Music/Festivals

To celebrate Pride month, Echo Beach is hosting a day-long celebration of queerness with local artists, drag shows and a lineup of talented 2SLGBTQ+ performers. Indie pop sensation Girl In Red headlines a bill full of international and domestic acts — Canadian standouts include up-and-coming Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Jade Lemac and underground icon DJ/ rapper Myst Milano.

Part music industry conference and part festival, Canadian Music Week has been presenting showcases, decoding the music industry and giving out awards for 41 years. The 2023 headliners include historic hip hop group The Lox, rap mogul/national treasure Kardinall Offishal and Montreal-born pop star Charlotte Cardin. The six-day- long festival includes shows at venues across downtown Toronto, with over 250+ performers. The purchase of a wristband (priced around $50) grants access to most showcases, allowing festival-goers to flow from one venue to another, depending on their personal taste. With shows happening everywhere — from El Mocambo to History — and over 200 live acts, it will be hard to miss the festivities.

A three-day event held in the West End with arts, live music, food and drink. The neighbourhood of Little Portugal comes to life with live entertainment, an array of talented buskers and art vendors selling their handmade wares. Several talented performers will take the stage during the festival, including Cuban jazz piano master Danae Olano. The fest is always fun, with plenty of licensed patios, a few block parties and a palpable feeling of community. Also, Do West Fest is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, so expect the festivities to be even more joyous.

This four-day-long Indigenous music festival takes place during National Indigenous History Month and includes a roster of highly acclaimed and talented Indigenous musicians. Some standout performers include the renowned Inuk country singer Susan Aglukark and conscious rapper Drmngnow.

For 36 years, the Toronto Jazz Festival has brought some of the biggest names in jazz and R&B to downtown Toronto. This year, jazz legends Herbie Hancock and George Benson headline a stacked bill. The lineup is a healthy mix of rising contemporary acts and icons; in the middle of that Venn diagram is BadBadNotGood, the critically acclaimed hip hop jazz quartet consisting of four Toronto natives — their hometown performance is sure to excite. Other than a few exceptions, all the live shows are free; Torontonians can enjoy live performances from rising Canadian stars like LOONY or Haviah Mighty in the downtown core at no expense.

Canada’s foremost electronic music festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary this summer. And with performances from Above & Beyond, RezzMau5 and Tiesto, it is sure to be a nonstop party. Held on the green fields of Downsview Park, the three-day event will offer a mix of electronic dance, house, U.K. hip hop and grime. For those wanting to dance all day to booming bass while enjoying the summer heat, Veld is the answer.

Nelly hosts a one-day throwback hip hop and R&B festival with an impressive roster of 2000s stars, including himself, Akon, Ne-Yo and Ja Rule. Throw on a big chain, a vintage jersey and a bucket hat, and soak in the nostalgia.

The largest free African music festival in North America, Afrofest has celebrated African culture and music for 35 years. This year it is a three-day festival in Woodbine Park, featuring international and local acts including South African pop duo Mafikizolo and Tanzanian singer Ali Kiba. Expect a wide range of musical genres, including afrobeat, reggae, Afropop, rumba and many more.

Rolling Loud promises to be a final blowout before the seasons change, with performances from some of the most famous hip hop artists in the world in front of an amped-up crowd. The headliners include Dave, Future, Wizkid, Lil Uzi Vert, Roddy Rich and Migos — so expect it to be loud and hectic.

One of Canada’s most celebrated jazz festivals, the month-long fair attracts nearly a million attendees yearly. This celebration of all things jazz will take over Queen Street East all of July, bringing food trucks, art displays and a cavalcade of talented performers. This year, the festival has five different shows taking place throughout the month.