If you’re like most Canadians, you spent a lot of the winter on your couch, binge-watching Netflix and pretending the city beyond your home didn’t exist. But now that the summer has arrived, you can’t blame your laziness on the weather. Nor do you have to. With an extreme lack in vitamin D and far more boredom than you know what do with, you’re ready to take advantage of the sunny summer months. It’s your time to jump off the couch and actually do something for once.
One of the great things about summer in the city is that there’s so much to do. Between street festivals, conventions, and food festivals, there’s almost always something happening. The same can be said about Toronto’s music scene. The city has a reputation for bringing in the biggest and best artists from around the world at any time of the year, but the summer is especially chockablock with the top musical acts and emerging artists in need of your support. You can visit any of the biggest Toronto music stores to see a long list of local musicians. Open up a new tab to find your local Long & McQuade music store. You might even find online listings for special events in your area. As for the biggest events, look no further than this page.
June Artists to See
The summer starts off with a bang in June. No matter what type of music is your favourite, there’s something for everyone this month. Electro pop indie rockers, Twenty One Pilots, are sweeping through the city on the 7th to play at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre. If electro pop isn’t your thing, don’t worry. The iconic Paul Simon and his more traditional sound are set to rock the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts on June 21st in support of his latest album, Stranger to Stranger.
Most people don’t realize it but country roots run deep in Toronto. Otherwise there would be no explaining why Kenny Chesney and The Dixie Chicks are both playing at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre on the 9th and 21st respectively. But country isn’t the only thing hitting the city this June. Check out Toronto’s full concert listings to see if your favourite band is scheduled this month.
July Keeps it Sizzling
The action doesn’t stop in July. In fact, it only gets hotter as the music industry’s biggest stars are set to arrive. The younger crowds probably already have their tickets for Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas at the Air Canada Centre (ACC) on the 23rd. But if the current billboard chart toppers aren’t your thing, there are plenty of classic rockers scheduled to make an appearance, as The Doobie Brothers and John Fogerty will be performing at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre on the 7th and 11th respectively, while Brian Wilson will be taking centre stage at Massey Hall on the 4th.
August is a Concert Paradise
As summer months go, it’s a bittersweet one. While it’s the hottest, it’s also the last, and it signifies the city’s last big hurrah before we prepare for fall. Take advantage of the rising mercury before it’s too late and see Gwen Stefani on the 4th as she performs at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre. Country fans will be sure to get tickets for Brad Paisley’s kick-off to another world tour on the 18th, while heavy rockers will be pleased to hear metal icon and horror writer, Rob Zombie, will be scaring his way into Toronto with special guests Korn and In This Moment on the 23rd. Shawn Mendes (Aug 21st), The Go Go’s (August 16th), and UB40 (August 31st) will also be hitting the city, ensuring the last month of summer is full of world-class performances.
There’s no denying that Toronto’s a hot bed of music during the summer. As musicians spanning different kinds of genres visit the city, there’s something for everyone, so be sure to check out full concert listings to see which of your favourite artists will be performing this summer. Use all of the resources at your disposal, including BlogTO, bands’ official websites, and local Toronto music stores. Before you know it, your week nights and weekends will fill up with concert after concert. There simply won’t be any time to binge-watch Netflix!