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TIP SHEET September 1-15
Sep 1
+Mr. Lahey and Randy Trailer Park Boys’ Mr. Lahey and Randy have created their own wacky road show. Club 279. $20-$25. 416-703-0811.
dolly parton The fantabulous bluegrass bombshell leaves the casino circuit for a Molson Amphitheatre hoedown. $45-$55. 416-870-8000.
mars volta Steel yourself for a night of psych-prog epics when the big-haired bashers hit the ACC. $31-$56.50. 416-870-8000.
Sep 2
peter chin/tribal crackling wind Choreographer/dancer Chin performs in the second of two days at Dancemakers. $8-$10. 416-367-1800, www. dancemakers.org.
louis xiv Critically despised old men in tight trousers sing glammy tunes in silly accents. Mod Club. $15.50. 416-870-8000.
+city roots city wide fest Join Justin Rutledge, Jane Bunnett, Andy Kim and others at the Distillery District. Through Sep 4. $10-$65. www. torontocityroots. com.
Sep 3
3-DAY NOVEL CONTEST First day of this 28 year-old contest – with publication as the first prize – begins. www. 3daynovel. com.
+clap your hands say yeah Decide whether the tidal wave of hype is justified when Brooklyn’s indie rock posse rock the ‘Shoe. The show sold out in, like, 10 minutes. $10.50-$12. 416-598-4753.
+jaguar wright Jay-Z’s soul-crooning homegirl hits the CNE Bandshell as part of the Toronto Urban Music Fest. Free w/ $12 CNE admission. www.tumf.net.
Sep 4
much ado about nothing It’s the final day for CanStage’s Dream in High Park, a jazzy production of the Bard’s relationship comedy. Pwyc. 416-367-1652.
Sep 5
LABOUR DAY PARADE Toast the union movement by joining up with the annual march, Queen and University to Ex’s Dufferin Gates. Free. 416-441-3663.
CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION Among other things, Labour Day means the final day for the Ex. $8-$12. 416-393-6300. www. theex.com.
9/11 remembered film festival The political fest opens and runs till Sep 9. $5, pass $40. Rhino Bar and Grill. www.boilingfrogsblog. blogspot. com.
Sep 6
elton john I think it’s gonna be a long, long time till the Rocket Man hits the Air Canada Centre… Not! The first of Sir Elton’s two-night stand. $69.50-$130. 416-870-8000.
+z-trip Oddball hiphop mixmaster brings his latest Shifting Gears disc to the Opera House. $20. 416-870-8000.
lost: the first season Catch up on the addictive TV show everyone’s been talking about before the second season starts. Out on DVD today.
Sep 7
TOOKER GOMBERG MEMORIAL LECTURE NDP leader Jack Layton gives the inaugural lecture, on bikes and urban health, in honour of the eco-activist at St. Mike’s Hospital. Free. 416-864-6060 ext 6752.
rebelfest international film festival This fest of indie films and vids kicks off at Innis Town Hall and runs till Sep 11. $10, pass $80. www.rebelfest.com.
Sep 8
+TOronto international film festival Red carpets, stars, parties, paparazzi… oh yeah, and more than 300 films, including fest opener Water, by Deepa Mehta. To Sep 17. $18.23-$31.78, passes $63-$483. www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/2005/films.asp.
+NO SHARIA Join activist June Callwood, author Sally Armstrong and journalist Irshad Manji in a protest against Liberal plans to set up Islamic law courts. Queen’s Park. www.nosharia.com.
xiu xiu Jamie Stewart’s beautifully confrontational experimental art rock project touches down at the Gladstone. $10-$12. www.myspace.com/futurprimitive.
Sep 9
cuff the duke Straight outta Oshawa (by way of Toronto), the raucous country-punks celebrate their new disc with a Lee’s Palace hoedown. $9. 416-532-1598.
Sep 10
JUNCTION ARTS FESTIVAL The largest art-meets-street festival in North America, with five stages and a slew of local artists, takes over Dundas West between Keele and Quebec for two days. Free. www.junctionartsfest.com.
sufjan stevens Thank heaven for fab acoustics when the orch-folk savant brings his new Illinois disc to Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. $20. 416-870-8000.
little brother North Carolina-reared old-school rap revivalists spread the love at the Reverb. $24.50. www.ramosent.com.
Sep 11
corteo It’s your last chance to catch Cirque du Soleil’s latest, one of its best. Ontario Place. $46.25-$95. 1-800-678-5440.
nazareth Invest in a new lighter so you, too, can hold it aloft when the Scottish rawk posse bellow Love Hurts at Lee’s Palace. $29.50. 416-532-1598.
Sep 12
the long valley Soulpepper’s collectively created adaptation of three John Steinbeck stories is in previews at Harbourfront Centre. $25-$51.50. 416-973-4000.
u2 Are they bigger than Jesus? Well, the big JC never had a tête-à-tête to discuss debt relief with Paul Martin, now did he? Worship at Bono’s altar when they play the first of four nights at the ACC. $49.50-$175. 416-870-8000.
bloc party Post-punk buzzkids attract the too-cool-for-U2 crowd to the Docks. $21.50. 416-870-8000.
Sep 13
the optimists Morwyn Brebner’s dark comedy, featuring a kickass cast, is in previews at the Tarragon. Opens Sep 20 and runs till Oct 23. Pwyc-$34. 416-531-1827.
SCTV: volume 4 The box sets of one of the funniest series ever are real keepers. Season four comes out today.
Sep 14
COACH HOUSE TURNS 40 Celebrate four decades of rebel writings when Harbourfront hosts readings by Anne Michaels, Sarah Sheard, Michael Ondaatje and more at the Brigantine Room. $8. 416-973-4000.
KEN WIWA Have breakfast with the eldest son of Ken Saro-Wiwa, who speaks on Africa and fossil fuel evils. Sustainability Network. $10. 416-324-2792.
Sep 15
kiyoshi nagata ensemble The terrific Japanese drumming group release their latest disc, Kiro, in the first of three nights at the George Ignatieff. $18-$20. 416-978-8849, 416-651-4227, www.kiyoshinagata.com.
oleanna Graham Cozzubbo directs David Mamet’s controversial two-hander set in academia, at on Hart House Theatre till Sep 24. $12-$20. 4167-978-8849.
