In addition to these listings, check out our summer music festival guide compiled by the good folks at New Feeling and see what shows at the Fringe Festival caught the eye of our theatre critic Robyn Grant-Moran.
Special thanks to the folks who put these listings together: New Feeling (music), Phillip Dwight Morgan (literary), Robyn Grant-Moran (performance / theatre), Winnie Wang (film), talks / protests / workshops (Sanchi Illuri), Fatma Hendawy (visual arts) and Rebecca Payne (comedy). Contact arts@thegrindmag.ca if you’d like your event considered for our fall listings.
MUSIC
FINE FOOD MARKET, ROBINSON KIRBY, BABY O June 20, 8:00 PM, The Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St, $19, 19+
JEREMY DUTCHER June 21, 7:30 PM, Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St, $90+, ALL AGES
HUMBIRD June 21, 7:00 PM, The Sound Garage, 165 Geary Ave, $25.27, 19+
CLINIC STARS June 21, 8:00 PM, The Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St, $25.00, 19+
SAVAGE MASTER, NITE, ABSOLUT June 22, 7:00 PM, The Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St, $26.42, 19+
COLLEEN GREEN, ROZWELL KID, PONY June 22, 7:00 PM, The Sound Garage, 165 Geary Ave, $27.58, 19+
DEERHOOF, CRABE, LUGE, KINGDOM OF BIRDS June 22 & 23, 7:00 PM, St Anne’s Parish Hall, 651 Dufferin St, $55.18, ALL AGES
Across 20 albums and 31 years, San Francisco noise rock veterans Deerhoof have scrabbled together a reputation that is anything but a numbers game. Flying in the face of smooth populist wisdom, the band premiered the lead single for Noble and Godlike in Ruin (2025) on Craigslist to “spotlight a tech platform that isn’t blatantly supporting fascism.” It’s one way to advertise your availability for hire across locales. Two chances to dance at St. Anne’s: Montreal art-punks Crabe and Toronto post-punk ensemble Kingdom of Birds open on June 22; and June 23 brings out math-perverting local support from Luge and Troglos.
LEWDLINE: LATINEO: ESCOBUTT, NEGRACONDA, ISA GT, YOVSKA, LITNEY, EL EXPERIMENTO, GAY JESUS June 26, 7:00 PM, OLG Central Stage, Church St @ Maitland, FREE, ALL AGES
BONNIE TRASH, HRT, UUGGHH June 26, 8:00 PM, The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St W, $24.98, 19+
STAY INSIDE, SPIRIT DESIRE, HEAVY SWEATER, UNDERWATER BASKET WEAVING June 27, 7:00 PM, Expo Vintage Outlet, 1978 Dundas St W, $20.50, 19+
CHERRY BOMB PRIDE 2025: COZMIC CAT & DENISE BENSON W/ DJS KIMIWAN, SOFIA FLY, SOUNDBOI, AND BURLESQUAR ARTISTS NENO FREEBIRD AND RUBIE MAGNITUDE June 28, 9:00 PM, Mod Club (fka Axis Club), 722 College St, $37.25, 19+
BROWN//OUT: VIVEK SHRAYA, SUSHMITA June 28, 2:00 PM, OLG Central Stage, Church St, FREE, ALL AGES
MOUNT EERIE (MATINÉE) June 28, 1:00 PM, The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St W, $48.30, 19+
LOVING Jun 28, 8:00 PM, Longboat Hall, 103 Dovercourt Rd, $41.22, 19+
SORRY GIRLS, DEANNA PETCOFF, MILEENA June 28, 8:00 PM, The Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St, $19.00, 19+
BLOCKORAMA: DJ BLACKCAT, DJ YOUNG ZEE, COOKIEDOH, AMERIE, LEXXICON, NENEGLAMOROUS June 29, 2:00 PM, Mill Street Wellesley Stage, 15 Wellesley St E, FREE, ALL AGES
WOLF EYES June 29, 8:00 PM, The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St W, $29.10, 19+
LIFEGUARD, PARKING July 4, 8:00 PM, The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St W, $27.58, 19+
KIMMORTAL, SYDANIE July 4, 8:30 PM, Allan Gardens, $20 adv, $25 door, 19+
POLOTECHNICS: PLUTONIAN SUMMER: DAN CURTIN, SARD, MODE X July 5, 8:00 PM, Cafeteria, 1650 Dupont St, From $28.25, 19+
Bringing together local and international artists from the Iranian diasporic underground, ethnomusicology-grounded Link Music Lab’s Polotechnics party returns, this time co-presented by Kaleidoscope for a night of live hardware performances. Sharing the futurist post-industrial exodus of Detroit techno as a common source of inspiration, this edition promises a night following sonic vibrations across high-energy beats, analog heat, and genre-agnostic soundscapes. A 30-year veteran trailblazer, Dan Curtin (Berlin/Cleveland) brings deep, infectious rhythms; Sard (Detroit) fuses traditional Persian percussion with the experimental tendencies of acid and Motor City techno; and Mode X (Toronto) delivers stripped-down, peak-time grooves tailored for the dancefloor.
