The best Vancouver concerts in July: The Weeknd, Katy Perry, Paul Simon and more

Vancouver Sun

5 days ago

The summer festival and concert tour circuit is busy as ever this July.
From international superstars to classic rock legends and some of B.C.'s top new talents, the range of genres and venues should make it easy to find something going on to get you out of the sun and into a show.
Here are some recommended choices for music fans of all styles:
When:
July 4-5
Where:
Holland Park, Surrey
Tickets and info:
fvdedinthepark.com
The EDM event that you can easily access from public transit is only one of the outstanding features of this two-day-long festival. The multistage configuration boasting top Canadian talent such as Kaytranada and international stars such as Tiësto and Disclosure and many others just makes it a dance-a-thon of current beats.
When:
July 4
Where:
Abbotsford Centre
Tickets and info:
Livenation.com
With his new album, In My Blood, due out July 25, fans can expect to hear plenty of new material from grizzled country music veteran
Cody Jinks
of Fort Worth, Tex., when he rides into town. The new tunes should sound just great alongside his signature Lefty Frizzell covers and more.
When:
July 5, 7 p.m.
Where:
Rickshaw Theatre, 254 East Hastings St., Vancouver
Tickets and info:
rickshawtheatre.com
With four albums to his credit, 23-year-old Vancouver artist Ekkstacy is rocketing up the ranks building on his breakout 2024 self-titled debut with the new album Forever. Blending classic emo sounds and pop hooks inspired by local heroes such as Japandroids, the live show is a highlight. Passion Mango opens.
When:
July 14
Where:
Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, University of B.C.
Tickets and info:
livenation.com
Japanese metal crew
Babymetal
may seem like a new act over in North America, but the band has been making its distinct style of Kawaii metal, also called cute metal, for 15 years. Su-Metal (clean vocals) and MoaMetal and MomoMetal (screaming) have developed a pyrotechnic dance-along headbanging presentation that appeals across borders. Ukraine's Jinjer, India's Bloodywood and U.S. crew Black Veil Brides round out this international bill.
When:
July 15-16, 7 p.m.
Where:
B.C. Place
Tickets and info:
ticketmaster.ca
Toronto artist
The Weeknd
has taken his alternative contemporary R&B from critically acclaimed mixtapes that club kids embraced to Super Bowl halftime appearances and global hits such as Blinding Lights to his sixth album Hurry Up Tomorrow that rolled out with a companion film of the same name featuring Wednesday-star Jenny Ortega and Irish star Barry Keoghan. Expect a lavish set and single-laden show from this concept-oriented artist on this tour with opener Playboi Carti.
When:
July 18
Where:
Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville St., Vancouver
Tickets and info:
Sold out
Outsider hip-hop trio Deltron 3030 includes producer Dan the Automator, rapper Del tha Funky Homosapien and DJ Kid Koala. The trio have collaborated on a number of different projects but gained international attention with the release of its 2000 concept album Deltron 3030. This incredibly rare anniversary performance is one for the books, which is why folks are hoping some more tickets get released the week of the show.
When:
July 18, 6 p.m.
Where:
Pacific Coliseum
Tickets and info:
ticketleader.ca
Indian composer, producer, songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist
A.R. Rahman
is a double Academy Award and Grammy-winner known for his many hit soundtracks for films ranging from Slumdog Millionaire and Danny Boyle's 127 Hours to 2022's Le Musk. He has collaborated with everyone from the London Symphony Orchestra to Mick Jagger, and performed at a White House state dinner for U.S. President Barack Obama in 2009. His performances are known for their high concept lighting, staging and dancing.
When:
July 22
Where:
Rogers Arena
Tickets and info:
ticketmaster.ca
After a four-year break between 2020's Smile and last year's 143,
Katy Perry
fans were more than ready to see the American chart-topper on a live concert stage once again. While the reception of her seventh album has been somewhat lukewarm, with the lead single Woman's World only reaching No. 65 on the Billboard Global 200, the album still charted in the top 10 in the U.S. and U.K., as well as eight other countries. Opening night of her latest concert tour was described by The
Houston Chronicle
as being 'two hours of pop, camp and celebration — Cirque du Soleil as sci-fi spectacle.
When:
July 25-27, 7 p.m.
Where:
Orpheum Theatre
Tickets and info:
ticketmaster.ca
Touring on his Grammy-nominated album Seven Psalms, legendary singer
Paul Simon
was looking at ending his performing career when he began to lose hearing in his left ear. Working with the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss and his production team, the artist arrived at a solution to make live performing possible again. Expect to hear the new record and a selection of classics from across his career in these shows.
When:
July 29
Where:
Rickshaw Theatre, 254 East Hastings St., Vancouver
Tickets and info:
rickshawtheatre.com
A supergroup comprising bassist
Tony Levin
, known for his work with everyone from Peter Gabriel and King Crimson to David Bowie and Pink Floyd, fellow King Crimson alumnus Pat Mastellato and German guitarist Markus Reuter. Since forming in 2010, the band has released nine studio and nine live albums featuring guests such as English violinist David Cross and jazz pianist Gary Husband. This is a must-see for progressive rock fans.
When:
July 31, 8 p.m.
Where:
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton St., Vancouver
Tickets and info:
livenation.com
Touring in support of his latest album, Mahashmashana,
Father John Misty
has honed in on some of the most soulful and orchestral music of his career. Songs such as the Dead Mouse are touching, folky ballads that sound like they strummed right out of Laurel Canyon in the early 1970s. He is joined by Lucinda Williams and Hamilton Leithauser on the tour.
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