Events in Toronto – May 1 – 3, 2015

1. Canadian Music Week

2. John Mellencamp

Plain Spoken Tour. With supporting act Carlene Carter. Grammy-winning musician John Mellencamp has touched the heart and souls of music listeners and influenced American Culture with enduring songs, and is also one of the most successful live concert performers in the world.

3. Pirates

Swashbuckling Captain David Warrack charts a course through the seven seas of pirate music with his mates The Rose Orchestra and First Mate David Rehner with the fair young Rosebud Orchestra! An evening of adventure from the classics to the movies onboard the Rose, ay mate!

4. The Music of The Beatles

Step back in time to celebrate and remember the greatest and most influential act of the rock era… The Beatles! Holding the record for most #1 hits on the Top-100 chart, you’ll hear all your favourite hits performed in the original style!

5. Ron Sexsmith

Is there a singer-songwriter working today who’s better at distilling the pitfalls of being human? A master of poetic, affecting songs, Ron Sexsmith pivots between upbeat pop-rock and folk-flavoured melancholia. He returns to his favourite stage with guest star Alejandra Ribera. With elements of Tom Waits and Kate Bush, Ribera brings an intoxicating blend of traditional songwriting, richly textured arrangements and exotic European sensibility that is inherently her own.

6. Two Stars, Three Centuries

By Sinfonia Toronto. Multiply the excitement! Two outstanding artists plus extreme eclectic beauty. ILYA POLEATEV Pianist ; XIAOHAN GUO Violinist

7. Bluebird North

Top Canadian songwriters come together with host Arlene Bishop to perform their music and tell us about the inspiration, the songwriting process, and the stories behind the songs. The special guests for this concert are singer-songwriter and guitarist Bryan Potvin of Northern Pikes (with Kevin Kane of Grapes of Wrath as his accompanist), ex-Lowest of the Low frontman and guitarist Ron Hawkins, and Julian Taylor, the frontman of Julian Taylor Band, who recently released their Tech Noir album to great critical acclaim.

8. “Songs from Many Lands”

From Africa to Ireland to Tolkien’s Middle Earth, you’ll experience a world of music from the comfort of your Markham Theatre chair.

9. Pax Christi Chorale

The composer of Jerusalem and the coronation anthem I Was Glad, Sir Hubert Parry was unsurpassed at handling large choral forces. Judith tells the dramatic story of the liberation of the Jews from their Assyrian captivity, the restoration of faith to their leader, Manasseh, and the heroic role played by Judith in defeating the enemy general Holofernes. This will be Judith’s first complete orchestral performance in almost one hundred years and is the culmination of a three-year international detective story. A major musical event not to be missed!

10. The Amazing Time Machine

The Oakville Wind Orchestra presents their annual Sunday afternoon concert!

11. Noel Gallagher

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – featuring performances from their new album Chasing Yesterday.

1. Performing Arts Events

Performing Arts & Theatre in April

Events this weekend include

After Class – Parents Night and The Bigger Issue – A George F. Walker Double Bill @ Theatre Passe Muraille’s Mainspace

Sweeney Todd @ Al Green Theatre, Miles Nadal JCC

Hooked @ Theatre Passe Muraille

American Idiot The Musical @Lower Ossington Theatre

Much Ado About Nothing @ Tarragon Theatre.

Brantwood: 1920-2020 @ Brantwood School

The Love List @ Studio Theatre, Toronto Centre for the Arts

Maggie’s Getting Married @ The Village Playhouse

Therefore Choose Life @ The Greenwin Theatre

Needles and Opium @ Bluma Appel Theatre

Bedroom Farce & Of Human Bondage @ Young Centre for the Performing Arts

God & the Indian @ Aki Studio

2. Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk

Combining traditional circus disciplines with cirque elements, Cirque Mechanics tell a “real world” story with an unmatched theatricality. Enter the most unlikely setting for a circus – a factory – where the workers are acrobats and the machines are circus props. Spectators will watch a contortionist perform on a turntable powered by unicyclists. They will be captivated by the trapeze artist flying high, thanks to the spins of an acrobat inside a giant gear-like wheel, and they will be stunned when the trampoline wall artists defy the laws of physics by virtually flying and walking on air. Details

3. CanAsian Dance Festival

Allow yourself to be spellbound by five outstanding artists, all in one remarkable evening of dance at the 2015 CanAsian International Dance Festival. Each evening performance will feature five unforgettable performances by world-class artists.

