Ian Young

The Canadian synthpop sensations Purity Ring delivered an unreal audiovisual spectacle at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle last week. Crafty lighting rigs, smoke machines, and elaborate costumes all accompanied the duo’s signature sound, which included a heavy dose of tracks off 2020’s Womb as well as breakthrough album Shrines, which turns 10 years old this year. Scroll through for the full highlights.

Alternative pop icon Tori Amos – armed with dueling piano and keyboard set-ups – delivered an enchanting performance at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. She charmed the crowd with tracks off her latest album Ocean to Ocean as well as some of her greatest hits like “Precious Things,” “Juárez” and “Cornflake Girl.” Scroll through for the full highlights.

Veteran Canadian electronic rock band Holy Fuck wowed the crowd with a tight performance at Wild Buffalo in Bellingham, WA. The Georgia-based rapper, activist and PhD Linqua Franqa delivered a spirited opening set just before. Scroll through for the highlights.

Nilüfer Yanya, riding the high of her incredible latest album Painless, had the crowd swooning during her set at Vancouver’s Fortune Social Club behind her intricate mix of indie, pop, jazz and soul. Rising Chicago artist Tasha delivered a dynamic opening set as well.

Oklou opened the evening with a handful of lush and dreamy pop songs that perfectly set the stage for the main event. Caroline Polachek, who has been dropping jaws all over the U.S. on her recent tour, delivered a set full of hits as well as excellent covers of the Corr’s “Breathless” and Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” – which she performed together with Oklou.

Popscene presented another poppin’ pop party at Rickshaw Stop on Tuesday night, with a bill featuring San Fransico’s own SUMif, who played their first show since the pandemic began, and Phoenix’s UPSAHL, a three-time Popscene veteran headlining for the first time.

Plenty of fun was had at Super Bock em Stock: running around a beautiful city and checking out new venues (a former Moorish palace! A train station! An art deco cinema!), discovering new bands, eating pork sandwiches, and of course drinking the namesake Super Bock beer made for a memorable weekend.

Despite Iceland Airwaves’ late cancellation, there was still plenty of awesome live music to take in as well as incredibly beautiful sights to see. Scroll through to check it all out.

Japanese Breakfast – the indie rock band led by Michelle Zauner – delivered a spectacular performance this past weekend on the first of three sold out nights at Seattle’s Neptune Theatre. Zauner & co. played a bunch of tracks off her excellent latest LP ‘Jubilee’ as well as material from ‘Sable’ – the recently released videogame that she scored. The Toronto musician Luna Li opened the show.

Philadelphia indie punks Mannequin Pussy – one of the best bands in the game and currently supporting their recent Perfect EP – thrilled fans with a throttling set at Schubas Tavern in Chicago. Meanwhile, the promising Baltimore pop-punk up-and-comers Pinkshift delivered a fiery opening set of their own. Scroll through for the full ride.

Still riding high off his stunning debut album Live Forever, the shapeshifting Washington D.C.-based indie rocker Bartees Strange tore it up onstage at the Pitchfork Music Festival after show at Empty Bottle. It was a treat for die-hard Chicago fans who weren’t able to make it to the fest, and a magical double dose for the lucky ones who did.