Bruno Mars’ 5 Toronto shows among ‘busiest summer’ concert season yet

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Toronto’s outdoor concert season officially kicks off this week as both the newly renamed RBC Amphitheatre and Rogers Stadium open for business on Thursday and Saturday, respectively, with shows by Imagine Dragons and Bruno Mars.

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“It’s a very robust and very serious schedule for Toronto music fans this summer,” said Erik Hoffman, the president of Music (Canada) at Live Nation Entertainment.

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He said both venues are about to enjoy record seasons with Mars – the undisputed concert king this summer – performing five shows to open Rogers Stadium for its second year in operation.

“It’s record-breaking in terms of show count,” Hoffman said. “At the amphitheatre we’re going to be anywhere from 85-90 shows (up) from 73 last year. And so that’s the busiest, largest amphitheatre in North America.”

“And then the (Rogers) Stadium we’re at 20 shows now. It’s the busiest summer we’ve ever had.”

This despite what the New York Post’s Page Six calls “blue dot fever” – indicating a high number of concert tickets available via blue dots when you go on TicketMaster’s site – that allegedly led to both Meghan Trainor and the Pussycat Dolls cancelling their summer treks, including June 16 and July 3 stops, respectively, at the RBC Amphitheatre.

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Post Malone and Jelly Roll also postponed the first three weeks of their tour but are still coming to Rogers Stadium on June 16.

“We are not victims of the blue dot (fever) here in Toronto,” Hoffman said. “But sometimes people make decisions around their tours and if affects the whole tour. There are no sales concerns for us in Toronto.”

Noah Kahan and Foo Fighters among the big summer tickets

Hoffman said other hot selling Toronto shows besides Mars are Luke Combs, June 5-6, Noah Kahan, June 28, Foo Fighters, Aug. 4, Usher and Chris Brown, Aug. 11-12, BTS, Aug. 22-23, Chris Stapleton, Aug. 6 and Sept. 1, and AC/DC, Sept. 16 – all at Rogers Stadium in Downsview.

Also a huge deal concert-wise is the return of Toronto prog-rock outfit Rush with new female drummer Anika Nilles filling in for Neil Peart, who passed away in 2020, as the hometown heroes play four shows at Scotiabank Arena on Aug. 7, 9, 11 and 13.

“I’m so thrilled for them,” Hoffman said. “Obviously to have those shows in Toronto – those will be incredible nights.”

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And after some first year operating kinks at Rogers Stadium concerning transit, parking, egress, bathrooms, water and traffic, the second year should go a lot smoother.

“The TTC is still the quickest and easiest way to get to the venue, that said we have added parking on site – a limited amount – but increased from last year,” said Nathalie Burri, senior vice president of operations at Live Nation Canada.

“The goal is that everything is pre-purchased so patrons will have the opportunity to buy parking in advance online.”

As for traffic, Burri said they’ve added a connection point from the concert site out to Allen Rd., “which get cars off of the south end of our site out the east end.”

“We’re trying to limit the traffic on Beffort, which was the road that runs parallel to the neighbourhood,” she said. “We’ve added some new pedestrian pathways. And our goal is to route traffic away from residential areas.”

As for better access to water and bathrooms on site, Burri said this year’s there’s a new app for Rogers Stadium downloadable through the Apple Store Google Play to “help you navigate when you arrive,” and better signage.

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Burri also said there’s a new pathway that will make Sheppard West subway station “a lot more accessible at the beginning of the night and at the end of the night so we’re going to try to split the crowds a bit more easily between the three stations (including Downsview Park and Wilson) that service us.”

Festivals returning and new ones

Returning music festivals include Luminato (June 3-28), NXNE (June 10-14), Toronto Jazz Festival (June 19-28), and VELD Music Festival at Downsview Park (July 31-Aug. 2).

There’s also the second edition of the All Things Go Festival with Kesha and The Beaches headlining on June 6 and Lorde headlining on June 7 at the RBC Amphitheatre.

“It’s got a great inclusive message that does celebrate the LGBTQ community, it celebrates women, and it’s a very contemporary, updated version,” Hoffman said. “And it’s really striking a chord. It will be sold out.”

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Meanwhile, OVO Fest, typically put on by Toronto rapper Drake at the RBC Amphitheatre during the Caribbean Carnival, which runs July 30-Aug. 3 this year, is still a big question mark after not returning last year.

“I’m not in the business of speculating or commenting on Drake’s plans,” Hoffman said. “Whenever he wants to come and do something, we’re very happy to take the call.”

Hoffman does confirm there will be no shows at the RBC Amphtitheatre during FIFA World Cup games across the street at BMO Field in June and July.

“We decided that we wouldn’t play a show on match day,” he said. “It was just common sense.”

Out at Burl’s Creek in Oro-Medonte, Ont., from Aug. 7-9, is the 15th edition of the Boots and Hearts Music Festival with such diverse headliners as the Jonas Brothers (Friday), The Dixie Chicks (Saturday) and Rascal Flatts (Sunday).

“We’re really proud of the 15th year,” said Brooke Dunford, the director of booking and business development for Republic Live Inc. who put on the music and camping festival every summer.

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“I think we’re not afraid to take risks and listen to our fan base. Probably the most important thing to us is to create moments that have never happened before. So even with touring increasing and more shows you still need to build something that a fan can say, ‘I’ve never ever seen those two play together. I’ve never had the chance on one weekend to go see all these different types of artists.’”

For this year’s festival, Dunford is predicting fans will witness the Jonas Brothers come together with country Russell Dickerson for their collaboration, I Dare You.

“I think diversifying your fan base and allowing for an experience to be something that has a little bit for everyone does help,” she said.

New this year, which requires a free ticket to enter, is the 2026 FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York and The Bentway (June 11–19) featuring performances by Alessia Cara, Deborah Cox, Walk off the Earth, Murda Beatz, Shawn Desman, and k-os, with Kardinal Offishall leading a “Soundclash Society” house band.

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Meanwhile, Cara, Feist, Broken Social Scene, and Paul Langlois (The Tragically Hip) all play TOgether on June 6 at Nathan Phillips Square, which is a free, all-day music and wellness festival with a goal of raising $1 million for for UHN and Michael Garron Hospitals.

JANE’S TOP TEN SUMMER CONCERT PICKS

– Bruno Mars, May 23-24, May 27-29, May 30, Rogers Stadium,

– Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, June 7, OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino

– Jack White, July 14, RBC Amphitheatre

– Foo Fighters with Queens of the Stone Age, Aug. 4, Rogers Stadium

– Guns N’ Roses, Aug. 5, Rogers Stadium

– Chris Stapleton, Aug. 6 and Sept. 1, Rogers Stadium

– Rush, Aug. 7, 9, 11 and 13, Scotiabank Arena

– The Chicks, Aug. 8, Boots and Hearts Music Festival, Burl’s Creek

– Robyn, Sept. 15, Scotiabank Arena

– AC/DC, Sept. 16, Rogers Stadium

jstevenson@postmedia.com