T.O. Music Notes
Vivek Shraya launches VS. Art Grant for marginalized musicians
With her new VS. Art Grant, author and musician Vivek Shraya will provide $5,000 to an artist who is Indigenous, Black or a person of colour and between 18 and 28 years old to create their debut EP. Read more
Music video grant MVP Project announces first nine recipients
Sean Leon, Jeremy Dutcher, Milk & Bone, Jessie Reyez, plus other emerging Canadian artists and directors, will receive money and support from the MVP Project to create new videos. Read more
Courtesy of Intersessions
Electronic music workshop series Intersessions launches residency at Lululemon
Toronto DJ Chippy Nonstop is transforming the back of Lululemon's Queen West store into a mini club with CDJs for people to practice on. Read more
Amanda Fotes
Faith/Void is closing in February
Faith/Void, the multi-purpose venue and record store at College and Dovercourt, was a champion of DIY in Toronto’s music and arts. scene Read more
Toronto radio veterans launch new online radio station, JAZZCAST
Dani Elwell, Garvia Bailey and Heather Bambrick, all recently of Jazz.FM91, are behind the new JAZZCAST stream. Expect podcasts, live performances, interviews and more. Read more
Amanda Fotes
Metz and Teenanger to play Parts & Labour's final show
Metz and Teenanger will send Parts & Labour off the same way it started: with a sweaty basement punk show. Read more
Samuel Engelking
Everything we know about the future of the El Mocambo
When it comes to the El Mocambo, there's been lots of talk about the Stones and the sign, but now there are finally some details about the kind of music that will be played at the soon-to-return venue. Read more
Parts & Labour is closing
Popular Parkdale restaurant and music venue Parts & Labour will go out with one final New Year's Eve bash. Read more
Adam Appugliesi
Pusha T's Toronto concert shut down after onstage brawl
We were in the crowd when chaos broke out at Pusha T's Danforth Music Hall show in Toronto after people threw drinks – and then punches. Here's what happened. Read more
Made In Sauga label launches with Lincoln's Closure video
The sleek and soulful new soul-searching R&B video for Lincoln's song Closure is a strong foot forward for the Made In Sauga label, which aims to support and highlight musicians from Mississauga. Read more
Vlad Podvorny
The El Mocambo sign will be re-lit on November 15
Historic Toronto venue El Mocambo is still under renovation, but the neon palms will be re-lit on November 15. Read more
The Weeknd, Nav, Bryson Tiller to play launch of Toronto creative incubator Hxouse
The Weeknd headlines Open HXOUSE's launch concert at Rebel. The launch will also feature panels featuring Swizz Beatz, Halsey, Nabil, Boi-1da and more. Read more
R. Jeanette Martin
The Matador is for sale
Toronto venue The Matador is going on sale. Even after securing a zoning certificate, owner Paul McCaughey's plans to re-open the 102-year-old ballroom have faltered again. Read more
Adelaide Hall changes its name to RADIO
Toronto music venue Adelaide Hall is rebranding as RADIO. MRG will continue to book live music, while new owner Noel Copeman promises to give the Entertainment District venue "more of a personality" and book late-night cover bands on weekends. Read more
Samuel Engelking
Members of the Tragically Hip to sing with Choir! Choir! Choir! at Yonge-Dundas Square
Tragically Hip members Rob Baker and Johnny Fay will join Choir! Choir! Choir! for a free show, celebrating legalization and commemorating the anniversary of Gord Downie's death. That leads this week's just announced Toronto concerts. Read more
R. Jeanette Martin
The Matador lives to fight again
The Matador, Toronto's historic and beleaguered speakeasy/music venue, has got its zoning, and now owner Paul McCaughey hopes it will open by March 2019 Read more
Vincent McMillen
The Prism Prize launches music video grant for emerging artists
The MVP Project, a partnership between RBCxMusic and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, which has acquired the Prism Prize, will provide production grants between $5,000 and $15,000. Read more
Stuart Lowe; courtesy of Sistema
Musicians and parents speak out against PC cuts to Sistema Toronto
Doug Ford's government rescinded $500,000 in funding to after-school music program Sistema Toronto, and artists like Brendan Canning and Amy Millan have thoughts about it. Read more
Tanja-Tiziana
Wavelength reinstates Jonny Dovercourt as artistic director
Jonathan Bunce, better known as Jonny Dovercourt, has resumed as Wavelength's artistic director after an third-party inquiry found no evidence to support abuse allegations made by ex-employee Dorice Tepley. Read more
Samuel Engelking
Charlotte Day Wilson announces female and non-binary video grant
Charlotte Day Wilson and Fantavious Fritz's Work Film Grant will award $10,000 to emerging female and non-binary music video and short film directors Read more