While December was absolutely freezing due to the cold snap in Toronto, January had some pretty mild days. While it has some of us dreaming of going to shows that don’t require coat check, we are several months off from that. For such a short month, February has an abundance of great shows, so much so that it was hard to narrow it down to just ten!
Zaki Ibrahim @ Rivoli
February 2nd, 2018
$15.00 | 19 +
It has been six years since Ibrahim’s debut full-length record came out and was nominated for a Polaris Prize (the first year I listened to every nominated album) and have been impatiently waiting for a follow up every since. Her blend of RnB, Soul and Jazz and unlike anything I have every heard, with a voice that is totally unique. Her follow up album The Secret Life of Planets comes out on January 31st, so this will be her de facto album launch party.
Jay Electronica @ Danforth Music Hall
February 3rd, 2018
$29.50 | 19 +
Will Jay Electronica ever release an album? Who knows, but 11 years after dropping his debut mixtape on MySpace (remember that site?) the man is still getting booked to perform. There have been plenty of guest verses on tracks by artists such as Chance the Rapper, Common, Big Sean and more. But really all anyone wants to know is when the hell is that record coming out Jay?
First Aid Kit @ Danforth Music Hall
February 5th, 2018
$25.00-$35.00 | 19 +
Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg make music that sounds like they were born in the American mid-West about 70 years ago. The duo’s fourth album Ruins just came out in January and as they trend more poppy their audience has grown exponentially. These girls are an absolute treat to watch, so check them out!
BROCKHAMPTON @ Rebel
February 8th, 2018
Sold Out | All Ages
Are we still doing this thing were we call them a boy-band? The members of BROCKHAMPTON formed on the message board site KTT (Kanye To The) and managed to put out three excellent albums in 2017, not bad considered they have about thirty eight (?) members of the band. Lead member Kevin Abstract has teased back and forth if SATURATION 3 was the end of the group, but the fact that seem to be playing every festival this year proves that isn’t the case.
BØRNS @ Rebel
February 9th, 2018
$57.00 | All Ages
Oh Garrett you beautiful LA witch, after taking over the world with his single Electric Love a few years back he is back with another BØRNS album. Blue Madonna is already looking like one of the top pop albums of the year and 2018 just started.
Lido Pimienta @ The Drake Hotel
February 16-17th, 2018
$15.00 | 19 +
Last year’s Polaris Prize winner is still travelling and making a name for herself with her blend of Colombian influences and powerful stage performances. Her show is a mix of art, protest and dance parties all wrapped into one. Check out one of her two performances in an intimate setting.
Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters @ Massey Hall
February 17th, 2018
$70.25–$230.25 | All Ages
The former Led Zeppelin front man put out an amazing spacey folk album Lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar back in 2014 that I adored, and when doing research for this post I realized he actually put out a follow up last year! Shocking, considering I managed to listen to a staggering 316 new albums last year, but a pleasant surprise nonetheless!
Tyler, the Creator with Vince Staples @ Ricoh Coliseum
February 17th, 2018
$29.50-$49.50 | All Ages
Last LiL Coverage for Tyler, the Creator
Last LiL Coverage for Vince Staples
Tyler, the Creator proved that he wasn’t just a shock rapper with last year’s amazing Flower Boy record where he may or may not have come out on it, that regardless showed he is easily one of the best rappers today. He is going on tour with one of rap’s other brightest stars the incomparable Vince Staples who was all over the Gorillaz last album and put out his own great work in Big Fish Theory.
Porches @ Horseshoe Tavern
February 19th, 2018
$15.50 | 19 +
I interviewed Aaron Maine on his last tour and weirdly enough he introduced himself by some other name (we edited it out because it was too weird), but his blend of lo-fi RnB is too good to ignore. He put out his follow up record The House just last month as he looks to grow his audience beyond indie darling.
dvsn @ Rebel
February 28th, 2018
$50.00 | All Ages
The mysterious OVO duo put out their second excellent album last year in Morning After, and they seem to be getting bigger every show they play as their label CEO Drake keeps putting them on big tracks. Who knows maybe Drizzy will make an appearance at their hometown show and they can play Faithful from Views.