FRIENDSHIP, 2ND GRADE July 5, 7:00 PM, The Sound Garage, 165 Geary Ave, $26.43, 19+
GONG GONG GONG (工工工), J.A. & M.S. July 10, 8:00 PM, Upstairs, 1650 Dupont St, $22.85
ECHOES OF THE ARCHIVE: CIEL, SOCALLED, CHAIA July 11, 8:00 PM, Standard Time, 165 Geary Ave, $16.95+, 19+
KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS, MERCE LEMON July 11, 7:00 PM, Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave, $39.50+, 19+
JOLIE LAIDE, MARLAENA MOORE July 16, 7:00 PM, The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St W, $22.70, 19+
COLA, JANE INC. July 18, 8:00 PM, The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St W, $22.50, 19+
PELICAN, PORCELAIN, DAYDREAM PLUS July 23, 7:00 PM, Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St W, $37.87, 19+
CYMANDE July 29, 7:00 PM, The Concert Hall, 888 Yonge St, $60.89, 19+
THE CHATS, CHAIN WHIP, BAD WAITRESS July 29-31, 7:00 PM, Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St W, $37.50, 19+
THE CAUTION CHILDREN, BOXCUTTER, AND ALWAYS, TREEHOUSE OF HORROR July 31, 7:00 PM, Collective Arts, 777 Dundas St W, $28.96, 19+
LITERARY
SANDY HUDSON ON DEFUND: BLACK LIVES, POLICING, AND SAFETY FOR ALL Jun\e 22, 3:00 PM, Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St W, $18
BOOK CLUB: DAYS OF ABANDONMENT BY ELENA FERRANTE June 22, 6:30 PM, TYPE Queen, 883 Queen St W, FREE
READING & AUTHOR SOCIAL WITH HOLLY FLAUTO, SOUVANKHAM THAMMAVONGSA & BARBARA TRAN June 23, 6:30 PM, Flying Books at Neverland, 371 Queen St W, FREE (RSVP Req’d)
AN AUTHOR SOCIAL WITH AURORA STEWART DE PEÑA June 24, 6:30 PM, Flying Books at Neverland, 372 Queen St W, FREE (RSVP Req’d)
JUNE BOOK CLUB: BEIRUT June 24, 7:00 PM, Another Story Bookshop, 315 Roncesvalles Ave, FREE
DRUNK FICTION: JEAN MARC AH SEN, SU CHANG (READ BY JOHNATHAN R. ROSE), EWAN WHYTE AND KERN CURRAN June 24, 6:00 PM, The Caledonian, 856 College St, FREE
ON WRITING A HEALTHY POLITICAL POEM: A READING IN SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE AND AGAINST GENOCIDE June 25, 6:00 PM, Virtual, FREE (RSVP req’d)
WHERE THE JASMINE BLOOMS – ZEINA SLEIMAN (WITH TENDISAI CROMWELL) June 25, 7:00 PM, Another Story Bookshop, 315 Roncesvalles Ave, FREE
KEEGAN MATHESON “THE FRANCHISE” June 26, 7:00 PM, Another Story Bookshop, 316 Roncesvalles Ave, FREE
GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS BOOK CLUB June 27, 12:00 AM, Penguin Random House Canada, 320 Front St W, suite 1400, FREE (RSVP req’d)
POETIC VOICES | REBIRTH July 5, 1:30 PM, Art Gallery of Mississauga, 300 City Centre Dr (Mississauga), FREE (RSVP req’d)
THE SCARBOROUGH POETRY CLUB PRESENTS JEEVAN BHAGWAT: THE RADHA POEMS July 12, 2:00 PM, Toronto Public Library – Agincourt Branch, 155 Bonis Ave, Register at branch or call 416-396-8943
BOOK LAUNCH – WE’VE GOT SOME THINGS TO SAY: RESHAPING NARRATIVES AROUND SEXUAL VIOLENCE July 12, 5:00 PM, Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave, By donation
BORN SACRED – SMOKII SUMAC (WITH HAJER MIRWALI & MAYSAM ABU KREIBEH) July 13, 5:00 PM, Another Story Bookshop, 316 Roncesvalles Ave, FREE
SUDDENLY THEY HEARD FOOTSTEPS: A STORYTELLING PROGRAM WITH DAN YASHINSKY July 16, 2:00 PM, Toronto Public Library – High Park Branch, 228 Roncesvalles Ave, For children ages 6 – 12 (in-person, drop-in), FREE
RUTH WARE ON THE WOMAN IN SUITE 11 July 17, 7:00 PM, Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St W, $18
