Last weekend was a perfect storm of music events, with NXNE, Luminato and the MuchMusic Video Awards causing youthful late-night mayhem on the streets.
At the MMVAs on Sunday, June 16, it was overwhelmingly Toronto-area musicians who took home statues: Billy Talent for video post-production, Deadmau5 for dance video, Serena Ryder for rock video, Drake for video director and hip-hop video of the year. Napanee’s Avril Lavigne snagged international video of the year by a Canadian, which she accepted while wearing a crown of metal spikes. Gotta keep the punk princess tag alive.
Drake, by the way, just added Toronto to his summer tour dates with Miguel after initially leaving us off. He hits the Air Canada Centre on October 24… his birthday!
After the awards show wrapped up, a number of local (and international) artists attended the Universal Music afterparty at Uniun nightclub.
Inside, the show’s host, Psy, held court in a private booth before descending onto the dancefloor to be surrounded by a hoard of dancers with enthusiasm in excess but questionable skills Billy Talent members obliged fans with photographs and Classified celebrated his video of the year win.
Also spotted at the party – which went well into the wee hours – Marianas Trench, Rich Kidd, Serena Ryder, Shawn Desman and Down With Webster.
Massey Made New
One of the city’s most historic and hallowed concert theatres is getting a makeover. The first phase of construction on Massey Hall is set to get under way once plans are approved by city council (in July, allegedly, pending Ford family antics).
Plans include removing the Albert Building, located south of the hall, which houses admin offices and back-of-house facilities, in order to construct a basement and foundation for a new addition. There will also be an updated back of house, a backstage artist space, the venue’s first-ever loading dock and enhanced, accessible patron amenities (like elevators and things).
The 119-year-old concert venue will remain open during this work, which will be carried out over seven years.
