NEXT Magazine June 2022

MADE IN CANADA• 06|2022

FREE

NXNE FESTIVAL GUIDE TORONTO’S MASSIVE CLUB-HOPPING MUSIC FESTIVAL IS BACK!

THE SOULFUL, SINGULAR VOICE OF CANADA’S NEWEST R&B SENSATION

CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON

ALEXISONFIRE

POST-HARDORE LEGENDS IN TOP FORM

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JASMYN OKAY TO POKE SHORESY POST MALONE BINGO NEXT JUNE 2022

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LISTEN

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Contents

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THE SHORT LIST

Music festival season takes over with NXNE, Sled Island, CMW and Vancouver Jazz Fest returning to in-person events. And, thanks to Baz Luhrmann, Elvis has not left the building.

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MUSIC FEATURE

Canadian hardcore heroes Alexisonfire are back with their first album in 13 years, and the scorching release is not an exercise in nostalgia.

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NXNE FESTIVAL GUIDE

Find the best bets out of hundreds of bands playing Toronto’s NXNE this month with NEXT’s exclusive Festival Guide. The Guide highlights the most promising acts in your favourite genres.

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COVER STORY

Calidation from A-list peers like Drake, Daniel Caesar, John Mayer and James Blake helped give R&B singer Charlotte Day Wilson the confidence to make a debut album she can believe in.

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ALBUM REVIEWS

Kendrick Lamar, Sharon Van Etten, Kofi, Erez Zobary, Florence + The Machine, Jack Harlow, Def Leppard, Ethel Cain, The Rolling Stones and many more.

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THE LOCAL PAGES

Music festivals, live theatre opens up and Calgary gets pumped up with playoffs and the Stampede.

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THE FUNNIES

Celebrate new music from Postie by playing Post Malone Bingo with your friends. Bingo cards, caller clues and instructions are all here.

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06 DRINKS Must be the Season of the Spritz 08 FOOD Finding the prime poke in the NEXT Three Cities 11 FASHION Sleaze is the current guaranteed-to-please 13 CANNABIS Rehashing hash proves not a flash in the pan 14 GAMING Vintage vibe with Cupman’s return 16 TV/MOVIES Letterkenny team launches hilarious new series

COVER AND THIS PAGE: Charlotte Day Wilson photographed by David Hawe Hair by: Cody Alexander / Makeup by: Dino Dilio

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SHORTLIST JUNE

T H E

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D O

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CA N A DA

T H I S

M O N T H MOVIE

MUSIC FESTIVAL

2 WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

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ELVIS IS IN THE BUILDING

SCAN HERE FOR NXNE TICKETS AND FULL FESTIVAL DETAILS

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Favvkes, NXNE, Wed., June 15, Bovine

NXNE MARKS RETURN OF MUSIC FESTIVAL SEASON NORTH BY NORTHEAST MUSIC FESTIVAL (NXNE) Toronto, Tue., June 14 Sun. June 19) Single show, $10; full-festival pass, $20 nxne.com

Music festival season is here across Canada with Toronto hosting both North by Northeast (June 14 –19) and Canadian Music Week (June 6 –11) with Jazz Fests in Vancouver and Toronto (June 24 – July 3) and Calgary welcomes Sled Island (June 22 – 26).

NXNE is the best deal offering full-festival passes with access to over 20 clubs and 300 bands for only $20. This year, the festival refocuses on showcasing emerging bands and presents top new Canadian artists as well as leading acts from across the world featuring many genres.

ELVIS In theatres, 159 mins.

Fri., June 24 Biopic

Visionary Australian director Baz Luhrmann turns his technicolor lens on Elvis Presley through the contrasting stages of his life — and we cant wait.

Luhrmann makes beautiful movies in which the music is key, and the King of Rock ’n’ Roll offers a rich palette for the Aussie auteur. Tom Hanks plays Elvis’s controversial manager, Col. Tom Parker.

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MUSIC FESTIVAL & CONFERENCE

CMW CONFERENCE & CONCERTS RETURN

NEXT Magazine

CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK Toronto, Mon., June 6 – Sat., June 11 $25 - $599 Various venues cmw.net

Editor/Publisher Michael Hollett Creative Director Troy Beyer

Canadian Music Week returns with concerts, industry conference and awards.

Performances include Snotty Nose Rez Kids (Sat., June 11, El Mocambo) and Bif Naked (Fri., June 10, Revival).

Hip hop legend Chuck D. gives the keynote at CMW’s Intercontinental hotel HQ (Thurs., June 9) Virtual Voices free online video series, with pre-recorded industry panels, is available on CMW website.

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Associate Editor Rayne Fisher-Quann Contributors Benji Adringa, Away, Karen Bliss, Latoya Elle, Kristal Griffin, Remi Louis Harris, David Hawe, Ammar Karam, Sarah Khan, Zack Kotzer, Amy Lloyd, Sarah Morrison, Kufu Najee, Nicole Richie, Laura Robinson, Sierra Stone, Karen K. Tran, Caely White, Sanjeev Wignarajah CMW FESTIVAL DETAILS HERE

Director of Sales and Partnerships Barbara Hefler

Snotty Nose Rez Kids

Advertising Inquiries: sales@nextmag.ca ARTS FESTIVAL SMOOTH SLED-ING AT ARTS FEST SLED ISLAND Calgary, Wed., June 22 – Tue., June 28 $20 – $35 tickets, $214 pass Various venues / sledisland.com

Sled Island delivers a multidisciplinary festival with a week of underground and emerging music, comedy, film and art. Live shows include Backxwash (Wed., June 22, Commonwealth), Princess Nokia (Fri., June 25, Palace Theatre) and L.A. Witch (Wed., June 22, Dickens). Docs Summer of Soul and Lydia Lunch: The War Is Never Over, screen.

SEE THE SCHEDULE HERE

Advice Columnist Amy Millan askamy@nextmag.ca

Princess Nokia

Administrative Assistant Yvette Angela Circulation Coordinator Ian Vidovich

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Circulation Eric Caldwell, Paul Mckenzie, Matias Bessai, Connor Radcliffe, Angus MacMinn Sharon Rosinke, Henry Voskuil Published by NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc. FESTIVAL

SHOW YOUR PRIDE PRIDE TORONTO Now until Thurs., June 30 / Free Various venues pridetoronto.com

Toronto kicks off Canada’s LGBTQ pride celebrations with a month of in-person programming. Some events include the Pride Parade on Yonge Street, Sun., June 26 while Yonge-Dundas Square gets glittery with Canada’s Drag Race stars Lemon (Sat., June 25) and Priyanka (Sun., June 26). Celebration and performance stages will be set up along Church Street — ­­ and much more.

NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc. Board of Directors Michael Cohl, Michael Hollett, Gary Slaight Distribution NEXT Magazine is distributed in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary For distributor info: distro@nextmag.ca Contact Us 115 Danforth, Suite 302 • Toronto • ON • M4K 1N2 T. 416.519.5004 email: info@nextmag.ca All content property of NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc. ©2022 May, 2022. Vol. 2, No. 3, Issue #12

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nextmagcanada NEXT JUNE 2022

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Build your own Playlists Now, you can collect and organize all the music you love into playlists for any mood or activity, and it’s totally free.

Check out these expertly curated playlists to get you started.

Download the iHeartRadio app today.

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D RI N K

SPRITZ BLITZ

Select Aperitivo The original ingredient of the Venetian Spritz!

Think of it as a perfect in-between Aperol and Campari. Thirty botanicals flavour this bitter, including rhubarb root and juniper berries.

Strong red-fruit and orange presence with a pleasant floral, bittersweet finish that both Prosecco and soda lengthen nicely. Garnish with a large green olive.

IT’S NOW OFFICIALLY PATIO SEASON — TIME TO GET BUBBLY! Over the last couple years, aperitifs have seen a worldwide boom, growing so quickly they’re set to overtake the total alcohol category by 2025! What this means is that there are going to be so many more tasty things for us to spritz up in the future.

We’ve all had an Aperol spritz. Now, what if you wanted something different? We’ve got five new aperitifs for those who want to change it up this summer. Add sparkling wine, soda and enjoy. Just don’t forget the 3:2:1 spritz rule: 3 ounces sparkling wine, 2 ounces aperitif and 1 ounce soda. And the ever-important olive.

Level up your Aperol Spritz Want a new way to express your spritz creativity with Aperol?

Add watermelon juice and maybe a healthy splash of tequila (check our previous issue for some tequila recommendations). Not finding any watermelons to juice? Try infusing strawberries into your Aperol — about a 1:3 ratio — to give a nice fruitier twist. No fruit?

Substitute rosé sparkling wine for the regular white sparkling.

Or do all three for maximum points.

By AMMAR KARAM

This is for the bone-dry white wine drinkers. Fino sherry is a type of fortified wine from Spain, and Tio Pepe is one of the premier producers of the stuff. Dry as English humour, sharp, citrusy and almost briny, a fino sherry spritz will be oh-so-refreshing and oh-so-continental.

This one needs a lemon and olive.

Luxardo Aperitivo The makers of the famous maraschino liqueur are trying their hand at the bittersweet side of things.

While Luxardo remains tight-lipped about what it’s in it, all we know is that it’s got a nice, dark citrus backbone with herbal (think rosemary) top notes and spritzes well.

Especially with an orange. What more do you need?

Malfy Con Limone Gin is not an aperitif; however, this one is different.

Made with Sicilian lemons and distilled in Turin, it’s reminiscent of a beach “vibe.” The botanicals and lemony freshness of this gin are perfectly suited for making a spritz, but we’ll stick to a 3:1:1 rule for this particular spritz.

Amalfi Aperitivo Not all aperitifs have to come from Italy. Despite its name, Amalfi Aperitivo is produced in Toronto and has that nice blood orange body with the perfect top herbal/floral note. There are even small sizes already in spritz form for you! Just pour them over ice, stick on a fat orange slice and enjoy.

Tio Pepe Extra Dry Fino

Lustau Vermut Rosé

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LEARN SOME SPRITZER RECIPES HERE

We’ve heard of dry vermouth and sweet vermouth, but rosé? This is new. This award-winning rosé vermouth packed with floral grapefruit notes is just too good to miss. Add in sparkling wine and soda? Sold, sold, sold. Grapefruit and olive to finish with style.

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HOORAY FOR FO O D

P KE T

o most locals on the islands of Hawaii, poke is a common grab-and-go snack, but now it’s migrated from the islands to the mainland and beyond. Now, poke bowls have made their mark as a healthy, refreshing meal for any time of day. Piled with flavourful toppings that complement the delicate pieces of seafood or vegetarian options, poke is a picnic food that’s great on the go.

Not too heavy and lighter on the wallet than your average sushi excursion, this is the ultimate summer dish. By NICOLE RICHIE

LEARN TO MAKE A POKE BOWL AT HOME HERE

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Vancouver’s West Coast Poke Classic Coastal Bowl

WHERE TO SCORE GREAT POKE IN YOUR TOWN VANCOUVER PACIFIC POKE

625 Main St. (plus several other locations across Vancouver) thepacificpoke.com

Using products from around British Columbia, partners Michael Tran and Dong Lam are revolutionizing the way Vancouver sees poke. This massive franchise is building bowls of Hawaiian-inspired poke that lends itself to the local flavours and ingredients found across the province.

The poke bowls here are delightfully innovative, with nods to Japanese, Korean and Californian cuisine.

STEVE’S POKE BAR

891 Great Northern Way (plus several other locations across Vancouver) stevespokebar.ca

Steve Huyuna grew up between Vancouver and Honolulu after immigrating to Canada from a Malaysian refugee camp. After meeting his wife, Camy, bringing her to Hawaii and introducing her to poke, they shared their common love of the Polynesian staple and decided to bring it to Vancouver. Huyuna’s signature bowls — like the shoyu and spicy ahi tuna, mayo spicy scallops, and shoyu salmon — feature heaps of fresh marinated seafood.

But for the true Honolulu

experience, try Huyuna’s traditional tuna poke bowl, served island-style with extra poke.

WESTCOAST POKE

463 W. 8th Ave. & 3030 – 11666 Steveston Highway westcoastpoke.com

Founder Zachary Cho loves poke and it shows. Westcoast Poke is all about sustainability and showing love to the land. Nourishing, fast and affordable, the bowls at Westcoast are great for lunch on the go. Winning numerous consumer awards for its BYOB and signature sides and sauces, this spot is a go-to when looking for poke on the West Coast.

TORONTO HOKI POKE

563 Yonge St., Unit 101 thehokipoke.com

Inspired by the traditional poke bowls of the Hawaiian Islands, Hoki Poke is all about freshness, quality and filling meals full of flavour.

With the option to build your own bowl or pick from one of the signature poke options, this tiny Polynesian-influenced restaurant is at the top of our list for poke in Toronto. The classic bowl is loaded with chunks of raw ahi tuna and salmon marinated in the house soy sauce and topped with the traditional accoutrements.

POKE GUYS

112 Elizabeth St., #1 & 8110 Birchmount Rd., Unit 10 pokeguys.ca

At Poke Guys, choose from brown, white or cauliflower rice; soba noodles or kale for your base; and decorate your bowl with an array of raw and cooked fish, along with some premium topping options. The signature bowls are also a great bang for your buck, especially the Cali, with spicy shoyu salmon and tuna, avocado, crab meat slaw and masago.