ALL I NEED TO BE: STORYTIME WITH AUTHOR RACHEL RICKETTS July 19, 2:00 PM, Toronto Public Library – McGregor Park Branch, 2219 Lawrence Ave E, For pre-school children (in-person, drop-in), FREE
CARIBBEAN STORYTIME WITH YOLANDA T. MARSHALL July 21, 11:00 AM, Toronto Public Library – Amesbury Park Branch, 1565 Lawrence Ave W, Register in person or call 416-395-5420
ART X LIBERATORY DESTINATIONS July 23, 6:00 PM, Art Museum at the University of Toronto, 15 King’s College Circle, FREE (RSVP req’d)
POETRY READING: NIGHT GARDEN July 24, 6:00 PM, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, 231 Queens Quay West, FREE (RSVP req’d)
AUGUST BOOK CLUB – BABEL Aug 9, 2:00 PM, Bampot Tea House, 201 Harbord St, $18
THE FOLD FESTIVAL PRESENTS: R.F. KUANG Sep 15, 7:30 PM, The Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Ln, Brampton, Ticket: $18; Book + Ticket: $55
PERFORMANCE / THEATRE
AFTER THE RAIN Until June 22, Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave, $22-40
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: OVO Until June 28, The Pavillion, 2150 Lakeshore Blvd W, $74+
BEETLEJUICE Until July 19, CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St, $69-229
AN OAK TREE Until June 22, Various times, Jane Mallet Theatre, St Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St E, $59+
QUEER YOUTH CABARET (SOULPEPPER) Jun 20 & 21, 8:00 PM, Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Ln, $20-25
TO PALESTINE WITH LOVE June 22, 6:30 PM, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St, $18-53
LUCKY STIFF (CIVIC LIGHT OPERA COMPANY) July 2-27, Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen St E, $25
LADY P AND COOTER’S NEIGHBOURHOOD July 4, 7:00 PM, Hail Mary, 582 College St, $33.28+
ROMEO AND JULIET July 13 – Aug 31, High Park Amphitheatre, 1873 Bloor St W, $20-32.50
NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 July 15 – Aug 24, Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W, $69-149
SIX STRING: A HISTORY OF THE GUITAR July 18-27, Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Ln, $55 – $110
THE GOLDEN GIRLS July 26, 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM, Meridian Hall, 1 Front St E, $38.40-106.20 + fees
THE BASEMENT YARD EXPERIENCE Aug 5-7, 8:00 PM, Meridian Hall, 1 Front St E, $45.50-75.50 + fees
OLD TIMES Aug 6 – Sep 7, Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Ln, $55-115
KIM’S CONVENIENCE Aug 8-17 , Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Ln, $55-115
PERFORMANCE FESTIVALS
LUMINATO FESTIVAL Until June 22, various venues, FREE – $59
BUDDIES’ QUEER PRIDE 25 Until June 29, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St, FREE – $75
TORONTO OPERA FESTIVAL June 12-21, various times, Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst St, $22-58
TORONTO FRINGE FESTIVAL July 2-13, various times & venues, $18.75 per show
NEXT STAGE July 2-13, Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Ln, sliding scale ($28.75 and under)
TORONTO SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL July 9 – Aug 2, various venues, $20-102
SUMMER WORKS FESTIVAL Aug 7-17
UPFRONT FESTIVAL Aug 15-17, Berczy Park, 35 Wellington St E, FREE
FILM
TORONTO ARAB FILM FESTIVAL June 20-29, Various theatres, $16.79 tickets, 5-film pass $65, full pass $130, virtual pass $60
SLEEP WITH YOUR EYES OPEN June 26, 6:30 PM, TIFF Lightbox, 350 King St W, General: $17; Senior/Student: $14.50
