Concert Announcements / Music News (January 13, 2010)

There was an insane amount of quality concert announcements over the past few days, most courtesy of Against The Grain:

The big one first - the initial lineup for this year's Olympic Island Concert has been announced. The shindig will take place Saturday June 19 at Toronto Islands featuring Pavement, Broken Social Scene, and Band of Horses with more acts to be announced in the future. Tickets $49.50 in advance ($49.50 @ door), onsale January 22 at 10 am, or jump on the presale on January 18 over at galleryac.com (presale ticket buyers will get $5 towards the Arts & Crafts boutique at the concert as well as a chance to win one of 10 pairs of VIP wristbands.

Norweigan acoustic pop duo Kings of Convenience return to Toronto for a show at the Phoenix on February 18 in support of their most recent album "Declaration of Dependence" released last October. Tickets to the show are $21.50 advance ($25.00 @ the door), 19+, and go onsale January 16 at 10 am.

Scheduled for a two-night stint at the Horseshoe Tavern on March 27 and 28 are Atlanta's The Black Lips with openers Demon's Claws and Box Elders. Tickets $15.50 advance ($18.00 @ the door), 19+, and go onsale January 14, 2010 at 10:00AM.

Austin's Spoon return with their new album "Transference" to be released January 19 and which is currently streaming over at NPR. For better, they are touring in support of the new album and will make a stop in Toronto on March 29 with openers Deerhunter and The Strange Boys. Doors 7:30 pm. Tickets $24.50 advance ($28.50 @ the door), all-ages/licensed. Tickets are as follows: Advance Floor - $24.50 and Advance VIP Balcony - $33.50, Door Floor - $28.50 and Door VIP Balcony - $38.50. Tickets onsale tomorrow at 10 am.

Making up for last year's Broken Social Scene Olympic Island concert cancellation for which they were to be a part of, Beach House are coming to Toronto for a show at The Opera House on March 30, tickets $14.00 advance, $16.00 @ the door, 19+, and go onsale January 15, 2010 at 10:00 am.

Also a higly sought ticket, UK's The xx return with Swedes jj for a show at the Phoenix on April 4, tickets $20.00 advance, $25.00 @ the door, 19+, and go onsale tomorrow at 10 am. I finally listened to The xx's debut album in its entirely - a very calculated(in a good way), minimalist sound. I really need to hear it on good speakers.

Hamilton's Attack In Black return for a show at the Horseshoe on February 13, tickets an affordable $10.50 advance ($12.00 @ the door). It's a 19+ show and tickets go onsale January 15 at 10 am. Quite impressed with them when I saw them open for The Constantines recently.

Seemingly a man about town now, Mr. Joe Pernice will play Dakota Tavern on February 16.
Tickets $20.50 advance ($23.00 @ the door) and go onsale January 15 at 10 am.

As previously announced, the Thrush Hermit reunion dates in Toronto take place March 27 and 27 at Lee's Palace. Ticket details have now been confirmed - tickets will set you back $17.50 in advance ($20.00 @ the door). It's a 19+ show and tickets go onsale January 15 at 10 am.

With their new album "The Golden Archipelago" out on February 23 through Matador, Austin's Shearwater take to the road including a stop in Toronto at Lee's Palace on April 1. Openers are Merge Records' Wye Oak, and Kansas outfit Hospital Ships. Tickets for the show are $12.00 advance ($14.00 @ the door) and it's a 19+ show. Tickets go onsale January 15 at 10 am.

Philly psych-rock outfit Dr. Dog, having signed to ANTI- last year, will release their newest album "Shame, Shame" on April 6. North American tour dates kick off at the end of January with a Toronto stop on April 14 at Lee's Palace. Tickets $16.50 advance ($20.00 @ the door), and it's a 19+ show. Tickets onsale January 22 at 10 am.

Portland's Quasi release their new album entitled "American Gong" on February 23 through Kill Rock Stars (according to Pitchfork). North American tour dates get underway in March with a stop in Toronto on April 18 at the Horseshoe. Tickets $10.50 advance ($12.00 @ the door), 19+ show. Tickets onsale tomorrow at 10 am. And that ends the Against The Grain portion of concert announcements.

Here's some other notable upcoming shows:

Born Ruffians play the Phoenix on March 14, presumably in support of their new album "Say It" which is to be released, supposedly during the early part of this year. I'm guessing this show is part of Canadian Music Week.

NYC noisy pop trio Vivian Girls will be playing Wrongbar on March 10 with similarly thrashy openers Male Bonding from the UK. Via Ground Control Touring.

The Wedding Present come to the Horseshoe on April 14 to the celebrate the 21st birthday of their major label debut album "Bizarro" by doing what else, but perform that album in its entirety. Mr. Gedge is on Twitter, if you're so inclined. For a man who still mans his own merch table at show, it's really no surprise for me that he's on Twitter. Hey, the man likes to keep in touch with his fans.

Toronto show promoters No Shame host the Horseshoe on January 30 with two shots of dance rock in the form of local groups Everything All The Time and Lioness and one shot of Haligonian experimental pop from Rich Aucoin. Tickets $8.

Edge 102.1 Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite at the Horseshoe on February 9 will feature Ashville, NC alt-country punks Those Darlins at 10:50 pm and San Antonion's Hacienda at 10 pm. Notably, Hacienda were The Black Key's Dan Auerbach's backing band on his recent solo tour. Also on the bill are local garage pop outfit Invasions who headline the evening at 11:40 pm/

Swedish indie pop group Shout out Louds release their new album "Work" on February 23 through Merge Records and will embark on a North American tour in May with a stop in Toronto on my birthday, May 8 for a show at The Mod Club. The first single from the new album is entitled "Fall Hard":

MP3: Shout Out Louds - "Fall Hard"
Video: Shout Out Louds - "Fall Hard"

Via The Windish Agency, the Brooklyn/Chicago based indie-dance-rock outfit These Are Powers (whose set at NXNE last year I'd only caught but a few minutes of unfortunately) and their friends Javelin will be at The Deleon White Gallery in Toronto for a show on March 30. These Are Powers have a new EP out February 23 through Rvng Intl entitled "World Class Peoples/Candyman" EP.

Finally, screening for only one night in Canada, Bjork's concert film "Voltaïc: The Volta Tour Live in Paris and Reykjavik" will be shown at The Acacia Centre (formerly Golden Classics Cinema) on January 22, 10$ Advance, 12$ Door. Via Stille Post:

Trailer: "Voltaïc: The Volta Tour Live in Paris and Reykjavik"