ONO POKE BAR

100 Western Battery Rd., #2 (plus several other locations across the GTA) onopokebar.com

Vancouver’s Pacific Poke

Ono Poke is whipping up some super luxurious bowls that are worth the above-average prices. This spot is known not only for its creative signature bowls but also for its torched salmon and tuna poke. The Ono Torched Salmon Bowl is a fan-favourite. Torched and lightly caramelized salmon is delivered on a bed of rice or greens and topped with items like avocado, corn, crispy wonton and drizzled with the house-made wasabi mayonnaise.

CALGARY PO-KE

908A Centre St. NE po-ke.ca

Incorporating west coast and Japanese flavours into the Hawaiian favourite, Po-Ke’s bowls are a must-

have. As the first poke shop in Calgary, its poke bowls are totally customizable and you can choose from a huge selection of toppings and proteins to fill your bowl. The sauces at Po-Ke are a huge reason that it’s so popular. With options like truffle ponzu, shoyu, roasted sesame and the secret signature sauce, each bowl can be reimagined and elevated to new heights.

OLA POKE

633 6 Ave. SW. #120 olapoke.ca

This spot is all about building your own bowl.

Of course, it has a small selection of pre-designed bowls, but most customers are more inclined to build a bowl with the vast array of proteins, toppings, sauces and finishing’s available at

Ola. Choose from a selection of flavourful raw seafood, vegetarian or teriyaki proteins, like the spicy red tuna, special scallop, tofu and teriyaki unagi.

ONO POKE CO.

Deerfoot City, Unit#5126, 901 64 Ave. NE onopokeco.com

Ono more like “Oh yes”! This poke spot is a newcomer on the fast-casual scene in Calgary. Devoted to bringing super-authentic Polynesian classics to Alberta, Ono’s chef Lawrence Hui worked under the Ka’anapali Beach’s most seasoned chefs in Maui to hone his skills. Ono’s menu is full of house-made sauces and marinades, fresh local seafood and locally sourced produce, making its poke some of the best in Calgary.

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ST Y L E

SLEAZE

PLEASE

1 CHECK THE PAPERS — 2009 IS BACK. The era of hipster blogs, party photography and skinny jeans is one of the most controversial in recent fashion history, but trend forecasters everywhere are reporting that the messy, grungy ethos of the style now dubbed “indie sleaze” is coming back in a big way. Unlike the clean, minimalist styles of the past few years, the look is defined by chaos and excess — think cheap jewelry, clashing clothes, audacious hats and thick, smudged eyeliner that looks like you’ve just rolled out of bed or left an all-night rave. Achieve this look by mixing bold statement pieces and weird accessories with vintage details, like pearls or granny socks — and don’t forget to carry around an iPod and over-ear headphones for true off-the-grid vibes.

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By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

3 SHOP THE LOOK HERE

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2 10 JUNE 2022 NEXT

6 1. H&M Heart Sunglasses / $10 2. American Apparel Disco Shorts / $60 3. Simon’s Sailor Cap / $50 4. Sephora Black Eyeliner / $17 5. Marc Jacobs Heaven Tee / $90 6. Pointelle Crew Socks / $11 7. Jeffrey Campbell Loafers / $165

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Harry’s House The New Album by Harry Styles Out Now

We're Celebrating 10 Years.

Are You Ready?

submit your song from June 6 to July 17, 2022 for your chance to win!

To submit your song and for full rules, regulations, and prizing, visit emergingmusician.ca today! @CWOFame #CanadaThrives #RBCEMP2022

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If you're an aspiring Canadian musician between the ages of 15 and 35,

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Increased Cash Prizes of $20k, $10k and $5k Mentorship with Industry Professionals • Video Funding National Showcase Opportunities • A Creative Workshop Studio Time • Passes to Canadian Music Week • & More!

Angel Baribeau

The Canada's Walk of Fame RBC Emerging Musician Program is back!

C AN N AB I S

Vortex Cannabis Afghan Black Hash 2 gm, 45.6% THC Dried flower is sifted and screened before being pressed in the traditional Afghan method to create Vortex’s beloved Afghan Black Hash. Black on the outside and green in the middle, this is extremely potent and well-made hashish. Vortex’s full-spectrum hash is spicy and smoky in flavour and provides a very strong and potent experience.

Tremblant Cannabis Hashish 2 gm, 37% – 45% THC Made from pure cannabis resin, Tremblant Hashish is a gorgeous texture and is extremely malleable. This melty hash is made from a modern technique inspired by traditional Afghan knowledge. This Quebecois brand is based in the Laurentian Mountains and is known for its old-school approach to making fantastic hash reminiscent of what your parents — grandparents? — used to smoke in the ’80s. With quality ingredients, this hash has sweet and spicy notes and creates a luxurious thick white smoke.

The Batch Dry Sift Hash 2 gm, 33% – 45% THC The Batch Dry Sift Hash is rich, resinous and velvety in texture and reminiscent of old-school Gold Seal hash. This malleable and shiny square is made with some of the best flower and uses a very slow extraction process to ensure a clean and aromatic smoke.

LET’S HASH IT OUT

WHEN GEN X WAS IN ITS REIGNING HEYDAY,

hash was the smoke of choice. It was cheap, strong and delivered a great body buzz. Today, as one of the most concentrated and high THC cannabis products on the market, hash has emerged from the past and is making a comeback.

Made from high-quality flower and extracted in traditional techniques, hash is providing some of the great highs on the market today.

By NICOLE RICHIE

Port North Gas Berries Aged Temple Balls 1 gm, 65.5% THC Using an 100% oldschool solventless technique, Cody and Bret Coulson and Kurtis Ohm are dedicated to providing Canadians with hand-curated, strain-specific, ice-water hash. Their Gas Berries temple balls are hand-rolled and use minimal heat during extraction to create some of the most potent hashish on the market.

Mood Ring Legacy Hashish 1 gm, 45% – 60% THC Handcrafted in the oldworld style, this solventless hashish is one of Mood Ring’s bestselling products. Extremely potent and derived from high-quality, dried flower, the Legacy hash remains to be one of the top recommended cannabis brands across the nation. Mood Ring also cares about sustainability, planting a tree for every purchase made from the company.

48 North Traditional Pressed Hash 2 gm, 35% – 45% THC This traditionally pressed hash is made with some of 48 North’s best dried flower. Carrying the terpenes Alpha-pinene and beta-caryophyllene, this hash has a woodsy and spicy aroma. Great for breaking up and adding to joints, pipes or bongs, this is some premium hashish.

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GAMING

GAMES AT A GLANCE: JUNE

Capcom Fighting Collection

CUPHEAD AND MUGMAN SPILL AN EXPANSION

Toronto-based MDHR return with The Delicious last Course, a Cuphead expansion inspired by 1930s animation By ZACK KOTZER

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artoon capers and thrown controllers collided back in 2017 when Cuphead, a super-tough run-n-gun gauntlet, sprang to life on Xbox and PC. Following the misadventures of Cuphead and Mugman, the duo had to brawl their way through Fleischer-inspired monsters and miscreants in a bid to pay off their debts to the devil. Now, Cuphead is finally back with new friends and meaner foes in The Delicious Last Course expansion.

Cuphead was first shown to the world in a game reel during Microsoft’s 2014 E3 presentation. Elaborately hand-drawn and faithful renditions of 1930s style animation immediately drew the attention of crowd and critics alike. The Toronto-based Studio MDHR, founded by brothers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, rode that momentum.

They expanded the game’s scope with more bosses and platforming stages, hiring an international team of artists and remortgaging their house (something you probably

WATCH THE DELICIOUS LAST COURSE TRAILER HERE

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should not do, even if your game does become a phenomenon, spawns a Netflix series and pops up in Super Smash Bros.).

Visually inspired by classic cartoon characters like Betty Boop and Popeye and mechanically inspired by Treasure’s SEGA Genesis boss-rush games like Alien Soldier and Dynamite Headdy, Cuphead drew players instantly. The difficulty of each battle blended with the delightful surprises of each enemy phase.

In the latest game, Chef Saltbaker has requested that Cuphead and Mugman join him on a journey to a new, undiscovered island to gather magical ingredients.

There, they’ll be joined by Ms. Chalice, rescued from ghosts in the main game, and they’ll need all the help they can get.

More animated animosity awaits on the new island, from mountainous hermits, winter wizards, kooky cowgirls and nutty knights. With new characters, weapons and power-ups, Cuphead will have to fight tooth and glove through his toughest battles yet.

The mayhem continues on June 30, when The Delicious Last Course is served on Xbox, PlayStation, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Capcom’s presence in 2D arcade fighters expands far beyond the Street Fighter series. For completionists and curious alike, the new Capcom Fighting Collection will illustrate just how wide and weird that range was. Including only one Street Fighter (the 2003 anniversary edition of Street Fighter II), this new bundle focuses more on the oddballs: the entire Darkstalkers series, Pocket Fighter, Puzzle Fighter, Red Earth and Cyberbots. It will be the first time many of these titles see modern fixings, like online fights, ranked battles and rollback netcode. Start dusting off those old combos when Capcom Fighting Collection comes to Xbox, PlayStation, PC and Nintendo Switch on June 24.

Mario Strikers

Mario spends most of his time bopping Goombas, turtles and so forth. When the famed plumber does make time for a sports game, that sports game usually becomes one of the most popular games of that sport: for example, Mario Tennis, Golf, Kart and the rest. Somehow, one of the best Mario sports games kept getting overlooked. Don’t make that mistake again. Mario Strikers returns to the soccer pitch for the first time since 2007 with Battle League. This new match features four-on-four teams, club management mode and online play, all with over-the-top Super Mario super powers you love. Mario Strikers: Battle League kicks off June 10 on the Nintendo Switch.

Capcom Fighting Collection

- Supermassive Games crafted a niche for itself in 2015 with the high-budget, blood-pumping horror game Until Dawn. Having covered that cabin in the woods, it only makes sense that Supermassive attacks a summer camp in its biggest game yet, The Quarry.

Nine counsellors find themselves fighting for their lives and your quick decisions will dictate who lives, who dies and who discovers the truth. Like Dawn, this nightmare features motion-captured performances from actors who’d believably pop into a slasher flick, like Modern Family’s Ariel Winter, Righteous Gemstones’ Skyler Gisondo, Detective Pikachu’s Justice Smith, David Arquette, Lance Henriksen and, of course, Ted Raimi. The Quarry’s bloodbath begins June 10 on Xbox, Playstation and PC.

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Watch TV / MOVIES / STREAMING

What To

IT’S GAME ON FOR EXCELLENT LETTERKENNY SPINOFF, SHORESY

TASYA TELES NOT AFRAID TO GO “INTO THE CORNERS” ON LETTERKENNY’S NEW HOCKEY SERIES

By MICHAEL HOLLETT

WATCH THE SHORESY TRAILER HERE

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Tasya Teles

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June Movies & Streaming

KIDS IN THE HALL

Letterkenney creator Jared Keeso (centre) stars in Shoresy

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he deceptively brilliant folks behind Letterkenny have launched a solid new spinoff series, Shoresy, that’s at least as smart, stupid and funny as its predecessor.

The hilarious spinoff digs deep into the world of small-town hockey but provides great Indigenous and female characters along the way.

The show manages to be super smart and dumb as fuck all at the same time.

The story relocates the titular Shoresy to Sudbury, with no real mention or story arch coming over from Letterkenny. Shoresy was a character whose face remained unseen, played by the series creator, Jered Keeso, who also played Letterkenny lead Wayne on camera.

But Shoresy, also staring Keeso, really stands on its own: a fastpaced show with a more linear narrative and explicit plot than Letterkenny. While many films and shows have attempted to authentically depict hockey and its culture, they often seem stiff, awkward and too polite. Shoresy is none of these, with its bro-lovin’ vibe, smart-assed chirps, inherent violence and contrasting grace that all resonates with me, a committed Beer league hockey player.

Keeso as Shoresy is both charming and oafish: he tears up at “O Canada” but will say horrendous things about an unfortunate’s mother to his face.

The female characters on the show don’t take any shit and are uniformly strong, smart, independent and credible. Indigenous characters are equally strong, even revelatory for some Canadians not used to multi-dimensional depictions of Indigenous roles.

Tasya Teles plays the toughtalking, uncompromising owner of the hockey team while Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat plays the coach

Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat

SHORSEY Where: Crave What: Miniseries, 6 episodes, 30 mins.

When: Now, new episode every Friday Genre: Comedy Why you should watch: The team that explains Canada to the planet through Letterkenny takes a deeper dive into the world of small-town hockey with hilarious spinoff series that’s both brilliant and brainless at the same time. Strong female and Indigenous characters hint at bigger ideas here.

with neither actor being a stereotype or one-dimensional character.

“The women really kick ass, and they take a lot of tropes and stereotypes and turn them on their head,” says Teles. “It’s very empowering to be playing a character that pushes back on some of these things that we take for granted or are accepted in regular day programming. The Shorsey Letterkenny universe is really smart at playing around with those.”

Telese and the women on Shorsey run things: the team, the league, even the music at the hangout bar. They give as good as they get verbally as the men of Shoresy, and they’re not shy about ogling and sexually assessing among themselves the players they refer to as “sluts.”

“It gives me an extra lens to look at the script through; how can I use what they’re writing to develop my character in an interesting way to

speak to the stereotype that they’re referring to and uphold the comedy and juggle it all? It’s fun,” says Teles.

“To have representation on screen, especially for a show this big, it’s great, it’s empowering,” says Kytwayhat whose character is reluctantly recruited into coaching the team but grows in confidence and stature throughout the series.

