What to know
- Our Lady Peace performs a free set in Yorkville at 2 p.m. today as part of TIFF.
- E Street Band members Anthony Almonte and Ozzie Melendez join the Casa Loma Orchestra at 5 p.m.
- Free outdoor films follow at 7 and 8 p.m.
Multiplatinum-selling Toronto rock band Our Lady Peace and members of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band are both performing free sets today, Sept. 12, in Yorkville as part of the Rogers Red Carpet lineup for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
Our Lady Peace, known for such hits as “Starseed,” “Superman’s Dead” and “Clumsy,” will take the stage at 2 p.m. for set and Q&A associated with the documentary Gail, about their longtime superfan. The film has its world premiere today at 6:20 p.m. at Scotiabank Theatre.
As a side note, fans can also visit Our Lady Peace’s star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, located in the heart of TIFF on King Street West between John Street and Simcoe Street. The band was inducted in 2025.
At 5 p.m., two members of the E Street Band, Anthony Almonte and Ozzie Melendez, now regulars to Toronto where they play at Casa Loma with the Rock Symphony, join the Casa Loma Orchestra on some classic covers, including, often a Springsteen song. Almonte plays percussion and Melendez plays trombone in Springsteen’s iconic ensemble, but both are talented singers and multi-instrumentalists. They also play on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Liberty Entertainment Group’s president and CEO Nick Di Donato became pals with Melendez and Almonte after the two had dinner at Casa Loma’s BlueBlood Steakhouse during a Bruce Springsteen tour stop and now they come to Toronto once or twice a year to play with the castle’s rock symphony fronted by Nick’s son Justin.
Almonte recently released his debut solo contemporary salsa album, Conversando Con La Luna, on fellow E Street Band member Steve Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records. The famed guitarist also guests on one of the tracks.
The evening lineup also features free films, beginning at 7 p.m. with a TIFF Short Cuts screening of Between Late April & Early May, followed by a Q&A with director Sophia Smith.
At 8 p.m., the Rogers Red Carpet will host a TIFF People’s Choice Award screening of the 2000 martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
The Rogers Red Carpet is located on Yorkville Avenue between Bellair Street and Hazelton Avenue. The site also features interactive experiences and prize giveaways.