4. Toronto Jewish Film Festival

5. Contact Photography Festival

With well over 1500 Canadian and international artists and photographers exhibiting at more than 175 venues throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

6. Hot Docs Film Festival

Canadian International Documentary Festival

7. Pete McBride

National Geographic Live. Pete McBride is living proof that in photography, passion, hard work, and guts matter more than the cost of your gear or where you went to school. A child of the Colorado, McBride grew up on a cattle ranch along the river. Now he’s an acclaimed photographer and filmmaker with over 15 years of work for National Geographic and an award-winning film, Chasing Water, to his credit. –

8. Odysseo

The unique theatrical production is first and foremost a grandiose three dimensional show where spectators are taken to a live Hollywood-style movie set while the touching interactions between human and horse are at the heart of the action. Layers of mesmerizing decors combined with gravity-defying acrobatic and areal stunts and the staggering effects created by state-of-the-art scenery makes this humongous stage a real 3-D feast for the eyes! Cavalia

Runs & Walks

1. Toronto Hike for Hospice

Come hike with us in beautiful historic Cabbagetown on either a 5km hike along the Don River or a 2km stroll through Cabbagetown and help raise essential awareness and funding for local hospice palliative care! Featuring live music with Danny Marks, BBQ, kids party, scavenger hunt and crafts.

Sunday, May 3, 2015 | Registration starts at 9:30 AM | Hikes start at 11:00 AM @ Riverdale Park West in Cabbagetown – Hospice Walk Details.

2. Greater Toronto(Mississauga) Spring Marathon

2K, 5K, 10K, 21.1K, 42.2K & Relays on Saturday, May 2 & Sunday, May 3, 2015

3. Good Life Fitness Toronto Marathon

Sunday, May 3, 2015 | Marathon race begins at 7:30 AM and the half marathon begins at 8:30 AM.

1. Sport Card & Memorabilia Expo

2. The Toronto Spring Classic Car Auction

3. Thankyou Canada

Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands by the Canadian Armed Forces. During the Dutch Heritage Month in May, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands and thank the Canadian Armed Forces for their contribution to the freedom of the Dutch people. A parade with veterans and warbrides will march through downtown Toronto and ends at City Hall. Authentic army jeeps or other military vehicles will also participate and several marching bands will accompany the parade with music. Everybody is welcome to come and watch the parade! Several bands will provide musical entertainment on the mainstage and a lot of Dutch festivities are being organized, such as a Dutch market and a kid’s zone.

4. Spirit of Toronto 2015

5. Gin-A-Palooza

6. Eat to Feed TO

7. Toronto KOP CON

8. Jane’s Walk Festival

9. Toronto Reptile Expo

Geared to the snake, lizard, arachnid, and exotic pet lover, the event is one for the whole family. It offers a unique opportunity for you and your children to get up close and personal with some animals you might not usually have the chance to, with experts who’d be happy to answer your questions about the world of Pick up supplies, feeders, merch, or even – after careful consideration – a new pet! Expo.

10. GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon Expo

11. Mississauga Marathon Runner’s Expo

12. Youtube Fan Fest

Some of the biggest Canadian and international YouTube stars will take over Dundas Square in Toronto… for the first time ever! You’ll get the opportunity to meet some of your favourite internet heroes in person, including superstars like Jenna Marbles, Bethany Mota and Toronto’s very own Lilly Singh, a.k.a. IISuperwomanII.