Plus, the ladies are quite taken with him.

“It’s pretty great I’m having this representation and helping the youth realize that you don’t have to work a nine to five, you can be an artist, anything — you’ve just got to go.”

Other Indigenous cast members include hockey-playing brothers Jordan and Brandon Nolan, sons of the NHL’s only Indigenous coach, Ted Nolan.

Everyone is fair game on Shorsey, with no character immune to receiving a cutting chirp and no barb deemed too low. Teles thinks this approach to comedy may be what has endeared Letterkenny to U.S. audiences and, hopefully, will endear Shoresy too. There’s something Canadian about the losertake-all comedy, nobody is immune and everyone is taken down a peg, one of the fundamental roles of humour.

“Definitely something self-effacing, nobody gets away with anything in the Shoresy and Letterkenny world,” says Teles. “So Shoresy might chirp everybody around him, but he also gets it right back.”

Both actors have great faith in the show and dream of a run like Letterkenny’s.

“The boys just got back from a big tour of the U.S.,” says Telese.

“We saw some photos of Ed Norton and Brad Pitt backstage with the whole Letterkenny crew, and I was so excited — is that going to be us some day? Brad Pitt, here I come.”

What: Series, 6 episodes, 30 mins.

Where: Prime Video When: Now Genre: Sketch comedy Why you should watch: Fans of Canadian comedy legends the Kids in the Hall will be thrilled that the troupe, legendary for creative spats, reunited for more than an exercise in nostalgia. Gen Zers can see what all the fuss was about, not through reruns but fresh interpretations of the troupe’s trademark bizarreness. Credit the Kids for not making their reboot a parade of characters from their ‘80s and '90s sketch show but, instead, a riff on their new, creakier reality. Newsflash, they’re older.

THE PENTAVERATEL Where: Netflix What: Miniseries, 6 episodes, 30 mins.

When: Now Genre: Comedy Why you should watch: Mike Myers plays most of the characters in this bizarre series that purports to tell the story of the titular secret society — “a nice one” — being investigated by a kindly soft-news reporter for a Toronto TV station. It’s downbeat comedy filled with Myers’ trademarks puns, sight gags, winks to the audience and double entendres, with a wave to the broad British humour he grew up on. It’s unexpectedly progressive too.

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June Movies and Streaming

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

Where: In theatres What: Movie, 131 mins.

When: Now Genre: Action Why you should watch: A turbo-charged thrill ride that celebrates sleek machines, the lust for adventure and, of course, making your own rules. This reboot works even if you haven’t seen the original, and Tom Cruise may play “the old guy,” but he’s as handsome and vital as ever. His character remains a maverick and while the plot is cliché-rich, that’s part of the fun. Special effects got more special since original film’s release, and you’ll feel like you’ve been flying the jets yourself by movie’s end.

THE LOST GIRLS

Where: In theatres and VOD What: Movie, 100 mins.

When: June 17 Genre: Drama/Fantasy Why you should watch: This live-action fantasy extends the universe of the classic Peter Pan tale to tell a story about motherhood, womanhood and trauma. The film chronicles four generations of Darling women as they struggle in the aftermath of their encounters with Peter Pan and Neverland. In this world, Wendy’s mother and grandmother have both had to escape Pan’s hold — and now, Wendy fights to save her relationship with her daughter as they both undergo the same experience.

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STRANGER THINGS

Where: Netflix What: Series, season 4, 11 episodes, 13 hours total When: First 9 episodes drop now; two-part finale drops Fri., July 1 Genre: Sci-fi/Horror Why you should watch: Netflix’s flagship series has been one of the biggest shows in the world since it premiered in 2016. Now, the iconic series is coming to a close with a horror-inspired 13-hour final season — and, like any Stranger Things event, it’s must-see TV unlike anything else on streaming.

CHIP ‘N’ DALE: RESCUE RANGERS

Where: Disney+ What: Movie, 97 mins.

When: Now Genre: Live-action, animation Why you should watch: John Mulaney (Chip) and Andy Samberg (Dale) lead an A-list of celebrity voices in this smartly funny live-action and animation hybrid in the spirit of Who Killed Roger Rabbit? So many jokes within jokes, with Disney not afraid to skewer itself, a decrepit middle-aged Peter Pan is the bad guy in a clever movie that amounts to a tribute to animation.

PISTOL

Where: Disney+ What: Miniseries, 6 episodes, 60 mins.

When: Now Genre: Drama Why you should watch: An in-depth telling of the rise of punk icons Sex Pistols from Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle. This miniseries has all the substance abuse and aggressive music you would expect, but it also has the heart and emotion often missing from the crude newspaper headlines that surround this band. Grittily catches an explosive moment in time — worth it for the fashion alone.

HACKS

Where: Crave What: Series, season 2, 8 episodes, 30 mins.

When: Now Genre: Comedy Why you should watch: In Season 1, we saw the unlikely pairing of a legendary standup comedian fighting to stay relevant and a 20-something mess of a writer searching for a big break. Their lovehate relationship left on a cliffhanger, and now we finally see the aftermath. The two embark on a new career journey together, but not without some obstacles. This second season is just as quick-witted, with more generational jokes that don’t feel tired.

JAZZ FEST: A NEW ORLEANS STORY

GEORGE CARLIN’S AMERICAN DREAM

THE LAKE

FOR ALL MANKIND

Where: In theatres What: Movie, 94 mins.

When: Fri., June 3, Toronto, Vancouver; Fri., June 10, Calgary Genre: Documentary Why you should watch: The film wisely uses significant performance clips as well as interviews with artists and founders to tell the story of the legendary New Orleans Jazz Fest, launched in 1970 and featuring a broad collection of genres, all with roots in the city. A “handmade” event with noble aspirations, the people behind it are endearing and the music is magnificent.

Where: Prime video What: Miniseries, 6 episodes, 30 mins.

When: June 17 Genre: Comedy-drama Why you should watch: If you can muster sympathy for a bunch of mostly white people fighting and fretting over issues around their cottages, then this is the show for you.

Canadian-made The Lake has a reach exceeding its grasp.

It’s an interesting premise: a white, gay man who gave up his BIPOC daughter in high school is reunited with her for the summer in effort to bond.

Wish it was more funny and less whiny.

Where: Crave What: Miniseries, 2 episodes, 120 mins.

When: Now Genre: Documentary Why you should watch: Judd Apatow’s loving and engaging look at legendary standup comedian George Carlin through his many incarnations. A-list comedians and close family speak frankly about the groundbreaking comic who had dry spells while chasing a vision of himself. Inspired by Lenny Bruce, Carlin’s system-challenging comedy of issues like abortion, racism and freedom of speech is sadly still relevant today.

Where: Apple TV What: Series, season 3, 10 episodes, 60 mins.

When: Fri. June 10, new episodes weekly Genre: Alternate history Why you should watch: Third season of series that satisfyingly envisions alternative reality where the Soviet Union never collapsed and the space race kept going.

The story moves to the ‘90s after previous seasons in the ‘60s and ‘80s and the target is no longer the Moon but Mars. And now the US not only battles the Soviets but space-loving billionaire who also wants the Red Planet prize. Cool history-reimagined tales.

NOW PLAYING

NEXT JUNE 2022

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WET TENNIS

THE NEW ALBUM INCLUDES

“Original Sin” & “Summer in New York”

20 JUNE 2022 NEXT

Music JASMYN WEAVES NEW BEGINNINGS

FORMER INDIE FRONTWOMAN LAUNCHES SYNTH-HEAVY SOLO WORK

J

By AMY LLOYD

asmyn Burke is preparing for a new adventure. The Toronto singer-songwriter is breaking free from her role as a frontwoman and going solo on her beautiful new album, In The Wild. Formerly of the eclectic indie rock band Weaves, Jasmyn is now a mononymous name and she’s ready to share her buzzy, synthheavy new sound.

Jasmyn and I chat on the phone one sunny evening.

She’s sitting in her Hamilton, ON, backyard and I can hear the birds chirping in the background. It’s a soundscape that aligns perfectly with In The Wild’s themes and Jasmyn’s life over the past few years.

After growing up in Toronto and being immersed in the fast-paced music

LISTEN TO JASMYN HERE

industry lifestyle, she made the decision to move out of the city in 2018. This was partly to try something new and avoid falling prey to a predictable routine but also to embrace a slower, calmer way of living.

“When I first moved out here, I wondered, Where are all the siren sounds?’” she laughs. “But the move has been really good for me.”

The change was a perfect decision, both personally and professionally. The artist gave herself room to breathe and to change. She had been tinkering with side solo projects for years, but when the pandemic hit, it granted even more time to experiment.

“I guess in some ways, I had felt disconnected from music before the pandemic,” she explains.

“So that downtime allowed me to enjoy it again. I was able to sit alone in a room and just write. I let music

become a hobby again.”

This hobby became an 11-track indie pop record filled with shimmering, layered synths and Jasmyn’s unique, dreamy vocals.

Opening track Green Nature makes it clear that the singer connects with the outdoors, while titles Crystal Ball and Happy Tarot showcase her appreciation for the art of manifestation and her love for all things “witchy.” There’s an obvious importance around growth and self-reflection.

“The album is about new beginnings and fresh starts.

It’s about taking a step back

to ask yourself ‘Am I happy?’ and doing what’s right for you. For me personally, I learned to embrace the unknown and push past limitations I put on myself.”

Before our call, Jasmyn had spent the day in rehearsals. She’s preparing for a handful of shows this summer, her first time on stage since the pandemic began.

“I’ve started working on basic choreography, which I haven’t done before. After two years off, I needed some help with my movement!”

Jasmyn views her live shows as a curated experience, one that she’s excited to produce. She acknowledges that social media is a large part of concerts these days and rather than begrudge this, she treats it as a creative opportunity.

She’s planning setlists, choreography and lighting in a way that

will translate both in person and through a phone screen.

Though I can’t see her face, Jasmyn’s excitement and curiosity for this next stage of her career is clear.

Her manifestation is working and her future looks bright.

JASMYN In The Wild

Genre: Indie pop Sound: Careful synthesizer layers under Jasmyn’s impressively wide vocal range If you like: Tallies, Georgia Harmer, Basement Revolver Why you should listen: Former Weaves frontwoman Jasmyn Burke releases her first full-length solo project under her own name, and it’s a wonderful reminder of her talent and artistry. Focused on new beginnings, she balances light, whimsical tracks with heavy-hitters.

Best track: Find The Light  Next: Sat., June 11,

The Garrison, Toronto

 

NEXT JUNE 2022

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22 JUNE 2022 NEXT

EREZ ZOBARY

NEXT BIG THING

M

agnetic soul singer, Erez Zobary, may be nearing 100,000 Spotify listeners who come for her unique brand of modern funk-R&Bpop and her rich, acrobatic voice, but the Toronto-based artist hasn’t quit her day job: she’s managed her burgeoning music career while working at a non-profit and as a high school teacher in her hometown. Perhaps that’s part of why her music teems with relatability — drawing inspiration from mid-20s confusion and coming-of-age woes to soundtrack every millennial’s journey towards self-actualization, listening to her sounds like hearing a big-band pep talk from your sunniest friend.

DO YOUR STUDENTS KNOW THAT YOU MAKE MUSIC? Some of them do. My dad is also a teacher in Toronto, and he always plays my music to his class. Sometimes if I’m having one-on-one conversations with my students, I tell them I’m a musician.

I told one of my students that I’m on Spotify. They looked me up and we started talking about music and I had put out a song, It’s Not Unusual, and she knew that it was a Tom Jones song!

I was like, you are the coolest Grade 11 student ever. So there’s definitely a crossover and I have to be pretty aware of not putting up inappropriate content.

We’re definitely going for a more wholesome vibe — which I think is also just kind of who I am as a person.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS? I love Stevie Wonder. I grew up listening to him and Earth, Wind and Fire. But then, also, I really love Joni Mitchell and the way her melodies work. I grew up in a very Jewish family — not super religious, but very culturally Jewish — so there was always music involved, like on holidays and even on the Sabbath every Friday. It’s like everything is a song.

Yemenite Jews are very known for their singing. Very, very beautiful voices, but a lot of runs as well, even in our prayers.

LISTEN TO EREZ ZOBARY HERE



And so, I kind of grew up like hearing this melody line and hearing these vocal riffs in my very young childhood. I think it actually impacted the way I sing even more than I probably know.

DO YOU FIND WRITING AND PLAYING YOUR MUSIC THERAPEUTIC? I think what people don’t understand about when musicians write these uplifting songs is that it’s not necessarily that I am actually in that mood all the time. There are so many shows where I’m feeling pretty depressed and it feels like I really just don’t have the energy, but I find that the songs actually re-energize me and allow me to reframe my thoughts. I often need the songs probably more than the people listening to them.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT PLAYING NXNE? I’m really excited. I love showcase events like this. I’m excited to hear from other musicians — it’s always so good to join together as a community. We’re doing an intimate acoustic set (June 17, 9 pm, Gladstone), which I’m very excited about.

EREZ ZOBARY Starlight

Genre: R&B Sound: Edgy funk submerged with ’60s-style R&B. If you like: Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Eryn Allan Kane Why should you listen: Zobary’s soulful voice explores pandemic transformation while driving us back to the ’60s with upbeat, musical R&B on this Toronto singer’s invigorating album.

