This is a list of concerts we are attending, wishing we could attend, or thinking about attending between August 12 and August 18, 2024. For more of what’s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here.
Music Mondays: دْیَار — Diar, featuring Hinad Alshuhuf (oud)
Monday, August 12, Noon
Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Sq., PWYC
Tarek Ghriri (guitar) and Nour KDN (percussion), with guest Hinad Alshuhuf (oud), will present a lovely Monday break at the Church of Holy Trinity, fusing Syrian and Arabic tradition with Flamenco. In Toronto, we are blessed with easy accessibility and plenty of opportunity to hear how people’s lives— including music — extend beyond the standard, and the limitations of such standards. Come with an open ear for driving rhythms and rich harmony. Info here.
Idina Menzel: Take Me or Leave Me
Tuesday, August 12, 8 p.m.
Massey Hall. $63. 10+
Idina Menzel, the Queen of Broadway, is singing one night in Toronto at the Massey Hall as part of her Take Me or Leave Me tour. Well-known for her debut as Maureen Johnson in The Rent, Elphaba in Wicked, and Elsa for Disney’s Frozen (whether for good, or for bad, ‘Let It Go’ certainly made a mark in our ears), this would be a lovely chance to hear Idina sing her hits. Since school’s out, bring all your Elsa fans and have a grand night out. Tickets are selling fast! Info here.
RAW Taiko: Bang On!
Saturday, August 17, 8 p.m.
Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst St. $25+
For the fourth year of the Toronto Taiko Festival, August 16 – 18 at the Factory Theatre, the drummers gather to take a closer look into the meaning of community, community building, and the role of an individual when faced with opposition/oppression. We often wish to make art a completely separate experience from political and/or communal contexts — and with commonly experienced drastic escalation through faceless accusations and ‘conspiracies,’ that is certainly an easier way out. However, isn’t the whole point of art to reflect and challenge ourselves in real life? The TTF’s big concert on Saturday evening will feature many groups, drawing their strength from one another, creating hearty resonance through everyone in the hall. Accommodation for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing people is available for the Bang On! concert. Info here.
Drom Taverna: Forró de Mané
Saturday, August 17, 8 p.m.
Drom Taverna, 458 Queen St. W., $17+
Forró de Mané returns to Toronto this Saturday. Originating from the Northeastern Region of Brazil, Forró — an amalgamation of music and dance — is one of the most popular social dances of Brazil. Its initial instrumentation involved three instruments: an Accordion, a bass drum, and a triangle. The rhythm sets of forró, baião, xote, xaxado or xamego, are quite infectious. You may want to get up and join the forrozeiros — and, please do! If the night isn’t enough to scratch your itch, do return to Drom on the Sunday, where the weekly summer Sunday Forró session starts at 2 p.m, with Maria & the Band. Info here.
Ukrainian Art Song Project: Summer Institute 2024: Artists In Performance
Sunday, August 18, 3 p.m.
Temerty Theatre, Royal Conservatory of Music. $25+
For the sixth annual Ukrainian Art Song Project Summer Institute, eight singers and a pianist have gathered in Toronto for an intense study of Ukrainian Art Song. Here is our Preview of the project. The current international political climate is a burning reminder to all of us, especially for the majority of Canadians who may have never experienced the difficulty of war, of how important it is to continue to protect and foster cultural identity, not to fuel jingoistic nationalism, but to build honest respect and empathy across the borders. Come with awareness, but really, enjoy the beauty of this particular repertoire in the easy-going Sunday afternoon. Info here.
Music at Mount Pleasant: Blythwood + 1
Sunday, August 18, 3:30 p.m.
Mount Pleasant Cemetary, 375 Mount Pleasant Road, free.
This is a rich woodwind ensemble program, with special guest Justin Massey, on alto saxophone. A typical woodwind quintet consists of oboe, flute, clarinet, bassoon, and horn, and the addition of saxophone promises richer contrasts and emotional range. Woodwind chamber music, despite its delicate beauty, somehow remains elusive to the general public — this would be a great way to hear a wide variety of works, ranging from French composer Henri Tomasi, to Canadian composers John Estacio and Robert Lemay, American flute/composer genius Valerie Coleman, and a lesser-known French women composer Louise-Marie Simon (pen name Claude Arrieu). Info here.
Markham Jazz Festival: Hilario Duran Big Band
Sunday, August 18, 5:30 p.m.
Millenium Bandstand Stage, free.
The annual Markham Jazz Festival returns this weekend at Unionville, 16 – 18 August. The list of artists is impressive, and the festival’s closer show will be with Hilario Duran and his big band. Duran wears many hats — pianist, composer/arranger, music director, producer — the man has overflowing talent. So come out and experience the beautiful energy from Duran and his Latin Jazz Big Band. If you are travelling from downtown, you can take the GO to Unionville GO station, and link up with the shuttle bus, 6 – 11 p.m. Another shuttle route will operate from the Markham Pan Am Centre as well. Info here.
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