Shortlist

No. 1

Daniel Caesar Livestream

Music
Saturday, February 20, 8pm
Virtual Event

Toronto’s sultry and sensitive R&B songster Daniel Caesar lays down an intimate livestreamed concert. There have been no teaser tracks but we hear he’s in the recording studio working on the follow-up to his sophomore album CASE STUDY 01. We’re hoping for a few preview songs on the livestream.

Sentimental songs exploring love and spirituality through a kaleidoscope of well-read lenses including Taoist and Freudian philosophies are Caesar’s calling card. With the show happening less than one week after February 14, tickets seem an obvious choice for the cultivated Valentines in search of the perfect gift. (Just take it from LeBron James, who enlisted Caesar to perform privately for his 2018 wedding anniversary.) The sensual singer’s live shows are legend for racking up engagement proposals. With a $20 price tag, it’s an easier commitment than a diamond.

Tickets: bit.ly/2LVXwF7 / $20

No. 2

Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry

Movies
Friday, February 26
Movie Premiere

Not yet 20, Eilish already boasts a bevy of Grammy wins and more Hot 100 hits than most artists pull off in a lifetime—but what happens when the party’s over? Head to Apple TV+ to follow Eilish in the jam-packed months after the release of her smash hit When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Filmed on the road, at home with her family and on stage, this doc follows Eilish as she relishes in the triumphs and feels the growing pains of becoming a global pop superstar.

No. 3

Kuumba Fest: Black Music Showcase

Music
February 20, 21, 26, 27
Free Virtual Event

Some of Canada’s top BIPOC musicians are featured on Toronto’s Kuumba Festival’s free streaming series including pre-recorded exclusive performances from: Polaris Prize-winning rapper Backxwash (Feb. 20), punk-rocking The OBGMs (Feb. 26), folk legend Beverly Glenn-Copeland (Feb. 27), rising trip hop star Witch Prophet (Feb 27), and more.

harbourfrontcentre.com

No. 4

The Weeknd Plays the Super Bowl Halftime Show

Music
Sunday, February 7, 8pm ET
Televised (TSN, CTV)

There’s an awesome concert hiding in a football game in Tampa on Sunday, February 7. The Weeknd halftime show at around 8 pm et is a guaranteed win. R&b singer Jazmine Sullivan and Eric Church do the anthem. H.e.r. sings America the Beautiful before kick-off. Miley Cyrus hosts an online tailgate party @twitch at 2:30 pm et.

Click here to learn more

No. 5

The Elements of Story, Buffy Sainte-Marie

Books
February 18, 7pm
Virtual Event

Legendary Indigenous activist and musician Buffy Sainte-Marie joins Canadian Stage for an evening coloured with her wisdom and wit. In a panel and Q&A, she’ll highlight three books that have impacted her personally and offer perspective on the current cultural moment. Tickets include a secret reading list ahead of time, so attendees can prep for a deep dive conversation with the Oscar-winning composer and long-time pioneer who remains ground-breaking today. Like book club, but – Buffy!

Canadian Stage / Pay-What-You-Can starting at $15 / canadianstage.com

No. 6

Matt Mays Livestream

Music
Friday, February 13. 8pm ET
Virtual Event (Taped)

Rough, raw and relentless Nova Scotia roots rocker Matt Mays celebrates the release of his new triple vinyl live album, From Burnside With Love, with a taped livestream of an intimate 2018 show from his East Coast hometown.

Tickets: bit.ly/2Nx2qZw $20, $70 with autographed triple vinyl

No. 7

Hillside Music Festival Inside

Music
February 6-7
Virtual Event

Hillside Inside is Guelph’s annual winter music festival companion to the beloved summer fest, and this year, it’s more inside than ever. The now-online three-day extravaganza features music, comedy and storytelling, pre-filmed and free to watch on their website at any time throughout the festival weekend. Make sure to catch Tom Wilson and Iskwē, who first performed together at the Indigenous Music Awards last year as well as Canadian comedy legend Derek Seguin, and themed multi-act events like Girls and Guitars and Songs of John Prine.

Visit hillsidefestival.ca to watch

No. 8

Lunarfest

Culture
February 11-28
Virtual Event

Lunarfest, a national lunar new year celebration, explores themes of family and community with ten days of cultural programming. Online events include a series of family stories sung from around the world, a fortune-telling event, and an original film project highlighting hot pot traditions by Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian and Malaysian families, plus regional events in Toronto and Vancouver.

These events and more can be viewed throughout the duration of the festival at www.lunarfest.org. Feb 11 – Feb 28.

No. 9

Chromeo & Waxahatchee Streaming in New Series

Music
February – All Month
Virtual Event / Subscription

A star-studded lineup of some of indie music’s brightest stars is streaming online all month thanks to BandsInTown’s new concert series. Highlights include Chromeo, Montreal-born funk faves, (Feb. 5); Omar Apollo, a DIY R&B upstart, (Feb 12); and Waxahatchee, a powerful project from P.S. Eliot’s Katie Crutchfield, (Feb. 11). Get access to shows and live Q and As by subscribing to the BandsInTown Plus service for $9.99/month. Get access at plus.bandsintown.com.

No. 10

2 New CBC Radio Shows Worth Checking Out

Radio
The Block: Weekdays, 7-9 pm, Starting Feb. 1
Frequencies: Tuesdays, 6pm, starting Feb. 2

Hitting the CBC airwaves this month are two new breath-of-fresh-air radio shows committed to providing a stage for talented musicians who don’t fit the mainstream radio bill—but deserve to be heard. Tenured Albertan radio host Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe helms The Block, diving into the music of Black creators across a swathe of genres including funk and hip hop, soca and reggaeton. Frequencies will air 6 p.m. Tuesdays, is hosted by Errol Nazareth of hit Toronto radio show Big City, Small World, and brings the stories behind the music from communities and cultures across Canada and the globe.

CBC Music / cbc.ca/programguide