Best Track: Hungover



 Next: Zobary plays NXNE, Fri., June 17, 9 pm, Gladstone House, Toronto NEXT JUNE 2022

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24 JUNE 2022 NEXT

THE MERCH TABLE

ALEXISONFIRE OTHERNESS SHAPES CORDUROY HAT $30 store.theonlybandever.com

SUPPORT THE ARTISTS YOU LOVE AND BUY THEIR STUFF

GAYLE ABCDEFU BLACK BRACELET $8 store.warnermusic.com

BEALBY POINT TALK TO ME HAT $30 bealbypoint.ca

ALEXISONFIRE OTHERNESS NALGENE WATER BOTTLE $25 store.theonlybandever.com LOONY SOFT THING SPARROW CANDLE $50 oonymoonchild.com/shop

CHARLOTTE CARDIN PHOENIX DELUXE TOTE BAG $35 charlotte-cardin-shop.myshopify.com

PURITY RING - ALIEN BODY MANIFEST THE WORLD STARDEW $45 kf-merch.com/collections/purity-ring

POST MALONE GUITAR PICK SET $26 shop.postmalone.com

FAOUZIA CASABLANCA WHITE PHOTO TEE $30 store.warnermusic.com/ atlantic-records/artists/faouzia

BACKXWASH SCREAMING T-SHIRT $15 cutloosemerch.ca/products/ screaming-t-shirt

BBNO$ PINK BEANIE $33 bbnomerch.myshopify.com

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ALEXIS LISTEN TO ALEXISONFIRE HERE

26 JUNE 2022 NEXT

WATCH THE SWEET DREAMS OF OTHERNESS VIDEO HERE

 

ONFIRE OVER A DECADE LATER, CANADIAN HARDCORE HEROES STILL HAVE A LOT TO SAY

By AMY LLOYD

Alexisonfire are far from a nostalgia act. The post-hardcore outfit from St. Catharines, ON, may have had their come up in the early 2000s, but two decades is a lot of time for growth and evolution. Thirteen years after their last full-length album release, they’re ready for a comeback that proves just how much they’ve learned.

“I don’t have a problem with nostalgia, but I don’t want us to be rooted in the past,” says guitarist Wade MacNeil as he sits on a Zoom call in a hotel room in New Orleans, where he’s working on a new Alexisonfire music video. “I want to celebrate the past, but I also want to give people the best version of the band.”

“I think it was good back in the day, but I don’t think we’re past our prime,” vocalist George Pettit echoes the sentiment later that day on a call from his home in Hamilton, ON. “Alexisonfire is in the best form it’s ever been.”

The five-piece started as a bunch of scrappy but dedicated kids in their teens and early 20s, skipping classes to play basement shows around southern Ontario. Their name and sound were defining in the hardcore scene, and their hard work earned them a Juno Award for Best New Group, Platinum certifications on all four albums and the opportunity to perform around the world several times over.

Then, after 10 years, they called it quits with a farewell tour. But here’s the beautiful thing about Alexisonfire: they’re never really gone. The band members exist in other musical spaces — guitarist and singer Dallas Green started City and Colour, drummer Jordan Hastings tours with fellow Ontario rockers Billy Talent and MacNeil has fronted several other bands. Even between these projects, Alexisonfire reunited for festivals and one-off singles and EPs. Like many artists, it took a pandemic to push the band to their next creative stage.

“One of the biggest challenges for Alexisonfire is we’re all to the wind, we’re all doing different things,” Pettit explains.

“The pandemic centralized us all in southern Ontario and, after about a year of lockdown, it started to feel like we were squandering an opportunity.

So, we just started rehearsing without any agenda.”

“We got together at the Dine Alone Records space to practise. Not to write any new music, just to get out of the house,” MacNeil adds. “It was such a great experience, at that point, to just be around other humans. We weren’t putting any pressure on ourselves, and at the end of one month, we probably had five or six songs.”

The end result is Otherness, 10 tracks of rich and aggressive sonic layers that push the band to new lengths — literally in some cases. Songs like Dark Night of the Soul and World Stops Turning surpass the six- and eight-minute marks, allowing for “indulgent bridges” as Pettit calls them. Alexisonfire’s unique weaving of three vocalists is still present, but

Pettit also explores more melodic singing this time around.

Both MacNeil and Pettit believe it was their time apart and years of trying new things that allowed them to take these new risks.

“I think we all tried on a few different creative hats,” says Pettit. “[Bassist] Chris Steele contributed lyrically, and Dallas has really presented himself as a producer. You can be second-guessing yourself in the studio and his confidence helps guide you. And Wade’s been making music for video games and soundtracks for so long, he has a real cinematic approach to creating music.”

“I think we’ve all grown as songwriters and players.

We’re at a point in our musical careers where we have enough confidence to do exactly what we want,” says MacNeil.

This confidence also emanates on stage. They kicked off their return in April with a sweaty riot of a show at Toronto’s History. Now, they’re gearing up for several summer tour dates, including Born & Raised, a four-day festival in their hometown with friends Billy Talent, PUP, Broken Social Scene and several others.

“We’ve gotten older, but the shows haven’t got any calmer!”

Pettit laughs. “They’re quite intense — I don’t know any other way to play a concert. I went to a Ben Rogers show and, afterwards, I asked him, ‘What’s it like to leave the stage and not be a complete disaster?’”

The gang is excited to share tracks both new and old with an audience that’s stuck by them for so many years and reached new ears along the way.

“I have no preconceived

ALEXISONFIRE Otherness Genre: Post-hardcore Sound: An impressive layering of three vocalists, several distorted guitars and one Hammond organ If you like: Underoath, Silverstein, Billy Talent Why you should listen: The beloved Canadian hardcore group return with their first fulllength album in over a decade, and it’s clear their influences and talent have grown. Otherness celebrates what makes the band and their listeners outsiders.

Best track: Dark Night of the Soul

ideas of what I want people to get from this album. I just want people to check it out!

The beauty of music is that everyone hears it differently,” MacNeil gets earnest. “I’m very proud of it — I think it’s the best thing we’ve done. We burnt out, we were honest with ourselves about it and we stopped doing this. We found our way back to Alexisonfire because life feels better with it in it.”  Next: Born & Raised

Concert Series, Thurs., June 30 – Sun., July 3, Montebello Park, St. Catharines NEXT JUNE 2022

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BACK TO LIVE 28 JUNE 2022 NEXT

YAMAHA CANADA IS A PROUD PARTNER OF THIS YEAR’S NXNE MUSIC FESTIVAL. Live music remains strong, resilient, and in us all. It’s an honor to support independent artists and play a role in the discovery and development of the next wave of musical talent.

create. inspire. connect.

Scan below to find out which NXNE venues have been selected as special Yamaha Showcase Stages.

N O R T H B Y N O R T H E A S T M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 2

JUNE 14-19 300+ BANDS 20+ VENUES

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ESSENTIAL ARTISTS TO CHECK OUT AT TORONTO'S MASSIVE CLUB CRAWL

FESTIVAL GUIDE

HIP HOP

Omega Mighty Gladstone (Sat., June 18, Midnight) Powerhouse singer and rapper Omega Mighty has been a feature at her JUNO Award-winning sister Haviah Mighty’s shows for years. A choreographer for Arkells, her highenergy shows will make her the next Mighty star.

Mighty joins a stacked bill featuring international acts that includes: Vicky R (11 pm), a rising star from France, originally a beat maker in her native Gabon, now breaking continued on next pageR

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30 JUNE 2022 NEXT

FESTIVAL GUIDE Omega Mighty

HIP HOP

LISTEN TO THE NXNE HIP HOP PLAYLIST HERE

R&B

SOUL

Rcontinued from previos page

in Europe; Omar Noir (1 am), based in Norway, his sound is infused with influences from Senegal and Gambia, where he grew up; BLVCK (10 pm), a young Jamaican-American rapper with a smooth sound; and Lebs, a London, U.K. rapper who has worked with Tory Lanez.

MORE HIP HOP HIGHLIGHTS:

Osé

(Rivoli, Fri., June 17, midnight) Teenaged R&B singing and songwriting sensation Osé’s career got huge boost recently when she started working with her idol H.E.R.’s management.

Highlights strong Brampton Showcase also featuring: Ashlye (11 pm), Keziah Music (9 pm) and rappers MixTapper (10 pm) and TCSpades (1 am).

AGetchnah

(Gladstone, Fri., June 17, 1 am) The upbeat Tamil-Canadian rapper embraces her Scarborough roots with a rich sound and a dancepacked live show.

MORE SOUL HIGHLIGHTS Dion Racci

(Supermarket, Fri., June 17, 10 pm) Sumptuous, sensual, chill-wave tracks from Alabama-born singer.

Kydd Jones

(Gladstone, Thurs., June 16, 11 pm) The Austin-based rapper has showcased at SXSW and Austin City Limits as well as festivals in Europe and the U.S.

Victory

Tia Bank$

(Clinton’s, Sat., June 18, 11 pm) Big beats and urgent energy from this Toronto rapper on the rise.

Killa CAD

(Supermarket, Fri., June 17, 9 pm) A soulful groove powers beats that drive this Detroit rapper.

Kii Storii

(Drake Undergorund, Weds, June 15, midnight) There’s some MTS vibe to this Bronx rapper as she pushes her powerful tracks.

AJHYVE LISTEN TO THE NXNE SOUL/R&B PLAYLIST HERE

(Rivoli, Sat., June 18, 11 pm) JUNO-nominated for best R&B artist in 2018, this talented singer’s career stalled until recent track Down won him the CBC Searchlight award.

(El Mocambo, downstairs, Thurs. 10 pm) Fresh new soul from young singer with opera training, who draws heavily from classic stylists like Billie Holiday and Nina Simone.

Mighloe

(Supermarket, Fri., June 17, 10 pm) Toronto-based singer’s dreamy, sensual tracks have been featured on BBC and regularly on CBC’s The Block.

AOdreii (Rivoli, Sat., June 18, 10 pm) Montreal powerhouse’s groove-rich soul has been featured at SXSW and Osheaga, and her singles have tracked on Quebec radio.

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32 JUNE 2022 NEXT

FESTIVAL GUIDE LISTEN TO THE NXNE POP PLAYLIST HERE

HARD ROCK

& PUNK

POP

Dear Youth

(Bovine, Fri., June 17, 11 pm) Billy Talent fans will love this powerful pop-punk band from Montreal, whose tracks have garnered over a million streams.

MORE HARD ROCK/PUNK HIGHLIGHTS:

Dallas

( El Mocambo, upstairs, Wed., June 15, 11 pm) Toronto-based singersongwriter has huge online audience for hitfriendly pop sound that seems destined to turn her into a star.

Radium Moon

(Bovine, Thurs., June 16, 11 pm) Sandrine Chouinard shares lead vocals in this super-charged Montreal power trio.

MORE POP HIGHLIGHTS 3409

Late Night Trouble

(Gladstone, Fri., June 17, 10 pm) Modern mix of influences from Toronto band that has hints of boy band energy in upbeat sound.

(Bovine, Fri., June 17, 9 pm) This female-fronted hard rock band from Montreal are so tough their track is the official anthem of a Quebec wrestling association.

Choices Made

Takaayla

ADesiire

(Drake Underground, Pride Showcase, Thurs., June 16, 10 pm) Congo-born, Torontobased soulful singer blends African and American influences, from D’angelo to Papa Wemba. Performs as part of Pride Launch Showcase.

(Drake Underground, Fri. June 17, 9 pm ) Confident, catchy pop, smart like Billy Eilish and Tate McRae with great vocals from 22-year-old Mississauga rising star.

Jordan Astra

(Gladstone, Fri, June 17, 11 pm) Classic, richly layered pop with influences including George Michael and Hall and Oates. Dare you not to smile.

(Bovine, Wed., June 15, midnight) Angry, earnest and in-yourface punk influenced by classic California underground sound.

Black Pontiac

AAtay & JAX

(Baby G, Sat., June 16, 10 pm) They recently picked up an ECMA nomination for hip hop, but we think the fun pop vibe of this Nova Scotia duo belongs on your NXNE pop playlist.

LISTEN TO THE NXNE HARD ROCK PLAYLIST HERE

(Garrison, Thurs., June 16 11 pm) Upbeat Vancouver band that’s a blend of influences, including a big rock sound. Occasional feels and goofiness.

Foolproof

(Bovine, Fri., June 17, 10 pm) Paige Koop powers lead vocals and guitar-fronting, grunge -fuelled rockers from Niagara.

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FESTIVAL GUIDE

INDIE ROCK

Päter

(Clinton’s, Fri., June 17, 10 pm) Smart indie rock, sometimes with an edge, sometimes with a smile from Toronto singer with modern sound.

LISTEN TO THE NXNE INDIE ROCK PLAYLIST HERE

MORE INDIE ROCK HIGHLIGHTS The High Loves (Cameron House, Sat., June 18, 11 pm) Clever, upbeat indie-pop with hints of ‘80s synth guaranteed to make couples smile.

Abook club

(Handlebar, Fri., June 17, 10 pm; Garrison, Sat. June 18, 1 am) Dreamy, breezy indie from Vancouver that flirts with Yacht Rock – in a good way.

dwi

(Garrison, Sat. June 18, 11 pm) Zolas bass player Andrew Blacklaw created Dwi as his dreamy, riffy pandemic project while locked down in Vancouver.

34 JUNE 2022 NEXT

Toebow

(Baby G, Sat., June 18, 11 pm) Brooklyn five piece creates upbeat yet sometimes heady tracks Brooklyn Vegan calls “shapeshifting, complex art pop.”

