2015 is going to be a great year for live music, with artists ranging from Bryan Adams to One Direction touring Canada. Start planning your music calendars now.
If your New Year’s resolution is to see more live music, then you’ve come to the right place! We’ve put together a month-by-month guide to all the live music tours coming to Canada this year. The artists range from classic hit makers like The Who and Fleetwood Mac to new emerging talent such as Sam Smith and 5 Seconds of Summer.
Starting in January:
Bryan Adams
Jan. 12-Feb. 28: The first big tour of 2015 comes from one of Canada’s most famous artists, Bryan Adams. He’ll be taking the Reckless Anniversary Tour on the road to mark 30 years since the original Reckless Tour in 1985. Get tickets.
The Tragically Hip
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Jan. 17-April 17: The Hip will tour Canada in 2015 ahead of the release of their forthcoming 13th studio album. Expect to hear a selection of classic hits and perhaps a preview of new material. Get tickets.
Sam Smith
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Jan. 20-Feb. 4: Don’t miss the chance to see the hottest new artist of the past year live. Following his six Grammy nominations, Sam Smith will be touring Canada with George Ezra as support on selected dates. Get tickets.
London Grammar
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Jan. 21-23: British electro-pop trio London Grammar have yet to hit the charts in Canada, but their success in the U.K. shows we’re missing out on something special. Check them out before they get huge here too. Get tickets.
Dallas Smith
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Jan. 21-Feb. 14: Canadian country singer Dallas Smith, originally famous as the lead singer of rock band Default, kicks off 2015 with a tour. This follows his sold-out 2013 joint tour with Bob Seger. Get tickets.
Phillip Phillips
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Jan. 30-31: Many talent show winners disappear without a trace, but not American Idol star Phillip Phillips. The singer-songwriter and guitar player is going strong with two top 10 albums under his belt. Get tickets.
Ben Howard
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Jan. 31-Feb. 14: Brit Award-winning artist Ben Howard released his second critically acclaimed album I Forget Where We Were in 2014, and he has a busy year ahead in 2015, touring the world to perform songs from the new record. Get tickets.
Starting in February:
Marilyn Manson
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Feb. 2-April 9: Controversial rocker Marilyn Manson releases his highly anticipated new album, The Pale Emperor, this month. Then the Hell Not Hallelujah Tour begins, with dates in the U.S. and Canada keeping him busy this spring. Get tickets.
Billy Idol
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Feb. 3-12: The Kings & Queens of the Underground Tour comes to Canada in February. The punk rock star, who released his autobiography in 2014, will be joined by his usual right-hand man, talented guitarist Steve Stevens. Get tickets.
Linkin Park
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Feb. 3-14: Linkin Park takes The Hunting Party Tour on the road in Canada for a short run in February. The Californian group will be celebrating an impressive 20 years together in 2016, and they just released their sixth album. Get tickets.
Fleetwood Mac
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Feb. 3-April 4: Fleetwood Mac is back to their most famous lineup, as Christine McVie rejoins the group for their 2015 tour. If you’re attending, expect to hear hits such as “Go Your Own Way,” “Landslide” and “The Chain.” Get tickets.
Stars
Image: Stars/Facebook.com
Feb. 5-21: One of Canada’s best indie bands is out on the road in February. Following their European tour, Stars will be back on home turf for dates at venues such as Montreal’s Métropolis and the Impérial de Québec. Get tickets.
Foreigner
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Feb. 7-March 25: After nearly 40 years together and several lineup changes, the band behind the global hit “I Want to Know What Love Is” is still going strong. Foreigner plays a series of dates in Canada this spring. Get tickets.
Joshua Radin
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Feb. 10-28: Joshua Radin is an American singer-songwriter whose acoustic-style music has soundtracked such TV shows as Grey’s Anatomy, Scrubs and American Idol. He has previously collaborated with Ryan Adams and Patty Griffin. Get tickets.
Sam Roberts Band
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Feb. 14-March 7: Rock singer Sam Roberts is taking his band on the road this year, following the 2014 release of his new album, Lo-Fantasy. Sam had the honour of performing at the 2010 Olympics and has won six Juno Awards. Get tickets.
