Carole Pope performs live at El Mocambo in Toronto, Ontario. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Toronto, Ontario - If you haven’t been to the El Mocambo in a while you will be surprised at the changes made, and executive director Mike Chalut will happily be front and centre ready to tell you all about it! Coming out to greet the crowd lined up on Spadina Avenue as doors were ready to open, Chalut, in full sequinsed suit, addressed the crowd. His own hype-man, r

Paulie Boy Blues performs live at The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Canada - Toronto’s legendary Horseshoe Tavern has a way of turning any night into something electric, and March 27 was no exception. While Paulie Boy Blues was technically the opener, for myself, and for a handful of fans who clearly knew what they were in for, this night was all about finally catching the bluesman in action. After interviewing him

Lear Haven perform live at The Baby G in Toronto, Ontario. Photo By: Justin Michael Carriere By: Justin Michael Carriere Toronto, Ontario - “Prepare to be Amazed” was a long time motto for Oshawa, Ontario, so when doing my research to see homegrown talent Lear Haven , I prepared. They then proceeded to hold up their end of the bargain, and amazed! The trio from The Motor City brought their distinct classic rock sound to The Baby G in Toronto on Thursday night. With their se

Floral Park perform live at Market Brewing Co. in Newmarket, Ontario. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Newmarket, Ontario - As a band, you know you are doing something right when you watch a new patron enter the bar and instantly put their hands in the air and start singing along to the tune you’re playing. That is exactly what happened tonight at The Market Brewing Company as Floral Park were in the middle of their version of The Rolling Stones’ "Honky Tonk

Gary Numan performs live at The Concert Hall in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Canada - The 1980s were a strange and special time... synthesizers ruled the airwaves, new wave reshaped pop culture, and Gary Numan ’s “Cars” became one of the decade’s most unmistakable hits. Now, some 45 years later, Numan’s legacy still pulls a huge crowd. On March 24, The Concert Hall was sold out, and even 30 minutes before doors, a lineup of Gen X new w

Erra perform live at History in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Ernon Schneeberger By: Ernon Schneeberger Toronto, Canada - From the moment the doors opened at History , the room pulsed with anticipation. Toronto crowds don’t mess around when it comes to live music, and on March 17, 2026, they packed the venue for The Silence Follows Tour , a powerhouse lineup headlined by progressive metalcore heavyweights Erra and Currents. Aviana Aviana perform live at History. Photo By: Ern

Oshawa, Ontario's My Own Addiction. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh - For this month’s local artist feature, I had the opportunity and pleasure to sit down with the members of My Own Addiction in their cozy and very cool space to learn about the past, the present and what the future holds for band members Andrew Losier on guitar, Todd Burrows on drums, Tim Reesor on bass and lead singer Alexandra “BOOTS” Augustine. Tucked away amongst the labyrinth of halls

Nicholas Campbell & The Metre Cheaters perform live at The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, Ontario. Photo By: Justin Michael Carriere By: Justin Michael Carriere Toronto, Ontario - If you are in need of a rockabilly fix, look no further than The Horseshoe Tavern Monday nights this month. Nicholas Campbell and The Metre Cheaters bring their throwback sound to the iconic Toronto venue for the bar’s Monday Residency show. Hailing from Peterborough, and now based out of Toronto,

Not Enough Space perform live at Hard Luck Bar in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Ernon Schneeberger By: Ernon Schneeberger Toronto, Canada - The Shallow Graves Tour has been ripping across North America this spring, with a killer lineup of rising acts Not Enough Space , Bailey Spinn, and Set For Tomorrow backing up the Dark Divine tour. After a string of East Coast dates, the tour finally hit Toronto’s Hard Luck Bar on March 11, 2026, and honestly, it felt like the room might e

Live perform live at Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, Canada. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Oshawa, Canada - Tribute Communities Centre ... full arena energy at half the size! It has that sweet spot where the sound hits harder. For the observer, the sightlines are better. And for those of us living east of Toronto, it’s a rare thrill to catch a bill this stacked without trekking downtown. For a metalhead who focused his music energies to 90s alternative in t

Bedouin Soundclash perform live at Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Photo By: Ashley Depaz By: Ashley Depaz Richmond Hill, Canada - On March 7, 2026, the stage at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts in Richmond Hill, Ontario, hosted a night that blended soulful intimacy with the unmistakable energy of one of Canada’s most beloved alternative bands. With a heartfelt opening performance from Clerel and a vibrant, nostalgic set from Bedouin Soundclash

Rainbow Kitten Surprise perform live at History in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Ashley Depaz By: Ashley Depaz Toronto, Canada - On March 3rd, 2026, the sold-out crowd at History concert venue in Toronto was treated to an unforgettable night of music and energy as Rainbow Kitten Surprise took the stage for an electrifying performance. The venue itself set the perfect tone for the evening. An intimate yet spacious room, offering incredible acoustics and an immersive atmosphere