Beyond the Sun

(Dakota, Fri., June 17, 10 pm) Three Toronto brothers with a rich, satisfying sound that flits between upbeat indie with hints of Lumineers-infused Americana.

Grace Grennan (Supermarket, Sat., June 18, 10 pm) Passionate vocals power intelligent indie that draws on modern pop with hints of star power.

Part of Buffalo Showcase presented by WBFO The Bridge also featuring Stress Dolls, Farrow and Aircraft.

Blue Kubricks (Garrison, Sat., June 18, 10 pm) They’re from Leeds, UK but there’s an Arkells vibe to this British band’s upbeat and fun party sound.

Taylor Abrahamse (Dakota, Fri., June 17, midnight) There’s Jack Antonoff feel to the clever, complex songwriting here that powers from Prince and classic pop.

AHarkness (Handlebar, Fri., June 17 9 pm) Ambitious, grandiose and engaging, Harkness grew up around music royalty and the influences abound with a richly layered sound with hints of Brian Wilson, prog rock and more.

ACapitol (Baby G, Fri., June 17, midnight) Hamilton-based band has all the swirling guitars, angsty vocals and compelling drive of ‘80s British bands who made you feel good about feeling bad.

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FESTIVAL GUIDE

ROOTS

COUNTRY

The North Sound (Dakota, Thurs., June 16, midnight) Gorgeous harmonies and solid songwriting from duo who have picked up Saskatchewan Music Award for Indigenous Artist of the Year recently nominated for Roots Album of the year.

LISTEN TO THE NXNE ROOTS/ COUNTRY PLAYLIST HERE

MORE ROOTS/COUNTRY HIGHLIGHTS

Balto

(Horseshoe, Sat., June 18, 10 pm) Draws on rich Americana roots of Wilco, Jayhawks and the rest with passionate, authentic, well-played songs featuring rich harmonies from this LA-based band.

Nora Kelly Band (Dakota, Sat., June 18, 11 pm) Grunge rocker Nora Kelly from Montreal’s DISHPIT brings her rich vocals to slow burning alt-country with members of Fleece, Bell Orchestre and Treasure Eyes.

HOW TO NXNE

Michaela Slinger (Dakota, Thurs., June 16, 10 pm) Passionate Vancouver singer-songwriter who moves from roots to indie with wisps of Americana classic.

Cheyanne Summer (Wheat Sheaf, Thurs., June 16, 9 pm) Toronto singer ably blends influences including The Chicks, Patsy Cline and Billy Joel powered by gorgeous vocals.

North by Northeast (NXNE) is Canada’s leading festival of new music, has been since 1995 when we launched in partnership with Austin’s SXSW. NXNE is committed to showcasing the best new music from Canada and around the world in tightly run performances that start on the hour and run 40 minutes. Five sets a night, starting at 9 pm, last set at 1 am, some venues have extended hours. We encourage club hopping, see new acts and new venues.

Festival HQ Gladstone House Hotel.

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ADMISSION TO ENTIRE FESTIVAL IS ONLY $20 FOR A FULL FESTIVAL PASS. SINGLE ADMISSIONS ARE $10.

THAT’S IT!

Jeremy Voltz (Horseshoe, Fri, June 18, midnight) Soulful Toronto singer -songwriter has toured the world with his heartfelt tunes influenced by Paul Simon and Jeff Buckley.

Complete schedule, ticket info and venue list @nxne.com

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Hair by: Cody Alexander / Make-up by: Dino Dilio

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STRIVES FOR PERFECTION

CHARLOTTE

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By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

DAY WILSON

Photos By DAVID HAWE

NEXT JUNE 2022

C 40 JUNE 2022 NEXT

HARLOTTE DAY WILSON IS FAR FROM BEING THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK. The soulful R&B singer may have just released her first album, Alpha, last year, but the rich, intimate record served far more as a reaffirmation of her talent and power than it did as an introductory lesson. With a slew of singles, critically acclaimed EPs and tracks with legends like Daniel Caesar and Kaytranada under her belt, Wilson’s influence was never in question — at least, not to an outsider looking in.

Despite her objective musical chops, it becomes clear to me over the course of our conversation that Wilson is an

exacting artist who holds herself to a sky-high standard of perfection.

“I would say that the people that work for me really allow me to lead the ship,” she says with a laugh after I ask if she’d had to fight her way to total creative autonomy.

“To be honest, sometimes it’s to my own detriment. It takes me longer to do things because I kind of have to have my hand in every part of the process. It’s just the way that I’ve come to be comfortable working and making sure that my art reflects exactly the vision that I have in the first place.

Luckily, I’m not on a label or anything, so I don’t really have people breathing down my neck, telling me how I should do things or who to work with or what timeline I need to be on. I am definitely pretty self-directed with all of that.”

Wilson approaches obsessiveness in her art — every millisecond of her work is optimized, perfected and sculpted into pure musical perfection.

No bar is incomplete; no moment of catharsis is wasted. Like many auteurs before her, she wrote her latest album in true wilderness isolation, at a family cottage with no reception. That methodical, interior rumination is palpable, but it never comes at the expense of emotion either: Wilson’s head and her heart are in perfect harmony.

Last year’s Alpha was a sultry, immersive, queer R&B record fine-tuned

by Wilson’s perfectionist production instincts and propelled by her inimitably soulful voice — and explicitly dedicated in ethos to the beauty and chaos of sapphic experiences. In person, Wilson is a chiselled blonde with clean features and a small, slight frame; she looks like a cross between an athlete and a Scandinavian mythical creature.

Her aesthetic adds a kind of juxtaposition to her voice that makes it all the more otherworldly. Unless you’ve heard her sing firsthand, it can be hard to explain — her voice flows out of her like molasses, full and unavoidable, rich and warm. It fills the room and sweeps you up in the tide with it. It leaves you incredulous at the fact that that kind of sound can even come from one person at all.

For the first time in almost two years, audiences have started hearing that knockout voice in person again.

Wilson just finished the U.S. leg of her tour, and she’s about to take her set across Canada, hitting Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and more. For a social media skeptic whose interactions with fans and listeners have been relegated to online spaces for the past two years, it’s an immeasurably welcome change — Wilson says her first experiences playing for audiences across the U.S. were “amazing.”

“I obviously can see numbers online,

and on Spotify and whatever, of people listening to the music. So when I put the album out, I was pleased enough with the interaction I was getting with people online, but it didn’t feel quite the same as how it should when you put out music, which is about going into spaces and seeing people connect with the music in real life. Playing the shows reminded me — or it kind of opened my eyes, I guess, to just how many people actually were connecting with the music. Seeing it on the road was really really special. It … it meant a lot to me,” she says, her voice catching on the last sentence.

“I’m not super into social media,” she explains. “So I’m not the type of person that’s going to engage with

“

I ALL I WANT IN MY CAREER IS TO ACHIEVE MY OWN DEFINITIONS OF SUCCESS. AND ONE OF THEM IS JUST TO BE RESPECTED BY THE PEOPLE THAT I RESPECT.

”

people every day, all day, in order to feel like I’m doing my job or whatever.

I need that real connection. I don’t know how people have time to prioritize being active online every day.

“I sometimes have these weird feelings where I see other artists who have hundreds of thousands of followers, and I’m like, ‘Why don’t I have that many followers?’ Then I’m like, ‘Well, first of all, because I don’t really post that much.’ I’m just not that girl. But also, I realize that just because someone has a lot of followers on social media doesn’t mean that they necessarily have that many actual listeners, you know? That’s the thing that surprised me a little bit going out on tour, seeing that with the people who aren’t engaging with me online, it’s not that they don’t exist. They’re just people in real spaces who buy tickets to shows and want to experience it in real life.”

That’s not the only way Wilson can tell she’s on the right path, though — with artists like John Mayer and James Blake sampling Wilson’s music in recent years, she’s assembled a very high-profile fan club. “All I want in my career is to achieve my own definitions of success. And one of them is just to be respected by the people that I respect — it makes me feel amazing. I kind of need those moments to keep pushing and to keep feeling like I’m

“

THE NICE PART ABOUT NOW HAVING PUT OUT MY FIRST FULLLENGTH ALBUM AND HAVING TWO EPS UNDER MY BELT IS THAT I CAN BE A LITTLE BIT LESS PRECIOUS WITH THE MUSIC THAT I PUT OUT.

”

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LISTEN TO TATE CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON HERE

doing what I’m supposed to do.”

And they aren’t the only music icons who have shown Wilson love. She’s a product of the Toronto music ecosystem, through and through — some would even say it’s in her blood, considering that her cousin is Oliver El-Khatib (Drake’s manager and co-founder of OVO).

When Drake sampled her track Mountains on his latest album, Certified Lover Boy, it cemented her as Toronto 42 JUNE 2022 NEXT

WATCH THE ALPHA LIVE VIDEO HERE

 

royalty in her own right.

“It just felt like a really big box check that I had always wanted to do you know? It’s every Torontonian’s dream.”

The video for one of Alpha’s highlights, If I Could, is a love letter to Toronto’s queer community. “There were definitely a lot of people in the video that I handpicked from my own community — some of my best friends, some drag queens in the city, some great dancers.” Throughout the process

of filming and editing music videos, Wilson expanded her skillset to inject even more of her singular creative spirit into her work.

“I was probably like a nightmare client to work with, as someone who just went back with a million notes on every edit and every revision,” she laughs again, discussing the video editing process. She actually taught herself how to use video editing software over the course of the pandemic so she could perfect her music videos on her own terms.

“It was really fun for me to learn how to edit, especially because it was all to my own music. I had my own

CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON Genre: R&B If you like: Syd, Daniel Caesar, River Tiber Recent music: ALPHA (Deluxe)  Next: Upcoming shows: Vancouver (Thurs., June 9), Calgary (Sun., June 12), Toronto (Sat., June 18)

artistic ideas about how to grow the music with the video at the same time. Then, if I was feeling like there was a low in the music, I would go back, bring up the music project again and kind of edit the music a bit to cater to the video. It was nice, kind of like working in tandem, it’s really cool.”

And this attention to detail makes sense — when you’re putting out your most intimately personal work yet, you want to make sure every part of it is perfect.

“I think it’s interesting,” Wilson muses. “The more music I’ve made, it’s like, the deeper I want to dig, I guess, with my vulnerability. I still feel like I have a ways to go in terms of being totally honest with the things that I want to say and the things I want to express and just get off my chest, I guess, but this was a good step in that direction.”

Even when discussing an album as universally beloved as Alpha, it’s interesting that Wilson stays critical of herself. She reminds me of a boxer, in a way — dancing on her toes, always moving, pushing herself harder with every step.

“It took me a long time to make Alpha, so there were at least two or three years of experiences that the album was built around. The album is more a snapshot of my life during that time than me having a mission statement or a thesis you know? Whatever happened during that time was what I wanted and needed to write about. And I think, for the most part, the songs speak for themselves in terms of the emotions that I was experiencing.”

As Wilson’s cred grows, though, the pressure she feels to prove herself has begun to lessen. “The nice part about now having put out my first full-length album and having two EPs under my belt is that I can be a little bit less precious with the music that I put out,” she says.

“I think that before, I really wanted to make sure that the things that I put out were really concise and true to who I wanted to establish myself as, as an artist. I think now, the nice thing is that I can be a little bit looser with the things that I want to put out and also stray away a little bit — whether it’s like, ‘Oh, I want to do like an album that’s all piano and voice,’ or maybe it’s that I want to work with an orchestra or something.

Now I have the freedom to branch off a little bit and go through with it.” 

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REVIEWS

30¯SECOND ALBUM KENDRICK LAMAR Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers

Genre: Rap Sound: Erratic stream-ofconsciousness rap from master of the form If you like: J. Cole, Freddie Gibbs, Vince Staples Why you should listen: For his long-awaited return, enigmatic rap legend Kendrick Lamar needed to craft an album that defied expectations. With Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, he delivers. It’s sprawling, complex and laced with contradiction and political commentary — already as controversial as it is popular.

Best track: We Cry Together

SHARON VAN ETTEN We’ve Been Going about This all Wrong Genre: Indie folk Sound: Quiet and surreal soundscapes If you like: Angel Olsen, Julien Baker, Perfume Genius Why you should listen: Sharon Van Etten’s vocals float along a calm ocean of sound, and the accompaniments throughout the album are pared down but eventually pick up the pace on Mistakes, which is Van Etten’s poppiest song yet.

Best track: Mistakes

KOFI Why Not?

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE Dance Fever

WALLICE 90s American Superstar

Genre: Rap Sound: A traditional fusion of bass-bobbing rap and R&B If you like: Burna Bandz, Gunna, Lil Baby Why should you listen: Recognizing his previous relationship mistakes, Kofi dedicates this album to sharing his personal development when it comes to love. The GhanaianCanadian mixes low-fi hip hop with trap while drizzling vibronic melodies throughout the project.

Best Track: Two Tow’s

Genre: Indie rock Sound: Mystical, witchy, larger-than-life, baroque art pop If you like: Regina Spektor, Feist, Kate Nash Why you should listen: Florence Welch can always be counted on to deliver grand vocals and stunning orchestral arrangements. On Dance Fever, Welch wrestles with the question, “How much is art really worth?” and if it is too much of a sacrifice to keep performing music at her own expense.

