Concerts

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Hot Date: A Milestone for Mozart (and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra)

Jan Lisieki

JANUARY 11 TO 22 The Toronto Symphony Orchestra continues its 90th season by commemorating an even older anniversary—that of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s birth. The ensemble’s annual series of Mozart programming this year highlights two of the composer’s late-period masterworks—his Jupiter Symphony and Requiem—in separate concerts, along with other exemplary pieces and even a “Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage” show for young listeners. Audiences at the January 18, 19 and 22 performances of Requiem are in for an additional treat, as teenage prodigy Jan Lisiecki sits in with the orchestra for Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 20. Roy Thomson Hall (January 22 at George Weston Recital Hall), $20 to $145; call 416-598-3375 or visit here for showtimes and to buy.

Hot Entertainment: Jay-Z and Kanye West

Jay-Z. Photo by Chris Baldwin

Kanye West

Rap Royalty

With over 65 million albums sold worldwide and 27 Grammy Awards between them, there’s no doubt hip-hop heavyweights Jay-Z and Kanye West are successful solo artists. So you can imagine that when these two rappers collaborated for their album Watch The Throne, it was a sure bet. The duo’s smart rhymes, unconventional samples and experiments with sound have translated into a marathon concert with 30-plus tracks on the set list. Rogers Arena is the last stop on their tour, and it will be a show you won’t want to miss (Dec. 17 and 18).—Kristina Urquhart

More information:

7:30 pm. Rogers Arena, Pacific Blvd. at Abbott St. Tickets 1-855-985-5000.

Q&A with The Good Lovelies on their Christmas Tour

Get your fill of holiday music with The Good Lovelies.

This Canadian folk group takes the stage at Shenkman Arts Centre on Dec. 13 as part of their special Christmas tour. Where Ottawa editor Misa Kobayashi caught up with The Good Lovelies in advance of their local show to find out about their travel essentials, where they love to eat when they’re in Ottawa, and more.

What’s your favourite activity to do on the road?
Well, we bought some skipping ropes about a year ago. When we get restless, we get out of the car and jump rope for a few minutes. Invariably, we make friends with any young girls that happen to be around. They join in without asking. It’s a way more fun version of the elementary school playground! And we love eating in new places, checking out the local cuisine. Recently we had some incredible Indian food in Northern Ontario in Bruce Mines. Go figure! (more…)

Hot Date: The Music of Woodstock

Relive the era with Classic Albums Live: Woodstock.

Dec. 14. Peace, love, and Woodstock. It was an event that brought people together to enjoy great music. If you experience a pang of nostalgia when you hear melodies by Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, or Janis Joplin, then this show is for you. Classic Albums Live: Woodstock is a tribute event showcasing hand-picked artists who perform the classics. This concert will give people the opportunity to relive a moment that defined a generation and enjoy the timeless tracks that only get better with age.

Hot Entertainment: Sting

Singing sensation Sting

How better to celebrate a 25-year solo career than a North American tour? Catch Sting’s Back to Bass Tour, filled with stripped-down versions of all his hit songs, Dec. 8 to 10 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.—Sheri Radford

More information:

8 pm. $51-$151.50. Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Hamilton St. at Dunsmuir. Tickets 1-855-985-5000.

Hot Dates: What’s Happening for the Holidays

Ho ho holy moly! There’s a lot of festive events going on around town! Musical performances galore, an abundance of stage works, oodles of kid-friendly activities, and of course a plethora of places to cover your gift-giving needs. Have a look at what Toronto has planned this month for holiday-season revellers. (more…)

Hot Entertainment: Pius Cheung

Pius Cheung

Chinese-Canadian virtuoso Pius Cheung makes marimba magic during Wednesday Noon Hours at the UBC School of Music (Nov. 23).—Sheri Radford

More information:

UBC SCHOOL OF MUSIC Barnett Wednesday Noon Hours (Nov 2, 9, 16, 23, 30). 12 pm. $5. Jazz Ensemble II (Nov 3). 12 pm. Free. UBC Guitar Ensembles (Nov 18). 12 pm. Free. Scholarship Winners Concert (Nov 20). 3 pm. Free. UBC Composers’ Concerts (Nov 21). 12 pm. Free. Early Music Ensembles (Nov 23-24). W 8 pm, Th 12 pm. Free. Contemporary Players (Nov 25). 12 pm. Free. Soundings: Music of David Crumb (Nov 27). 2 pm. Free. UBC Percussion Ensemble (Nov 28). 12 pm. Free. Electro Acoustic Music (Nov 29). 8 pm. Free. Barnett Hall, 6361 Memorial Rd. 604-822-0182. www.music.ubc .ca

Hot Dates: 5 for music lovers

Finger 11.

