This month’s hottest tickets include Cold Creek County at Springer Market Square, Yukon Blonde at Wolfe Island Music Festival, and The Rural Alberta Advantage at MacKinnon Brothers Brewing’s annual field party.
Cold Creek County – Rockin’ The Square
Friday, August 3, 2018, 8 pm
Springer Market Square
Kick off the August long weekend with a good helping of country rock at this free show in Springer Market Square. Formed in 2013, Brighton’s Ontario’s Cold Creek County is quickly making a name for themselves, earning four Canadian Country Music Association Award nominations and winning 2017 Group of the Year at the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards. Rising country star — and Kingston native — Abby Stewart will open the show.
Free
Seaway
Friday, August 3, 2018
The Mansion
In just seven years, Seaway has emerged as one of Toronto’s most important pop-punk bands. And they’ve paid their dues to get here, touring extensively in North America, Europe, Australia and Japan alongside Neck Deep, Knuckle Puck, Silverstein and others. Their newest album, “Vacation,” shows a growing maturity, but it still gives listeners the high-energy and well-crafted hooks the band is known for.
$20
Trio Taco
Thursday, August 9, 2018, 12:15 pm
St. George’s Cathedral
Known for curating concerts written entirely by Canadian composers, this flute trio from Victoria, B.C. aims to increase accessibility to contemporary music. They’ve done that by using everything from blindfolds to no chairs for the audience to too many chairs onstage to giant flutes to saxophones. As for the name, they say tacos are guaranteed at every concert.
Donation
Yukon Blonde – Wolfe Island Music Festival
Saturday, August 11, 2018, 10 pm
Wolfe Island Community Centre
With 20 acts over two days, Wolfe Island Music Fest offers some tough choices this year, but definitely stick around for Saturday’s headliner — indie rockers Yukon Blonde. They always bring a ton of energy to their brand of guitar- and synth-driven pop-rock, but on songs from their new album, “Critical Hit,” you’ll hear them leaning more heavily on pop and electronic elements than ever before.
$65/day, $100/weekend, $150/weekend with camping
Ginger St. James – Ameripolitan Music Festival
Saturday, August 11, 2018, 10 pm
Blu Martini
Hamilton’s Ginger St. James follows the tradition of country songbirds such as Loretta Lynn, writing from real experiences like growing up on the family farm, being broke and love gone wrong. Her sound blends country, rockabilly and blues, and as The Toronto Sar’s Nick Krewen rightly put it, she is “sassy and dynamic … with some slightly cheeky music and a captivating charisma fueled by her roaring voice and model beauty.”
$10/night, $15/two nights
The Steadies
Friday, August 17, 2018, 10 pm and Saturday, August 18, 2018, 10 pm
The Merchant Tap House
Led by Wide Mouth Mason co-founder Earl Pereira, this Saskatoon three-piece dubs their music “island rock,” meaning they take a top 40 sound and mix it with rocksteady and reggae influences. So although these two shows will happen at the cavernous Merchant, expect beach vibes and a full dance floor.
Price not available
The Rural Alberta Advantage – Back to the Farm Beer and Music Festival
Sunday, August 19, 2018
MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company, Bath
The MacKinnon bros’ annual field party attracts a stellar range of musicians usually leaning toward indie rock, folk and alternative persuasions. The 12-act lineup this year will be headlined by percussive folk rockers The Rural Alberta Advantage. Nominated for two Juno Awards in 2012 and longlisted for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize, the trio was awarded the CBC Music Prize for Best Independent Artist in 2014.
$30/advance, $35/gate
Victor Wainwright and The Train – Limestone City Blues Festival
Saturday, August 25, 2018, 8:45 pm
Springer Market Square
Blues Fest’s big Saturday night headliner this year is Memphis, Tennessee’s Victor Wainwright and The Train, a band that brings power-house blues, Memphis soul and roots rock ‘n’ roll to audiences all over the world. Among a long list of accolades, Wainwright has twice won the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year award at the Blues Music Awards. As one music writer put it, Wainwright’s playing is “simply beautiful madness.”
$15/all-access bracelet
Rory Taillon
Friday, August 31, 2018, 8 pm
Musiikki Café
Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Rory Taillon has been crisscrossing the country for months now in support of his third full-length album, “Only Whispers,” a dark, alternative-rock gem. Armed only with an acoustic guitar and classically-trained vocals, he manages to channel a raw, layered sound that hints at Wintersleep, Tea Party and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings.
Price not available