STORIES WE TELL June 28, 3:00 PM, Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St W, $16.95
LOVE IN THE TIME OF HYSTERIA Jun 29, 6:30 PM, TIFF Lightbox, 350 King St W, General: $17; Senior/Student: $14.50
COEXISTENCE, MY ASS! June 29, 7:00 pm, Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Ave, $16.79
FRAGILE AS THE WORLD July 3, 8:30 PM, Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St W, FREE
TORONTO OUTDOOR PICTURE SHOW Jul 3 – Aug 24, Corcktown Common (Thursdays Jul 3 – Aug 7), Christie Pits; (Sundays Jul 6 – Aug 24), FREE
THE ENCAMPMENTS July 4, 6:00 PM, Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St W, General Admission: $16.95
40 ACRES July 4-10, Fox Theatre, 2236 Queen St E, $15.24
DEBUT, OR, OBJECTS OF THE FIELD OF DEBRIS AS CURRENTLY CATALOGUED July 6, 6:30 PM, Paradise Theatre, 1006c Bloor St W, Admission: $19.08; Student/Senior: $15.69
THE DOOM GENERATION July 7, 8:00 PM, Eyesore Cinema, 1176 Bloor Street W, $5
DOGTOOTH July 11, 12 & 16, Fox Theatre, 2236 Queen St E, $15.24
ISLAND OF LOVES July 17, 8:30 PM, Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St W, FREE
DAYS OF BEING WILD July 12, 8:00 PM, Paradise Theatre, 1006c Bloor St W, General: $19.08; Student/Senior: $15.69
SAFE July 28, 6:00 PM, North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St, FREE
WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR July 23, 8:00 PM, Paradise Theatre, 1006c Bloor St W, General: $19.08; Student/Senior: $15.69
EVE’S BAYOU Aug 2, 3:15 PM, TIFF Lightbox, 350 King St W, General Admission: $17; Senior/Student: $14.50
MULAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Aug 8-17
NOWHERE Aug 4, 8:00 PM, Eyesore Cinema, 1176 Bloor Street W, $5
LINGUA FRANCA Aug 20, 8:00 PM, Paradise Theatre, 1006c Bloor St W, General: $19.08; Student/Senior: $15.69
HARLAN COUNTY, U.S.A. Aug 26, 6:30 PM, TIFF Lightbox, 350 King St W, General: $17; Senior/Student: $14.50
TALKS, PROTESTS, WORKSHOPS
KISS & TELL: LESBIAN ART AND ACTIVISM June 18, 1:00 PM, City Hall Library, 100 Queen St W, FREE
SMOKE SIGNALS SCREENING AND Q&A June 18, 5:00 PM, Innis College, 2 Sussex St, FREE
DISTORTED REALITIES: MIS/DISINFORMATION IN MOVIES WITH ADAM NAYMAN June 19, 6:00 PM, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St, FREE
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION WITH POET RANDELL ADJEI June 19, 6:00 PM, PSAC Toronto boardroom, 90 Eglinton Ave E, FREE
PALESTINIAN YOUTH MOVEMENT & LABOUR FOR PALESTINE: ORGANIZE FOR A FREE PALESTINE TEACH-IN June 22, 1-4 PM, Downtown location with registration, FREE
ACHIEVING GREATER CULTURAL SAFETY IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH RESEARCH AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE WITH DR. NEL WIEMAN, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT THE FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AUTHORITY June 25, 4:00 PM, Online, FREE
HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE INEQUITIES, BOOK LAUNCH AND TALK WITH AUTHOR ARNEL BORRAS AND GUESTS WENDY PANAGOPOULOS, JOHN CLARKE, CARLES MUNTANER, DR. FREIDA CHAVEZ, ERROL SHARPE June 27, 7:00 PM, Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave, FREE
ABOLITION PRIDE (ORGANIZED BY NO PRIDE IN POLICING COALITION) June 29, 1:00 PM, Grange Park, FREE
TORONTO PRIDE PARADE Jun 29, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Starts at Rosedale Valley Rd & Park Rd, Culminates at Nathan Phillips Square, FREE
