Summer concert calendar
With so many great acts and festivals, summer might as well be known as concert season. Take your pick from this sampling.
Bon Jovi Bon Jovi brings their arena rock show to the ACC, performing classic tracks and newer songs, including from their 2016 hit album, This House Is Not For Sale. May 12, at the Air Canada Centre, ticketmaster.ca
Paul Simon The revered singer-songwriter is calling it a career; 76-year-old Paul Simon announced in February that this tour would be his last. The tour kicks off on May16 in Vancouver and ends on July15 in London. June 12, at the Air Canada Centre, ticketmaster.ca
21C Music Festival The fifth anniversary of 21C Music Festival 2018, presented by the Royal Conservatory, features eight concerts by some of the most innovative composers and musicians from around the globe, including Maarja Nuut, Dinuk Wijeratne and Kinan Azmeh. May 23-27, at various venues, rcmusic.com
Mavis Staples
If All I Was Was Black is the legendary Mavis Staples’ third collaboration with Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy. Staples fills Massey Hall with her deep, dynamic vocals on June 22. June 22, at Massey Hall, masseyhall.com
Seal Part of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival lineup, Grammy winner Seal performs songs from his most recent album, Stan
dards. The album features renditions of jazz standards popularized by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. June 23, at the Sony Centre, sonycentre.ca
Keith Urban The Aussie country crooner brings his Graffiti U World Tour to the amphitheatre. Kelsea Ballerini opens the show. July 2, at Budweiser Stage, ticketmaster.ca
Shania Twain The Canadian country singer is touring for the first time since 2015 in support of her latest album, Now, released in September 2017. July 6-7, at Air Canada Centre, ticketmaster.ca
Ms. Lauryn Hill It’s been 20 years since the release of the seminal album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. To mark the anniversary, Ms. Hill is hitting the road, with a stop in Toronto on July 18. July 18, at Budweiser Stage, ticketmaster.ca
Arcade Fire Arcade Fire blew the doors off the Air Canada Centre during their two-night appearance back in November. They’re back for Round 2 on July 22, this time for a single show at Budweiser Stage. July 22, at Budweiser Stage, ticketmaster.ca
David Byrne The Talking Heads frontman plays back-to-back shows at the Sony Centre in support of his latest solo album, Amer
ican Utopia. He’ll be joined by a 12-piece band as he performs both new songs and old. Aug. 3-4, at the Sony Centre, sonycentre.ca
Shakira The El Dorado world tour, Shakira’s sixth, got off to a rocky start when a hemorrhage on the singer’s right vocal cord forced her to postpone. The rescheduled tour is set to begin in June, stopping in Toronto on Aug. 7. Aug. 7, at the Air Canada Centre, ticketmaster.ca
Rod Stewart with Cyndi Lauper The two singers reunite for a 22-stop tour, playing to Toronto fans young and old on Aug. 10. Aug. 10, at Budweiser Stage, ticketmaster.ca
Jordi Savall & Carlos Nunez & Friends The Royal Conservatory presents renowned Spanish conductor and viol player Jordi Savall in concert with Galician multi-instrumentalist Carlos Núñez. The performance will explore both historical and modern traditions of Ireland, Scotland, Galicia, Basque Country and the French Brittany. May 10, at Koerner Hall, rcmusic.com