Some musicians are professional wallowers. Others are professional romantics. And still others are professional fun-havers. Both Toronto's Spiral Beach and Brighton's The Go! Team fall into that last category—performers who embrace the sheer joy of performing. But more than that, they are young, talented, and famous, they know they are young, talented, and famous, and they're grateful for being young, talented and famous. Although Beach's Maddy Wilde and the Team's Ninja may strike diva......

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......

The year is winding down and so is the music, which is kind of nice, actually, because there seem to be a lot of tours already gearing up for 2007. Hopefully Alexisonfire isn't one of them...we have no idea how they can manage to go onstage and scream for 7 solid days (they have a few more shows this week). Insanity. Best bets for this week include Royal Wood tonight at the Cameron House......

It seems to be the week of Alexisonfire, who are playing just about every venue in the city over the next 7 days, starting on Thursday. We predict a few bruised ribs and black eyes just in time for Christmas...so kids, if you're going to the show(s), be a little gentler to each other knowing that your parents will be pissed if you're posing for the holiday photos with a shiner. This public service......

It's that time of the year--benefit concert season. There are a number of them coming up in the next few weeks, including The Holiday Jam (Sick Kids), Jason Collett & The Constantines (CARE Canada), and Bedouin Soundclash (Doctors Without Borders/War Child), so if you're in a giving mood, this may be a good way to do it while also catching some great music. Best bets for this week include Tenacious D tonight (love/hate...always entertaining),......

There seems to be something for everyone this week, but let's just call it the 'week of The Hip' and be done with it, since they've taken up residence at The Phoenix for four sold out shows. We're curious to know if anyone actually paid $60 + TM charges per ticket to attend all of them? 'Fess up! If that's not your thing, you can always get spewed on by Gwar tonight at the......

Compared to the past few weeks, this one's a bit quieter in the live music world, but there are still some decent shows to check out. Of note, Beck brings his two turntables and a mic to the Ricoh Coliseum tonight (too bad about the location), you can get Comfortably Numb (in a few ways, we're sure) at the Opera House or check out the moustachiod Killers at the Kool Haus on Friday, and......

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......

This fall is shaping up to be a busy one, as everyone and their dog seems to be touring right now. If you haven't spent all of your OSAP money yet, might want to stash away a few pennies for some concert tix. However, if you've already blown your student loan on cheap beer and (even cheaper) Ikea furniture, take comfort in the fact that you can visit your local public library to catch......

Danish band Mew will be breezing through town this upcoming week for a few shows. On Monday they'll be headlining at the Mod Club, while on Wednesday supporting Kasabian at The Phoenix. Want to go? We have a pair of tickets to give away to the Mew/Kasabian show on Wed., Sept. 27, along with an autographed copy of their latest cd, courtesy of Filter. To enter, send an email to carrie [at] torontoist.com, with......

Looking to check out some live music this week? Here's your listing of what's happening around the city between July 31 and August 6. In addition, we are now including recently announced shows, so you have no excuse about missing out on ticket opportunities. 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......

There are a number of shows rolling through Toronto this week. If you're jonesing for some live music, here are a few shows that still have tickets available: July 25 Ozzfest (System of a Down, Disturbed, etc.) @ Molson Amphitheatre, $39.50-75.00 - No Ozzy. Wha?! July 26 ** The Futureheads w/ Tapes 'n Tapes @ The Phoenix, $15 Mission of Burma w/ Republic of Safety @ Horseshoe Tavern, $18.50 July 26-30 Beaches Jazz Festival......

So, you like The Stills. Not love, but you definitely really like some of their songs, and you heard their new album, Without Feathers, and you went "yeah, you know what? I like it! Sucks to your mixed reviews, Pitchfork and Dose!" And you're perusing the latest Eye Weekly, and see an ad for a contest: holy shit! It's for free tickets to go see The Stills at The Phoenix on May 12th, plus......

Victoria BC native Steve Nash has been awarded the Lou Marsh Award as Canadian Athlete of the Year for 2005. The Toronto Star and the elected voting panel awarded Nash the distinction in a unanimous decision announced Thursday in Toronto. The Phoenix Suns point guard was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player last season after leading his team to the Western Conference Championship. He finished the 2004-05 season with just under 200 assists more than......

Of all the 80s reunions littering the concert circuit these days, the one featuring the original Dinosaur Jr lineup has to rank as one of the unlikeliest. Anyone who's read Michael Azerrad's tome on the 80s underground scene, Our Band Could Be Your Life, knows that the acrimony between J Mascis and Lou Barlow was legendary. The fact that they were able to record three albums before fracturing (in a famously jerk-eriffic move, Mascis told......

Remember when you set your drapes on fire just so you could scope out those hot firemen??? Well tonight's your chance to catch a glimpse of your favourite fire fighter without the arson charges - it's The Toronto Fire Fighters calendar show. Toronto's most hottest firemen will compete for a spot in next years charity calendar, with a hormone-heavy audience as the judges. There'll be plenty to hose off when the competition starts at 6:30pm......

With their third album, Portland's Decemberists continue on with their singular brand of highly literate, nautically-obsessed hybrid folk-rock. With their highbrow lyrics, unconventional arrangements and Colin Meloy's distinctive nasal vocals, the sound of a Decemberists record is unmistakable, but Picaresque differs from the first two full-lengths in that it carries itself with a greater confidence than its predecessors. This is a record that struts home in costume after drama club, jocks in the hallway be......

Canadian Music Week, which is not really a week, kicks off tonight with what looks like a promising line-up. Then again, with like 200 bands, how could there NOT be a promising line-up? The CMW shotgun approach has Torontoist looking forward to this small smattering of shows: Absynthe Minded, Thursday March 3 at Kathedral @ 10:00 pm Barbie Bangkok, Thursday March 3 at The Drake Hotel @ 12:30 am controller.controller, Wednesday March 2 at The......