This is a list of concerts we are attending, wishing we could attend, or thinking about attending between August 25 and September 1, 2025. For more of what’s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here.
Toronto Welsh and Addoldy Cymraeg: Côr y Penrhyn in Concert
Tuesday, August 26, 7 p.m.
Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, 230 St Clair Ave W, $40
Côr y Penrhyn, one of Wales’ oldest male voice choirs, will be performing at TEMC this Tuesday. Welsh men, many working in incredibly hard occupations, notably mining, forged a strong choral tradition, singing together in every community chapel. The drastic change in economy and social changes post-industrial era brought hard challenges to the communities as the mines shut, and many men left to the new world for survival — as far as Australia, South Africa, Mexico, and Argentina. Wales still hasn’t fully recovered economically; however, the tradition of singing shows no sign of waning. This is a great chance to hear this living tradition in person — choirs held these men, and their families, together in times of trials, of brutal accidents, of empty wallets, and many more hard times — with pints in hands. Come out and lend an ear to this rich history. Info here.
Kashamara Productions and 54 Entertainment: Evangelion Wind Symphony 2025 in North America
Tuesday, August 26, 7:30 p.m.
Meridian Hall, 1 Front St. E., $96+
Manga/Anime culture was once noble, and now it’s a big part of mainstream culture. Just last weekend, you may have seen many enthusiastic fans with big shopping bags and full-blown out costumes (‘cosplayers’) filling up downtown streets, as they attended the yearly Fan Expo Canada at the Metro Convention Centre. However, you may not have known how popular wind bands are in Japan. Yes, this is a thing! Japanese education adopted the band program with eagerness, as it promotes a few of the core Japanese cultural values: emphasis on social hierarchy, cooperation, repetition practice, and self-discipline. The high school band competitions run at a high octane, emotionally and technically, and ‘windband’, though it is not part of the regular curriculum, is a big part of Japanese cultural identity. This concert blends these two unique elements: anime and windbands. Neon Genesis Evangelion, known as Evangelion or simply Eva, is a 30-year old sci-fi anime of 27 episodes which were wildly successful and easily considered one of the best anime series ever, and full of philosophical sophistication — a proper intro would need in-depth articles to fully explain. For this three-cities tour (Toronto, Irving, and Los Angeles), the show is bringing music of Shiro Sagisu, featuring a full-scale symphonic wind band with Yoko Takahashi on vocals, who sang on the series’ opening theme song: A Cruel Angel’s Thesis. The VIP group photo tickets, which include photo sessions with Takahashi, sold out long ago; but if you are curious, go see this cultural phenomenon along with diehard Eva fans. Of course, the band will be top-notch, and the energy in the hall will be amazing. Info here.
Summer Music in the Garden: In the Garden of the Deep Blue Sea
Thursday, August 28, 7 p.m.
Toronto Music Garden, free
The last concert of the summer series at the TMG celebrates whale song. Bunna Lawrie, a Mirning Elder and whale songman, with Corrina Bonshek (Australian) and Collaborators, and Katia Makdissi-Warren (Canadian), have created a beautiful project blending Māori, Aboriginal, and Inuit songs, to bring the whale, one of the most majestic creatures of Earth, into our hearts. Read our Preview here. This summer was another summer of blazing fires and natural disasters. Ontario now expects tornados, and landslides with floods regularly kill many in the tropics. The world is changing, and the whale continues to signify many things — the ocean people have woven their lives with the whale, and amongst such a whirlwind of changes, we cannot put aside the burning question: what is our responsibility to our fellow creatures? Come and listen to these amazing storytellers, as they weave legends and music together for us, by the beautiful lake — and perhaps reflect that we must act to keep it beautiful, though it may be almost too late — we need to adapt, now. Info here.
University of Toronto Alumni: Soldiers’ Tower Carillon Recital
Monday, September 1, 3 p.m.
Soldiers’ Tower War Memorial, 7 Hart House Circle, free
Ah, come and enjoy the last summer hurrah basking in the long weekend afternoon sun, before St. George campus is filled with newbies and returning students, full of chaotic energy. Joseph Min will step up to the tower for this free outdoor recital; there will be some seating available at the base of the tower with a screen, so that we can see the magical carillonneur busy, making cloud-like sound – magic that fills the sky. And take that bit of the golden summer light with you, as the new school year/fall bustle takes over the city, in the wink of a night. Info here.
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