Toronto

Two months back, I talked you through the transfer process at Toronto’s Pearson. One way to bypass some of these difficulties is by flying one of the WestJet “Simplicity” routes, which are their short haul services between Toronto and either New York, Ottawa or Montreal. They promise priority access in the queue, a snack with…

On Saturday night, New York trio Yeasayer hit Toronto, Canada for the third date of their Erotic Reruns North American tour – celebrating the group’s fifth full length record of the same name. Along the ride for the first few weeks of this tour are Olympia based outfit Oh, Rose. The Washington quartet reeked of beauty;…

It it feels like Sydney trio Middle Kids haven’t stopped touring the globe over the last few years, you’re probably not wrong. It’s been one success after another for the group – and a lot of it has been happening quietly overseas. Currently, the troupe are on the road in North America supporting Local Natives,…

Last night in Toronto, Canada, iconic New York group The Strokes officially kicked off their 2019 tour – their first since 2017. The headline show was a part of the band’s “global comeback” that also saw the group play a surprise, intimate warm up show in Los Angeles earlier this month. The gig, which kicked…

Back in 2009, a band by the name of Passion Pit – hailing from Boston, Massachusetts – made waves around the world with their debut LP Manners, just as their debut EP Chunk of Change had done the year prior with tracks like “Sleepyhead” and my personal favourite, “Cuddle Fuddle”. But Manners was truly a…

Fresh off the release of the first part of their two part record Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost, UK quartet Foals are on a world tour that tonight saw them play Toronto venue Rebel supported by Canada’s Preoccupations and Atlanta outfit Omni. First up, three piece Omni were singing songs with entertaining lyrics like…

Late last year, I flew with Canadian carrier WestJet from Halifax, Nova Scotia to LA via Toronto. It’s a long journey – about as far from one side of North America to the other as you can get. And there’s no way to do it direct. You start off with a two hour flight from Halifax…

In a spontaneous, last minute decision, tonight I attended the latest arena spectacular by rock legends Muse in Toronto, Canada. The show comes off the back of their latest record Simulation Theory, with the tour in question given the same name. Hype articles have been floating around over the last few weeks talking about how the current arena show…

Located “just three kilometres from downtown Toronto”, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport sits on an island off the city’s centre; accessible by ferry or a relatively new underground walkway. And it may just be the world’s most conveniently located airport, as they go out of their way to make sure every passenger feels like a…

We got the chance to experience Taylor Swift in Toronto this weekend, and in anticipation of her imminent tour of Australia, we’re counting down the 5 reasons its a show not to be missed… and a look at the songs she played along the way. Indoor fireworks!! Selling out Toronto’s Rogers Centre two nights in…

We got the chance to experience Taylor Swift in Toronto this weekend, and in anticipation of her imminent tour of Australia, we’re counting down the 5 reasons its a show not to be missed… and a look at the songs she played along the way. Indoor fireworks!! Selling out Toronto’s Rogers Centre two nights in…

Toronto was home to the incredible stadium Taylor Swift’s Reputation tour featuring Charli XCX and Camila Cabello last night, and ahead of her October/November tour in Australia, our photographer Anthony Smith captured all the action:  

It was Christmas night in Abu Dhabi, and a surprise Business Class upgrade at the gate (thanks to my Platinum Velocity Status and an overbooked aircraft) was nothing less than a Christmas miracle. It’s nothing short of a dream for a 14 hour flight – among the longest in the world. My first time flying…

There’s a warmth to the approach by the Doubletree by Hilton brand – though maybe I’m just blinded by the warm chocolate chip cookie they give every guest on check in. But it’s that sort of consistency – cookies, comfortable rooms, soothing colour schemes – that has made them the sort of chain that people become…

Kimpton Hotels continue to expand its Boutique luxury accommodation around the world, with the opening of a brand new hotel in Music City USA, Nashville, last month and plans for a Toronto, Canada location mid-2018. Making its debut in the heart of Nashville’s lively Midtown neighbourhood, the Kimpton Aertson Hotel opened its doors on the…

