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Music

This week’s must-see Toronto shows: Mashrou’ Leila, Shannon & the Clams, Not Dead Yet and more

Mashrou’ Leila

Beirut-based indie rockers Mashrou’ Leila have been making headlines internationally for the better part of two years thanks to their openly gay singer Hamed Sinno and lyrics about sex, gender, gay rights and politics that challenge the status quo and opened doors for taboo conversations in Lebanon and the wider Middle East.

Their latest single, 3 Minutes, is no exception, with satirical lyrics that take aim at the idea of pop conformity. (Not that they are opposed to pure pop delights – they also have an Arabic cover of Britney Spears’s Toxic in their repertoire.)

Born during the Arab Spring, the five-piece made their Toronto debut at the Small World Music Festival two years ago following the release of their (Montreal-recorded) third album, Raasük, in 2013. They played their first U.S. concerts during this month’s North American tour.

Mashrou’ Leila arrive in Toronto on Thursday (October 22) following sold-out dates in New York City and Boston.

With Wake Island at Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West), doors 8:30 pm. $25. ticketfly.com.


SHANNON & THE CLAMS, SHOPPING Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Thursday (October 22) See Shopping album review.

PURITY RING, DOLDRUMS Sound Academy (11 Polson), Thursday (October 22) Synth-pop, now with more bangers.

INDIGO GIRLS WITH TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Roy Thomson Hall (60 Simcoe), Thursday (October 22) Symphonic folk rock.

ALEX CUBA Winter Garden Theatre (189 Yonge), Thursday (October 22) Cuban-Canadian singer/songwriter.

NOT DEAD YET FESTIVAL w/ Fake Palms, Destruction Unit, Triage, S.H.I.T. Orden Mundial, Career Suicide, Pavilion, Dilettantes, C.C.T.V. and more Various venues, Thursday to Sunday (October 22-25) See preview.

LEON BRIDGES Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth), Friday (October 23) See preview.

THE DARKNESS, THESE RAVEN SKIES Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne), Friday (October 23) Brit hard rockers get their Queen on.

LINDI ORTEGA, SAM CASH Mod Club (722 College), Saturday (October 24) One of the best country acts doing it.

DISCWOMAN w/ UMFANG, Volvox, Christina Sealey and CL Round Venue (152A Augusta), Saturday (October 24) See preview.

YOUTH LAGOON, MOON KING Opera House (735 Queen East), Sunday (October 25) Trevor Powers goes hard.

KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS, WAXAHATCHEE, LUKE ROBERTS Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne), Sunday (October 25) Weirdo Americana.

GARBAGE, TORRES Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne), Monday (October 26) Only happy when it’s complicated.

JOANNA GRUESOME, AYE NAKO Silver Dollar (486 Spadina), Monday (October 26) Welsh noise punks.

ANDY SHAUF Adelaide Hall (250 Adelaide West), Wednesday (October 28) New Arts & Crafts signee.

MILK CARTON KIDS Queen Elizabeth Theatre (190 Princes’ Blvd), Wednesday (October 28) It’s all about the harmonies.

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