WHAT TO DO IN JUNE

How is it half-way through May already? Is anyone else experiencing a significant feeling of whiplash? Summer has it’s sea-legs back and is off to an awesome start-so it’s time to plan ahead. After all, June will be here faster than you can say SPF 40, and you don’t want to miss any of the great events, concerts, and more happening all over the city. We present to you a She Does The City Cheat Sheet for June, so you can make sure you’re where you want to be, all month long.

CONCERTS:

TV On The Radio
Haunted indie-rock for hazy nights, surreal sunsets, and dark alleyways.
June 2nd @ Sound Academy, 11 Polson St.
http://www.myspace.com/tvotr

Grizzly Bear
Melodic Brooklyn ensemble who define sprawling and contemplative. Their cover of ‘He Hit Me’ will make you weak in the solar plexus.
June 5th @ Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St.
http://www.myspace.com/grizzlybear

The Sunday Sinners w/ Hank and Lily
The Sunday Sinners are throwback country rock from Montreal (they sound like something we would play at a barn dance in 1964), and Hank and Lily are straight-up bojangle bayou tunes. Bring your two-steppin’ shoes.
June 11th @ The Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave.
http://www.thesundaysinners.com/index.html
http://hankandlily.com/main.php

Blind Pilot
Bluegrass foxes about to break your heart.
June 12th @ El Mocambo, 462 Spadina Ave.
http://blindpilotmusic.wordpress.com/

Michael Gira
Legendary American musician, and founder of Young Gods Records, who occasionally calls up Akron/Family to be his backing band.
June 12th @ The Drake, 1150 Queen St. W.
http://younggodrecords.com/Index.asp?

Pink Mountaintops
Black Mountain’s Stephen McBean helms this Vancouver outfit on the same label as Bon Iver and Okkervil River. This is our new favourite band. It’s been too long since someone wrote music this melancholy and beautiful.
June 14th @ The Horseshoe Tavern, 368 Queen St. W.
http://www.pinkmountaintops.com/

New Kids On The Block
That’s right.
June 21st @ Molson Amphitheatre, 909 Lakeshore Blvd. W.
http://www.nkotb.com/

Mr. Something Something
Afrobeat full of good vibes
June 27th @ The Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave.
http://www.mrsomethingsomething.com/

The Paper Chase
Alt-rock from Texas comes to Toronto
June 29th @ The Drake, 1150 Queen St. W.

SHOWS & FESTIVALS:

Luminato
Highlights this year include an attempt to hold the world’s largest jam session at Yonge and Dundas Square, a free peek at Cirque du Soleil, and countless music, dance, and theatre events all over the city.
June 5-14
http://www.luminato.com/2009/

The Drinks Show
Mix your way to becoming the summer’s best host with tips and tricks from expert mixologists, and how-to’s on take-home recipe cards. You can sample over 100 specialty cocktails. Mmmm.
June 12-13 @ Polson Pier
http://drinksshow.ca/show/index.php

Waterfront Blues Festival
Toronto’s free blues fest, featuring awesome acts and great people-watching.
June 12-14, Woodbine Park
http://www.waterfrontblues.ca/

Worldwide Short Film Festival
Shorter is better!
June 16-20th
http://www.worldwideshortfilmfest.com/index.html

North By Northeast
We don’t know what’s better-the unbelievably talented bands and DJs playing shows all night long, all over the city, or 4 am last call. Luckily, this isn’t a choice we have to make. Thanks, NXNE.
June 17-21st
http://www.nxne.com/

Pride Week
No city does loud and proud like Toronto! Can’t stop won’t stop!
June 19-28
http://www.pridetoronto.com/

Franco-fete de Toronto
A free French music and culture festival-zut alors! (uhhh..)
June 19-21st, Harbourfront
http://www.franco-fete.ca/main.php?L=1&p=home.php

Edgefest
Metric, Moneen, The Stills, K-Os, and more.
June 20th, Downsview Park
http://www.edge.ca/ConcertsandEvents/Edgefest.aspx

Pride Prism Festival
The dance-all-night with beautiful people side of Pride. Wait…what’s the other side?
June 25-28th
http://www.homorazzi.com/article/toronto-pride-2009-prism-festival-prysm/

Toronto Jazz Festival
Jazz hands!
June 26th-July 5th
http://www.tojazz.com/Pages/Toronto_Downtown_Jazz_Festival_pgM243.asp

Indigenous Culture Show
Taking aim at stereotypes.
June 27-Sept 13th, Harbourfront

PRIDE PARADE!
The city comes out and alive for the biggest street party of the year!
June 28th