Concert season in Vancouver literally heats in May – Deer Lake Park is playing host to outdoor concerts by The Cure and Alabama Shakes, while the Malkin Bowl welcomes hometown hero Mac DeMarco. It’s a great month for rock music superstars too, as Paul Simon is playing an intimate show at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre while The Who will rock Rogers Arena on May 13.
Here’s our list of the biggest and best shows heading our way in May.
Said The Whale
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Vancouver’s own Said The Whale are coming home for a highly anticipated show at the Fox Cabaret. Lead singer Tyler Bancroft made a surprise appearance during a sold-out Arkells show at the Commodore Ballroom in February, joining the band for a rocking version of “I Love You”.
When: Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Where: The Fox Cabaret – 231 Main Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $25. 19+
Elliphant
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Swedish stunner Elliphant became an instant star a few years back when her debut single “Tekkno Scene” was featured in the wildly popular video game FIFA 13. Her sophomore album Living Life Golden was released in 2015 and features collaborations with Twin Shadow and Azalea Banks.
When: Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Alexander Gastown – 99 Powell Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $15. 19+
Mayer Hawthorne
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Neo-soul singer Mayer Hawthorne is no stranger to British Columbia – he played the Squamish Valley Music Festival in 2014 and sold out the Commodore Ballroom the previous year. Fans who purchase tickets for Hawthorne’s show at the Imperial will automatically receive a digital copy of his latest album Man About Town.
When: Monday, May 9, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Imperial – 319 Main Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $27.85. 19+
Santigold
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Santigold is on a bit of a hot streak lately. Her song “Radio” was featured in the hit film Paper Towns and her latest album, 99 cents, earned the singer some of the best reviews of her career. Fans will hear new songs like “Can’t Get Enough Of Myself”, the video for which is interactive and allows fans to digitally insert themselves into it. This show was previously scheduled for April 11.
When: Saturday, May 12, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Vogue Theatre – 918 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $34.50. All ages
The Who
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Quintessential rockers The Who are celebrating 50 years together (technically it’s 51, as the band was forced to postpone their tour last year due to singer Roger Daltrey’s bout with meningitis). Fans can expect to hear classic hits like “My Generation” in addition to the theme songs from CSI, CSI: Miami and CSI: New York. Other Canadian cities on the make-up tour include Toronto, Winnipeg, and Calgary on May 10.
When: Friday, May 13, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Rogers Arena – 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online from $51.70 to $161.70. All ages
Daniel Wesley
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White Rock rocker Daniel Wesley is in town promoting last year’s I Am Your Man which he recorded with help from his fans through a Kickstarter campaign. If we’re lucky, Wesley will bust out his badass cover of Ginuwine’s “Pony” as featured on his album Sing + Dance.
When: Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Commodore Ballroom – 868 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $25. 19+
LIGHTS
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Toronto cutie pie LIGHTS is set to play an acoustic set at the Vogue Theatre on May 14. The synth-pop singer has released three critically acclaimed albums, and 2014’s Little Machines won the prestigious JUNO Award for “Pop Album of the Year”.
When: Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Vogue Theatre – 918 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $37.50. All ages
Selena Gomez
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Instagram star Selena Gomez brings her Revival Tour to Vancouver on May 14. Surprisingly, Gomez has yet to receive a single Grammy nomination but she did take home the “Best Artist With A Cameraphone” trophy at the O Music Awards in 2012. She’s a movie star too, and won the “Actress Most in Need of a New Agent” prize from the Alliance of Women Film Journalists in 2013. Did we also mention that LIGHTS is performing an acoustic set at the Vogue Theatre that same night?
When: Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Rogers Arena – 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online from $50.50 to $116. All ages
Violent Femmes
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Eighties punk legends Violent Femmes are on the road promoting We Can Do Anything, their first album in 16 years but don’t worry – we took a peek at their setlist and all of the classics are there. John Sparrow is taking over drumming duties for Brian Vigilone who announced via Facebook that he’d “handed in his resignation” to the band in January.
When: Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Where: Commodore Ballroom – 868 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $39.50. 19+
Tori Kelly
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Tori Kelly is one of just a few former American Idol contestants who doesn’t have to include the title of “former American Idol contestant” on her resume. The singer was eliminated before reaching the top 24 in 2010, but went on to sell more records than anyone else featured on the show that year. Kelly released her debut album Unbreakable Smile in 2015 and received a Best New Artist Grammy nomination this year.
When: Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – 600 Block Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online from $28 to $35. All ages
Nada Surf
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After a four year hiatus following 2012’s The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy, Nada Surf are back and ready to rock the Venue on May 17. Expect to hear big shiny tunes like “Popular” and “Treehouse”, plus a handful of songs from You Know Who You Are, the band’s eighth (and arguably best) album.
When: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Venue – 881 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $22. 19+
Young Empires
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Toronto’s Young Empires are in town promoting their latest album The Gates which features the hit single “Uncover Your Eyes”. The band is destined for international success and a number of their songs have been featured on hit television shows like Jersey Shore and Cougar Town.
