Critics' Picks
Tanja-Tiziana
Review: Serpentwithfeet charms with chat time at the Drake
The charismatic New York City-based R&B musician mixed melisma with witty repartee in a cabaret-like performance more
Arnulfo Maldonado
The Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt staged his musical memoir at Luminato
The Magnetic Fields' 50 Song Memoir came to life at Luminato. Over two nights at the Elgin Theatre, Stephin Merritt sang a song for every year of his life and dramatized it with costumes, video and countless instruments and props. more
Review: Ex-Love and Rockets/Bauhaus members subvert the reunion tour
Poptone – the new band from Daniel Ash, David J and Kevin Haskins of Bauhaus, Love and Rockets and Tones on Tail – played a set packed with 80s goth classics, but there's a good chance a lot of people who loved those songs missed out. more
Samuel Engelking
Review: Kehlani's headlining set was a coup for Toronto Pride
Kehlani headlined Toronto Pride at Yonge-Dundas Square, and the Oakland-based R&B/pop singer/songwriter's set mixed relatability and pop-star proficiency more
Best Toronto songs of the week: Isla Craig, Tony Price, Harrison
Check out brand new songs from Toronto artists Isla Craig, Tony Price, Harrison, Alice Glass, Prime Boys, K. Forest and more. Local artists get psyched in this week's edition of #NOWplaying, which includes a Spotify playlist of new tunes. more
MIchael Lavine
Snail Mail cemented her love affair with Toronto at Velvet Underground
Concert review: Snail Mail's Lindsey Jordan is from Maryland, not Toronto, but she's been growing her fuzzy and sincere indie rock on the city's stages over the last year or so. At Velvet Underground, she headlined as if she was a hometown hero. more
Comic concert review: Vag Halen are the queer heroes we need
Vag Halen's Heavy Leather Parking Lot: a comic concert review. The 80s cock rock cover band kicked off Pride with Heavy Leather Parking Lot, a tribute to queer/dyke leather bars and tailgate parties, and we illustrated it and turned it into a comic. more
Samuel Engelking
Doors Open Toronto 2018 welcomed live music into unconventional spaces
Doors Open Toronto 2018 featured music all over the city. Ziibiwan played at Native Child and Family Services, Chelsea McBride Group accompanied jazz history, and shows emanated from backyards and museums. more
Lisa Genet
Review: Bush Tetras played a rare Toronto show
One of the defining bands from New York's no wave heyday, the four-piece easily filled the Rivoli with jittery punk energy more
Samuel Engelking
Review: Fever Ray brought bald ambition to Rebel
Karin Dreijer's wildly inventive project put a queer spin on synth-pop spectacle more
Amanda Fotes
Fucked Up played the abandoned Lower Bay subway station at CMW
Lower Bay Station, the de-commissioned TTC stop, was the unusual setting for a memorable all-local concert featuring Fucked Up, Deliluh, Tyriqueordie and E-Saggila. Check out photos and our review here. more
Samuel Engelking
Review: Haim got serious and silly at Massey Hall
The California group's sweet-and-salty stage banter reflected their music. A review of their concert at Massey Hall in Toronto, also featuring Lizzo. more
Samuel Engelking
Daniel Caesar returned the love Toronto has shown him at the Danforth Music Hall
An arena tour feels inevitable, but at the fourth of five sold-out Danforth shows the golden boy kept things intimate and highlighted other hometown talent more
Tori Amos covered the Tragically Hip at Massey Hall
The singer/songwriter/storyteller was intimate, vulnerable and triumphant in her solo show more
Ibeyi stay hopeful in a world gone mad on Ash
The French-Cuban twins merge tropical rhythms, lush vocals and story-rich lyrics on their soul-searching new album more
Samuel Engelking
U.S. Girls unveiled a bigger, groovier new incarnation at the Tranzac
Meg Remy's project has expanded to a 10-piece and the first of her two hometown shows was a glimpse into where they're headed more
Phoebe Sequino
Unsound returned to haunt Toronto's upscale goths
A live-scored screening of Under The Skin raised tension before Jlin and Wayne McGregor's Autobiography Edits heralded the cyborg art age more
Jenny Jimenez
No Neko, no Bejar, no problem for the New Pornographers at Massey Hall
Along with local openers Born Ruffians, the long-running indie collective proved they can thrive in any shape or form more
Samantha Pennington
Harry Styles's intimate concert at Massey Hall was one for the fans
Before he jets into the stratosphere for the never-ending stadium rock tour, the former One Direction singer treated his faithful more
Pinegrove showed why they're about to be huge at the Velvet Underground
This was likely the final time Toronto will get such an intimate concert from the heart-on-their-sleeves New Jersey band more
