Canadian Music Week (CMW) has revealed the full list of headliners for their 2015 festival which will feature Billy Talent, Faith No More, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Daniel Lanois, The Jesus And Mary Chain, John Mellencamp, Ron Sexsmith, Kiesza, Alvvays, Lights and many more. After a successful transition in 2014 from the winter months to the spring, CMW will once again take place at the beginning of May, beginning Friday May 1 and wrapping up on Sunday May 10. CMW will showcase over 1000 bands at more than 60 live music venues in downtown Toronto.
From now until February 4, wristbands are available for the low price of $60. While a wristband does not guarantee entrance into the larger CMW events, wristband holders are welcome to enter into the CMW Concert Lottery to get access to these shows without waiting in line.
CMW is also accepting applications for those looking to volunteer at the conference and festival. Visit the volunteer page for more information on how to get involved.
Patients Canada, in collaboration with Collective Concerts, has announced a benefit concert featuring musician Rufus Wainwright, along with Loudon Wainwright and Chaim Tannenbaum.
February 6th, 2015 (doors at 7PM)
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto Get tickets
The show honours Canadian folk artist Kate McGarrigle, Rufus’ late mother and founding patron of Patients Canada. Kate’s experience during her battle with cancer inspired her support of the fledgling Patients’ Association of Canada, now Patients Canada. She was adamant that Patients Canada not only address areas for improvement in Canada’s healthcare system, but that it recognize excellent care. Kate was an early supporter of the organization’s first project that continues today, the Patients’ Choice Awards, in which patients nominate doctors who are especially patient-friendly and a patient jury selects the winners.
Proceeds from this benefit concert will allow Patients Canada to continue its work on increasing collaboration between patients, caregivers and the healthcare community.
The 18th Annual Maple Blues Awards will take place at Toronto’s Koerner Hall on Monday January 19, 2015 at 7 PM. Hosted by musician and JazzFM91 host Danny Marks, the show will feature some of Canada’s greatest blues musicians coming together to celebrate the year’s outstanding achievements in the genre, all backed by the renowned Maple Blues Band. The event will also feature performances from Downchild, Angel Forrest, Brandon Isaak, Harpdog Brown, Steve Hill and Joel Johnson.
The Maple Blues Awards is proudly presented in partnership with the Toronto Blues Society. Now in it’s 30th year, the Toronto Blues Society aims to ensures that blues music, an indigenous North American art form, is guaranteed a continued presence in Toronto and works to create opportunities for live performances, radio airplay and national touring for blues musicians.
Click here more information and to buy tickets to the show.
A preview of the show can be viewed in the video below:
Yonge Love, a 2014 project started by the Downtown Yonge BIA, aims to engage Torontonians in a conversation about the neighbourhood, sharing the stories of its past, surveying its present, and imagining its future. In a short documentary posted on their YouTube page, Yonge Love dives into Yonge St.’s eclectic music history, providing archival photos and dialogue that helps us better understand the importance influence that music has had on the evolution of the street – and the influence that the street has had on music.
Watching the video may bring back fond memories for some of shopping at Sam The Record Man or seeing a free show at Yonge-Dundas Square. If you have any memories to share, Yonge Love wants to hear from you to help craft a vision for the future of Downtown Yonge. Visit their Share A Story form and submit your memory!
On Saturday November 29, 2014, Nathan Phillips Square will once again celebrate the start to the holiday season in Toronto with the 48th Annual Cavalcade of Lights. Following the lighting of Toronto’s official Christmas tree and an amazing fireworks display, the event will host a packed schedule of performances from Canadian acts including Shad, Kardinal Offishall, Maestro Fresh Wes and Kellylee Evans. This annual Toronto tradition will also feature an open-air ice skating party with music provided by superstar hip-hop DJ Grouch, who also teaches at Trebas Institute, the Remix Project, the Regent Park School of Music. The free event is suitable for the whole family and kicks off at 7 PM with a Holiday medley led by Adrian X featuring the Cavalcade Drumline and a capella group Retrocity.
