Life is all about prioritizing, and with over 1000 bands showcasing at 50+ venues, Canadian Music Week is an exercise in time management. To make your life a little bit easier, we’re cherry-picking some of the best sets of the festival every day and giving you a heads up on what you can’t miss.
Here are the shows you should be at this weekend. Be sure to check out our CMW Survival Guide for more pro-tips on how to get the most out of your wristband.
Friday, May 1st
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Tre Mission @ The Rivoli, 12:30AM (Details)
The best way to kickstart your CMW is the Northside Behaviour showcase at The Rivoli. There’s plenty of homegrown talent on the bill, from the energetic Stay Out Late crew, to Wonda Gurl collaborator Redway, but the turn up will be real as soon as Toronto’s one man grime scene takes the stage. Tre Mission’s sinister delivery and knack for vivid storytelling earned him a place in the global grime community (and a deal with Big Dada), even though he’s an ocean away from East London. Grime is due for its North American moment, so don’t miss what could be one of your last chances to see Tre Mission in a small venue.
Saturday, May 2nd
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CRSB, JAHKOY, Clairmont The Second, & Goldlink @ Tattoo, 7PM (Details)
Saturday couldn’t be easier—everything you need to check out is happening at one venue. For a night of left-of-centre hip-hop and R&B, Tattoo is the place to be on May 2nd. BEVSTMODE affiliate and PARTYNEXTDOOR touring DJ CRSB kicks things off at 7PM, followed by sets from Northern Touch (Complex Canada’s Best Songs Of The Month) alumni JAHKOY and Clairmont The Second. This eclectic group of openers should set the tone perfectly for headliner Goldlink’s self-described “future bounce,” a variety of rap music with fast tempos, and a combination of nostalgic sample flips and heavy electro instrumentals.
Sunday, May 3rd
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The Blow @ The Garrison, 10:00PM (Details)
Don’t let Sunday slow you down. Head over to the Garrison for an evening with iconic Olympia, Washington-based electro-pop duo The Blow. Melissa Dyne and Khaela Maricich are in the middle of their first ever “unplugged” tour, wherein they’re reinterpreting their vast catalogue with live instrumentation, including synthesizers, and “an interwoven assemblage of analog electronics.” In that sense, “unplugged’ might be touch misleading, given that these instruments will definitely be plugged into electrical outlets, however to be clear, the label is meant to highlight the fact that the pair will not be tethered to any laptops or backing tracks. The Blow is a delight in any incarnation, and you won't be disappointed if you make them a part of your weekend.
