This Week in Music rounds up the latest news, releases and concerts coming to Toronto.
Big Smoke Fest 2014 announced
Last year's Big Smoke Fest helped Toronto heat up, and it's coming back with almost zero notice, so you better get ready quick. Cai.ro, Army Girls, Adaline, Highs, Basecamp, Wolf J McFarlane, Kashka, and Warm Myth are on the bill this time, and the fest runs from Friday, January 24 to Saturday, January 25 at The Garrison. This will be Big Smoke Fest's third annual "bands & brews" party - oh yes, beer lovers, Ontario craft brewers are just as important as the bands. You'll love it. Tickets are $15 advance or $25 for both days.
Trust release new single and announce Drake Underground show
Trust's upcoming album Joyland on Arts & Crafts has a release date: March 4 will be the day the dreamy new record drops (you can preorder here). Trust also announced they'll play The Drake Underground (home of some early no-one-remembers-this open mics if I do recall, *tear*) January 23, and you'd better RSVP here if you wanna go - Redbull will get all your FB info if you do though. Hurray. Listen to the first single here.
Weezer are playing a mall opening in Mississauga
Stop by the opening of Microsoft's newest retail location in Square One Shopping Centre (Mississauga) on Feb 8th, to grab passes (there will be 2,500) to see Weezer perform the next day for free. The mall recommends getting in line on the 7th. Here are some choice quotes from the Facebook event: February 7, 10pm - Start lining up for your chance to attend the exclusive weezer performance." "11am - Microsoft retail store opens (free tickets for the weezer performance distributed)" "Sunday, 10am. - Start lining up to get into the performance area at Powerade Centre." I don't know, I just think this is kind of funny.
The Music Gallery announces spring programming
The wait is over for The Music Gallery's spring programming line up - check it out here. While tons of this stuff is intriguing, Jerusalem in My Heart, Bile Sister, Prince Nifty stand out as must sees. What else is awesome here?
Thump on Toronto's Digital Dreams
The internet's new dance hub Thump added a dose of Toronto to its content - this video on Digital Dreams, Canada's largest EDM festival. Tiesto's in the vid along with Art Department, and various industry people. Digital Dreams 2014 is June 28, and tickets starting at $118 are on sale now. I'd pass out if I spent 5 minutes at Digital Dreams but looking at this stuff makes me crave summer so bad.
Hot Ticket
Pixies / January 15 / Massey Hall (178 Victoria) / 7pm / $44.50 - 79.50
Slice up some eyeballs - Ebay them, I don't know - to make eyeball martinis and cheers to The Pixies' long reunion. Quote The Pixies: "since 2004 we've been back together for seven or eight years - which is longer than our first period as a band." Kim Shattuck of The Muffs will stand in for bassist Kim Deal, who abandoned the reunion in search of happiness.
Local hot ticket
Gasp Gasp, with the Holy Gasp / January 16 / Saving Gigi (859 Bloor Street W) / $6
The Holy Gasp put on one of our writer's favourite shows in 2013. Fact: I was also at that gig and I just felt confused, but hey. Check out this unapologetically odd Toronto group along with Moves, who seem pretty good, at Saving Gigi on Thursday.
Recently announced concerts
- Trust / Jan 23 / The Drake Underground - RSVP
- Big Smoke Fest / Jan 24 - 25 / The Garrison
- Scuba / Jan 31 / Footwork
- Roomrunner / Feb 20 / Rancho Relaxo
- A Tribe Called Red / Mar 7 / The Hoxton
- Childish Gambino (second show) / Mar 25 / Sound Academy
- Chromeo / May 2 / Danforth Music Hall
- Woods / May 9 / The Great Hall
What we got up to last week
- Drake shows the Raptors some love at the ACC
- 10 queer Toronto bands you should be listening to
- The top 5 hip hop radio shows in Toronto
- 102.1 the Edge has cancelled the Dean Blundell show
Digital Dreams photo by Brian Morton