This fjord is my fjord, this fjord is your fjord, From the valley Thörsmork to the geyser Strokkur, From Lake Lögurinn to Björk's house in Reykjaviík. Iceland was made for you and me. Our favourite Nordic country just got a little closer: Icelandair will launch direct flights between Toronto and Reykjaviík on May 2. To celebrate, Iceland Naturally is hosting a week-long Taste of Iceland festival from March 10–16 to promote modern Viking culture......

Next Saturday, Toronto Poetry Slam brings you the last slam of the season, with some of the city’s brightest and wordiest battling it out for the last remaining place in the semi finals. Finalists will have a shot at the 2008 Toronto Poetry Slam Team, which competes at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word and the US National Poetry Slam (this year to be held in Madison, Wisconsin). This month’s event also features a guest......

Photo from Plexifilm. For lovers of Detroit techno, the new year keeps on giving. This Saturday, legendary DJ Derrick May hits up Footwork. He will be joined by local favourites Greg Gow, Derrick Ramirez and Gerald Matrix. With his high school friends, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson, May became known as one of the Belleville Three. The trio invigorated the 1980s Detroit house music scene and are credited with pioneering techno. May continues to......

Musicologist is Torontoist's weekly concert listings. Check back in every Monday for more. This week, Musicologist recommends Girl Talk at the Phoenix—if you can find a ticket—but with a couple of caveats. First, do not go expecting your typical live show, or even your typical DJ. The magic of Girl Talk is in the atmosphere he creates with his sample-crazy mash-ups, not in any sort of live technical impressiveness. Think of the $15 ticket price......

Musicologist is Torontoist's weekly concert listings. Check back in every Monday for more. This week, we suggest Land Of Talk and Thunderheist. Land Of Talk has put out some of the most addictive songs of the past year on their EP, Applause Cheer Boo Hiss. The stripped-down, guitar-driven pop of "All My Friends" and "Speak To Me Bones" will stick in your head and not come out, even after you've purchased the album and listened......

One of the first things aspiring journalists learn is to keep themselves out of the story, if not completely, then as much as possible. "No one cares about you," is how one editor once put it. But with only a small portion of questions posed and stories heard actually making it to print, journalists are often full of great anecdotes and hilarious insights that never get a proper audience. Also, they often like to......

There are as many types of poetry as there are different styles of music. Books of poetry are usually confined to a shelf or two at a local bookstore, but if you want to buy a CD, you visit an entire store dedicated to music. When someone professes to like poetry, the reference is probably to a favourite type of poetry, and not all poetries—just as a jazz afficionado might dislike Country and Western,......

Every two weeks "What's The Frequency, Campus?" will highlight some of the intriguing shows and special programming happening on Toronto's campus and community radio stations. Community radio is known for its championing of emerging Canadian talent, and it was in this spirit that Dig Your Roots was born. An initiative of the National Campus and Community Radio Association, DYR is a series of compilation CDs accompanied by cross-Canada tours. Each set is focused around a......

The most unusual aspect of Monday night's quiet jam at the Drake Underground was the absence of annoying chatter during three folk-rock solo sets. Everyone knows Toronto keeps it real by keeping still, but normally a quieter show means restless drinkers hoping to catch up with friends while they absently watch a show as if it's background music. Astoundingly, the audience remained almost completely and respectfully silent throughout Baby Eagle, again through Woolly Leaves, and......

It seems pretty appropriate that we just had Groundhog Day, given that we're feeling a little bit like Bill Murray looking at the concert listings this week. Not only is there very little going on, but most of the bands who are playing seem to be here every week (Apostle of Hustle, The Tragically Hip, Hostage Life, Friendly Rich). Thus, we have nothing left to say about them! So if you've already seen these......

For live music junkies, the week between Christmas and New Year's can offer very little in terms of quality shows. The folks at The Drake Hotel are trying to remedy the situation with their What's In The Box? week of shows. Running from the 26th to the 30th, the Drake Underground and Lounge are featuring the best acts from 2006. Each day is five dollars and features five bands, leading to a nice "5 Bands......

Another busy week in the city. Ridiculously busy. Once again, there's something decent to check out every night. We'll be hitting The Decemberists, Imogen Heap, Shout Out Out Out Out (out out out), and possibly a few more. Perhaps even Skid Row (minus Bach). What?! As if you don't miss those power ballads of the 80s! Oh, and it looks like Justin Timberlake is bringing 'sexy back' to Toronto in January. The price? Up......

Busy, busy week here in Toronto. There are so many good shows to go to, that it's quite possible to be out almost every night. For example, tonight is so chock full of great shows that it's a shame they weren't spread out better over the week...we'd love to see most of these acts! Death Cab For Cutie are in town tonight and tomorrow, and according to the Toronto Sun they will be doing......