UPRISINGS & UPSETS: ANNUAL SUMMER WALKING TOUR SERIES June 27, July 11, Aug 8, Cathedral Church of St. James, 106 King St E, $15
VISUAL ARTS
THE MUSEUM OF HUMAN PREDATION AND THE ANIMAL REMEMBRANCE COMMISSION PRESENTS: THE FIRST DAWN: THE INTERSTELLAR SIGNAL THAT REMADE OUR WORLD Until June 29, Whippersnapper Gallery, 594 Dundas St W, FREE
FROM LORE TO FORESIGHT Until July 5, Patel Brown Gallery, 21 Wade Ave, #2, FREE
PROOF 31 Until July 5, Gallery 44, 401 Richmond St W, #120, FREE
TORONTO OUTDOOR ART FAIR July 11-13, Nathan Phillips Square, FREE
ONE STEP STILL MOVES US FORWARD Until Jul 18, Tangled Arts + Disability, 401 Richmond St W, #124, FREE
ANDREA CARLSON: A PAINTING IS A COIN / TISIGAN AAWI ZHOONYAA-WAABIK Until Aug 2, The Goldfarb Gallery, 83A York Blvd, FREE
TUẤN ANDREW NGUYỄN: WHEN WATER EMBRACES EMPTY SPACE Until Aug 2, The Goldfarb Gallery, 83A York Blvd, FREE
A VESSEL TO BEND WATER Until Aug 31, Art Gallery of Burlington, 1333 Lakeshore Rd, Burlington, FREE
TO DREAM OF OTHER PLACES Until Sep 14, The Power Plant, 231 Queens Quay W, FREE
THREADS OF REFUGE Until Dec 6 , Doris McCarthy Gallery, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trl, FREE
COMEDY
WORKING WOMEN – MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PALESTINIANS FUNDRAISER June 18, 8:00 PM, Wenona, 1069 Bloor St W, $12
HOODO HERSI: EXTRAORDINARY ALIEN June 20, 8:30 PM, Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St W, $50
FEMME FATALE COMEDY SHOW June 21 (weekly on Saturdays), 7:00 PM, The Comedy Lab, 298 Brunswick Ave, $20
BEER BEER COMEDY SHOW June 21 (weekly on Saturdays), 8:00 PM, SoCap Comedy Theatre, 154 Danforth Ave, 2nd floor, $22-27.50
GAY AF COMEDY PRIDE-STRAVAGANZA 2025 June 21, 3:00 PM, Campbell House Museum, 160 Queen St W, $33
KINGSTON HOUSE COMEDY June 22 (weekly on Sundays), 8:00 PM, The Kingston House, 676 Kingston Rd, $14
RECOMMENDED VIEWING June 26, 8:00 PM, Tallboys, 838 Bloor St W, $15
LAUGH SABBATH June 26 (weekly on Thursdays), 9:30 PM, Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St W, $18
MICHAEL BALAZO: INTERNATIONAL LOVER June 27, 8:00 PM, Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave, $12
BETH STELLING June 27 & 28, 12:00 AM, Comedy Bar Danforth, 2800 Danforth Ave, $35.75-45.75
HARD YAS IMPROV SHOW June 29, 7:00 PM, Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St W, $10-$15
ALL OF US ARE MINORITIES July 4, 8:30 PM, SoCap Comedy Theatre, 154 Danforth Ave, 2nd floor, $14
MISBEHAVING WITH NATALIE NORMAN July 5, 10:00 PM, Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St W, $25
THE DISASTER July 8, 8:00 PM, Wenona, 1069 Bloor St W, FREE
MANDATORY ATTENTION July 11, 10:00 PM, Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St W, $15
HASSAN PHILLS PRESENTS: WORK IN PROGRESS July 17 & 24, 12:00 AM, Comedy Bar Danforth, 2800 Danforth Ave, $28-35
C’MON GET UP July 17, 8:30 PM, Wenona, 1069 Bloor St W, $15
SKETCH COMEDY NIGHT @ RIVOLI July 27, 8:00 PM, Rivoli, 334 Queen St W, $12
SHOW DE COMEDIA EN ESPAÑOL Aug 1, 8:30 PM, Tallboys, 838 Bloor St W, $22.63
THE LITTLE MISS NORMAL SHOW! Aug 8, 10:00 PM, SoCap Comedy Theatre, 154 Danforth Ave, 2nd floor, $17
I WILL SAY THIS THOUGH Aug 15, 8:30 PM, Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St W, $18-$23
DEVON WALKER Aug 15 & 16, 12:00 AM, Comedy Bar Danforth, 2800 Danforth Ave, $30.75-40.75
This article appeared in the 2025 Summer issue.
