May, June event notes
Everyone is hoping the May long weekend will mark the end of a dreary spring, the beginning of a beautiful summer... and the kick-off to a great season of hot music. Indeed there is a huge amount of good music coming... especially in June.
The event listings are freshly updated -- check www.events.to-music.ca for details of these and many more shows.A very few highlights:
- May 21: Njacko Backo & a long lineup in a fundraiser for Bazou (see separate post)
- May 21-22: last weekend of Lulaworld
- next week: both Raul Malo & Maria Muldaur are at Hugh's Room
- May 25: free noontime concert by Alejandra Ribera at Yonge-Dundas Square
- Jun 2, 4-5: Muhtadi International Drumming Festival
- Jun. 3: Juno-winning kora player Mansa Sissoko & Kassoum Diamoutene at the Melody Bar... with added guests Mutamba & Pasi Gungwo on Zimbabwean mbira. A pile of great music from West and East Africa... for free
- Jun. 3-5: Waterfront Blues Festival in the east; Carrassauga Festival of Cultures in the west
- Jun. 10-19: Luminato has become Toronto's biggest and most diverse festival. Too much to list on this website, but note particularly Yemen Blues on June 14 (a don't-miss act I've been told), and the Arabic Music day June 18 featurng Natacha Atlas & Hakim with others
- Jun 24-Jul 3: Toronto Jazz Festival with hundreds of acts starts off with a free concert by Aretha Franklin on Jun 24, conflicting concerts with Youssou n'Dour and Randy Weston, both on Jun. 26; and many many more.
- Jun. 25: Congolese soukous from Werrason (formerly of Wenge Musica BCBG)
- Jun. 30: Kabakuwo at the Lula: traditional Mandinka music featuring dual koras. Mark this one down.
That's just the start of summer...
