Summer concert season is here, and Canada has a pretty incredible lineup ahead.
From Ariana Grande’s long-awaited return to Ed Sheeran taking over a Toronto stadium for three nights, there are plenty of shows worth planning a weekend around. Whether your idea of a perfect concert is dreamy pop, psychedelic visuals, soulful vocals or a loud night of classic rock, these are seven artists we’re especially excited to see this summer.
Tame Impala
Photo: @COLTGRICE
July 22 — Montreal
July 25 and 26 — Toronto
A Tame Impala show is never just about the music. The visuals, lighting and psychedelic production are a big part of the experience, creating the feeling that you have stepped inside one of Kevin Parker’s songs. The Canadian dates include one night in Montreal and two in Toronto. This is the show for anyone looking for something a little dreamy, colourful and completely immersive.
Olivia Dean
Photo: NBC/NBCUNIVERSAL/GETTY IMAGE
August 4 and 5 — Toronto
August 7 — Montreal
Olivia Dean’s music feels made for a warm summer night. Her mix of soul, pop and jazz is easy to listen to but still full of emotion, and her live performances have the kind of warmth that can make even a large arena feel personal. With two nights in Toronto followed by a Montreal date, this is a major Canadian moment for an artist whose career continues to grow.
Ed Sheeran
Photo: MARIA-JULIANA ROJAS/ROLLING STONE
August 20, 21 and 22 — Rogers Centre, Toronto
Ed Sheeran is taking over the Rogers Centre for three nights, bringing his LOOP Tour to Toronto. His shows can move from a quiet acoustic song to a stadium-wide singalong within minutes. Despite playing to tens of thousands of people, he somehow manages to make the experience feel relaxed and intimate. Expect a night filled with familiar favourites, newer music and a lot of people singing every word.
Rush
August 7, 9, 11 and 13 — Toronto
September 2 and 4 — Montreal
MICHAEL TULLBERG/GETTY IMAGES
Rush returning to the stage is easily one of the biggest Canadian music stories of the year. The band will play four shows in Toronto before heading to Montreal in early September. For longtime fans, these concerts will be about much more than nostalgia. They are a chance to celebrate one of Canada’s most important rock bands, surrounded by generations of people who grew up listening to the same songs.
Guns N’ Roses
Photo: KATARINA BENZOVA
August 5 — Toronto
August 26 — Edmonton
August 29 — Vancouver
Guns N’ Roses are bringing their stadium tour across Canada this August, with stops in Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver. This is not the concert for a quiet night out. Expect big guitar riffs, classic rock anthems and all the swagger that has made the band such a major live act for decades. For anyone who likes their summer concerts loud and a little nostalgic, this is an easy choice.
Foo Fighters
Photo: ERIKA GOLDRING/GETTY IMAGES
August 4 — Toronto
September 15 — Regina
September 17 — Edmonton
September 20 — Vancouver
Few bands do a big rock show quite like Foo Fighters. Their concerts are energetic, loud and built around the kind of songs that sound even better when an entire stadium is singing along. Queens of the Stone Age will also join the Canadian dates, making this one of the strongest rock lineups of the season.
Ariana Grande
Photo: Julian Dakdouk
July 28, 30 and 31 — Bell Centre, Montreal
Ariana Grande is bringing the Eternal Sunshine Tour to Montreal for three nights, and they are her only Canadian shows. Fans can expect the huge vocals and polished pop production Ariana is known for, along with songs from Eternal Sunshine and plenty of older favourites. With every Canadian date happening in Montreal, this feels like the perfect concert to turn into a full weekend away including dinner, drinks, a little shopping and one very big pop show.
