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Azealia Banks, Big Freedia and Jazz Cartier to play NXNE 2018

NXNE is now just over three weeks away, and, after doling out tidbits of information – the abandonment of the Port Lands, the names of the curators for the Club Land shows – the festival has finally announced the first wave of musicians who will actually be playing. 

First, the artists for the festival’s free and public centrepiece, moved from the Port Lands after sparse crowds over the last couple of summers – to the festival village at Yonge-Dundas Square, which will run from June 15-17.

NXNE is leaning into hip-hop this year with its three headliners. Controversial rapper Azealia Banks will play only her second Toronto show after making her well-received debut here last year. Local favourite Jazz Cartier graduates to headliner status, while New Orleans bounce pioneer Big Freedia will play, riding a wave of hype after being sampled on Drake’s recent single Nice For What

Lower on the bill is recent NOW cover star U.S. Girls, indie singer/songwriter Torres, major label rocker Yungblood, more Toronto rappers in Sean Leon and Cadence Weapon, plus Montreal’s rapper Nate Husser, and Alx Veliz and Kamikaze Girls.

NXNE 2018 posters.jpg

The festival has also announced a huge wave of Club Land artists, who will play at 15 venues throughout Toronto (listed here). Highlights include LA TimpaPhèdre, Ice Cream, Die Mannequin, Just John, TOBIEvan Redsky, HexNew Chance, Dave Monks of Tokyo Police Club, Sydanie and many more.

NXNE runs from June 8-17. For $29, a wristband will get you into all of the curated shows. Another round of artists will be announced next week. More info at nxne.com.

UPDATE: NXNE has added pop acts Chvrches and Lights along with Strands (the solo project of Weaves’ Jasmyn Burke) to the Yonge-Dundas Square festival village programming. 

More Just Announced Toronto Shows

Long Branch, Maia at The Baby G doors 9 pm. $12. June 1.

Manas, Clarinet Panic Redux, Kurt Newman’s Nashville Minimalism Unit at The Baby G TONE Festival doors 9 pm. $10. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. June 3.

Waclaw Zimpel & Kuba Ziolek, Joseph Shabason, Nick Storring at The Baby G TONE Festival doors 9 pm. $12. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. June 5.

AGO First Thursdays: Bodies In Revolution: DJ Andy Butler, Sun Sun, Chippy Nonstop at Art Gallery of Ontario 7 pm. $13-$16. ago.ca. June 7.

Yonge-Dundas Square 15th Anniversary Block Party: The New Pornographers, Secret Broadcast, Featurette at Yonge-Dundas Square Noon-11 pm. Free. ydsquare.ca. June 8.

Jean Daddy, D-BOY, Jeepay Lovecraft at The Baby G doors 9 pm. $10. June 8.

NXNE: Jazz Cartier, Azealia Banks, Big Freedia, U.S. Girls , Torres, Yungblud, Sean Leon, Alx Veliz, Cadence Weapon, Kamikaze Girls, Nate Husser and others at various venues $29 wristband. nxne.com. June 8-17.

dubé at Velvet Underground doors 7 pm, all ages. $15. –livenation.com, ticketmaster.ca. June 9.

Dasychira, Qualiatik, Casey MQ, Viscera, Luxury ’66 at Bambi’s 10 pm. $10. June 10.

J Blissette, Several Futures, Don’t Bother, Vanity Phase at Monarch Tavern doors 8 pm. $TBA. June 13.

Wanda Jackson, the Rizdales, the Surfrajettes at The Great Hall doors 7 pm. $40-$70. –ticketfly.com. June 15.

TEEN, Miles Francis, HNRY FLWR at The Garrison doors 8 pm. $10. ticketfly.com. June 21.

Poptone at Opera House doors 8 pm. $35-$45. –livenation.com, ticketmaster.ca. June 23.

Charles Spearin & Tamara Williamson present AUDIO BOOK at The Baby G doors 7:30 pm. $20. ticketfly.com. June 26.

dumbfoundead at Mod Club doors 7 pm, all ages. $25-$75. ticketweb.ca. June 27.

darenots at Adelaide Hall doors 7 pm. $12-$15. ticketfly.com. June 28.

Robert Earl Thomas of Widowspeak, Beams, Chloe’s World at Monarch Tavern doors 9 pm. $9.50. ticketfly.com. July 6.

Daedelus, Holly, Wylie Cable at The Garrison doors 8 pm. $20. ticketfly.com. July 12.

Kina Grannis, Imaginary Future at Mod Club doors 7 pm, all ages. $25. ticketfly.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. July 30.

Mourn, Chastity at Monarch Tavern doors 8 pm. $13.50. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, ticketfly.com. August 9.

Drake, Migos at Air Canada Centre August 12 show added. Aubrey & The Three Amigos tour. Doors 7 pm, all ages. $79-$474. ticketmaster.ca. August 10-12.

nothing,nowhere., Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Bogues, Lil West, Jay Vee at Velvet Underground doors 6 pm, all ages. $20. ticketweb.ca. August 11.

Lydia, Jared & the Mill, Cherry Pools at Horseshoe doors 7 pm. $20. horseshoetavern.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.comticketfly.com. August 14.

Devendra Banhart at The Baby G 8 pm. $TBA. August 14.

Free Cake For Every Creature, Boosegumps at The Baby G doors 8 pm. $10. August 17.

Sarah Shook And The Disarmers, The Redhill Valleys, F. Scott And The Nighthawks at Horseshoe doors 7 pm. $12.50. horseshoetavern.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.comticketfly.com. August 25.

Lucy Spraggan at Drake Hotel doors 8 pm. $12.50. ticketfly.com, rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com. September 4.

Jon Hopkins, Daniel Avery at Danforth Music Hall doors 7 pm. $15-$25. ticketmaster.ca. September 14.

SOPHIE at Mod Club doors 7 pm. $25-$30. On sale May 25. ticketfly.com. September 26.

Jeremy Zucker at Velvet Underground doors 7:30 pm, all ages. $18. ticketweb.ca. September 26.

Sting & Shaggy at Phoenix Concert Theatre $TBA. ticketmaster.ca. September 28.

Dream Wife at Hard Luck Bar doors 9 pm. $13.50. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.comticketfly.com. September 29.

Gruff Rhys at The Garrison doors 8 pm. $15.50. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.com, ticketfly.com. October 6.

Liz Phair at Phoenix Concert Theatre doors 7 pm. $29.50-$39.50, VIP $169. rotate.com, soundscapesmusic.comticketfly.com. October 10.

music@nowtoronto.com | @nowtoronto

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