The Joys of Summer Music Festivals and Performances

One of my favourite things to do in Toronto is to check out the FREE musical performances and other cool festivals because, WHY NOT? 🙂 I was at the Harbourfront Centre last week and there were so many things going on! Some of the highlights of the day was the Lakeview Market and the Chak De Bhangra performances.

If you missed those, not to worry! One of the largest free summer music series in the city, Indie Fridays and Yonge and Dundas Square, curated by the folks at Massey Hall is happenin' until September. Taking over the pedestrian zone every Friday at 8 p.m., the series boasts genres including hip hop, reggae, latin, soul and Francophone. This year’s lineup includes: June 24 – Messenjah with special guest Exco Levi July 8 – AA Wallace with special guest vocalists, Liz Loughrey and Jordan Alexander July 15 – Mehdi Cayenne with special guest Mélanie Brulée July 22 – Radio Radio, with special guests Herencia de Timbiquí July 29, – Boogat  with special guests hip-hop crew Los Poetas August 5 - Ben Caplan August 12 – The Heavyweights Brass Band August 19 – The Massey Hall Band August 26 - Pierre Kwenders September 2 – TBA If you love classical music, fret not! Summer Music in the Garden (Toronto Music Garden) holds concerts every Thursday at 7pm and every Sunday at 4pm at the waterfront! I was there just last week and the garden was spectacular. This delightful garden — a reflection in landscape of Bach's Suite No. 1 in G Major for unaccompanied cello, BWV 1007 — was designed by internationally renowned cellist Yo Yo Ma and landscape designer Julie Moir Messervy, in collaboration with landscape architects from the City of Toronto's Parks and Recreation department. Here is the list of upcoming performances: July 24 04:00PM - From the Banyan to the Willow Tree July 28 2016 07:00PM - Ventanas August 04 2016 07:00PM - An Evening with Calum Graham August 07 2016 04:00PM - Deep River of Song: Jayme Stone & Friends August 11 2016 07:00PM - The Sweet Sound of Our Nature: Sadie Buck and the He hi ye Girls August 14 2016 04:00PM - Brass by the Lake August 18 2016 07:00PM - Wood, Metal, Skin August 21 2016 04:00PM - All in the (Celtic) Family: The Bachands August 25 2016 07:00PM - Passagi August 28 2016 04:00PM - Amor mi fa cantar a la Francesca September 01 2016 07:00PM - Glass Houses September 11 2016 04:00PM - In the Shadow of the Volcano September 18 2016 04:00PM - Sublime Schubert Admission is FREE to Indie Fridays at Yonge-Dundas Square AND the Summer Music Garden 2016. There is no reason to miss out! Let me know what you enjoyed about these performances if you plan on going! M