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Mexico: Beyond Your Expectations
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The vibrant contemporary culture of Mexico will be experienced by Toronto audiences in new and exciting ways at this inaugural festival.
Rare performances by internationally acclaimed Rock en Español
Mexico City group Café Tacuba (celebrating their 20th anniversary) and Mexico based tropipunk and ska group Los de Abajo.
Other highlights include a tour-de-force of Lucha Libre wrestling culture featuring
live matches with Mexican luchadores Blue Demon Jr. and Incognito and Canadian luchadores as well as screenings of known Lucha Libre films.
The enduring cultural image of mariachi will also be featured in music and in dance throughout the weekend.
For more information, please click here
July 17 - July 19 Harboufront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. | Admission: FREE
The Beaches International Jazz Festival
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Toronto's best-loved jazz festival plays host to over a million guests during a week-long celebration of jazz, entertainment and fun!
The festival starts at a new location for this year, Woodbine
Park across from Ashbridges Bay for July 18-20, then moves to three nights of StreetFest July 24 -26, (featuring more than 50 bands along a 2 kilometer stretch of traffic-free Queen Street East in the lakeside Beaches
community) The festival finishes up with two days of continuous Main Stage concerts at the Beaches' Kew Gardens July 26 & 27.
July 18 - July 27
Woodbine Park, Beaches Neighbourhood, Kew Gardens | For Further Information and a schedule of concerts, please click here
Due to Queen St. being closed through the entire Beaches neighbourhood, it's best to take the TTC as parking is extremely limited.
Toronto Summer Music Festival
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The finest artists from the world of chamber music will come to the city from July 21 to August 14, and this year's Festival theme, Eternal Stars, will highlight the performances from
such distinguished artists as Menahem Pressler and Anton Kuerti, as well as star composers, three of whom have significant anniversaries this year - Joseph Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn, and Bohuslav Martinu.
* One of the biggest highlights of the Festival will be the return of perhaps the most outstanding chamber musician of our time, pianist Menahem Pressler. On July 23,
Menahem Pressler & Friends - his relatively newly formed quartet - will play piano quartets by Mozart and Dvorak.
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For the second consecutive year, the Festival will open at the spectacularly refurbished Carlu Concert Hall, formerly the Eaton Auditorium.
On Tuesday, July 21 TSMF
will present two extraordinary Canadian artists, together for the first time - Grammy and Juno award-winning violinist James Ehnes
and Leeds International Competition winner, pianist Jon Kimura Parker
. The duo will perform pieces by Mozart, Prokofiev, Kernis, and Ravel.
* The Toronto Summer Music Festival
will also be the first to present another exciting, newly-formed duo - Ian Swensen and Mayumi Seiler. On August 4,
these two brilliant violinists, both of whom are accomplished soloists as well as chamber musicians, will perform rare Baroque pieces as well as Bartok's Duos and Shostakovich's Three Violin Duos.
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Duo concerts will also include the immensely popular Canadian pianists James Anagnoson and Leslie Kinton
(who most recently sold out concerts at The Royal Conservatory) on July 28.
They will play, among other pieces, Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448, the only composition Mozart wrote for two pianos.
* In the last duo recital, on August 8, French star flutist Patrick Gallois and Swedish pianist Cecilia Löfstrand will present Sonatas by Gaubert, Prokofiev, and Poulenc, as well as Desbrière's Cinq Pièces Étrangers.
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On July 25, the foremost Japanese string players - cellist Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi & Friends (violinist Yasuko Ohtani and violist Yoshiko Kawamoto) - will unleash the power of Czech folk music in Martinu's String Trio No. 2. The program also includes one of
Mozart's greatest achievements in the field of chamber music, his Divertimento in Eb Major, K. 563.
* On July 30, the celebrated Leipzig String Quartet will make their annual pilgrimage to the TSMF, this time with clarinetist
Karl Leister, who served as the principal clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic. He will join the Quartet in Brahms' Clarinet Quintet in B Minor.
* On July 31, the Penderecki String Quartet, one of Canada's most celebrated ensembles devoted to exciting new music, will
play Hatzis' award-winning Quartet No.2, The Gathering.
* On August 6, two of Canada's up and coming young quartets - Cecilia String Quartet & Tokai String Quartet
will join forces to perform Mendelssohn's Octet in Eb Major, op. 20.
* Another Toronto favourite group and Juno award-winners, the
Gryphon Trio, will appear on August 11 with soprano Monica Whicher
in a programme of Scottish Folk Songs. Other works on the programme will include Hayden's Trio in C Major and Mendelssohn's Trio No. 2 in C Minor.
* Legendary pianist Anton Kuerti
will present the only solo recital during the Festival on August 1, after selling out his TSMF
concerts for two consecutive years. Haydn, Mendelssohn, Schuman, and, of course, Beethoven will be on the programme of this renowned Beethoven expert.
