Tim Hecker
The AGO pairs up Nuit Blanche and Tim Hecker for the October edition of First Thursdays, which focuses on boundary-pushing artists who experiment with new ideas and approaches.
Montreal-based electronic sound artist Hecker’s sombre, eerie Virgins album last year earned him a spot on the Polaris Prize long list. He finds ways to make drone thrilling by dramatically weaving dissonant noise with welcome moments of melody, all adding up to what’s been called “cathedral electronic music.”
Walker Court will be used to its fullest potential. While Hecker’s ambient soundscapes echo through it, Anandam DanceTheatre’s Cascade will fill the space with dancers climbing up and down ropes attached to the court’s glass ceiling.
Other Nuit Blanche artists include Fastwürms, whose Fortune Teller Machine will sit just outside the AGO Shasti O’Leary-Soudant and Chélanie Beaudin-Quintin, who present interactive installations and dance artist Ame Henderson, debuting her Rehearsal/Performance.
Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas West), Thursday (October 2), 7 pm. $12-$15. ago.net
Constantines, Cousins
Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth), Thursday and Friday (October 2 and 3)
Guelph art-punks return.
Beach House, Skyler Skjelset, Steve Strohmeier
Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West), Friday (October 3)
Baltimore dream-pop.
U.S. Girls, Nature, Castle If, Farragoes
Jam Factory Co (2 Matilda), Friday (October 3)
Feast In The East 41.
Banks, Movement
Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne), Friday (October 3)
See preview.
Tennis
Virgin Mobile Mod Club (722 College), Friday (October 3)
See preview.
Kiran Ahluwalia & Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali
Royal Conservatory of Music Koerner Hall (273 Bloor West), Friday (October 3)
See preview.
Perfume Genius
Virgin Mobile Mod Club (722 College), Friday (October 3)
Mike Hadreas’s chamber pop.
Hercules & Love Affair
Wrongbar (1279 Queen West), Saturday (October 4)
Thoughtful, provocative dance music.
Jungle
Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth), Monday (October 6)
English modern soul collective.
Judas Priest, Steel Panther
Casino Rama (5899 Rama), Monday (October 6)
Heavy metal icons.
Sharon Van Etten, Tiny Ruins
Opera House (735 Queen East), Tuesday (October 7)
Heart-wrenching singer/songwriter.
Cat Power, Vorshees
Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth), Wednesday (October 8)
Bluesy sadcore.
Big Freedia
The Hoxton (69 Bathurst), Wednesday (October 8)
New Orleans bounce.
Nas
Queen Elizabeth Theatre (190 Princes’ Blvd), Wednesday (October 8)
See Archive.