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Concert Reviews

This category contains 345 posts

Review: Cirque du Soleil’s Varekai underwhelms in Toronto

By: Elaisha Green (@elaishajade) – Toronto welcomed the final North American stop of Cirque du Soleil’s, ‘Varekai’ at the Air Canada Centre last night. Under the direction of Dominic Champagne, this perplexing production pays homage to circus-acts from juggling to trapeze. The Eurasian-themed staging mixed in with breaks of family friendly physical comedy, which fragmented the plot but kept the audience engaged and laughing before … Continue reading

Concert Review: 2015 Greenbelt Harvest Picnic: more family affair than music festival

By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) – There were plenty of stories surrounding the lineup for the 2015 Greenbelt Harvest Picnic. Some were heartbreaking, like the story of Kathleen Edwards’ stolen 1957 Les Paul Junior. Some were triumphant, like the story of headliner Arkells’ double Juno victory. Some were even controversial, like the last-minute removal of Iron and Wine due … Continue reading

Concert Review: Arboretum Festival 2015 – Austra, Weights and Measures, Saxsyndrum

By: Laura Beaulne-Stuebing – It seemed fitting that for the first performance during Arboretum Festival’s last day, when attendees were beginning to slowly filter into the small, industrial festival grounds between two abandoned warehouses on a tiny island in Ottawa, one audience member moved in front of the group performing and started to breakdance. It seemed fitting … Continue reading

Concert Review: Arboretum Festival 2015 – Braids, Scattered Clouds, New Swears

By: Laura Beaulne-Stuebing – Next to the main stage, constructed out of white tape and fashioned onto a fence, were the words “Girls to the front,” spelled out large enough for a crowd gathered up close for a band to see clearly. The statement resonated, the perfect few words to catch out of the corner of the eye for … Continue reading

Concert Review: Arboretum Festival 2015 – Julianna Barwick, Organ Mood, Flying Horses

By: Laura Beaulne-Stuebing – The host for the second night of Ottawa’s annual Arboretum Festival, CBC’s Laurie Brown, may have said it best, between openers Organ Mood and local instrumental band Flying Horses. She told the audience gathered at St. Alban’s church near Ottawa’s downtown core Thursday night that music without words can move us “blissfully beyond … Continue reading

Concert Review: Earl Sweatshirt @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre

By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) – Don’t cry for Odd Future. While this summer’s news of the hip-hop collective’s breakup may be troubling, it’s best to think of it as “divide and conquer”. Judging from Earl Sweatshirt’s sold-out, rabid crowd at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, that plan is working out pretty damn well. To say Sunday’s show was long-awaited is … Continue reading

Concert Review: Why Wolfe Island Music Festival is Ontario’s Best Kept Secret

By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) – While taking in a late-afternoon set by Lowell, a black dog weaved its way through my legs. The little guy seemed to always know exactly where he was headed and trotted freely among hundreds of music fans, vendors and artists. It was the perfect snapshot and the perfect metaphor for the Wolfe Island Music … Continue reading

Concert Review: Faith No More, Refused @ Ricoh Coliseum

By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) – After 20 long years, 2015 finally saw Faith No More’s triumphant return to Canada, not once, but twice. Only a few weeks after their spectacular, sold out pair of dates at the Sony Centre, the San Francisco-based five-piece announced one more date at Ricoh Coliseum on August 7th – a venue that … Continue reading

Concert Review/Photos: Prince and 3rdeyegirl @ Sony Centre

By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) – Prince isn’t the kind of guy to toy with your emotions. Not this time, anyway. After last fall’s heartbreaking Massey Hall ordeal where dozens of fans lined up outside the venue for a concert that never happened, the purple one made good by announcing two shows in one night at the Sony Centre. Prince’s … Continue reading

Concert Review: Mumford and Sons Surprise Toronto Fans with Secret Concert

By: Alyssa Balistreri –  On April 3, 2015, Mumford and Sons played an intimate, secret show to a crowd of lucky fans at Lee’s Palace in Toronto with under 24-hours notice.  Forced to leave all mobile devices at the door, the show was different from anything fans had experienced – the UK four-piece band played completely new material. The band walked … Continue reading