Best track: King

Genre: Alt. pop Sound: Electric, modern beats with sass If you like: Rina Sawayama, spill tab, Lights Why you should listen: The indie alt-pop star quips about fake fame and celebrity status with humour on her five-track EP. It’s full of ’90s movie references, reminiscent of 2000s pop music and contains witty, millennial, tongue-in-cheek lyrics.

Best track: Rich Wallice

THE NEXT PLAYLIST 1

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All Comes Crashing

Kind of Girl

Patrick Bateman

Satisfaction

Selfish Soul

A dark, electro-dance banger with an explosive chorus.

This brooding folk-pop track sounds like Alanis or Sheryl at their ’90s-era best.

Toronto’s Moscow Apartment has a new name vethemswlves, but this indie pop duo continues to skewer misogyny.

Inglewood-based singer channels the spirit of legendary R&B artist D’Angelo with sensual, seductive vocals.

A soulful, singsong-y track that’s perfect for a chaotic summer day.

Metric

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MUNA

Housewife

SiR

Sudan Archives

REVIEWS DEF LEPPARD Diamond Star Halos Genre: Rock Sound: A timeless collection of wailing electric instrumentals and gritty vocals If you like: Poison, Mötley Crüe, Joan Jett Why you should listen: The English rock legends return with their first studio album since 2015. It’s packed with mighty electric guitars, crashing cymbals, singalong vocals and the perfect amount of power ballads — everything you need from a rock and roll album.

Best track: Angels (Can’t Help You Now)

JACK HARLOW Come Home the Kids Miss You Genre: Rap Sound: Radio-ready hits that are high on swag (even when low on substance) If you like: Amine, Lil Nas X, Dababy Why you should listen: Jack Harlow rose to fame as a personality rapper — his suave confidence and flirty vibe rocketed him to heartthrob status among his (mostly female) fanbase.

This album relies on that personality, and it’s enough to make it entertaining even when it doesn’t have much else.

Best track: First Class

USE YOUR PHONE'S CAMERA TO SCAN THESE CODES TO LISTEN TO ALL THE MUSIC REVIEWED HERE ON YOUR FAVOURITE STREAMING SERVICE.

ETHEL CAIN Preacher’s Daughter

DYLAN SINCLAIR No Longer in the Suburbs

ZACH ZOYA No Love Is Ever Wasted

Genre: Alt-pop Sound: Expansive production, piercing vocals and tragic, detailed storytelling If you like: Caroline Polachek, Oklou, MARINA Why you should listen: Concept album from rising alt-pop star Ethel Cain uses mournful Americana tropes and witchy, industrial instrumentation to build dark soundscape chronicling life of a young woman crushed by religion, trauma and American life. The album veers from wildly catchy alt-pop hits to doomy, esoteric tracks —all worth listening to.

Best track: American TeenagerTeenager

Genre: R&B Sound: Smooth R&B If you like: Mario, Jon Vinyl, Savannah Ré Why should you listen: Known for marking Toronto with a new sound, Dylan Sinclair shares how leaving the suburbs has impacted his relationships. Glazing his second EP with soft tempos and ease, the 2021 JUNOnominated artist puts a modern twist on early 2000s masculine R&B sound.

Best Track: Lifetime

Genre: Rap/R&B Sound: Blistering bars and laidback singing over trap beats and woozy instrumentation.

If You Like: Lil Baby, Post Malone, The Weeknd Why you should listen: The Montreal emcee sings and raps with suave party-boy expertise, using layered vocals and smooth bars to soundtrack the summer house party of your dreams.

Don’t worry, though — there are plenty of tracks here for getting in your feelings, too.

Best Track: Strangers in the House

10 TRACKS THE NEXT STAFF CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH

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My Kink Is Karma

Schweden Espresso

Plan B

Violet

Foreigner

Theatrical alt-pop for the internet age

California-born, Viennabased artist’s emotional and contemplative ballad offers baroque, Queen-inspired pop.

Another beat-rich anthem from MTS about women not taking any shit.

Straight-ahead, rock, roadtrip track from Niagara’s Foolproof. Plays NXNE June 17, Bovine.

Toronto-based, Nigerianborn afro-beat producer and soul singer’s easy, infectious groove

Chappell Roan

Sofie Royer

Megan Thee Stallion

Foolproof

Nonso Amadi

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Genre: Indie pop Sound: Bubbly, wistful ukulele-pop that’s lighter than air If you like: dodie, chloe moriondo, beabadoobie Why you should listen: mxmtoon is basically a viral track machine: her whimsical melodies, lilting voice and relatable themes about growing up in a chaotic world have catapulted her to Gen Z cult status. This album follows the same formula as previous releases, but hey — it’s a good formula.

Best track: victim of nostalgia

ROLLING STONES Live at the El Mocambo

30¯SECOND ALBUM REVIEWS

mxmtoon rising

Genre: Rock ‘n’ roll Sound: Jangling rock from infamous ‘70s live shows If you like: The Animals, Jimi Hendrix, Cream Why you should listen: The Rolling Stones show at the world -amous Toronto music venue El Mocambo is legendary. This incredible album captures their 1977 performance with hits that sound so fresh it’s like you’re hearing them for the first time.

Best track: It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll (But I Like It)

KEHLANI blue water road

FLUME Palaces

Genre: R&B Sound: Effortless R&B tone rich with sultry vocals If you like: Summer Walker, Mahalia, Teyana Taylor Why should you listen: In embracing a new sensation of freedom, Kehlani settles on joy. Melting her plush soprano voice over harmonies and string instruments, this candid album represents a new chapter for the 26-year-old artist.

Best Track: more than i should (ft. Jessie Reyez)

Genre: Electronic Sound: Elevated EDM studded with features from alt-pop royalty If you like: Alison Wonderland, A. G. Cook, Oklou Why you should listen: This album is basically a who’swho of the biggest names in cool-kid electronic music: with features from Caroline Polachek, Oklou, Damon Albarn and more, every track is an immersive soundscape of addictive dance ecstasy.

Best track: Highest Building (ft. Oklou)

SUMMER EAR-SSENTIALS AWOLNATION

My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers & Me Summer soundtrack essential! With guests like Beck, Portugal. The Man, Incubus and more, this collection covers of iconic tracks is a definite mood booster. Too much fun to miss.

Classless Act

Welcome To The Show Bratty guitar-rock pulled out of the 80s with serious polish. Catch them live on tour with Motley Crue in Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton or in Toronto on August 9th at HORSESHOE TAVERN. Discover them early, you’ll want to be able to say you did.

The Hu

This is Mongol The highly anticipated return of these Mongolian rockers. Single #1 from a new album releasing later this year. The Hu’s buzzworthy performance at this year’s Coachella festival has set them on a path for global stardom.

NOTHING MORE Tired of Winning

Their legion of fans has been waiting 4 years, and they all agree that this new NOTHING MORE music has been worth the wait. Yeah, it rocks, but it’s more than that - cerebral, progressive, melodic, layered, complex . . .we could go on but you should just listen to this song, and the first single “Turn It Up Like”, you’ll get it.

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A CURATED EXPERIENCE

Guests can now enjoy many more memorable experiences at Melody Bar, with a different style of programming each night, including karaoke, trivia, cabernet, live music and more!

GET AWAY & STAY

EXPLORE

PROUD OFFICIAL HOTEL SPONSOR OF NXNE 1214 Queen Street West • Toronto gladstonehouse.ca

48 JUNE 2022 NEXT

EAT & DRINK

JUN

YYZ

GAME

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THE 10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN TORONTO THIS MONTH

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The Free Label, Sat., June 18 Horseshoe

MUSIC FESTIVAL

NXNE BRINGS BACK MASSIVE CLUB HOPPING FESTIVAL NORTH BY NORTHEAST MUSIC FESTIVAL Tue., June 14 – Sun., June 19 $10 single tickets, $20 pass Various venues nxne.com

The legendary North By North East festival finally returns to venues across the city. Known for its parties and expert music curation, this year, NXNE brings the best emerging artists from Canada and beyond to multiple clubs each night, six nights in a row. Performers include hip hop star Omega Mighty (Gladstone, Sat., June 18), country band The Holy Gamblers (Dakota, Fri., June 17), LA’s Balto (Horseshoe, Sat., June 18) and pop punk artist Luxe (Garrison, Wed., June 15) Venues include The Baby G, Handlebar, Clinton’s Tavern, El Mocambo, Horseshoe, Rivoli, Bovine Sex Club, Festival HQ the Gladstone House and over a dozen more. Hop between bars and see as many artists as possible with the full-access pass for only $20.

 

CHECK OUT THE NXNE SCHEDULE HERE

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JUN YYZ GAME PLAN

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FESTIVAL

Festival offers more than all that jazz TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL Fri., June 24 – Sun., July 3 Free and ticketed events Various locations torontojazz.com

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Free outdoor shows in the Yorkville area as well as ticketed gigs around town see the jazz festival feature veteran acts like Smokey Robinson and Michael Kaeshammer while new artists, like Savannah Ré and TOBi, also perform.

MUSIC FESTIVAL

FROLIC AT FIELD TRIP’S FAMILYFRIENDLY FEST FIELD TRIP Sat., July 9 $114.50 (2 children 12 and under free with puchase) Music festival Fort York Garrison Common, 100 Garrison Rd. fieldtriplife.com Toronto’s beloved family-friendly music festival finally returns! Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats headline this one-day event, with support from Lucy Dacus, The Halluci Nation, Haviah Mighty and many others. A jam-packed day with a separate talent lineup just for kids, there will be local food vendors to keep everyone fuelled.

 

CHECK OUT THE FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE HERE

Lucy Dacus

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Savannah Ré

Featuring her incredible hand crafted designs, Jillea will be performing at: JUL 7-10, 2022 FAN EXPO CHICAGO

DONALD E. STEPHENS CONVENTION CENTER

AUG 25-28, 2022 FAN EXPO CANADA (TORONTO) METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE

SEP 16-18, 2022 EDMONTON EXPO

EDMONTON EXPO CENTRE

NOV 25-27, 2022 FAN EXPO SAN FRANCISCO MOSCONE CENTER

FEB 17-19, 2023 FAN EXPO PORTLAND

OREGON CONVENTION CENTER

Watch out for new music coming soon via: @whoisjillea

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JUN YYZ GAME PLAN

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Neighbours

FILM FEST

ART FESTIVAL

Comic fest gets real TORONTO COMIC ARTS FESTIVAL Fri., June 17 – Sun., June 19 Free Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St. torontocomics.com

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After last year’s successful virtual festival, TCAF returns with a hybrid exhibition that combines in-person events with online programming for one massive celebration of comic book arts. Shop some of your favourite artists, attend readings and learn some new skills from industry professionals, like author and illustrator Kat Simmers.

TJFF FEST OFFERS JEWISH FILM FEAST

DANCE

What’s the story?

STORY, STORY, DIE. Tue., June 28 & Wed., June 29, 7:30 pm $20 - $95 Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. nordicbridges.ca

TORONTO JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL Thurs., June 9 – Sun., June 26 $15 single, in person or online; $249 full online pass Various locations in person; also online tjff.com The Toronto Jewish Film Festival (TJFF) celebrates 30 years with a rich offering of narrative and documentary films both in person and online. The world’s best, Jewish filmmakers are celebrated with premier screenings and Q&As, including upbeat comedies like One More Story (Sat., June 11) or touching closing night film Neighbours (Sun., June 26).

CreativeArts Profiles

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WATCH THE NEIGHBOUR'S TRAILER HERE

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The Nordic Bridges 12-month cultural exchange continues with Norwegian choreographer Alan Lucien Øyen and his beautiful, multidisciplinary art piece Story, story, die.

Combining dance and theatre, seven extraordinary performers tell a tale of love and lies, and uncover the boundaries we abandon to be liked by others

Creative Arts Financial introduces a new suite of Visa cards designed to help every artist achieve their dreams.

PROFESSION: Producer, DJ and Audio Engineer RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENT: Produced the music for a TV series QUOTE: “I feel personally responsible for the success or failure of every album I work on.

If I’m not on my game, the project suffers.”

DREAM: Owning and running a recording studio

Scan here to see our complete suite of Visa cards

52 JUNE 2022 NEXT

GAME PLAN YYZ JUN

7 MUSIC FESTIVAL

FASHION

CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK Mon., June 6 – Sat., June 11 Individually ticketed shows; conference, $599 Various venues cmw.net

INDIGENOUS FASHION ARTS FESTIVAL Thurs., June 9 - Sun., July 12 $20 - $50 Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. indigenousfashionarts.com

Indigenous Fashion focus

CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK RETURNS

CMW returns with a week of conferences, awards and concerts all centred around elevating and educating music professionals. Catch Crown Lands at the Phoenix Concert Theatre (Tue., June 7), Housewife at Rivoli (Wed., June 8) and the Indie Awards with Sate and Grae at El Mocambo (Sat., June 11).

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CHECK OUT CMW SCHEDULE HERE

Crown Lands

June is National Indigenous History Month and one of the many ways to celebrate is through Indigenous art! Attend runway shows, workshops and panel discussions all focused on the intersection of fashion and Indigenous cultures. See and shop woven work by Kadusné and beaded pieces by Assinewe Jewelry, among countless others.