If you're not completely burnt out from Nuit Blanche, there are plenty of quality shows to check out this week, including Joanna Newsom, Massive Attack, and Myspace darling Lily Allen. Alternatively, you Hip fans can skip out on the live music this week and save up your change for all four (yes, FOUR) of the recently announced shows at the Phoenix a few weeks from now. Can Gord Downie and pals really justify the......

Due to non-existent internet access over the past few days (thanks, Bell!), there is an abridged version of the music listings this week. However, a big week it is, with V-Fest coming to town. The Flaming Lips! The Raconteurs! Wolfmother afros! And keep your eyes on the sky...you never know, you might see Richard Branson descending to earth perched on a flock of birds or something. As always, if you know of a good......

Last night, we attended the Song for Africa Launch Party at the Drake Underground. The idea for the song was the brainchild of music producer Darcy Ataman (McMaster and James, Kalen Porter, Kyle Riabko) who gathered a variety of Canadian talent for the project. The idea was to raise awareness of the worldwide Aids pandemic and to call people into action. Above is Choclair, one of the contributing artist to the track who spoke......

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......

We've all been to record release parties and book launches, but a party to celebrate the latest music video? Local indiepop crooner Gentleman Reg asks, "why not?" by hosting an event this Friday at the Drake Underground. It's the video debut for "Over My Head," the second single from his adorable Darby & Joan record. Reg's previous outing on video was deemed too risque for MuchMusic. (Who knew they disapproved of make-out parties and sex......

Torontoist first heard of Toby Young soon after the launch of his debut book How To Lose Friends And Alienate People. Young, a British magazine editor and writer, tries to cross the pond and make it at Graydon Carter's Vanity Fair. The book was a recounting of Young's misadventures in the New York media world and because journalists like nothing more than talking about each other, the book was widely reviewed, inflated Young's reputation (for......

When public debates flare up over whether graffiti is art or vandalism, the heat they generate doesn't even come close to that of the fires that rage within the culture itself over whether art on legal walls, painted in a graffiti style is "real" graffiti. The one thing graffiti opponents and practitioners seem to agree on is the defining element of risk and illegality that is central to the art and act we call graf.......

Every other Sunday night at the Drake Underground, David Shore hosts the always awesomely hilarious Monkey Toast, an improvised talk show. Each week he interviews a different guest - anyone from Nash the Slash to Quirks and Quarks' Bob MacDonald - and a troupe of six of the city's best improvisors do comedy based on the interview. The next Monkey Toast takes place on Sunday (April 30th) at 8pm, with Sean Cullen as David's guest.......

Ok, the headline is a little misleading. Spacing isn't being turned into a blockbuster Hollywood film. We think the magazine would be better suited as a Canadian indie production that becomes a sleeper hit, and wonder who'd play Shawn Micallef and Matt Blackett?. But Torontoist digresses. The Spacing Magazine crew is actually putting on Public Space Invaders, a night of short films about the streets, alleyways, parks and squares we call home. Doors start......

Tonight's edition of the Drake Underground's occasional Notes From the Underground series features Golden Age, an old-timey-style radio play about fear of old age and death. Also horseracing. Joe Cobden, an award-winning Montreal actor, will be performing the show, which he wrote with a little help from Torontoist's own J.Kelly (who also has some info about the evening, but no explanation why the J is missing from the poster). Also on tap for the evening......

The Flaming Lips, an institution since appearing playing at the Peach Pit in hit television series Beverly Hills: 90210, have been in music for over 20 years. That career - including their connection with Luke Perry and Tori Spelling - will be on the big screen tonight at the Drake Hotel, with the airing of the Lips doc, The Fearless Freaks. The DVD, which has been heralded as a must-see for any BH 90210 fans,......

1. The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St W) Wait a second...Isn't this a hip music venue that serves that nice fresh fruit salad? Yes to the music venue, and doubly so to the fresh fruit salad. But the Drake's hipster appeal is not the reason that there's a ginormous line every weekend - that's more so because of the luv-hungry 905ers go there to get lucky. Perhaps it's just the dichotomy between the Drake Underground......

When Jean Chretien decided not to invade Iraq, he effectively averted both the war and all mentions in the countless anti-war media produced since. For instance, tonight's Robert Taicher produced Rush to War will make no mention of the Chretien government, and will most likely lay off Canada altogether. The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen W) houses the film in its basement (pronounced 'the Drake Underground') tonight at 9:30pm, with the doors at 8:00pm. After-party includes......

A night of firsts at the Drake Underground tonight for The City Sleeps, as The Valentinas invite unnamed members of Controller.Controller for their first show (wow!) and the recently named Michaux Machine also make their debut. Starts at 10pm, and should be gluttonously better than the anaemic Razorlight show. Three bux!......