it’s just an excuse to get some amazing acts – from a multitude of genres – in the same place at the same time. Phoenix, Hot Chip and Girl Talk headline rap fans will delight in Odd Future’s best emcee, Earl Sweatshirt and San Diego band Wavves will carry away T.O.’s surf-rock contingent. August 3. thegrovefest.com.
We’re so, we’re so, we’re so, we’re so, we’re so proud of you
OVO Fest, Drake’s annual concert/homecoming is turning four. Due to Frank Ocean’s eleventh-hour vocal chord injury, the Sunday headliner was forced to pull out, quashing plans for the first-ever two-day fest. In a rejigged August 5 lineup, James Blake will now open for the hometown hero and “special guests.” (Past surprise performers have included Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Nikki Minaj.) Adding to this year’s hype: Drake’s forthcoming studio album, poised to be the hip-hop album of the summer (if GQ’s gushy cover story is any indication). Maybe we’ll get a preview. ticketmaster.ca.
Young, wild and free
You get the feeling when Wiz Khalifa and A$AP Rocky decided to tour North America together, they chose their Under The Influence Of Music openers based on personality as much as talent. This mass of hip-hop’s new school is super-young (Joey Bada$$), super-charismatic (B.o.B) and super-hilarious (Trinidad James). Having seen Rocky, Wiz and Joey perform in the last few months, I can personally attest: this tour will be a lot of fun, under the influence or not. August 10 at the Molson Amphitheatre. ticketmaster.ca.
Never say die!
On the heels of Black Sabbath’s 19th studio album, 13 (a much darker and cooler name for a record than, say, 19), Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and, yes, Ozzy Osbourne are hitting the road again. The famous frontman’s pulled some pretty crazy concert stunts over the years (biting the heads off living things, partial nudity, etc). The real shocker here will be if he makes it through the entire performance. Hang in there, Ozzy! August 14 at the Air Canada Centre. ticketmaster.ca.