JUST ANNOUNCED 2022-2023 SEASON

PERFORMING ARTS BRAMPTON TICKETS ON SALE JUNE 10

LEARN MORE PHOTO: VANESSA WILLIAMS

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JUN YYZ GAME PLAN  

CHECK OUT THE LUMINATO SCHEDULE HERE

Use code #THECLOSET for 10% off your next purchase.

www.insideout.ca

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iskwē

ART FESTIVAL

LUMINATO LIGHTS UP LUMINATO Thurs., June 9 – Sun., June 19 Free and paid admission Various venues luminatofestival.com One of Toronto’s most diverse festivals returns to unexpected corners across the city. Luminato programs music, theatre, dance and visual art in venues and public spaces, including Yonge-Dundas Square, Trillium Park and even GO trains. Performers include iskwē (Thurs., June 9, Yonge-Dundas Square), Wolf Saga (Sun., June 12, Yonge-Dundas Square) and Witch Prophet (Sat., June 18, Woodbine Park). Catch a performance of The Cave, a cabaret in English and Cree, at Theatre Passe Muraille; or see Black Ark, an interactive art installation, at Ashbridges Bay Park.

54 JUNE 2022 NEXT

Priyanka

FESTIVAL

Pride powers back PRIDE TORONTO Now – Thurs., June 30 Free Festival Various venues pridetoronto.com

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June is Pride Month in the city, celebrating all things LGBTQ+, and Pride Toronto has four weeks of exciting programming to keep you busy and celebrate . Events include The Queen In Me opera show (Sat., June 4, Canadian Opera Company), a headline performance from Canada’s Drag Race winner Priyanka (Sun., June 26, Yonge-Dundas Square), Pride Kickoff Showcase at NXNE (June 16, Drake Underground) and the annual parade (Sun., June 26, Yonge Street).

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JUN YYZ GAME PLAN

USS

El Mocambo Wed., June 1, Thurs., June 2 & Sat., June 4, 8 pm / $90

June is Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker month as the electro-rock duo play their final shows.

CLUBS & CONCERTS

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HALSEY

Budweiser Stage Sun., June 5, 7 pm / $44 – $200

The award-winning Alt-pop star brings her powerful vocals to the waterfront stage.

NEXT PICKS THE 10 ESSENTIAL TORONTO SHOWS THIS MONTH

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THE GLORIOUS SONS

Massey Hall Thurs., June 9 – Sat., June 11, 8 pm / $65 – $90

The Kingston, ON, rock heroes close their tour with three big nights at Massey Hall.

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PROTEST THE HERO

Danforth Music Hall Fri., June 10, 7 pm / $30 – $45

Ontario progressive metal icons tour their heavy 2020 album, Palimpsest.

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OSÉ

Rivoli Fri., June 17, midnight $10 (or free with $20 NXNE pass)

Soul sensation joins Brampton showcase at NXNE with TCspades, Keziah Music, MixTapper and Ashlye.

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PURITY RING

Phoenix Concert Theatre Mon., June 20, 8 pm / $41

The Edmonton electro-pop two-piece make their long-awaited return to the stage.

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THE BESNARD LAKES

Horseshoe Tavern Tue., June 21, 8 pm / $15

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DE’WAYNE

Velvet Underground Fri., June 10, 7 pm / $17.50

New kid in the altrock scene, catch this intimate show before his career explodes!

This Montreal group blends dreamy shoegaze with progressive rock vibes.

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JENNY BERKEL & ABIGAIL LAPELL

Dakota Tavern Fri., June 24, 6:30 pm / $15

Bound to be a night of haunting poetry, these Canadiana ladies share new releases.

10 WATCH DE'WAYNE’S DIE OUT HERE VIDEO HERE

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THE OBGMS & NOBRO

Lee’s Palace Sat., June 25, 8:30 pm /$19.50

Expect lots of wailing and loud guitars from these Canadian co-headliners.

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JUN YVR

GAME

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THE 10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN VANCOUVER THIS MONTH

FESTIVAL

Beers, beats and besties CRAFT BEER WEEK Sat., July 9 – Sun., July 10 Two-day pass is $51 PNE Fairgrounds, 2901 E. Hastings St. vancouvercraftbeerweek.com

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In Vancouver, Craft Beer Week is much more than a simple celebration — it’s a bona fide event, with live music, food trucks, chef pop-ups and over 200 beers and ciders to taste. This year, catch shows from Titus Bank, Half Moon Run and Skratch Bastid while you sip.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS FESTIVAL

Queer cheer here

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QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL Sat., June 18 Fri., July 8 Multidisciplinary arts festival Many events are free; all-access passes are $69 – $150 Various locations queerartsfestival.com

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Jamie Lee

MUSIC FESTIVAL

WHO’S GOT JAZZ HANDS? TD JAZZ FESTIVAL Sat., June 25 – Sun., July 4 Some events free; shows priced individually Various locations and streaming coastaljazz.ca

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Back again for in-person festivities, Vancouver’s Jazz Festival, as usual, features national and international artists, from Canada to South Korea, playing in public spaces and concert halls. This year, the fest features over 700 artists, 200 performances, 19 venues and more than 60 free shows. Don’t miss legendary blues musician Buddy Guy (Sat., June 25, Queen Elizabeth), pianist Amanda Tosoff (Tue., June 28, Pyatt Hall) and the Jamie Lee Trio (Sat., July 2, Civic Plaza).

 

CHECK OUT THE JAZZ FEST SCHEDULE HERE

Vancouver’s expertly curated, avant-garde Queer Arts Festival takes over the city with exhibitions in constant rotation at the SUM Gallery, the Sun Wah Centre, On Main Gallery and more. This year’s theme is Haunting, and exhibitions explore the things that haunt each of us — fear, insecurity, colonialism, oppression and more. Expect to see visual art, performance, music and literary events that celebrate the beauty and diversity of queer identities.

GAME PLAN YVR JUN

4

347aidan

Lights

MUSIC FESTIVAL

GET FVDED

9

FVDED IN THE PARK Fri., July 8 – Sat., July 9 Music festival One-day pass is $140, twoday pass is $200 Holland Park, 13428 Old Yale Rd., Surrey fvdedinthepark.com Get your neon bras and hair glitter ready because FVDED in the Park — Greater Vancouver’s coolest major music fest — is back with a sick lineup to celebrate the return to IRL partying. This year, head out to Surrey and catch Young Thug, Nav, 347aidan, Pressa, Manila Grey, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and an all-star lineup of more local talent. With head-banging music and a can’t-miss vibe, this is a summer moment you have to catch.

MUSIC FESTIVAL

ISLAND BOUND FOR MUSIC FEST

LAKETOWN SHAKEDOWN Thurs., June 30 – Sat., July 2 Day and weekend tickets, $128 - $629 648 – 8811 Youbou Rd., Cowichan Lake, Vancouver Island laketownshakedown.com This Van Island fest is a bit of a road trip (plus a ferry trip), but with a lineup this cool and a venue this scenic, it’s more than worth it. Can you imagine anything better than camping out in Cowichan Lake while catching acts like Sugar Ray, Wu-Tang Clan, Lights and Arkells?

 

CHECK OUT THE FVDED SCHEDULE HERE

STREET PARTY

Lose it in Kits KHATSAHLANO STREET PARTY Sat., July 9, 11 am Free 4th Avenue, between Burrard and Macdonald khatsahlano.com

5

After two years of hiatus, Vancouver’s largest street party is back and taking over the streets of Kitsilano to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

The exuberant event sections off bustling West 4th Street to make a pedestrian-only utopia of music, shopping, food, art and more, all by local artists and vendors.

ART EXHIBIT

Northwest painters in the spotlight TRUE TO PLACE ART EXHIBIT Launches Wed., June 15 $13, with discounts or free admission for seniors, students, and Indigenous peoples billreidgallery.ca

6

Launching a yearlong run this June, the Bill Reid Gallery presents an intimate, must-see exhibition of Northwest Coast painters.

Curated by artist and muralist Xémontalót Carrielynn Victor (Stó:lō), True to Place: stímetstexw tel xéltel examines the artistic practices of 10 Indigenous artists in all their diversity.

THEATRE

READING

Cool it, cowboy

Could be verse

HOW THE WEST WAS ONE Tue., June 7 – Sat., June 11, 8 pm $30 Vancity Culture Lab, 1895 Venables St. thecultch.com/event

POETRY PROJECT Until Sun., July 3, 12 pm - 5 pm, Wed. - Sun. Art show Free GALLERY GEORGE, 1502 East Hastings St. parkerartsalon.com

7

The Cultch theatre knows how to put on a queer, campy show — and this month’s original western-themed comedy does not disappoint. This ensemble show features local talent playing out a 19th century blackjack game gone wrong, and it’s sure to make for a fun night out.

8

Art and poetry meet again at the second Poetry Project exhibition. In a collaboration between Beedie Luminaries and ParkerSalon, this show features works of poetry paired with the art that inspired them in a uniquely intimate viewing experience.

BURLESQUE

Hubba hubba meets yada yada SEINFELD BURLESQUE AT RIO Sat., June 25, 8 pm Live show $30 1660 E. Broadway riotheatre.ca/event

10

This might be one of the weirdest shows the city has to offer, but if you’re a fan of Seinfeld and/or partial nudity, don’t miss it. A burlesque team led by Claire Voyeur plays characters from the Emmy-winning sitcom in a night full of inside jokes, bizarre references and sexual confusion.

NEXT JUNE 2022

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58 JUNE 2022 NEXT

2

JUN YVR GAME PLAN

CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON

Commodore Thurs., June 9, 8 pm / $42

Check out our cover star in person this month to see the hype for yourself.

CLUBS & CONCERTS

3

JPEGMAFIA

Commodore Sat., June 18, 8 pm / $42

This avant-garde alt-rap innovator has a cult-like fanbase for a reason.

4

THE GLORIOUS SONS

Commodore Wed., June 29, 8 pm / $71

Kingston-bred rock ‘n’ roll that’ll take you back to the good old days.

NEXT PICKS THE 10 ESSENTIAL VANCOUVER SHOWS THIS MONTH

5

MEN I TRUST

Vogue Wed., June 22, 8 pm / $28

This MTL-based trio is basically the backbone of Canadian indie.

6

BORN RUFFIANS

Rickshaw Sat., June 18, 8 pm / $20

Scruffy indie-rock that’s fun, infectious and lively.

7

W.I.T.C.H

Rickshaw Fri., June 17, 8 pm / $27

These ’70s rockers were the first in Zambia to release a commercial album.

1

BLEACHERS

Orpheum Thurs., June 23, 7 pm / $58

WATCH BLEACHER’S HOW DARE YOU WANT MORE VIDEO HERE

 

Jack Antonoff is much more than just the producer mastermind behind the biggest pop powerhouses of the last decade — he’s a rock star in his own right, front-manning the Springsteen-style power-pop band Bleachers. His stage presence alone could power a steam engine, and it helps that the music is great, too.

8

LA FEMME

Rickshaw Sun., June 19, 7 pm / $22

Ever heard of psychedelic punk? Let this French band be your intro.

9

GIOLÌ & ASSIA

Hollywood Theatre Mon., June 20, 8 pm / $20

Queer electronic-pop perfection from this duo.

10

CRAWLERS

Fox Cabaret Tue., June 28, 8 pm / $20

The Gen Z alt-rockers went from going viral on TikTok to opening for My Chemical Romance.

NEXT JUNE 2022

59

JUN

YYC

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Watch Flames — hopefully — win Stanley Cup with 5,000 friends

GAME

RED LOT COMMUNITY VIEWING PARTY Stampede Park — Lot 3 (Corral Trail SE & 3rd St. SE) Free (in advance)

PLAN

2

For home playoff games, 5,000 fans can watch Battle of Alberta and, hopefully, Battle for the Stanley Cup, on giant screens in Lot 3 of Stampede Park, where they’ll be face-painting, food, drinks, contests and music. Tickets for the all-ages event are free but must be reserved in advance.

THE 10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN CALGARY THIS MONTH

COMEDY

�

Trevor Noah knows the news

Backxwash

MUSIC FESTIVAL

60 JUNE 2022 NEXT

SMOOTH SLEDDING AT SLED ISLAND ARTS FEST SLED ISLAND MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL Wed., June 22 – Sun., June 26 $214 – $385 Sled Island (various venues)

Among the 200-plus acts performing at the five-day music and arts festival are Built To Spill, Low, Grouper, Julie Doiron, Backxwash and Chad Vangaalen. Sled also includes comedy, film, art, special events and a conference. Most venues are reserved for passholders. One cool aspect of the fest is it offers payment plans.

 

CHECK OUT THE SLED ISLAND SCHEDULE HERE

TREVOR NOAH Fri., June 17, 8 pm $81.25 – $105.75 Scotiabank Saddledome (555 Saddledome Rise SE)

3

The Daily Show host, who weaves insightful social commentary into his comedy, is hitting the road with his Back to Abnormal Canadian tour, as part of Just for Laughs. The South African transplant recently hosted the Grammy Awards for the second year in a row and the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

GAME PLAN YYC JUN  

WATCH THE CHOP & STEELE TRAILER HERE

4

DUMPSTER DIVING FOR FOUND FILM AT CUFF CHOP & STEELE — FOUND FOOTAGE FESTIVAL DOUBLE BILL Fri., June 17, 7 pm $25 and $23 for CUFF members, students, seniorsGlobe Cinema (617 8 Ave. SW)

FILM FESTIVAL

Found Footage Festival founders, professional comedians and childhood friends Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett, will be in Calgary for the international premiere of Chop & Steele, a fulllength documentary all about them.