Hozier
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Feb. 15-March 3: The artist behind “Take Me to Church” — one of the biggest songs of 2014 — is coming to Canada. Irish singer Hozier has been travelling the world non-stop for the past two years, winning fans wherever he goes. Get tickets.
Nickelback
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Feb. 17-March 15: You either love the band or hate them, but for Nickelback fans, 2015 is going to be a good year. Twenty years since the group formed, they’re going out on the No Fixed Address Tour, including nine Canadian dates. Get tickets.
More:Was Chad Kroeger your embarrassing ’90s crush?
Florida Georgia Line
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Feb. 19-20: 2014 was a huge year for country duo Florida Georgia Line, as they released their second album and won several prestigious music awards. Find out what all the fuss is about by checking out their 2015 tour. Get tickets.
Arkells
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Feb. 20-March 13: Juno Award-winning indie band Arkells are known for their busy touring schedule, and in the past they’ve played with acts like Lights and Metric. In 2015, it’s their turn to headline. Get tickets.
Chris Brown
Image: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
Feb. 24-25: Controversy seems to follow Chris Brown wherever he goes these days, but at his live show, we’re reminded of why he became so successful: a great voice, a back-catalogue to be proud of and some very cool moves. Get tickets.
Dan Mangan
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Feb. 27-March 6: Canadian indie artist Dan Mangan is embarking on the wittily named Club Meds Tour this spring. Expect a fun chat between songs, as Dan is a journalist as well as a singer and songwriter. Get tickets.
Starting in March:
St. Vincent
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March 3-4: Following a visit to Asia and Australia, St. Vincent returns home to North America in March. She’ll play two dates in Toronto at the Danforth Music Hall, one of the city’s most famous music venues. Get tickets.
Neil Diamond
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March 4-May 7: The man behind classics like “Sweet Caroline” is still performing around the world at the age of 73. Neil is famous for wearing colourful shirts at his concerts, so you can spot him even if you’re at the back! Get tickets.
Echosmith
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March 5-22: This bunch of teenage siblings from Los Angeles will amaze you with their mature talents. You’ll know them best for their catchy indie-pop song “Cool Kids,” which has spent 20 weeks on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. Get tickets.
Ariana Grande
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March 8-April 16: The career of Nickelodeon TV star-turned-pop princess Ariana Grande has gone from strength to strength in the past year. In 2015, she’ll be touring the world with British boy band Rixton as her special guest. Get tickets.
Taking Back Sunday
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March 13-14: Taking Back Sunday released their sixth album, Happiness Is, in 2014. Expect to hear new songs in addition to older hits such as “MakeDamnSure” and “Liar (It Takes One to Know One)” at their Canadian shows. Get tickets.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
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March 13-28: If you realized how much you love Lynyrd Skynyrd after seeing them perform on The Voice last month, then you can sing along to all their classic singles at their Canadian tour in March 2015. Get tickets.
Maroon 5
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March 16-29: Maroon 5 is known for their great live shows, and they also feature Sexiest Man Alive alumni Adam Levine. What more excuse do you need to get tickets to see their V Tour when it arrives in Canada in March? Get tickets.
More:Have you seen Maroon 5’s creepy “Animal” video?
Fifth Harmony
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March 17: Will Fifth Harmony be the next big girl band on Planet Pop? Check them out and decide for yourself when the X Factor U.S. stars brings their Reflection Tour to Toronto for a show at the city’s Sound Academy. Get tickets.
OK Go
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March 25-April 7: The band is best known for its creative music videos, but OK Go also puts on a fun live show. If you haven’t seen them live yet, then you’ll get your chance in 2015. They have six dates scheduled in Canada. Get tickets.
George Ezra
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March 27-April 15: George Ezra was one of the biggest new artists of 2014 in his home country of the U.K., and now his success is spreading overseas. If you love Ed Sheeran, you’ll soon be a fan of George Ezra too. Get tickets.
Starting in April:
Milky Chance
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April 3-May 23: You might think you don’t know Milky Chance, but if you listen to the radio, you’ll be familiar with their hit “Stolen Dance.” Their distinctive sound made the German duo one of the biggest new acts of 2014. Get tickets.
Damien Rice
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April 11: Eight years after his previous album, Damien Rice made an impressive comeback in 2014 with new album My Favourite Faded Fantasy. It hit No. 1 in his home country of Ireland and reached the top 10 here in Canada. Get tickets.
