By barnaby
Boy Golden, Bob Moses, July Talk, The Beaches, Metric, Dear Rouge, The Glorious Sons, Arkells, Billy Talent, The Darcys, Monowhales, Anyway Gang, Mother Mother, and Dear Rouge stand out in the year-end Alt category.
Katie Tupper
Plus, Rochelle Jordan bops into Toronto, Goo Goo Dolls bring their nostalgic hits to Western Canada and more.
This week, Katie Tupper is set to play a sold-out show in Vancouver. Hot on the heels of her debut album, Greyhound, the Saskatoon-based neo-soul singer is flexing her captivating on-stage presence to listeners as she embarks on a full run-through of her latest release.
Additionally, Jamaican-Canadian singer Rochelle Jordan brings her shape-shifting, R&B, alt-dance-pop soundscapes to Toronto, while rock band Goo Goo Dolls plays two nights in Western Canada. Montreal-based singer Magi Merlin plays a hometown show showcasing her unique brand of alternative R&B and soul.
Katie Tupper, Fortune Sound Club, Vancouver — March 19
Katie Tupper is calling in the hounds.
The Saskatoon-born neo-soul singer is gearing up to take the stage in Vancouver, in support of her debut album, Greyhound. Tupper’s smoky alto voice wraps together soul, indie and alternative R&B with just a touch of folky twang. In many ways, it’s a homecoming — a return to her roots with years of new experience.
“This batch of songwriting discusses difficult things but from a lens of maturity,” Tupper shares. “I want listeners to feel like they're not alone when challenging things come up. I want there to be a sense of calm and an opportunity to slow down while listening.”
Next month, Tupper will embark on a headline world tour, but managed to squeeze in a one-off show on the Canadian west coast.
Vancouver was initially omitted from Tupper’s slate of shows, but was added on, per the request of her listeners. “I heard you loud and clear!!” she shared on social media when announcing the date. She’ll be joined by frequent collaborator Benjamin Millman to play the record from top to bottom.
Tupper’s on-stage presence is a dichotomy of intimate, soulful vocals and personable demeanour. Despite her often serious-sounding music, she caps it with humour, always creating an authentic experience. Her forthcoming shows won’t be any different, as she’s alluded to her prep-work ahead of hitting the stage.
“Rehearsing for these shows has been a dream and I’m really excited to bring you my best show yet,” she wrote on Instagram. In May, Tupper will make stops in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.
Tickets are available here.
Rochelle Jordan, The Opera House, Toronto — March 20
Rochelle Jordan captured attention in the early 2010s with a trio of mixtapes that put her at the cutting edge of innovative, R&B-infused dance pop. While a label setback saw the U.K.-born, Canadian-based singer take a lengthy hiatus, she returned at the top of the decade, picking up where she left off. Last year, she delivered Through the Wall, a gleaming, late-night masterpiece of sensuous club cuts and luxe vocal hooks that she’s bringing to a lucky Toronto crowd.
Tickets are available here.
Goo Goo Dolls, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary — March 23; Rogers Place, Edmonton — March 26
Contrary to what the lyrics to "Iris" claim, Goo Goo Dolls actually do want the world to see them. This week, the rock band are playing two gigs in Alberta, bringing their three-decade-spanning discography to the arena stage. While it’s been a decade since their last charting album in Canada — 2016’s Boxes — the group have cemented their place in the popular music songbook, and are facing a resurgence on TikTok for the '90s era their biggest hit represents.
Tickets are available here.
Magi Merlin, Casa del Popolo, Montreal — March 25
After supporting R&B songstress Yaya Bey on tour at the top of the year, Montreal-based alternative neo-soul singer Magi Merlin is embarking on a headlining tour of her own, where she'll play a show at the intimate venue Casa del Popolo, in what she called “her first hometown show in forever,” on social media. She’ll be joined by a string of local artists, including Jashim, Béli, Fraud Perry and Nkusi. “Show up or I’m holding a grudge,” she joked.
Tickets are available here.