Orbit Culture perform live at The Opera House in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Canada - Walking back into The Opera House after a 3 year absence felt a little surreal. I hadn’t been here since Chelsea Grin levelled the place in April of 2023, and realizing it had been that long genuinely blew my mind. For a venue that once pulsed with heavy shows week after week, the past couple of years have been strangely quiet. But tonight? Tonight

Incarnatus perform live at The Spot in Newmarket, Ontario. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Newmarket, Ontario - I found myself back at The Spot on Saturday February 28 (which to be honest, might just become a monthly ritual for me), to witness Hardcore Is For Lovers . The Spot gives off a very indie/DIY vibe but the bands that take the stage are far from the amateur garage bands working out their stuff. The five acts on the bill promised to deliver a night o

Halfway Down perform live at Gabby's in Scarborough, Ontario. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Scarborough, Ontario - The night belonged to HALFWAY DOWN , and to the electric, youthful crowd that packed into Gabby’s Restaurant in my old stomping grounds of Guildwood. On February 27th the band psyched themselves up for a three‑set rock marathon that felt like a blast from my past! HALFWAY DOWN is a band made up of high school and university musicians who, based on t

Belphegor perform live at Lee's Palace in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Jojo Taylor By: Jojo Taylor Toronto, Canada - How do you take your Metal? Blackened! What I love about Lee’s Palace is they are a club that hosts a wide variety of music. They support local acts that want to play a bigger stage or they are a stage for international artists to play to an intimate crowd. So, when a band comes in from around the world, Toronto loves to visit these clubs, because you wouldn’t

Maldita perform live at The Concert Hall in Toronto, Ontario. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick - Toronto’s hardcore scene has never lacked grit. Legendary bands like Forgotten Rebels, Bunchofuckingoofs, and even modern day Cancer Bats have kicked down the doors of dive music venues for decades, but few bands embody the genre's raw heart and cultural depth quite like Maldita . Fronted by vocalist Rosa Venenosa, I first became aware of the band during their supporting

Goldie Boutilier performs live at Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, Ontario. Photo By: Ashley Depaz By: Ashley Depaz Toronto, Ontario - On a crisp February evening in Toronto, the Danforth Music Hall hosted one of the most eagerly awaited performances of the season as Nova Scotia’s rising star, Goldie Boutilier , brought her signature 70s indie rock and roll vibe to the stage. With her retro-chic sound and undeniable charisma, Boutilier transported the audience to an era of g

Crash Test Dummies perform live at El Mocambo in Toronto, Ontario. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Ontario - There’s something that fascinates me about music fans. We are forever debating ticket prices, hesitate on all‑inclusive packages, but yet when a free ticket giveaway was offered by us here at LoudTO (thanks to the generosity of Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto ), a free night out with food, drinks, and a legendary Canadian band, we somehow still man

Lita Ford performs live at Casino Rama in Rama, Canada. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Rama, Canada - There is something very magical about rock and roll from the 80s. It just seems to have the power to make everyone smile, from the bands that play it to the fans who love it. And this was once again on display last night at Casino Rama as Lita Ford headlined an intimate show along with opening act Headpins. Headpins Headpins perform live at Casino Rama. Ph

Whiskey Jack & Friends celebrate Stompin' Tom Connors' 90th Birthday. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Ontario - The Guess Who, Neil Young, The Tragically Hip... from a music standpoint, nothing much else screams Canada... unless of course your name is Tom Connors. If the name itself doesn't bring a Canadian smile to your face, then perhaps you are Gen Z. Wait... that's no excuse either! Just ask Will Sharp! The 24 year-old fan knows Stompin' Tom well! Ther

Hellseer perform live at The Spot in Newmarket, Ontario. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Newmarket, Ontario - Nestled in an unassuming business complex next to a church on Gorham Road in Newmarket, The Spot Rehearsal Studio has become the hidden gem for live music events in Ontario's York Region. Along with nine well equipped rehearsal rooms available for monthly and hourly rental, The Spot boasts a newly renovated concert space, a tattoo artist, a print sho

Left to Suffer perform live at The Garrison in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Canada - Still reeling from the storm of the century on January 25th, Toronto continued to be a disaster zone when I headed down on February 4th to take in Left To Suffer 's The Eternal Suffering Tour . Snowbanks swallowing sidewalks and parking lots, and downtown traffic moving at a crawl. But inside The Garrison , none of that mattered. Metal fans packed the r

April Wine (l-r): Roy Nichol, Richard Lanthier, Brian Greenway, Marc Parent. Photo By: Taylor Jones By: Jay Broderick - When April Wine step onto the stage at the GFL Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie on April 22, it won’t just mark the beginning of one of the most anticipated Canadian rock tours in decades. It will mark another milestone in a career that has spanned generations. In a warm and often humorous conversation I had with the guitarist, harmonica player, and v