Def Leppard
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April 15-May 5: Did you used to rock out to Def Leppard in the ’80s and ’90s? The English group is still performing live, with a tour and a new album planned for 2015. Get nostalgic when they come to Canada in April and May. Get tickets.
Kodaline
Image: Carsten Windhorst/WENN.com
April 16-May 15: Another rising indie act from Europe will be paying Canada a visit this year. Following the success of their 2013 debut, Kodaline is set to release their second album this year, and fans can’t wait to hear it. Get tickets.
OneRepublic
Image: Ray Garbo/WENN.com
April 18-May 2: Ryan Tedder is hugely successful as a songwriter for other artists, but he’s also enjoying hit after hit with his band, OneRepublic. You’ll hear tracks such as “Counting Stars” on their 2015 tour. Get tickets.
John Mellencamp
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April 29-July 18: Did you know John Mellencamp has been in the music business for 38 years? At 63, he still has fans around the world. John is known for his simple, honest lyrics, so Plain Spoken was the perfect name for his new album. Get tickets.
Starting in May:
Luke Bryan
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May 1-7: Luke Bryan is country music’s golden boy, and after nine years in the business, he’s bigger than ever. In 2014, he picked up the Entertainer of the Year award at the CMAs and played himself in the TV show Nashville. Get tickets.
Iggy Azalea
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May 3: It’s a great time for strong female artists in hip hop, with Iggy Azalea, Nicki Minaj and others ruling the charts. Iggy is an energetic live performer, taking dancers and a DJ on tour with her. Get tickets.
U2
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May 14-July 7: Apple caused controversy in 2014 when it sent U2’s album for free to all iTunes users. Not everyone was happy when it downloaded automatically! However, it will only be fans in attendance at the band’s 2015 tour. Get tickets.
Starting in June:
Lana Del Rey
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June 3-4: The stylish and beguiling Lana Del Rey visits Canada this summer. She’ll be playing two dates at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre in Toronto and the Bell Centre in Montreal. Get tickets.
Starting in July:
Taylor Swift
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July 7-Oct. 3: She started out in country, but now Taylor Swift is a fully fledged pop icon. Her new album 1989 is a huge hit, and she’ll be performing tracks such as “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space” at her 2015 tour. Get tickets.
Foo Fighters
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July 8-Sept. 11: The Seattle band formed by former Nirvana member Dave Grohl has headlined some of the world’s biggest festivals and played huge outdoor concerts. This year they’ll perform in Toronto, Vancouver and more. Get tickets.
Miranda Lambert
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July 9: Country-pop star Miranda Lambert is famous for her feisty lyrics and catchy tunes. Last year she had a hit with “Somethin’ Bad,” her collaboration with Carrie Underwood, and she’ll play a one-off gig in Calgary. Get tickets.
Blake Shelton
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July 10: Performing the night after Miranda Lambert at the Scotiabank Saddledome will be her husband, fellow country star Blake Shelton. Blake is known as a coach on The Voice and has had two top 10 albums in Canada. Get tickets.
Jason Aldean
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July 11: The third night of country music at the Scotiabank Saddledome this July will be headlined by Jason Aldean. He’s collaborated with Kelly Clarkson and Luke Bryan, and his latest album was a No. 1 hit. Get tickets.
One Direction
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July 17-Sept. 9: The biggest boy band in the world is coming to Canada this summer. They’ve been touring almost non-stop for the past few years, and the British five-piece has come a long way since “What Makes You Beautiful.” Get tickets.
Keith Urban
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July 22: You might know him as an American Idol judge and husband to Nicole Kidman, but Keith Urban is also one of the best country artists around. He’ll be playing songs from his Fuse album at his summer show in Edmonton. Get tickets.
5 Seconds of Summer
Image: Dan Jackman/WENN.com
July 25-Aug. 25: They’ve toured the world with One Direction, but now Australian pop-rockers 5SOS are a huge band in their own right. They’re embarking on their first major headline tour in 2015, with four dates in Canada. Get tickets.
Starting in September:
The Who
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Sept. 29-Oct. 21: Can you believe The Who has been together for 50 years? To celebrate, the band is going out on a special tour, entitled The Who Hits 50. Make sure you see Roger and Pete live before they retire. Get tickets.
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