The two will then present a new live show featuring footage from videos they found “at garage sales and thrift stores and in warehouses and dumpsters.” The double bill is presented by the Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF). The pair will then participate in a Q&A with the film’s directors, Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader.

ICONIC FESTIVAL

COMEDY

CALGARY STAMPEDE Fri., July 8 – Sun., July17 Park admission, 7 and under free, $25; other ticketed events Stampede Park calgarystampede.com

THE GREAT OUTDOOR COMEDY FEST Fri., June 24 – Sun., June 26 $49 (GA) – $199 (VIP tables + meet and greet) Prince’s Island Park (698 Eau Claire Ave. SW)

Saddle up for Stampede fun

5

A city-defining event, Stampede is a Calgary treasure from daily rodeo thrills, munching your way through dastardly midway delights, first-class concerts, catching up with friends, showing off your newest look and pancakes, so many pancakes. There is literally something for everyone at Stampede.

Laugh out loud — outside

6

David Spade kicks off the weekend laughs along with Whitney Cummings and Donnell Rawlings. The next night, SNL stars Chris Redd, Melissa Villaseñor, Alex Moffat and James Austin Johnson do what they do best on a Saturday night. On Sunday, Bill Burr has a pair of shows.

o t n o r o T l a v i t s e F 22

20 July 6-17

join in on inthge& lmaoureghs, dramaa,ngdaount cat the

P.S. come h

P OST SCR I P T

pati o

FRINGETORONTO.COM NEXT JUNE 2022

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JUN YYC GAME PLAN

LECTURE

But don’t call them

monkeys, they hate that AN EVENING WITH JANE GOODALL Wed., June 22, 7 pm $67.70 – $276.80 (inc. signed book and tote bag).

Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium (1415 14 Ave. NW)

7

Legendary and beloved Dr. Jane Goodall — Dame Goodall, as a matter of fact — has been understanding, befriending and protecting gorillas since at least 1960. The 88-year-old is the foremost expert on the now-endangered species. She has received numerous honours and, in 2019, was named by Time magazine as one of the world’s 100 most influential people. If there’s a Q&A portion, be sure to ask her about Lego’s recent release of her as a minifig.

COMEDY

Peters picked to pack Saddledome RUSSELL PETERS Tue., June 28, 8 pm Scotiabank Saddledome (555 Saddledome Rise SE) $63.75 – $223.86

9

Award-winning comedian Russell Peters is back on home soil with his Act Your Age world tour. Known for his onlyhe-can-get-away-with-it bits on race, the first comedian to have a standup special on Netflix has written a brand-new show that is apparently a “slight departure” from what we’ve heard from him in recent years.

CONCERT

Mama mia, will they dance a fandango?

CANDLELIGHT OPEN AIR: A TRIBUTE TO QUEEN AND MORE AT MUSE Wed., July 13, 7:30 pm $50.

Meadow Muse (15985 Bow Bottom Trail SE)

8

Take in this classical outdoor concert by Listeso String Quartet, which will reinterpret the music of British rock legends Queen, from Bohemian Rhapsody to Fat Bottomed Girls, surrounded by candlelight — and the light of the moon. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase.

62 JUNE 2022 NEXT

COMEDY

World still wooed

by Weird Al “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC July 5 – 6, 8 pm $62.50 – $419.45 (VIP package) Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons

10

Still popular after all these decades, "Weird Al" Yankovic will draw from his 14 studio albums for these non-parody shows on his The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. No two shows are alike. Emo Philips opens.

JUN YYC GAME PLAN

CLUBS & CONCERTS

NEXT PICKS THE 10 ESSENTIAL CALGARY SHOWS THIS MONTH

2

PRIMUS

Grey Eagle Event Centre Thurs., June 9, 8 pm / $49 – $219 (VIP package)

American band performs Rush’s album, A Farewell to Kings, in its entirety.

3

JANN ARDEN LIVE

Grey Eagle Resort Casino Fri., June 10, 7 pm / $69

Alberta royalty singer and actress Jann Arden, is also uproariously funny.

4

OUR LADY PEACE

Bella Concert Hall, Mount Royal University Sat., June 11, 7:30 pm / $120 – $233

OLP partnered with hologram company for combo concert and real-time “HoloPresence” chat with futurist Ray Kurzweil.

5

CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON

Commonweath Bar & Stage Sun., June 12, 8 pm / $39.35

This month’s NEXT cover star tours her 2021 album, Alpha.

6

THE CRYSTAL METHOD

Commonweath Bar & Stage Fri., June 17, 8 pm / $26.19 – $30.31

Nineties EDM pioneers back on road — now just Scott Kirkland since Ken Jordan retired.

7

MOIST

AThe Palace Theatre June 19, 7 pm / $49.35

The David Usher-led group will mix up hits from the ’90s to now.

8 1

BORN RUFFIANS

Commonwealth Bar & Stage Mon., June 20, 7 pm / $20 – $25

THE HALLUCI NATION

Grey Eagle Event Centre Sat., June 25, 8 pm / 62.59

Juno Award-winning Indigenous electronic group tour new music from 2021.

The Toronto rockers play songs from their trilogy: Juice (2020), Squeeze (2020) and Pulp (2021).

9

PETUNIA AND THE VIPER

Ironwood Stage and Grill Wed., June 22, 8 pm / $25

Country classic vibe with an edge from band with jambalaya-esque blend of influences.

10

THE GLORIOUS SONS

MacEwan Hall Concerts Fri., June 24, 7 pm $53.50 (GA) – $175 (package)

WATCH THE HALLUCI NATION'’S WHEN WE FLY VIDEO HERE

 

One of the best live rock acts around, with new songs from Young King Sessions EP. NEXT JUNE 2022

63

FUNNIES THE NEXT

BING !

POST MALONE

After a three-year wait, Post Malone’s fourth Studio album, Twelve Carat Toothache, finally drops this month. To celebrate the occasion, NEXT brings you Post Malone Bingo! Grab a friend or three and join the fun.

HOW TO PLAY 1.The game is won by the first person to align four chips in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line.

2. Put on Post Malone’s new album, Twelve Carat Toothache, to set the mood.

3.Carefully cut out the bingo cards and clues. Put the clues in a container and shuffle them and pass out one Bingo card to each player.

4. Either assign one friend to be the designated clue-picker or take turns pulling the clues out of the container. No peeking!

5. Place a chip on your FREE SPACE square.

6. At the start of each turn, pull a clue and read it aloud. Place a chip on the corresponding square if the clue appears on your board.

7. Continue until someone has completed a line of four on their board or until all the clues are done.

8. When you complete a line of four, shout “BINGO!” If two people complete a line of four on the same turn, the winner is whoever shouts “BINGO” first.

9. Have fun!

64 JUNE 2022 NEXT

GAME WORDS

TWELVE CARAT TOOTHACHE

MLMA

HOLLYWOOD'S BLEEDING

GO FLEX

WHITE IVERSON

STONEY

GUITAR HERO

ROCKSTAR

BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS

SUNFLOWER

CONGRATULATIONS

PSYCHO

AUSTIN RICHARD POST

BETTER NOW

OLIVE GARDEN

I FALL APART

CIRCLES

ALWAYS TIRED

JOHN F. KENNEDY

✃

1. At least one friend.

2. Coins, buttons or bingo chips to mark your cards.

3. A hat, bowl or sock to hold the clues.

4. Scissors to cut out the clues and cards.

✃

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

BINGO CARDS GO FLEX

✃

MLMA

P S Y C H O

WHITE IVERSON ALWAYS TIRED

BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS

P S Y C H O

BETTER NOW CONGRATULATIONS

CONGRATULATIONS

CIRCLES HOLLYWOOD'S BLEEDING

STONEY TWELVE CARAT TOOTHACHE

FREE

AUSTIN RICHARD POST

SUNFLOWER MLMA

BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS

WHITE IVERSON

STONEY

GO FLEX

AUSTIN RICHARD POST

JOHN F. KENNEDY

P S Y C H O

BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS ROCKSTAR

BETTER NOW

HOLLYWOOD'S BLEEDING

MLMA

CONGRATULATIONS

SUNFLOWER WHITE IVERSON

JOHN F. KENNEDY

BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS

JOHN F. KENNEDY

BETTER NOW

HOLLYWOOD'S BLEEDING

FREE

CIRCLES

ROCKSTAR

SUNFLOWER

HOLLYWOOD'S BLEEDING

ROCKSTAR

✃

BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS

TWELVE CARAT TOOTHACHE

ALWAYS TIRED

P S Y C H O

GO FLEX ALWAYS TIRED

FREE BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS

AUSTIN RICHARD POST

TWELVE CARAT TOOTHACHE

TWELVE CARAT TOOTHACHE

AUSTIN RICHARD POST

BETTER NOW

ALWAYS TIRED

CIRCLES

GO FLEX

CONGRATULATIONS

STONEY

WHITE IVERSON JOHN F. KENNEDY

CIRCLES

FREE

SUNFLOWER

STONEY

MLMA

ROCKSTAR

BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS NEXT JUNE 2022

65

ASK AMY HAUNTED BY FRIENDS’ GROUP HOOKUP HISTORY Dear Amy: With COVID restrictions lifting — is that even real? —I’ve started seeing people again, including a girl who has been part of our friend group for ages.

It feels like we’re moving from friends to something bigger and I’m excited at the idea of making her my special girl. Except, she has dated other guys in our gang, and I wonder if jealousy is going to nag at me and make whatever we are building less special.

Won’t what we have feel less special if, deep down, I know she has been having those moments with the other guys in the group? I don’t want to be hung up on this, but as I get closer to her, I can’t stop thinking about her with my friends.

— Can’t Stop Thinking Dear Can’t Stop: Even all the way back to middle school, I remember how people would just kind of swap. Friendship groups and youth usually mean there will be some oap-opera-esque, switch-it-up shenanigans. Basically how every young friendship groups’ relationship ping-pong became the 66 JUNE 2022 NEXT

most popular premise for millions of shows, from Beverly Hills, 90210 and Dawson’s Creek to Riverdale!

Chemistry between two people is just that: between two people. Her experiences with you won’t be the same because you have different pheromones.

I’ve never liked the term “sloppy seconds” and always looked at it instead as “dessert."

for the first time! We would be scouted by great radio stations, like KCRW, that same week that would help launch Stars’ career. I played a memorable solo show at NXNE that was such a different vibe than doing a one off because the room is abuzz with everyone going from show to show and the electricity of this is palpable. You never know who will be in the audience that could discover and help you. Even if it is a disaster (which I did have at one SXSW that went south indeed), it is still such a great story in a history of trying to make a band work!

I’ve never liked the term “sloppy seconds” and always looked at it instead as “dessert.”

ARE PLAYING MUSIC FESTIVALS WORTH IT? Dear Amy: There’s a bunch of showcase festivals happening — NXNE, CMW, SXSW a little while ago — have you played showcase festivals?

And, if so, were they worth doing? How does an artist make the most of those gigs?

— My Big Chance?

Dear Big: Not only have I played them but I have discovered so many bands attending the shows during the festivals. There is nothing like a city coming alive with the common love of discovering new music that they will fall in love with. It was SXSW where I met Sam Roberts

NEED ADVICE ON LOVE, SEX, RELATIONSHIPS, THE MUSIC BIZ OR HAVE A CONFESSION TO GET OFF YOUR CHEST?

ASK AMY MILLAN.

LISTEN TO AMY MILLAN’S MUSIC WITH THE STARS HERE

JUST SAY THANKS OR GO BIG AT AWARDS?

Dear Amy: Watching all of these awards shows, I wonder: do you think people should make a political statement when they get their moment in front of the microphone and millions of people or should they just thank their parents and music teachers?

—Say What?

Dear Say What: Who can beat Fiona Apple saying “This world is bullshit” in 1997? Honestly, I think people should do whatever they want to, it’s part of the joy of being an artist. I respect the ones who decide they should yell about abortion rights at that podium as much as I can understand Dolly Parton’s stance on staying private about her political beliefs as to not ostracize any of her fans. It is her belief system that everyone should be able to listen to her art without making it political. I am in a band that writes “FUCK HARPER” on the Canadian flag, so obviously we have never

been afraid of being loud about our views, but it is what I have to do. Go punk or go corporate, the decision is up to the individual. Parents always get a thanks regardless!

WHAT IS RIGHT AMOUNT OF MOM? Dear Amy: I love my parents; I just don’t want to see them as much as they seem to want to be seen. We have always been close, sometimes almost too close, but I went away to college for four years and just moved back to my home city with my own place. Feels like my folks expect me to be there for dinner, like, three times a week. I like free food but like my pace even more.

How often should I see them? What’s reasonable?

I don’t want to make them feel bad, but I need my own life and don’t want to always feel guilty. What’s a reasonable check-in with parents?

— Parent Trapped Dear Trapped: That is such a personal question to answer. There is no rulebook for what is acceptable or not. Boundaries are healthy and if you are struggling with that, therapy can be a real tool for sorting out how to create good ones that will alleviate guilt. However, parents age, and it may be easy to take for granted now, but they will not be around forever, so maybe hold that in your back pocket. There might come a time when your one wish would be just to be able to have one more dinner with them.

Amy Millan is a Canadian indie rock singer and guitarist. She records and performs with Stars and Broken Social Scene and has a successful solo career.

NEXT JUNE 2022

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NO LOVE IS EVER WASTED SOPHOMORE EP

OUT JUNE �0 68 JUNE 2022 NEXT

Preseave on Spotify or Apple here.