* Opera Extravaganza on Thursday, August 13, will feature some of the star alumni of the TSMF
Academy Opera Studio, accompanied by the National Academy Orchestra, and conducted by TSMF Artistic Director Maestra Agnes Grossmann
. The evening will be filled with some of the most beautiful and powerful operatic arias, duets, and ensembles.
Prior to each concert lecturers such as Iain Scott, Keith Horner, and composer Christos Hatzis, will introduce the works being performed that evening. The Lecture Series are free.
July 21 - Aug. 14 Carlu Concert Hall, 444 Yonge St. 7th floor Walter Hall and MacMillan Theatre (U ofT Faculty of Music) | Tickets: $20 - $75 Festival Pass: $120
- $300 Phone: 416 597-7840 or to order passes ans tickets online, please click here
The Toronto Burlesque Festival
:: The Toronto Burlesque Festival is back for their second year with
"Tassels without Borders", bringing you the best of the international burlesque scene!
Building on the success of last year they've expanded into a 4 day festival filled with tantalizing performances,
workshops, classes in burlesque and pole-dancing, art shows and a Boobalicious Bra Auction for The Weekend to End Breast Cancer.
Last year's festival starred the cream of the crop of Toronto's alternative
performing arts scene, this year the Festival boasts performances from Toronto darlings such as Les Coquettes, Skin Tight Outta Sight, Coco Framboise, Zero Gravity Circus. Boylesque TO, Ceci My Playmate, Lena Love, The
Saucy Tarts, The Harlettes and the list goes on!
The Festival also features over 40 performances from out-of-town artists, giving our local audience a rare opportunity to see some of the best in burlesque
including 2 past holders of the Miss Exotic World Queen of Burlesque awards (Michelle L'amour and Kitten DeVille) and THREE 2009 Burlesque Hall of Fame Winners; Best Variety Act- Gigi and Pop (NYC), Best Boylesque - Hot
Toddy (Chicago), 1st Runner-Up Reigning Queen of Burlesque and regular Guest Performer with Skin Tight Outta Sight! Roxi DLite (Windsor).
All the shows will follow a vaudeville format with a Master (or
Mistress!) of Ceremonies, comedians, live music, singers, variety, and acrobats along with the striptease artistes!
For a complete schedule of events
please click here July 23 - July 26 Cadillac Lounge, Gladstone Hotel, Revival, Mod Club | Tickets: $20 - $35 VIP Weekend Pass $100 Order online by clicking here
The Collingwood Elvis Festival 2009
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In death, he is even more revered than in life, but Elvis Presley is alive and grooving at the 2009 Collingwood Elvis Festival.
As the event enters its 15th year, tribute artists gather and for four days, and
it's "all about Elvis " as the streets, pubs and concert halls come alive with the sound of music and festivities, including the ever-popular Street Party, the Tribute Artist Competition, the Golf Tournament , parade,
midway and more.
The Festival features more than two dozen Vegas-style shows starring the industry's best Elvis tribute artists, a three-day competition with professional, non-professional, and youth
categories.
Tickets and a full schedule are available by clicking here
July 23 - July 26 Collingwood , Ontario (aprox. an hour and a half north of Toronto) on the shores of Georgian Bay
Canadian Voices
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Canadian Voices is a festival celebrating emerging artists from the storied Canadian soundscape.
Canada has a rich history of internationally renowned singers and storytellers like Neil Young,
Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, and Sarah McLachlan among many others.
This festival presents newer Canadian voices in the fields of pop, folk, rock and spoken word – many of whom are now making their own
musical notations on a national and international scale. Featuring: Hey Rosetta!, Jenn Grant, Gentleman Reg, and Amy Millan.
For a complete schedule of events, please click here
July 24 - July 26 Harboufront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. | Admission: FREE
Masala Mehndi Masti
:: The largest free South Asian multi-disciplinary arts
festival outside of South Asia returns with movies, music, theatre, dance, shopping, food, laughing and singing.
The festival also has a serious side featuring authors, poets and intellectual discussion about
issues facing the Indian community. There will also be children's activities.
July 24 - July 26 Exhibition Place | Admission: FREE For further information, please click here
Island Soul
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Island Soul takes audiences on a panoramic tour of Caribbean culture with international and Canadian artists in music, food, film and more.
This year's festival begins with a mighty display of
Calypsonian skill, when The Mighty Shadow graces the SIRIUS Satellite Radio Stage (July 31, 9:30 pm).
One of Reggae's most influential artists Tony Rebel returns (August 2, 9:30 pm) after an amazing 2006
Island Soul show, and other performers include The Mighty Shadow, Charles Town Maroons, and the staging of Emancipation Jubilation.
For more details, please click here
July 31 - Aug. 3 Harboufront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. | Admission: FREE
Toronto FC hosts Real Madrid in an International Friendly
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Toronto FC will host legendary Spanish club Real Madrid in an international friendly this summer on Fri. Aug. 7 @ 7:30 PM BMO Field.
