The first full week of August is upon us, so you’re officially running out of occasions to go get ice cream. The summer is slipping through our fingers! But with the can’t-miss concerts coming to Toronto this week, there will be ample opportunities to make the most of every moment with a handful of Canadian legends, a breakout star from the UK and more.

Swing by Concert Central for more recommendations, tour announcements, concert listings, live reviews and more.

Olivia Dean with Baby Rose
Scotiabank Arena, August 4–5
Buy tickets here and here

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Olivia Dean took over the world last summer. The Art of Loving hit the internet hard, and the hype will finally materialize on this side of the pond with the British singer-songwriter’s first shows behind it at Scotiabank Arena, with support from the equally timeless-sounding BADBADNOTGOOD collaborator Baby Rose.

Big Thief with Ben Lamar Gay
Meridian Hall, August 6
Buy tickets here

Here’s hoping Adrienne Lenker and co. won’t miss their flights and have to take a long journey through the Ontario landscape on Highway 17 — as described in Double Infinity‘s “Incomprehensible” — while they’re in the area to perform the sprawl of their homespun, heartfelt sound at the stately Meridian Hall.

Daphni 
Standard Time, August 6
Buy tickets here

Having just released a triad of new songs, the ever-prolific Dan Snaith brings his storied catalogue to Standard Time once again, where his dance-y Daphni project’s instrumental dance floor-fillers will take centre stage.

Broken Social Scene and Metric and Stars
RBC Amphitheatre, August 7
Buy tickets here

Park that car! Drop that phone! Sleep on the floor! Dream about the nostalgic CanCon triple bill to end all nostalgic CanCon triple bills!

Rush
Scotiabank Arena, Aug 7, 9
Buy tickets here and here

We are so back. Rush’s 50 Something reunion tour has been six years — and arguably an entire lifetime — in the making, with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson brining back their band for the first time since the tragic passing of Neil Peart in 2020. With drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Lore Gold in tow, it doesn’t hit much closer to the heart than this.