Get Your Heart On Valentine's Day doesn't have.
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to mean candlelit restaurants and heart-shaped bathtubs. Live music can be the most fun of all, for couples or singles. Some highlights from our Valentine’s Day planner (page 37) include a tribute to Luther Vandross tonight (Thursday, February 13), featuring Alana Bridgewater, Carlos Morgan, Quisha Wint and others at the Armenian Youth Centre (50 Hallcrown).
On the day of, the Love Train Revue takes over the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts (10268 Yonge), with George St. Kitts, Billy Newton-Davis, Robin Banks and others playing Motown, jazz, funk and more. Promise, meanwhile, throws its Promise Heart Party at Tower Automotive (158 Sterling) – a massive abandoned 100-year-old warehouse – with Tone Depth, Tricky Moreira, Ali Black, Hugsnotdrugs and Chobo.
For a chiller, more intimate night out, the Beaver (1192 Queen West), has nachos, red wine specials and DJ Michelle playing tunes by female musicians. Independent ladies, single boys and respectful couples are welcome.
And let’s not forget Justin Timberlake, he of the album FutureSex/LoveSounds, the hit SexyBack and swoon-worthy boy band ‘N Sync. He plays the ACC (40 Bay) tonight and tomorrow (Thursday and Friday, February 13 and 14).
Air Canada Centre (40 Bay), tonight and Friday (February 13 and 14)
Chart-topping former boy-bander.
w/ Phèdre, Tops, Marnie Stern, DIANA, Weaves, Colin Stetson, Biblical, Ark Analog, Cousins, Greys and others
Various venues, tonight (Thursday, February 13) to Sunday (February 16)
See preview, page 46.
Drake Underground (1150 Queen West), tonight (Thursday, February 13)
Nashville alt country.
w/ Swamperella, Danny Marks, Jack de Keyzer, Lynn Miles, Ron Hynes, soozimusic, Brent Titcomb and others
Various venues, Friday (February 14) to Sunday (February 16)
See preview, page 46.
El Mocambo (464 Spadina), Saturday (February 15)
Doom metal trio.
Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West), Saturday (February 15)
See preview, page 49.
w/ The Golden Dogs and members of Sloan, Zeus, the Bicycles, Fresh Snow, Bidiniband, the Elwins and others
Silver Dollar (486 Spadina), Saturday (February 15)
See preview, page 50.
Sound Academy (11 Polson), Sunday (February 16)
Death and thrash metal giants.
Copps Coliseum (101 York, Hamilton), Tuesday (February 18)
Hip-hop superstar.
Sound Academy (11 Polson), Tuesday (February 18)
Electro-industrial legends.
Hugh’s Room (2261 Dundas West), Tuesday (February 18)
Banjo-toting singer/songwriter.
Massey Hall (178 Victoria), Wednesday (February 19)
Canadian country rock.