Avril Lavigne Brings Her Greatest Hits Tour to Toronto: Canadian Concerts of the Week
After a lauded performance at the U.K.'s Glastonbury festival this summer, Avril Lavigne comes back to Canada's biggest city. Also this week: Blink-182 play Toronto 'one more time,' Montreal hosts Missy Elliott and the CNE gets ready to wrap up Toronto summer.
There's no shortage of big names making their way to Canada this week to soak up some summer sun. This week, it's a mix of nostalgic pop-punk and hip-hop favourites, a major country fest, and a favourite late-summer series.
Canadian Concerts of the Week
Avril Lavigne: The Greatest Hits with Simple Plan, Budweiser Stage, Toronto — Friday, August 16
One of Canada's biggest pop stars, Avril Lavigne has been celebrating her impressive career this year with her first greatest hits album and an accompanying tour. She was also named to the Order of Canada in June, following recognition from Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 2022 and Canada's Walk of Fame in 2023.
Her Greatest Hits tour comes to Toronto this week, and is sure to pack a punch for fans who grew up knowing all the words to "Sk8er Boi" and "I'm With You." Lavigne made her mark in the 2000s as a young singer making space for herself in a male-dominated pop-rock field. She went on to sell over 50 million albums worldwide, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with 2007's "Girlfriend."
The tour has been hitting all the right notes for fans, with Lavigne's Glastonbury set one of the most-attended at this year's edition of the U.K. festival. Festivalgoers were packed in near the toilets to listen to Lavigne's nostalgic pop. Following a concert at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena earlier this week, her follow-up outdoor performance at Budweiser Stage should be a little less cramped, but no less fun.
Tickets here.
Blink-182 with Alexisonfire and Pierce The Veil, Rogers Centre, Toronto — Thursday, August 15
This quintessential 2000s pop-punk band reunited with original member Tom DeLonge last year and came to Toronto's Scotiabank Arena with the classic lineup of Mark (Hoppus), Tom and Travis (Barker). Now, they have a new album under their belts, One More Time, and an even bigger venue: Rogers Centre. That's a big one for Blink-182, but even bigger for Ontario post-hardcore heroes Alexisonfire, who will open the show.
Tickets here.
Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) opening weekend featuring Sloan, Brittany Howard, Bahamas and more, Toronto — Friday, August 16 to Sunday, September 1
Given the intensely competitive Toronto summer concerts scene, the venerable Canadian National Exhibition (dubbed 'The Ex') has done an excellent job this year of assembling a musical lineup covering diverse genres and featuring some major American stars alongside many perennial Canadian favourites.
The series begins with a CanRock bang this weekend, with The Paul Langlois Band (headed by The Tragically Hip guitarist) and veteran power-pop heroes Sloan performing on the opening Friday. The following night is headlined by vocal powerhouse Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes) supported by local roots singer-songwriter Julian Taylor. Rounding out the weekend on Sunday (Aug. 18) is five-time Juno Award-winning songsmith Bahamas, sure to attract a large crowd. Opening is the fast-rising singer-songwriter Jeremie Albino.
Those slated to appear later in the month include Canadian country stars MacKenzie Porter and The Reklaws, indie rock faves Born Ruffians, New Pornographers, Half Moon Run and Moneen, rock veterans April Wine and Big Wreck, hip-hop star Big Boi (OutKast) and emerging artists Ruby Waters and Aysanabee.
CNE Bandshell, Exhibition Place, Toronto. Tickets and information here.
LASSO Montreal — Friday, August 16 to Sunday, September 1
As Canada becomes a hotbed for country music festivals, LASSO Montreal has a lineup filled with some of the biggest names of the genre. Headliners Sam Hunt and Eric Church join Dustin Lynch, Brett Young, Tyler Hubbard, Megan Moroney, Matt Lang, Kip Moore, plus rising Canadians Josh Ross and MacKenzie Porter and Quebec favourites Matt Lang and Laurence St-Martin.
Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal. Tickets and information here.
Missy Elliott with Ciara, Busta Rhymes and Timbaland, Centre Bell, Montreal — Saturday, August 17
More than three decades into her storied career, Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott is on her first-ever headlining tour. The Out of This World – The Missy Elliott Experience is already getting rave reviews, with famous collaborators, fashion-forward fits, off-kilter choreography and plenty of big-stage spectacle befitting of an artist who never left out the visual element of her videos or performances. She'll also be in Toronto at the Scotiabank Arena on August 19 and 20.
Tickets here.
