We’ve all got a bit of #FIFAFever right now but that’s no reason to forget the piles of other exciting things happening right now. Prime example? The 20th year of North By Northeast is still in full swing in Toronto.
Here are a few NXNE picks you can still catch before the festival wraps up on June 22:
image: NXNE, SPUD1
Be an art fart: NXNE is about more than music. This year there’s a lot of great, truly accessible art. Do yourself a favour and check it out. At the very least, visit Graffiti Alley, you’ll be amazed.
Free NXNE: Plenty of North by Northeast adventures are available for free. There’s the big ones at Yonge-Dundas Square this week. We’re really pumped to see St. Vincent’s Annie Clark (June 20), Spoon (June 21), Ain’t No Love (June 22) and countless others.
Unofficial shows: In case the countless shows, parties, events and art installations officially associated with NXNE aren’t enough, there’s a pretty cool crop of unofficial NXNE shows happening too. Some of these include Construction (June 20) curated by Fucked Up’s Mike Haliechuck, Lauryn Hill (June 21) and Summer Melt (June 21) featuring some of the best Toronto acts not at NXNE proper, like Teenager, Das Rad, Petra Glynt and Wrong Hole. Plus many more.
Legit NXNE shows: We’ve been in love with Maylee Todd ever since her Musical Planetarium show at SummerWorks 2013, so we’re pumped about Ark Analog (multiple dates), the duo she’s 50% of, Egyptrixx’s set is going to be cray, Greys (multiple dates) is indie punk, nuff said, for a little Middle Eastern flare we’re really pumped about Omar Souleyman and Canada’s buzziest band, Weaves, will be here too. We could keep going but we won’t. The CBC has a pretty fun highlight real so check it out.
All we’re saying is this; life is busy and we know that but you really ought to enjoy yourself a little. Opt not to go home from the office, explore your city and enjoy some NXNE before it’s gone.
