Illustration: Hayley Watson
“I felt the inflation blues,” the late B.B. King often sang. Today’s concertgoers know exactly how he feels.
The average ticket price for a concert by the world’s top 100 touring artists has risen from US$96.17 to US$132.62 over the past seven years, according to figures compiled by live music industry bible Pollstar.
This is an increase of almost 40%. What’s a live music lover to do? Go to a ticket-free show or watch a show from home.
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On July 1st, Barenaked Ladies and others will perform at a free Canada Day concert at LeBreton Flats Park in Ottawa. The show, headlined by the band who sang “If I Had $1,000,000” in 1992, will air on CBC platforms (8-10 p.m. ET).
For the rest of the summer, below is your subjective guide to the top pop, rock, and country concerts. If you have $2,007,168.46 (the Barenaked Ladies figure adjusted for inflation), you can go all the way.
Red Clay Strays at Country Thunder Alberta, Calgary
red clay straysGreg Coltz/Provided
Southern rockers The Alabamans have survived two frightening flying ordeals in the past two years, including an in-flight emergency en route to last month’s Academy of Country Music Awards, where they took home top group honors. Their new album is Grateful – and they are. June 26th
Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band at the Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia, Ontario.
The blues great, whose latest LP is Time, first played Mariposa in 1969 with Joan Baez, Jesse Fuller, Joni Mitchell and the New Lost City Ramblers. Time passes quickly. July 4th
Bobby Dove performs at the Big Flat Folk Fest in East End, Sask.
bobby doveJen Squires/Provided
Bobby Dove – The name jumps out at you right away. I foresee great things to come for the Canadian, whose track record as a charismatic fortune teller is ripe, and whose timbre, storytelling, and rhyme alt-country music is ripe for the taking. July 11th
Isanaby of Westben, Campbellford, Ont.
iSanabeeLindsey Duncan/Provided
The first Indigenous artist to win the Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year recently released an EP, Timelines. The EP includes acoustic re-imaginings of previously released songs that retain the heightened passion of the originals. Enjoy captivating performances at a hillside venue in rural Ontario. July 11th
Interview: Timeline returns Aysanabee’s music to its most honest form
Angie de Poitrin at the Phillips Backyard Music Festival in Victoria
Angine de PoitrinJohn Tis/AFP/Getty Images
These math lockers are by no means numerical attire. This buzz band/art project is an anonymous masked Quebecois duo dressed in black and white polka dots. Their full summer calendar includes gigs at modestly named festivals headlined by Chance the Rapper, Father John Misty and Modest Mouse. July 12th
Feist at PNE’s Freedom Mobile Arch in Vancouver.
FeistBrid O. Donovan/Provided
The Pacific National Exhibition features a new state-of-the-art amphitheater, the 10,000-seat Freedom Mobile Arch. Indie rock icons Feist take to the new stage as part of the FIFA Fan Festival and ahead of summer’s PNE concerts with Blue Rodeo, The Beaches, Punjabi Virsa, Guess Who, Earth, Wind & Fire and more. July 15th
Ella Langley performs at Ottawa Bluesfest in Ottawa
Ella LangleyChris Pizzello/Associated Press
How popular is country singer Ella Langley? Her recent duet with controversial singer Morgan Wallen, “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” didn’t slow her chart-topping momentum one bit. July 17th
Oclou performs at Osheaga Music and Arts Festival in Montreal
France’s Marie-Lou Vanina Mainy calls herself Oclou, pronounced “okay-roo.” This sounds like something Ted Baxter would say on the old Mary Tyler Moore Show. Performing at Canada’s premier pop festival this year, headlined by Lorde, Geese and Tate McRae, the alt-pop star creates a dreamy, twitchy sound that’s often playful and serene at the same time. August 2nd
Olivia Dean at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto
The British singer-songwriter played two nights at Toronto’s Massey Hall last summer. After one album (The Art of Loving) and one Grammy Award for Best New Artist, she sold out the city’s 20,000-seat sports arena twice. Life and pop stars come quickly. August 4th and 5th
Shabouzishabuji/supply
Shabzi at Boots and Hearts West in Edmonton
He had a historically successful breakout single, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” but that doesn’t mean the New Country Virginian is drunk on success or anything. His latest single is “Born to Die,” a clear-headed two-stepper who is fatalistic and ambivalent about alcohol. August 29th
jazz and classical
Toronto Jazz Festival: Saxophonist Isaiah Collier presents Collier Plays Coltrane. June 22nd
National Arts Center Orchestra: Alexander Shelley conducts Mahler’s revival in Ottawa. June 24th and 25th
Gentiane MG: Montreal’s Gentiane Michaud-Gagnon, who released her album Can You Hear the Birds? this spring, will perform with her trio at Toronto’s Jazz Bistro (June 24) and the Montreal International Jazz Festival (June 25).
Montreal International Jazz Festival: Bassist Marcus Miller performs “We Want Miles” – Celebrating Miles Davis’ 100th birthday. June 25th
Mélodie Gardot: A sublime jazzer performing at the Festival d’Eté de Québec in Quebec City. July 12th
National Youth Orchestra: Canadian Tour (Toronto, Stratford, Ont., Parry Sound, Ont., Kingston, Ottawa, St. Ilene, Kenya). July 18th-31st
Herbie Hancock: The legendary bandleader and composer graces Toronto’s Massey Hall. July 26th
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