by CHRIS CLAY
THOM YORKE has enjoyed a hugely successful career as a singer with RADIOHEAD, one of the most critically and commercially-praised bands in recent memory. While he’s likely best known for his work with the seminal group, Yorke isn’t one to shy away from exploring his own musical pursuits and will bring his solo tour to Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on September 27. Yorke released the solo studio album Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes in 2014 and also crafted the score for the 2018 horror film Suspiria. The best news about the upcoming tour? Yorke will play new music as part of it. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
The venerable and Grammy Award-winning band FLEETWOOD MAC will also be coming to the Scotiabank Arena and have a concert on November 1. Wondering about the lineup? Well, it’s staples Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Stevie Nicks, and Christine McVie along with newcomers Mike Campbell and Neil Finn. Fleetwood Mac has rattled off a string of hits including “Dreams and Little Lies,” sold more than 100 million records and earned an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
If you enjoy more pop than rock, THE JONAS BROTHERS hit Scotiabank Arena on November 26. The trio had been broken up for several years before suddenly reuniting and releasing the new track “Sucker” back in the spring. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Just a few months later, they released their fifth studio album Happiness Begins. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Budweiser Stage is going old school with a concert on September 10 featuring a pair of big names from the 1990s and 2000s rap and R&B game. Multiple Grammy Award-winner MARY J. BLIGE and the Grammy-nominated NAS are teaming up for the concert in Toronto. Blige has released more than a dozen albums throughout her career and has sold more than 80 million records. Nas released his most recent album Nasir last year. Tickets can be purchased through ticketmonster.com.
Other concerts happening at Budweiser Stage worth checking out include OF MONSTERS AND MEN (September 11), RASCAL FLATTS (September 12), OUR LADY PEACE (September 15), DANIEL CAESAR (September 29) and WILCO (October 8).
For those who love the stage, the Tony Award-winning musical The Band’s Visit comes to the Ed Mirvish Theatre for a run from September 17 to October 20. The show, which won a 2018 Tony for Best Musical, tells the whimsical tale of a lost band that stumbles upon a small town and infuses it with new life through music. The upcoming run is the show’s Canadian premiere. Tickets start at $49. They can be purchased by calling the box office at 416.872.1212 or by visiting TicketKing.com.
The Girl From The North Country will also make its Canadian debut when it arrives in Toronto for a run from September 28 to November 24 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Set in Minnesota in the 1930s, it follows a group of impoverished and down-on-their-luck people struggling to get their lives in order. Music from icon BOB DYLAN’S songbook is woven throughout the musical that is filled with hope, heartbreak and soul. Tickets start at $39. They can be purchased by calling the box office at 416.872.1212 or by visiting TicketKing.com.
Considering that recreational cannabis was made legal in Canada earlier this year, it feels appropriate that two of the biggest names associated with marijuana culture are coming to Roy Thomson Hall. CHEECH & CHONG are bringing their O Cannabis Tour to Toronto on September 22 and are ready to celebrate the country’s new legislation with a night of comedy. Many will know the duo from their series of movies including Up In Smoke. Tickets are $75 to $125 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 416.872.4255.
It’s been almost three years since famed Canadian singer and songwriter GORD DOWNIE appeared on the Roy Thomson Hall stage to perform his album Secret Path. Although Downie has sadly passed, Secret Path Live returns for a performance on October 19. The album helped tell the story of Chanie Wenjack, a young Anishinaabe boy who died after fleeing an Indian residential school in the 1960s. The upcoming show will celebrate Indigenous history and commemorate the lives of both Downie and Wenjack. Tickets are $75 to $500 and can be purchased through the box office.
Over at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, author and humourist DAVID SEDARIS will perform on October 11. Known for his sharp satire and clever wit, Sedaris will spend the evening sharing new stories and observations. There will also be a question-and-answer session with the audience and a book signing. He released his most recent book Calypso in 2018 and it’s billed as a deeply personal and darkly hilarious collection. Tickets cost $45.39 to $60.39 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 1.855.872.7669.
If you love THE B-52S then you won’t want to miss their 40th anniversary tour when it comes to the Sony Centre on September 13. Fans of many generations know and love their music including hits and catchy singles such as “Love Shack” and “Rock Lobster.” It’s hard to believe the Grammy Award-nominated group has been around for four decades. Tickets cost $73.39 to $153.39 and can be purchased by calling the box office.
Without doubt, STEVIE WONDER AND PRINCE are two of the most influential American musicians of all time. The two friends and occasional collaborators had a deep and mutual respect for each other’s talents and musical abilities. At the Toronto Centre for the Arts, the music of the two icons will be performed as part of the Musical Stage Company’s annual signature concert. Uncovered: Steve Wonder and Prince is on stage November 8 and 9. Tickets cost $28-$80 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 416.250.3708.
The Canadian Opera Company is staging a production of GIACOMO PUCCINI’S Turandot at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts from September 28 to October 27. Director Robert Wilson helms the reimagining of the opera that follows beautiful and cruel Turandot, who is willing to marry any man who can solve her three riddles. However, if suitors fail, they will be executed. Tickets can be purchased by calling 416.363.8231.
Grammy Award-nominated retro Canadian rockers GLASS TIGER will be at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts for a concert on October 2. The band shot to stardom with the release of its first album The Thin Red Line, which featured the hit single “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone).” Tickets are $55 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 905.787.8811.