November 18: Canadian rockers Finger Eleven, best know for hits like “One Thing” and “Paralyzer,” perform at Casino Nova Scotia on Upper Water Street.
November 26: The Dartmouth Community Concert Association hosts the multi-talented Rhapsody Quintet at Woodlawn United Church. The ensemble performs light classical, salon, musical theatre, movie music, jazz, tango, klezmer and more.
November 27: Soft-rock dreamboat James Blunt, best known for “You’re Beautiful” and “Goodbye My Lover,” makes a rare visit to the Halifax Metro Centre.
December 4: Performing in Halifax for the first time, the Mastan Group offers an “uplifting, mesmerizing” performance of Persian music.
December 9: New Orleans music legend Dr. John (joined by the Lower 911 band) rocks Casino Nova Scotia.

Hot Entertainment: Yo Gabba Gabba!

Visit Gabba Land and dance your heart out with DJ Lance Rock and the rest of the gang. Just say the magic words and characters come to life to captivate kids—and young-at-heart adults—with upbeat music and singing. Catch this lively crew at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (Nov. 11).—Jessie Colgan

More information:

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! 2 and 5pm. $24.50-$36.50. Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Hamilton St. at Dunsmuir. Tickets 1-855-985-5000. www.yogabbagabbalive.com

Hot Entertainment: Gigantic Success

They Might Be Giants photo by Joshua Kessler

It’s been a busy 30 years for alt-rockers They Might Be Giants. The inventors of 1990s-phenomenon Dial-A-Song—an answering machine that played back recorded songs to the caller—have released 15 albums. The band’s foray into children’s music earned them a second Grammy following the award they took home for “Boss of Me,” the theme song to TV’s Malcolm in the Middle. See the Brooklyn-based band at an adults-only show at Venue (Nov. 8).—Kristina Urquhart

More information:

VENUE They Might Be Giants (Nov 8). 8 pm. $28. 881 Granville St. 604-646-0064. Tickets 1-855-985-5000. www.venuelive.ca

Grey Cup Fever

Touchdown! The renovated BC Place stadium welcomes the 99th annual Grey Cup

By Leszek Apouchtine, Jennifer Patterson & Sheri Radford

Photo courtesy BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo)

ROAR, YOU LIONS, ROAR!

“The Pride of all BC” plans to roar past the competition and play in the 99th Grey Cup this month at BC Place. The BC Lions, Vancouver’s professional football team, have called BC Place home ever since the stadium opened in 1983. They were forced to relocate for more than a season while the stadium was renovated, but returned to their home turf at the end of September to a near-capacity crowd of more than 50,000 screaming fans. (more…)

Hot Entertainment: Pop Star

Selena Gomez

The Disney Channel has been very good to Selena Gomez, casting her in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place. Now age 19, the former child star has branched out into movies and music—and dating Justin Bieber. Catch the pop princess performing with her band The Scene, Oct. 14 at Rogers Arena.—Sheri Radford

More information:

7 pm. $39.50-$89.50. Rogers Arena, Pacific Blvd. at Abbott St. Tickets 1-855-985-5000.

Hot Dates: Editor’s Choice

The Thermals at the Halifax Pop Explosion.

Running from October 18 to 22, the Halifax Pop Explosion is one of Canada’s coolest music festivals. It showcases top indie acts from across the country performing at small venues around the city. Highlights include The Thermals, a collaboration between Amelia Curran and Symphony Nova Scotia, Stars, Thee Oh Sees and many others.

Hot Dates: Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

October 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 16, 22, 24, 29, 31

Since 1919, the VSO has been making beautiful music for aficionados and newcomers alike. The musicians travel all around Metro Vancouver to perform, but downtown’s stunning Orpheum Theatre has been home base since 1977. Sitting in the grand old theatre, with its soaring ceiling and exquisite chandelier, while listening to the VSO is an experience never to be forgotten.—Sheri Radford

More information:

VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Musically Speaking series: Berlioz, Lalo, Liszt, Enesco and Ravel with Bramwell Tovey, conductor; and Chad Hoopes, violin (Oct 1). 8 pm. Symphony Sundays series: Berlioz, Lalo, Liszt, Enesco and Ravel with Bramwell Tovey, conductor; and Chad Hoopes, violin (Oct 2). 2 pm. Tea & Trumpets series: Overtures & Intermezzi With Hannah Han, piano (Oct 6). 2 pm. VSO Pops series: California Dreamin’—Pops Classics of the Boomer Era With Jeff Tyzik, conductor; and Kaleidoscope, vocalists (Oct 7-8). 8 pm. Kids’ Koncerts series: Inspector Tovey Investigates Rhythm With Bramwell Tovey, conductor; and Granville Street Irregulars (Oct 16). 2 pm. Masterworks Diamond series: Chatman, Beethoven and Mozart with Bramwell Tovey, conductor; Till Fellner, piano; and Vancouver Bach Choir (Oct 22, 24). 8 pm. Masterworks Silver series: Dvorák and Shostakovich with Douglas Boyd, conductor; and Daniel Müller-Schott, cello (Oct 29, 31). 8 pm.

Orpheum Theatre, Seymour St. at Smithe. Tickets 604-876-3434. www.vancouversymphony.ca

Hot Entertainment: Avril Lavigne

Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne

With several platinum albums, seven Juno Awards and eight Grammy Award nominations under her belt, Avril Lavigne could be forgiven for wanting to take a break. But the 27-year-old Canadian dynamo never slows down. Somehow she’s managed to squeeze in time to launch a fashion and lifestyle brand, including two fragrances, as well as act in films and establish a charity, The Avril Lavigne Foundation. The indefatigable pop star promotes her latest album, Goodbye Lullaby, at Rogers Arena on Oct. 3.—Sheri Radford

More information:

7:30 pm. $37.50-$49.50. Rogers Arena, Pacific Blvd. at Abbott St. Tickets 1-855-985-5000.

Hot Dates: Keith Urban

Country singer Keith Urban. Copyright Keith Urban

September 26

With more than a dozen hit singles, two beautiful daughters, and the gorgeous, Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman as his wife, Keith Urban has a pretty good life right now. He’s left his days as a studio musician—and his later struggles with addiction—far behind. Catch the country superstar at Rogers Arena, and get ready to sing along to “Better Life.”—Sheri Radford

Hot Entertainment: Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam photo by Danny Clinch

This band has staying power, which is music to fans’ ears. It’s been 20 years since Pearl Jam broke into the grunge scene, and since then the group has been praised as one of the most influential of the ’90s. Listen in at the Pacific Coliseum (Sep. 25) for tracks such as “Daughter” and “Alive” as Eddie Vedder and the boys celebrate two decades of hits, sold-out shows and world tours.—Jill Von Sprecken

Hot Entertainment: Festival Fun

Weezer

What’s the formula for a sizzling summer party? Take one music and arts festival with headliners such as Weezer (pictured), Metric, John Butler Trio and Major Lazer, add in some camping and a mellow West Coast vibe, then bake in the summer sun all weekend long. It adds up to Live at Squamish (Aug. 20 and 21).—Sheri Radford

Jazz on the Mountain At Whistler

Greg Lowe, Kevin Eubanks and Oliver Jones are all expected to play

Jazz festivals have become a summer staple, and with all the competition to draw in music lovers, talent line ups need to entice. A nice setting doesn’t hurt either. Whistler is hoping that having both of these factors in their favour will draw crowds to their new Jazz on the Mountain At Whistler festival this Labour Day long weekend starting on September 2nd. The festival will feature international names like Spyro Gyra, Oliver Jones, The New Gary Burton Quartet and even that former late night sidekick Kevin Eubanks.

The concerts are spread out across the village, with the ticketed events taking place at the Whistler Olympic Plaza. Tickets start at $65 per day, with family packages also on offer. For those who want something more intimate, there’s brunch at the luxe Bearfoot Bistro with Lorne Lofsky, the jazz guitarist ($49). And to capitalize on the setting, a Mountain Top BBQ is scheduled each evening at the top of Whistler with a rotating menu and performers Ali Milner, Chris Smith and The Night Crawlers.

Organizers hope to make the festival family friendly on this key holiday weekend—they’ve also included a street festival spread about the village geared to the kids, which will include jugglers, acrobats and acoustic musical sets.

Visit whistlerjazzfest.com for schedules and ticketing information. For the Mountain Top BBQ, visit whistlerblackcomb.com for ticketing pricing and information.

Hot Dining: Jackpot!

Photo courtesy River Rock Casino Resort

Looking for relaxation, gambling, dining and entertainment, all in one spot? Then hop on the Canada Line SkyTrain and hop off at the River Rock. This resort has it all. Get pampered at Absolute Spa, dine at Tramonto, play the slots and table games at the River Rock Casino Resort (pictured) and be entertained by the likes Gene Simmons (Jul. 22) or Three Dog Night (Jul. 23).—Sheri Radford