While out in the decidedly colder climates of Toronto recently, we managed to link up with Tasmanian group, Heart Beach. One of the local Aussie highlights of this year’s Canadian Music Week, the band filled us in on their time in the city and what their plans are for moving the band forward in 2017. Welcome to…

We’re a little over a month away from one of the year’s biggest music festivals and conferences, Canadian Music Week, which will be taking over the city of Toronto in Canada for six days of live music, comedy, panels and more. A slew of artists have been announced in recent weeks, and among those revealed…

Australian distributor Sharmill Films have acquired standout Toronto Film Festival offering Lady Macbeth.  The film is a Gothic tale of a young woman trapped in a marriage of convenience in 19th century England. Much like the original Lady Macbeth, her actions leave in their wake a maelstrom of murder, mayhem and mystery on a country estate….

Sing, the latest film from Illumination Studios (Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets) had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, ahead of its Boxing Day release. The animated film sees Buster, a koala, holding a singing competition in his home town in order to save his theatre. Sing stars Matthew McConaughey, Reese…

This year’s Canadian Music Week gave Melbourne artist Woodes (aka Elle Graham) the opportunity to not only introduce herself to some newcomers to her music, but to also embark on her first ever run of shows overseas. A talented songwriter and producer, Woodes’ time in Toronto brought her a solid response, not to mention the benefits of being…

In the past, we’ve described Sydney’s Betty & Oswald as “having their own brand of music– a swirling blend of jazz, cabaret, folk and something a little more slippery.” Now, they bring their international adventures home with them in the form of one awesome and insightful travel diary for AU Abroad. Enjoy all the behind-the-scenes…

Melbourne singer/songwriter HOWQUA shares with us his journey through Canada for Canadian Music Week, his introduction to international touring and more. We tag along for his experiences in Canada, his visit to Movember headquarters in the Toronto, his last minute invitation to perform and his time spent with his friends.  Beanie face crosses the seas It…

When Kingswood returned from Canadian Music Week in Toronto, they shared with us their experiences on the road. From an intense game of oversized Jenga, giant pizza, and maple bacon donuts, to Niagara Falls and the upside down house, the band share their adventures and funny stories for us to enjoy.  If you have ever been to Bigsound in…

Last year, Adelaide avant-pop band Ghyti took their particular brand of alternative rock to Toronto for the Canadian Music Week festival. They have written a detailed yet entirely unreliable account of the tour, and sent it to us with a selection of grainy smartphone photos. Behold! DAY 1 Flying. Lots of flying. Once upon a time,…

For songstress Lisa Crawley, Canadian Music Week represented a week full of music discovery and education (as it does for many delegates); as a performer, she was able to perform for some great crowds, learn from some brilliant industry minds and even come away from the experience with an Uber story like most of us…

AU Abroad is taken to North America with South Australia’s olivers army from the time they played at Canadian Music Week. They share with us their experiences playing shows in Toronto and the USA, plus reflect on overeating Mexican delicacies and visiting the Smorgasburg Markets for some sausages courtesy of the great… well, actually we’ll let you find out for yourself….

A little less than a year ago, to coincide with the Toronto Pan American Games, the Canadian city finally upgraded the public transport options between their major International Airport, Pearson, and the city’s primary train station in the centre of town, Union – introducing an express train service dubbed the UP (Union Pearson Express). Before, you had…

Along his journey to Canadian Music Week in Toronto last year – which is just about to return for 2016 – Aussie musician Ash Grunwald encountered electric bicycles, cars, plenty of waves and the contrast of rural Nicaragua and the USA. He’s shared these and more stories with us from his time over the pond… Having a beer…

For Toronto based band Fast Romantics, 2016 is set to be a year of introductions.  We met up with songwriters Matthew Angus and Kirty at SXSW, where the excitement surrounding their forthcoming new album has followed them from Toronto and New York (where a lot of the material was worked on), to Austin. Following their own creative direction even more than…

This May, we’ll be heading over to the annual music festival and conference Canadian Music Week, held in the fine city of Toronto. Last week, we let you in on the best ways to get to Toronto from Australia, and now today we’re taking you through a day in the fine city. What to do, where to…