Singer-songwriter Whitney Rose.
A weekly feature that highlights the 10 best music happenings in Toronto. Here's what's on this week, Oct. 31 to Nov. 6.
Doobie Brothers On their new album Southland, the mellow-boogie veterans collaborate with top-flight country artists on classics such as Rockin' Down the Highway, which is what Toronto fans will need to do in order to see these guys. Oct. 31, 9 p.m. $51.95 to $81.45. Casino Rama, Rama, Ont., 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
Evil Dead: The Musical The front-row seats constitute a "splatter zone," but the lifeblood of this horror-in-the-woods parody involves the catchy-fun tunes. Oct. 31 to Nov. 9. $39.95 to $69.95. Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst St., 877-435-9849 or ticketfly.com.
Alcina From Opera Atelier, what is being billed as the Canadian premiere of a fully-staged period production of Handel's heartbreaking drama. To Nov. 1. $45 to $189. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge St., 1-855-622-2787 or ticketmaster.ca.
Whitney Rose A sweetheart of the rodeo in-the-making, the charismatic Queen Street country singer takes over the Cameron House front room on Saturdays for the next two months. Nov. 1, 8 p.m. PWYC. 408 Queen St. W., 416-703-0811 or thecameron.com.
Mounties Pop-rock super-trio Hawksley Workman, Hot Hot Heat's Steve Bays and Limblifter's Ryan Dahle revisit the 1980s with Thrash Rock Legacy, their brash and lively first album. Nov. 1, 9 p.m. $20. Lee's Palace, 529 Bloor St. W, 877-435-9849 or ticketfly.com.
Carlos Varela Jackson Browne and many, many Cubans are enthralled with this cult-folk hero from Havana. Nov. 2, 8:30 p.m. $25 to $30. Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., 416-588-0307 or lula.ca.
Usher His new album is now on hold, but the dancing R&B hit-maker hits the road nevertheless. Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. $56.25 to $195.75. Air Canada Centre, 50 Bay St., 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
Alex Pangman The swinging songbird calls her new album New, which might refer to the location of the recording (New Orleans), or it could be the second wind involved with the cystic fibrosis sufferer's second double-lung transplant. Nov. 2, 8:30 p.m. $22.50 to $25. Hugh's Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., 416-531-6604 or hughsroom.com.
Bahamas A special double bill features the imaginative Montreal folk-rockers the Barr Brothers opening for Bahamas, the breezy, slightly off-kilter guitarist and tunesmith otherwise known as Afie Jurvanen. Nov. 5, 8 p.m. $29.50. Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
Tanya Tagaq Originally scheduled for the Rivoli room, this show was moved to a larger venue when the Inuk throat singer nabbed this year's Polaris Music Prize for her avant-garde Animism album. Nov. 6, 9 p.m. $27. Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W., sixshooterrecords.com.
BOOKING AHEAD
Doug Paisley Nov. 7. Horseshoe Tavern, 877-435-9849 or ticketfly.com
A Tribe Called Red Nov. 7, Danforth Music Hall, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca
Daniel Lanois Nov. 8, Danforth Music Hall, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca
The Soul Motivators Nov. 8. Horseshoe Tavern, 877-435-9849 or ticketfly.com
Elizabeth Shepherd Nov. 15. Music Gallery, musicgallery.org
Adam Cohen Nov. 17. Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 416-973-4000 or harbourfrontcentre.com.
Bob Dylan Nov. 17 and 18. Sony Centre, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca
Lucinda Williams Nov. 20. Massey Hall, 416-872-4255 or masseyhall.com
Amelia Curran Nov. 22. Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 416-872-4255 or masseyhall.com
Cinderella: The Gags To Riches Family Musical Nov. 21 to Jan. 4, 2015. Elgin Theatre, 1-855-599-9090 or rosspetty.com
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life Nov. 25. Air Canada Centre, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca
Gordon Lightfoot Nov. 26 to 29. Massey Hall, 416-872-4255 or masseyhall.com
The Arkells Nov. 27 to 29. Danforth Music Hall, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca
Cat Stevens Dec. 1. Massey Hall, 416-872-4255 or masseyhall.com
The Hold Steady Dec. 10 to 13. Horseshoe Tavern, 877-435-9849 or ticketfly.com
John Mellencamp April 29, 2015. Hamilton Place Theatre, Hamilton, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca
John Mellencamp May 1 and 2, 2015. Sony Centre, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca
The Who Oct. 19 and 21, 2015. Air Canada Centre, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca
Brad Wheeler