Editor’s note: Click on image thumbnails to see the full photos!
Alanna Matty at the Cameron House
Style: folk, indie pop
Date: June 10, 2026
Performing on the elevated stage to a standing room only crowd, Alanna Matty’s songs of self- discovery and growth were magical. The audience arrived early and stayed late, clearly fans who knew her songs and enjoyed hearing them played live. Alanna Matty’s supporting musicians had a warm and friendly rapport with each other. This trusting collaboration gave her performance an incredible sparkle. Alanna presently lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but was very pleased to be back to her hometown here in Toronto for her NXNE set.
Siddartha at Trinity Common
Style: hip-hop, rap
Date: June 10, 2026
With smoothly delivered lyrics, well-matched to his backing tracks, Siddartha impressed the audience at the Trinity Common with a performance that included his most popular songs which are being released track by track throughout 2026. Siddartha grew up in the Heart Lake neighbourhood of Brampton, Ontario, a multicultural area from which he draws his inspiration for his sophisticated lyricism and rapping rhymes. Moving about effortlessly on the stage, his ability to inspire and involve the audience was evident.
Ama Louise at Cassette
Style: R&B
Date: June 11, 2026
Magnetic and majestic presence. Commanding and established lyrics. Bold and yet subtle musicality. These are just a few phrases that came to mind when Ama Louise took the stage at Cassette with a gorgeous performance of her songs. She maintained a warm and friendly poise, demonstrating her artistry with a deep sophistication. The classic venue was equally responsive: enthusiastic appreciation and applause for her style and repertoire.
iBXRHM at Poetry Jazz Cafe
Style: R&B, blues
Date: June 11, 2026
The Poetry Jazz Cafe is a special venue, designed with a purpose. It was established in 2010 to support and feature the next generation of jazz and blues musicians, as well as poetry artists in Toronto and beyond. Located in the West Queen West neighbourhood, the space invites introspection, creativity, and the exploration of new sonic frontiers. And on this stage, iBXRHM (ī-bē-RAHeem) sang beautifully from his catalogue of songs, including the first song he ever wrote to the delight of the audience. The energy in the room magnified and fully blossomed as iBXRHM’s performance steadily drew us in, inviting us to become immersed in his soundscape. The backing tracks were acoustically perfect: balanced high timbres with smooth low-frequencies, never overwhelming but certainly present to support the richness of the lyrics.
Kaeley Jade at the Rivoli
Style: folk, indie pop, indie rock
Date: June 11, 2026
On a pleasant mid-week evening at this Queen Street West neighbourhood venue, Kaeley Jade was scheduled as the opening act for the evening’s four bands on the concert bill. During her show, the small crowd steadily grew bigger and bigger in front of the stage at the Rivoli. Kaeley Jade’s performance also grew: her energetic and enthusiastic presence magically became both stronger and more intimate. Accompanied by her guitarist, Gabriel Gagnon, the duo played new songs from her recently released album, The Great Unknown, as well as crowd favourites such as “Poltergeist” (from her previous album, Turpentine). The sound system at the Rivoli was fantastic at revealing the complex harmonies and rhythms as Kaeley and Gabriel played their guitars and sang warmly together.
Zebra and the Bandit at the Phoenix Concert Theatre
Style: hard rock, reggae
Date: June 13, 2026
The high energy trio, Zebra and the Bandit, opened the show at the Phoenix on a hot summer Saturday night in downtown Toronto. With vocals and guitars by Rob Stripes, the percussionist Isaac Wild supplied the group’s hard rock beats, while bassist Aryan Heydski kept the low-frequencies filled with stunning bass line grooves. They played to a sold-out crowd, who were more than familiar with their music: the audience deeply appreciated the show, especially with the lighting sequences accenting the rhythms of the bass guitarist playing alongside the crisp and creative drumming and percussion.
