Arts & Culture

PLENTY ‘O PUP –Those adorable punks Pup have come up with one of the coolest “tours” ever as they have announced a six-stop “road trip” of their Toronto hometown this July.

The Mega-City Madness tour plays five historic venues — plus a house show — featuring a stellar lineup of support acts, including NEXT faves and recent rock album of the year JUNO winners NOBRO. The Mega-City tour will feature: House Party (Juy 13), Sneaky Dee’s with Bad Waitress (July 14), Lee’s Palace with Solids (July 15), The Concert Hall with Jeff Rosenstock (July 17), Danforth Music Hall with Cadence Weapon (July 18) and the hometown blowout at History with NOBRO (July 19).

“We are incredibly proud to be from Toronto,” says Pup’s Stefan Babcock. “We grew up playing these venues. We started this band in friends’ basements and, over the past decade, have grown slowly and steadily until we were lucky enough to be playing big concert halls. This ‘tour’ is a celebration of that journey, going back to the smallest, greasiest shows. We’re playing all these milestone venues, each one a little bigger than the last, just like we have over the past 10 years, but this time we’re doing it all in one week. We’re so grateful for what this city has given us. Holy fuck, we love Toronto.”

And we love Pup, ya knuckleheads.

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IS IT SUMMER YET? –Toronto’s current shitty winter weather makes it hard to believe summer is ever coming, but this week’s announcement of the concert lineup at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) gives some hope that warm days are indeed weeks away. The bandshell is one of our favourite settings for a show and this summer’s lineup includes: opening day with Shawn Desman (Fri., Aug. 15), Loverboy (Sat., Aug 16), July Talk (Fri., Aug. 22), Three Dog Night (Sat., Aug. 23), Bishop Briggs (Tue., Aug. 26), Marianas Trench (Fri., Aug. 29), and Dean Brody (Sat., Aug. 30). More artists announcements to come. The Ex runs from Aug. 15 to Sept. 1.

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BOOKIE’S FRIENDS GET IT RIGHT — Beloved Canadian music journalist and broadcaster Dave Bookman passed in May 2019, leaving behind many friends eager to celebrate Bookie and his commitment to supporting Canadian music. “Let’s Get Friendship Right, The Second Annual Dave Bookman Tribute Concert,” at the Garrison on May 9, sees over 30 local acts performing Tragically Hip songs. Admission is free with a donation of a non-perishable food item for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

“It has been six years since we lost Dave Bookman on May 21, 2019,” says a statement from organizers. “A brilliant radio host, an encyclopaedic music lover, avid sports fan (Go Sens!), moral compass, son, brother and dear friend. Bookie and his giant heart celebrated and connected music to listeners in a unique and powerful capacity. His friends and family continue to remember, honour and miss him and his presence in their daily lives.”

Confirmed artists include Skye Wallace, Menno Versteeg, Kevin Hearn, Ben Kowalewicz (Billy Talent), Talia Schlanger, Nicolette Hoang (Nicolette and the Nobodies), Meg Remy (U.S.  Girls), Peter Dreimanis, Leah Fay (July Talk) Shakura S’Aida and dozens more.

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HONOURABLE MENTIONS — Departure Festival and Conference (May 6 – 11) has announced a night of honours, Wed., May 7, at Hotel X, celebrating musician Dallas Green with an Independent Achievement Award. The songwriters’ rights trade organization SOCAN will receive an Industry Achievement Award in honour of its 100^th anniversary and Canadian Music Week founder — the original name of Departure — Neill Dixon set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Departure says other awards will be given, including the Trailblazer award to “a woman in broadcasting.”

There is some mystery about the Dixon award. Dixon is currently suing the new owners of Departure, Toronto-based Loft and Denver-based OVG, citing non-payment of the final installment of festival purchase. Dixon has said he will not attend the event, noting on his Facebook page, “This lawsuit was started on March 18, 2025. Instead of responding to the lawsuit, Loft and OVG have been notifying the industry that they will be awarding me a lifetime achievement award during their Departure Honours event on May 7, 2025. Their efforts to notify the industry of granting me the award appears to be a PR move. But, they did not speak to me about this, and frankly, I will not and cannot accept the award from them under the present circumstances of an ongoing dispute.”

Departure had no comment.

Green and Tia Wood will perform at the awards night and Tegan and Sara will make a presentation on their foundation’s work “to invest in the potential of TSLGBTQ+ communities.” Tickets are $159. Awards tickets, festival and conference passes are available here