PANAMANIA Set to Take Over Toronto this July and August

Toronto’s over-flowing music scene is set to get even busier this summer thanks to the announcement of PANAMANIA. The arts and culture celebration runs in conjunction with the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games – running July 10-26 and August 7-15, respectively.

At a press event on Wednesday, organizers detailed the extensive programming that runs the gamut of music, theatre, dance, visual arts, and fashion. The PANAMANIA activity will be highlighted by free shows at Nathan Phillips Square, CIBC Pan Am Park at the Exhibition Grounds, and the Distillery District, as well as ticketed presentations (including 28 commissioned world premieres) happening across Toronto.

It’s great news for music fans who will have the opportunity to see headlining performances from acts representing Toronto’s rich cultural diversity. It’s not just Toronto artists that will take the stage though, with PANAMANIA roping in some major acts from across the 41 PASO member nations.

Included are performances by The Flaming Lips, The Roots, Janelle Monae, Death From Above 1979, Chromeo, Joel Plaskett Emergency, Lights, Half Moon Run, Cold Specks, Jully Black, Kassav’, Tanya Tagaq, Jann Arden, A Tribe Called Red, Explosions in the Sky, USS, Trombone Shorty, Colin James, Dragonette, ChocQuibTown, Ondatropica, Lila Downs, Luciano, Marie-Pierre Arthur, Café Tacvba, Antibalas, Charles Bradley & his Extraordinaires, Calle 13, Damien Robitaille, Radio Radio, BADBADNOTGOOD, Brigitte Boisjoli, and much more.

With 35 days of entertainment on the schedule, the programming is an exciting reminder of Toronto’s vibrant music scene – something the government and Pan Am organizers are eager to showcase. Speaking at the press event, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Coteau said: “The world will be looking at Ontario.”

To see the entire lineup, we have full listings at OntarioLiveMusic.ca.

More information on PANAMANIA can be found on the TO2015 site.