Concert Announcements / Music News (May 8, 2009)

I hope the Ontario version of Virgin Festival is better than Montreal. That lineup stinks so bad.

If you're a Massey Hall FriendsFirst member then you'll have access to the presale for Sonic Youth's June 30 date at the venue. Presale takes place today at 12 PM EST (ok, I know I'm late posting this) and the password is ETERNAL.

The Horseshoe Tavern website lists King Khan and BBQ and seminal Toronto band Change of Heart taking over the venue from June 18-20 for NXNE. I'm not entirely certain about exact dates for each band. Change of Heart - I'd sort of casually latched onto them for their last couple of albums("Tummysuckle" & "Steelteeth") but never really listened to them much but they had some great singles.

Speaking of King Khan, him and his Shrines will be performing on MTV live this Monday May 11. Othen upcoming MTV Live performances including rapper Classified on May 12, Toronto soul-punks Lioness on May 13, and Toronto roots-pop outfit Great Bloomers on May 14. For free tickets call 1-888-491-6888 or e-mail liveaudience@mtv.ca.

Toronto band making waves now, Rock Plaza Central are going on tour in support of their new album "At The Moment Of Our Most Needing, Or If Only They Could Turn Around, They Would Know They Weren't Alone" coming out through Paper Bag Records on May 26. Press material describes this album as living more up to the "Rock" part of their band name. Here are some of their upcoming local & Canadian tour dates(check Paper Bag Records for full dates):

May 25 Toronto, ON @ The Tranzac
May 26 Toronto, ON @ Sonic Boom (Instore)
May 27 Toronto, ON @ George Weston Recital Hall
May 27 Toronto, ON @ The Dakota Tavern w/ The Skydiggers
May 28 London, ON @ Call The Office
May 29 Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod’s
May 30 Montreal, QC @ Green Room
June 13 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace w/Suckers
July 18 Vancouver, BC @ Vancouver Folk Festival
July 19 Vancouver, BC @ Vancouver Folk Festival
July 24 Guelph, ON @ Hillside Fest
July 25 Guelph, ON @ Hillside Fest

Sub Pop Americana act Vetiver will be playing an instore at Sonic Boom on May 15. It is free but the hosts are encouraging everyone to bring a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank. Vetiver play the Horseshoe later that night. Via Stille Post.

Chromewaves points out that the lineup has been announced for this year's Wolfe Island Musicfest taking place August 8 on Wolfe Island in the Thousand Islands in Kingston, Ontario. It's a quaint and not entirely undeserving lineup including Holy Fuck, Busdriver, Apostle Of Hustle, Attack In Black, Woodhands, The D’Urbervilles, Ohbijou, The Rural Alberta Advantage and Julie Fader. If it were in my own bacykyard so to speak, I'd be there in a second although I'd don't think the lineup's enough motivation for me to want to drive to Kingston, scenic drive notwithstanding.

The more that Chromewaves pimps Patrick Wolf the more I'm intrigued. I was mildly entertained by Patrick Wolf's single 'The Magic Position'. His new single 'Vulture' (off his newest album "The Bachelor") is obviously influenced by 80's alternative dance music. 'The Magic Position' is more the direction that'd influence me to explore his catalogue more. But more than a few people must be excited that Mr. Wolf's coming to town on June 17 for a show at The Mod Club, a bill which'll include The Living Things, The Plasticines, and Jaguar Love. Via Chromewaves.

Oh and today is my birthday. And I have a cold which I've had since yesterday, for which I needed to take a day off work and it's still not gone. Grrr.