When: Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Fortune Sound Club – 147 E Pender Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $18. 19+
Hedley
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Canadian idols Hedley are traveling all the way from East Van (where lead singer Jacob Hoggard lives) to Rogers Arena on May 20, but it’s an opening set by Carly Rae Jepsen that we’re most excited to see. Jepsen released her criminally overlooked album Emotion last year, which failed to take off despite being chockfull of cheesy pop masterpieces (Billboard magazine calls the singer “Pop’s Most Underrated Artist”).
When: Friday, May 20, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Where: Rogers Arena – 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online from $39.50 to $75. All ages
Black Mountain
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Vancouver’s own Black Mountain are set to perform at the Commodore Ballroom on May 19. Their latest album IV was released this year and contains the band’s strongest material to date – in fact, keyboardist Jeremy Schmidt admits that Black Mountain toyed with the idea of calling the disc Our Strongest Material To Date.
When: Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Commodore Ballroom – 868 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $23.50. 19+
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
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Put your hands up like the PNE ceiling can’t hold them, as hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are heading to Vancouver on May 25. The two just released their sophomore album This Unruly Mess I’ve Made and the video for lead single “Downtown” has racked up more than 100 million views on YouTube.
When: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Where: PNE Forum – 2901 E Hastings Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $77.60. All ages
Matt Corby
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After completing a nearly sold-out tour of Australia last month, singer-songwriter Matt Corby heads to the Commodore Ballroom for a performance on May 26. Corby participated in the fifth season of Australian Idol and has since racked up a slew of awards, including the ARIA prize for “Best Live Act”.
When: Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Where: Commodore Ballroom – 868 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $29.50. 19+
Paul Simon
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There are no words to describe legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon, so let’s just go with stats: 12 Grammys, two Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions, 14 top 10 singles, and one slightly bitter ex-bandmate (Simon and Art Garfunkel stopped recording in 1970 and haven’t shared a stage together in six years).
When: Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – 600 Block Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online from $104.50 to $164.50. All ages
Mac DeMarco
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Another Vancouver singer-songwriter heads home this month, as Mac DeMarco performs at the Malkin Bowl on May 27. DeMarco released his “mini LP” Another One last year and has come up with some interesting ways to promote it, including a cookout in NYC where fans could listen to the album for free in exchange for a donation to the city’s food bank.
When: Friday, May 27, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Malkin Bowl – 610 Pipeline Road, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $41.50. All ages
Savages
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U.K. punk rockers Savages are playing a handful shows in North America to promote their second album Adore Life. The band, which features lead vocals by Jehnny Beth, received a Mercury Prize nomination in 2013 following the release of their debut album. Seattle’s Head Wound City will perform opening duties.
When: Friday, May 27, 2016 at 9 p.m.
Where: Imperial – 319 Main Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $26.50. 19+
Yeasayer
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Brooklyn’s Yeasayer released their fourth album Amen & Goodbye last month but despite the title, the band isn’t going away any time soon. The troublemaking trio are riding high on the success of “Prophecy Gun”, the video for which features sculptures of Caitlyn Jenner and Donald Trump. The band describes the clip as a cross between Sgt. Pepper and Pee Wee’s Playhouse.
When: Saturday, May 28, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Imperial – 319 Main Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $25. 19+
Alabama Shakes
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There was no shortage of superstars at last year’s Squamish Valley Music Festival, but it was a fiery set from Grammy winners Alabama Shakes that shook up the entire weekend. Brittany Howard and the boys are set to do the same to Deer Lake Park on May 28, with a little help from Kurt Vile and the Violators as opening acts.
When: Saturday, May 28, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Deer Lake Park – 6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Tickets: Available online for $49.50. All ages
Cedric Gervais
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Grammy Award-winning superstar Cedric Gervais is set to spin tracks at Celebrities Nightclub on May 28. The French DJ has released two full length studio albums over the course of his decade long career, but Gervais is probably best known for remixing Lana Del Rey’s sleepy “Summertime Sadness” into a club smash.
When: Saturday, May 28, 2016 at 10 p.m.
Where: Celebrities Nightclub – 1022 Davie Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $25. 19+
Oh Wonder
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British alt-pop duo Oh Wonder had a unique approach when it came to recording their debut album: the pair wrote, recorded and released one song every month for a year, and compiled the tracks to make DIY. The experiment paid off, as DIY hit number 16 on Canada’s Top Albums chart and Oh Wonder are set to play several music festivals this summer.
When: Saturday, May 28, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Commodore Ballroom – 868 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online for $25. 19+
The Cure
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Expect Deer Lake Park to feel just like heaven when British new wave superstars The Cure perform there on May 31. We suggest you bring a blanket and find a comfy spot on the lawn, as Robert Smith and the band are known for their crazy long sets – a 2013 concert in Mexico clocked in at 4 hours and 15 minutes and featured 50(!) songs.
When: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at 5 p.m.
Where: Deer Lake Park – 6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Tickets: Available online for $57. All ages
Smokers Club Tour feat. Cam’ron
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Not only is rapper Cam’ron expected to drop a new album this year, he’s also kicking off The Smokers Club Tour in Vancouver on May 31. The annual event is produced by Cinematic Music Group and previous editions have featured Method Man, Redman, and Joey Bada$$ as headliners.
When: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at 9 p.m.
Where: Vogue Theatre – 918 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online from $40 to $74.50. All ages
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