Toronto seems to get its annual dose of legendary outsider filmmaker John Waters around this time. A couple of years back he was hosting the TIFF gala of his latest film, A Dirty Shame, then in late 2006, he could be found gallivanting around Roncesvalles overseeing the transformation—for good or ill—of his 1988 comedy, Hairspray, into this year's hit family-friendly musical starring John Travolta (based more on the 2002 Broadway remake than on its original......

Everyone loves the thrill of discovering a hot new band, but there's something equally exciting about watching a bunch of grizzled, middle-aged rock 'n' roll veterans show the kids that they can still hold it down. The second annual MQMusicfest takes place on August 19 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre, and promises to be filled to the point of overflow with old schoolers shredding like it was somewhere between 1985–95. The Festival is headlined by......

Hey, so what are you up to tomorrow night? Wanna go to a concert for free? Of course you do. Texas mega-band The Polyphonic Spree are in town at the Phoenix with their 561 matching-robed band members (okay, so really about 23), in support of their third album, The Fragile Army. And we want you to be there! Courtesy of Universal Music Canada, we have one pair of tickets to give away. But that's not......

Another ticket giveaway! This time it's to check out Toronto's very own Uncut at Sneaky Dee's tomorrow night, courtesy of The Musebox. Also on the bill for the evening are Debaser, Fjord Rowboat and Fire Hydrant, so it's going to be a busy night! We have a pair of tickets to put into someone's hands, and all you have to do to win is be the third person to email carrie@torontoist.com with your full name.......

Torontoist thinks it's pretty disprespectful when the din of bar chatter drowns out a performer, and our hearts go out to anyone who's ever tried to entertain a crowd of drunken patrons who think that opening acts are merely background music to obnoxious, beer-soaked conversation. Tim Perlich, NOW's longtime resident music crank, also finds issue with chatterbox barfolk, writing in this week's issue (p. 46) about Kelly Joe Phelps' show at Hugh's Room on March......

New Jersey singer songwriter Pete Yorn is stopping by Toronto on Sunday evening for a show at the Phoenix Concert Theatre, along with opener Moses Mayfield, for a night of making the girls swoon over his pretty face and golden voice. He's touring in support of his latest album Nightcrawler, the final installment of his 'day cycle' trilogy -- Musicforthemorningafter and Day I Forgot being the first two, respectively. You wanna swoon over his pretty......

It just never ends. Never. Ends. The stream of tour announcements is still going strong, and we're now at the point where there are 3-4 shows to choose from on some dates -- our calendar is starting to look as busy as a CEO's! As suspected last week, The Police added a second Toronto date to their tour schedule, on July 23 (tickets on sale now)...good thing Sting practices tantric sex so he'll have......

Let's just get this over with right off the bat -- Arcade Fire have announced their Toronto show dates. Hurrah! They'll be at Massey Hall on May 15 & 16, and tickets go on sale on Feb. 23rd. Predicted time to sell out? 1 minute 49 seconds. If you have no luck with those, the next closest location is Montreal on May 12 & 13. In other big concert news, unless you've been living......

Concert announcements are coming fast and furious, now that everyone's back to their regularly scheduled programming. A number of festival dates are set all the way into September already, including the return of V-Fest to Olympic Island on Sept. 8-9. The festival is expanding out west this year, with Vancouver getting it's innaugural V-Fest -- although judging by the current lineup so far (headliners only), they're catering to a much younger crowd than Toronto......

Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann courtesy of the TSO. If you’re turned off at the idea of classical music concerts because they seem like an activity for the high society rich, think again. There are plenty of ways to enjoy Toronto’s healthy classical music scene on the cheap or for free. Toronto Symphony Orchestra In an effort to infuse some young blood into its increasingly grey-haired audience demographic, the TSO offers $12 concert tickets to......

Two of our contributors, Shari Kasman and Jenelle Rupchand, are all about arts & crafts this weekend. In this roundup, Shari brings you some of the many weekend fairs going on, while Jenelle's stocking up on some fair trade goods. Baby Liam wants something soft and turquoise, Aunt Priscilla needs a lavender shawl, and Herman the co-worker would love a fashionable paperweight. With crowds galore and awful renditions of the top Xmas hits, the......

Looking to check out some live music this week? Here's your listing of what's happening around the city between August 7-13. If you know of any good shows this week that we missed below, let us know in the comments. Feel free to also let us know about upcoming shows that would be worth checking out. Recently Announced Aug. 12 – OXFAM Music 4 Change Fundraiser feat. The Diableros, The Coast, These Electric Lives......

...but you can't tell can you? On the radio, Sundays from 1:00 - 3:00pm is when you can listen in on CIUT 89.5 This week - a hot show! Blog This! w/ MH - Part 2 of an interview with the editor of this fine blog - Ron Nurwisah In Concert w/ Andy Frank - NXNE buzzband madness w/ Doris Day and "Trent Reznor with Tits" - Natasha Alexandra Final Cut w/ Andrea Nene......

Frank Gehry's return to Toronto touches on a few of the neuroses that makes this city unique. There's the dynamic of the successful Canadian, going abroad to conquer the world and returning to his humble origins. In Gehry's case redesigning the first art gallery he visited and one just a few blocks away from where he lived with his grandmother. There were no hard questions from the audience, when Gehry gave a press conference at......

Like anyone else, Torontoist can't help but be occasionally overwhelmed by the traumatic events in other areas of the world. This week is obviously one of those occasions. Our thoughts are in Louisiana. DCist has copious links and information on Katrina relief efforts. We'll post a comprehensive list of Ist posts and information shortly. In Canada, efforts are underway across the country to send relief to New Orleans. Celine has donated $1 million to the......

Welcome to our inaugural transit post. Consider this a weekly forum for all things transit, offerred up by He who knows how to make your TTC ride as efficient as possible. Enjoy! On Thursday, August 25th from 9:30 am to 12 noon, catch Queen Victoria riding the 501 Queen streetcar. Canadian mime artist Michael Carl O'Neil will take his act to the rocket as part of the TTC's Summer Concert Series. About the act O'Neil......

Sometimes we want to break out of our age bracket. We want to put on the housedress our grandma gave us and kvetch like it's 2050 and we know from arthritis. Since we can't skip time, we'll content ourselves with the 17th annual Seniors' Jubilee Concert Series. Today's 1pm show features "Dick Joiner, Ontario Central Reservist Band of the Salvation Army, Jim Bibby, Danny Gain & Norm Amadio, Golden Horseshoe Gloggers, Two Old Friends, and......

In what appeared to be a blind stab at modern fashion, some dude came to last night's Arcade Fire show in a full business suit. From the looks of it, this young man had misinterpreted the tie and blazer w/ jeans trend for all out formal attire. After a few head shakes, Torontoist was quick to remember that he once wore his jeans backwards in grade 6, mimicking his favourite popular musicians at the time.......

When France's Parti Socialiste cast their influential vote on a new EU constitution last night, the 120,000 members had much to consider. While the vote could possibly determine the future of the European Union, the French Socialists had a relatively easy decision compared to tonight's concert choices in Toronto. BSS alumni Leslie Feist at the Phoenix Concert Theatre might seem like the obvious option (BSS, by the way, stands for Broken Social Scene, not......