This Week in Music rounds up the latest news, releases and concerts coming to Toronto.
IN THE NEWS
Yonge-Dundas Square celebrates 10 years with concert series
It's hard to believe that Yonge-Dundas Square, the central hub of downtown Toronto, was officially opened 10 years ago this year. To celebrate this milestone, a free outdoor concert series will run, starting tonight (the 27th) and running weekly until October. The concert series is actually comprised of two different series - Lunchtime Live! and Indie Fridays. The Lunchtime Live! series will run on Mondays from 12:30 to 1:30 pm, with shows by performers including The Wilderness of Manitoba, Scarlett Jane, and Rattlesnake Choir. Indie Fridays will, naturally, take place on Fridays from 8 to 10 pm, and feature artists such as The Pack A.D., Dwayne Gretzky, and Cadence Weapon. For a full list of artists and dates, swing by the official website.
THIS WEEK'S HOT TICKETS
TUESDAY MAY 28 / DAVE MATTHEWS BAND / MOLSON AMPHITHEATRE / 909 LAKE SHORE W / $60 - $96.50 / ALL AGES
You can always count on the Dave Matthews Band to show up in Toronto once the summer weather arrives. One of the most beloved and consistent bands of the past two decades, DMB's eighth album, Away From the World, was released last September. It may not have been as strong an offering as their past work, but really, fans of the band aren't going to complain. If you've never seen these guys live, I highly recommend it - it's less of straight-up concert than it is a prolonged jam session, and it's a hell of a lot of fun.
FRIDAY MAY 31 / THE STRANGLERS / DANFORTH MUSIC HALL / 147 DANFORTH / $39 - $99.99 / 19+
The Stranglers have been mainstays of the English punk rock scene for almost 40 years, and are considered to be one of the bands that brought the genre into the mainstream. They're currently on tour with two of their original members, and this Toronto stop is one of two Canadian gigs. While the maximum ticket price is a bit much, this is still a show well worth checking out.
RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CONCERTS
- MAURIZIO GUARINI / LULA LOUNGE / JUNE 5 / 9pm
- COURTNEY LOVE / DANFORTH MUSIC HALL / JULY 20 / 8:30PM
WHAT WE GOT UP TO LAST WEEK
- New EP highlights Toronto's techno & house scene
- Vampire Weekend show no signs of slowing down
- TV, film, music combine for launch of Toronto art party
Photo of The Stranglers courtesy of Man Alive! on Flickr.