Real Madrid, the most successful team in Spanish football, was
voted by FIFA as the most successful club of the 20th century in December 2000. Appropriately nicknamed Los Galacticos (The Superstars), Madrid has won an astounding number of championships in it's 100+ year
history – a record 31 La Liga titles (Spanish first division), 17 Spanish Cups, and a record nine European Cups (now referred to as UEFA Champions League) and two UEFA Cups (now referred to as UEFA Europa League)
Founded in 1902, Real Madrid has spent all of its illustrious history in the top division of Spanish soccer and has had some of the greatest names in the world don its famous all-white uniform – players such as
current club captain and all-time Real Madrid goal scorer Raul, current vice-captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, Hugo Sanchez, Ferenc Puskas, and
Alfredo Di Stefano to name but a few.
Fri. Aug. 7 @ 7:30 PM BMO Field, Exhibition Place | Tickets: please click here or phone the Toronto FC GOAL line at +1-416-360-GOAL (4625)
The Rogers Cup
:: Celebrating its 117th anniversary of the women's
event. Rogers Cup takes place at the state-of-the-art Rexall Centre on the campus of York University.
As a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier tournament and U.S. Open Series event, the Rogers Cup will showcase
the world's top female tennis talent in Toronto for nine exciting days of tennis.
The three last Rogers Cup champions went on to win the U.S. Open in the same year. Rogers Cup is the third-oldest title in
tennis, behind only Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Aug. 15- Aug.23 Rexall Centre on the campus of York University | For tickets and furhter information please click here
Scotiabank BuskerFest
:: Dare-devils, escape artists, fire-breathers,
musicians, magicians, mimes and more as North America's largest busker festival celebrates its 10th Anniversary! Toronto's international street performers festival - Scotiabank BuskerFest 2009 - promises four days and
nights of non-stop side-splitting hilarity and astonishing spectacle.
Last year's BuskerFest attracted over 1 million spectators, young and old alike, and this year's promises to be bigger and more exciting
than ever, with a stellar line-up of over 100 top buskers from Canada, the United States, Portugal, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and England in a powerhouse line-up that brings back the very best from the past 10 years
as well as showcases top new acts.
As is the case since BuskerFest's inception, admission is free with a voluntary donation to Epilepsy Toronto, a non-profit organization that provides support to more than
40,000 people living with epilepsy in this city. Buskers retain proceeds from "the hat" passed after their performances except for two special benefit shows where "hat" proceeds go to Epilepsy
Toronto: Fire in the Sky showcasing 'hot' fire performers (August 28 at 9:30pm - rain date August 29) including international duo Dream State Circus and Toronto's Fireguy, and the awesome Grande Finale (August 30 at
6:30pm).
For furher information about the performances and schedule, please click here
Thurs. Aug. 27 - Sun. Aug. 30
Historic St. Lawrence Market District | Admision: voluntary donation to Epilepsy Toronto ($10 suggested)
The 2009 Junction Arts Festival
:: The Junction Arts Festival remains true to its name
presenting five free days of eclectic culture and a multitude of unique dance, visual, literary and musical arts in many different forms.
The adventure will feature an all Canadian artist line-up, and proud
Junction native singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge is collaborating with the festival creative producer as host/programmer of a special evening of musical celebration.
Other events include:
The Junction City Square:
At Dundas Street West and Pacific Avenue, it is the centre to the five-day celebration, the spot for the weekend beer tent and the place to find the train platform (specially built for the 2008 Junction Centennial); the 2009 Main Stage.
Visual Arts:
A festival foundation, the Juried Art Exhibit and Junction and impromptu galleries along Dundas West go for the full five days. The new Artist Laneway, featuring visual, sculpture and installation artistry, will be there to discover (during weekend street closure only, Sept. 12 & 13).
Musical Arts:
The Junction City Square's train platform will act as the Main Stage for live music and headlining performances (dates TBA). Musicians will also play in unexpected settings in local shops (Sept. 12 & 13).
Literary Arts: Back for the second year with an increased presence, the
literary component will feature writers and poets in unusual venues and experimental ways; sponsored by Junction publishing company BookThug, www.bookthug.ca (Sept. 12 & 13).
Performance Arts:
There'll be dancing in the streets – dance, theatre and comedy performers wind there way in and out of Dundas West shops and buildings (Sept. 12 & 13).
The Green Village:
The third annual Green Village is a specific area during the weekend street closure presenting materials, speakers and workshops on environmental initiatives such as building green, painting green and rooftop gardens (Sept. 12 & 13).
The KidZone: Is a FunZone with kid-friendly arts and crafts, face painting, games, rides and more (weekend only, Sept. 12 & 13).
Artist Vendor Market:
Creative types, artisans and yummy food and drink vendors make for interesting and fun weekend shopping (Sept. 12 & 13).
Sept. 9 – Sept. 13 Dundas Street West between Keele Street and
Quebec Avenue (weekend street closure, September 12 and 13) | Admission: FREE ___________________________
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