Taylor Swift will play six nights at Toronto’s Roger Centre (left) in November 2024, underscoring the city’s stature as a world-class music destination. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for Vacay.ca)
Don’t even think about telling American singer Taylor Swift that Toronto doesn’t have an awesome music scene. Unless, of course, you’re looking for some ‘Bad Blood’.
Swifties – Taylor’s faithful followers – will be descending on Toronto in November 2024. While Taylor Swift will play six sold-out dates at the Rogers Centre, other venues in Toronto will not be blank spaces. They’ll be filled with music — as they often always are.
A fine example of that is Scotiabank Arena, which will welcome Shania Twain (October 22), Mariah Carey (Nov 27, 2023) and Andrea Bocelli (Apr 10, 2024).
It’s not hard to see why. Toronto is one of the best cities for music in the world for the same reason it’s one of the best cities in the world for just about every form of art and culture — its diversity.
Hailing from Oakville, YASSiN & Sean Terrio met in 2019 while attending an open mic night at Oakville’s legendary Moonshine Cafe. They quickly discovered their musical and onstage chemistry, and immediately began writing songs together. YASSiN says Toronto has always felt like it has a venue for every type of artist, in any stage of their careers.
“I think it’s such a great musical city because of that. It has so many legendary venues that musicians hold so highly, for a Canadian band, you look at Toronto and see a bunch of milestones to achieve,” says YASSiN. “Toronto being so diverse also inspires some of the most unique sounds coming out of Canada. When a dreamer with musical ambitions hears the name Toronto, they think of artists like: Drake, The Weekend, Shawn Mendes, Daniel Caesar, to name a few. Toronto, at its best, breeds great artists, and I think it takes a great creative city to do that.”
The cultural mix that makes the city thrive on the culinary and art scene also plays into the success of Toronto as a music destination. Driven by immigrants from all over the world, Toronto is a place where travellers can enjoy sounds from Brazil, Bangladesh, Trinidad, or Somalia. There are cultural celebrations seemingly every week that engulf one neighbourhood or multiple neighbourhoods in the city.
The daddy of them all is the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, formerly known as Caribana, which is held each summer. This Caribbean tradition of parading through the streets — often in colourful outfits, playing festive music driven by steelpan drums, and dancing til sunset and beyond — is appropriately celebrated on what has been recognized by the Canadian government as Emancipation Day weekend. The festival has been taking place for more than 50 years and is the largest carnival in North America, generating millions in income yearly for Toronto businesses. The costumes, food, and energy make Caribana an international gem but the heartbeat of its success is soca. Born in Trinidad & Tobago, soca is a mix of calypso and Indian music, with elements of reggae and electronic dance. It’s the sound of Caribana and is increasingly heard in Toronto clubs even when the festival isn’t happening.
Where International Sounds Call Home
Toronto Caribbean Carnival brings the cultures of the islands to Canada’s largest city, lively-ing up the streets with costumes, laughter, and, of course, incredible music. (Photo courtesy of Toronto Caribbean Carnival)
The fact that the music of the hot islands thousands of miles away can thrive in a cold-climate metropolis is perhaps the greatest testament to Toronto’s inclusive culture. And it’s hardly the only example. Residents and visitors alike can hear the world without leaving the city.
YASSiN says he had always had a love of music, but seeing such an abundance of live shows growing up fuelled his drive to become a more accomplished musician. He says would fantasize about being up on stage every time he watched a concert.
“My first musical memory in Toronto was seeing Billy Joel & Elton John on tour together. I was 14 and my parents took me to see them,” says YASSiN. “At the time I had just started playing piano, so seeing both these piano gods play together blew my mind. I remember getting home from that show and somehow feeling like I was a better piano player just because I watched them. Seeing that show started my love of live music, and from that point on I’d make a big effort to see any concert of any of my musical heroes when they came to town. The best thing about growing up so close to Toronto was so many touring acts would come through the city often, being such a big hub in Canada.”
In 2020 YASSiN & Sean Terrio released their single Take My Time, which has amassed over 1 million streams across Spotify & Youtube. In 2021, their musical journey took another big step forward when they placed 2nd in Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Artist Program. Two years of performing across Canada and several singles later, the duo is ready to release their debut album. (Photo Courtesy YASSiN & Sean Terrio)
Whether you are an aspiring musician or just a fan of great music, Toronto offers several events and concerts throughout the year to satisfy different tastes. Jewish Music Week has a week of concerts, recitals, and musical events throughout the GTA. On October 30, Steven Page performs a one-night event to promote the festival. Scarborough Afro-Carib Fest has live performances from talented artists and interactive activities including African drumming and dance lessons. The Indigenous Arts Festival, Festival of South Asia, TD Salsa in Toronto Festival, Toronto International BrazilFest, and MexFest are other events that visitors to Toronto can enjoy as they delve into a wide range of music.
If you want mainstream sounds and aspiring artists from genres such as rock, country, blues, and indie, then you need to tune into Canadian Music Week (June 2nd – 8th, 2024), the nation’s biggest new music festival. Since 1981, Canadian Music Week has taken over Toronto’s venues, with performances happening in clubs, pubs, and palaces to rock.
The TD Toronto Jazz Festival (JUNE 21 – 30) has emerged as one of North America’s premier festivals of its kind, featuring more than 350 performances in a variety of musical styles. NXNE (June 12-16, 2024) draws outstanding new talent to venues throughout the city while the Beaches International Jazz Festival focuses attention on the city’s vibrant east end.
“No matter your musical taste, Toronto has a music festival for you. Check out the alt, roots, and indie acts at Field Trip, which takes over the grassy field of Fort York National Historic Site in the summer,” said Ashley Rochefort, media relations manager at Destination Toronto, the city’s tourism marketing agency. “The 10th annual Veld Music Festival at Downsview Park features a three-day lineup of 60-plus EDM, dance, and hip-hop artists.”
Praise Toronto’s Home-grown Talent
Jim Cuddy and Blue Rodeo are Torontonians who have played venues large and small in the city. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for Vacay.ca)
Canada has produced many outstanding musicians, and many of these talented artists got their start in Toronto.
Millions of Canadians grooved to the songs of Jeff Healey, Blue Rodeo, Alannah Myles, Rush, Snow, Cowboy Junkies, and Neil Young. An exciting new generation of Toronto artists like the Barenaked Ladies, Drake, The Weeknd, and K’naan emerged in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“Toronto is a world-class music destination, attracting artists and fans from far and wide,” said Rochefort. “Catch today’s top performers at one of the city’s major arenas often playing host to world tours. For more intimate shows, Toronto is also home to a variety of iconic venues like the El Mocambo, Horseshoe Tavern, or newly renovated Massey Hall.”
Danforth Music Hall, Budweiser Stage , The Phoenix Concert Theatre, and Scotiabank Arena are just some of the places that attract big names in Canada and around the world. Built in 1894, Massey Hall is a National Historic Site of Canada.
One underrated place to hear live music is the free Summer Music Concert Series at Harbourfront Centre Concert Stage. You can stroll along the water and hear headline performers on stage.
