Beach House’s Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand.Liz Flyntz
A weekly feature that highlights the 10 best music happenings in Toronto. Here's what's on this week, Oct. 3 to 9.
Johnny O'Neal In the 1980s, he was compared to classic jazz pianists such as Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson. The New Yorker disappeared for many years, but now he's back on the circuit in a bluesier form. Oct 2 to 4, 9 p.m. $20. Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., 416- 363-5299 or jazzbistro.ca.
Beach House Luscious dream pop comes from the Baltimore-based Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand, still touring 2012's Bloom album. Oct. 3 and 4, 8 p.m. $32.50. Lee's Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., ticketfly.com.
Naughty Women in Blues For this concert that salutes the saucy tradition of Lucille Bogan and her naughty ilk, when Carolyn Fe, Ginger St. James and others sing about hot stoves and fruit baskets they're not singing about hot stoves and fruit baskets, if you know what we mean. Oct. 4, 8:30 p.m. $30 to $32.50. Hugh's Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., 416-531-6604 or hughsroom.com.
Perfume Genius "No family is safe when I sashay," croons Seattle native Mike Hadreas, a shimmering pop artist who goes by an unusual moniker and whose latest single is the majestic gay-anthem Queen. Oct. 4, 7 p.m. $15. Mod Club, 722 College St., ticketfly.com.
Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar Southern roots-gospel, like the kind the Staple Singers used to make. Oct. 5, 4 p.m. Cameron House, 408 Queen St. W., thecameron.com.
Eric Anderson A literate songwriter and elegant singer, this classic'60s folkie is a balladeer of the highest rank. Oct. 5, 8:30 p.m. $30 to $32.50. Hugh's Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., 416-531-6604 or hughsroom.com.
Sharon Van Etten The gifted singer-songwriter is personable and bright on stage, but her new album Are We There, about a complicated relationship, is her heaviest, haziest and most languorous yet. Oct. 7, 8 p.m. $18.50. Opera House, 735 Queen St. E., ticketfly.com.
The Tragically Hip Why hire the durable Canadian rockers to host an NHL face-off concert on the afternoon of the Maple Leafs' season opener against the Montreal Canadiens? Because they once stole lyrics from a hockey card. Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m. (festivities begin at noon). Free. Yonge-Dundas Sq.
Nas The New York master rapper performs Illmatic, his landmark 1994 debut album. Oct. 8, 6 and 10 p.m. Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 190 Princes' Blvd., 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
St. Petersburg Quartet With a program of Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky, the Grammy-nominated foursome makes its first Toronto appearance in two decades. Oct. 9, 8 p.m. $10 to $55. Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front St. E., 416-366-7723 or music-toronto.com.
BOOKING AHEAD
John Southworth Oct. 12. Music Gallery, musicgallery.org.
Buddy!: The Buddy Holly Story Begins Oct. 14 to Nov. 16. Winter Garden Theatre, 1-855-622-2787 or ticketmaster.ca
X Avant Festival Oct. 16 to 19. Music Gallery,musicgallery.org.
Global Cabaret Festival Oct. 23 to 26. Young Centre, 416-866-8666 or globalcabaret.ca
Weewerk 13th Anniversary Party: Art Bergman, Tony Dekker, Two-Minute Miracles Oct. 24. Great Hall. Tickets at Rotate This and Soundscapes
Dream Serenade Benefit Concert: Feist. Sarah Harmer, Hayden, Jason Collett Oct. 25. Massey Hall, 416-872-4255 or masseyhall.com
Mounties Nov. 1. Lee's Palace, ticketfly.com
Carlos Varela Nov. 2. 416-588-0307 or lula.ca
Doug Paisley Nov. 7. Horseshoe Tavern, ticketfly.com
Bruce Cockburn Nov. 7. Koerner Hall, 416-408-0208 or tickets.rcmusic.ca
Lucinda Williams Nov. 20. Massey Hall, 416-872-4255 or masseyhall.com
Cinderella: The Gags To Riches Family Musical Nov. 21 to Jan. 4, 2015. Elgin Theatre, 1-855-599-9090 or rosspetty.com
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life Nov. 25. Air Canada Centre, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca
The Arkells Nov. 27 to 29. Danforth Music Hall, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca
Cat Stevens Dec. 1 (on sale Sept. 27, 10 a.m.). 416-872-4255 or masseyhall.com
The Hold Steady Dec. 10 to 13. Horseshoe Tavern, ticketfly.com
Timber Timbre Dec. 11 to 13. Lee's Palace, galleryac.com
John Mellencamp April 29, 2015. Hamilton Place Theatre, Hamilton, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca
John Mellencamp May 1 and 2, 2015. Sony Centre, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca
Brad Wheeler