#NEWMUSIC: SIMPLE PLAN ANNOUNCE “BIGGER THAN YOU THINK!” TOUR

Immediately after launching their “Bigger Than You Think!” tour, multi-platinum rock band Simple Plan’s tour title proved itself by selling out their Toronto show within an hour of today’s general on-sale. Their first Toronto headline show in almost 10 years, the band will play at the RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto this summer, bringing their energetic pop-punk sound to 16,000 fans at the city’s premier outdoor venue on Thursday, August 20th. The Toronto show will feature a reunion with longtime friends Marianas Trench, as well as Bowling for Soup and 3OH!3 as supporting acts.

Simple Plan shares, “After more than nine years since our last headline show in Toronto, we weren’t exactly sure what to expect, but this is beyond any of our wildest hopes. To sell out the RBC amphitheatre so fast on the day our show goes on sale is absolutely incredible and a confirmation that Toronto is such a special place for our band, truly a second home. We would like to thank all of our amazing fans in Toronto for making this possible and supporting us from day 1. We would also love to give a huge shout out to our great friends Marianas Trench for joining us, along with the amazing Bowling For Soup and 3O3!H guys for making this such a phenomenal lineup.

There’s nothing like playing in our home country, and we can’t wait for this summer! See you at the show!”

Produced by Live Nation Canada, the show is set to take place while the band is on the road, headlining the 2nd leg of their “Bigger Than You Think!” Tour throughout the US. Kicking off Friday, July 24th, in Las Vegas, the “Bigger Than You Think! – The Sequel!” Tour continues Simple Plan’s 25th-anniversary celebrations with the kind of all-gas-no-brakes live show that has cemented the band as one of pop punk’s most beloved acts for more than two decades. Delivering a career-defining setlist including hits like I’m Just a Kid, Welcome to My Life, Summer Paradise, Perfect and many more. See below for the full Bigger Than You Think Tour US tour dates.

2026 IT’S BIGGER THAN YOU THINK! TOUR – THE SEQUEL! TOUR DATES:

Simple Plan will donate $1 from each ticket sold on this tour to the Simple Plan Foundation. Established in 2005, the Simple Plan Foundation focuses on helping young people in need and showcasing the power of music as a tool to find purpose and direction in life. Since its inception, the Simple Plan Foundation has donated over $3M to various charitable causes and has been awarded many prestigious distinctions for its philanthropic work.

The band recently released “Simple Plan: The Kids in the Crowd,” a 90-minute Amazon Prime documentary chronicling the 25-year career of the Canadian pop-punk band. The film features archival footage, interviews with band members and peers like Avril Lavigne and Mark Hoppus, and covers their journey from Montreal basements to global stardom. Available for streaming here.

ABOUT SIMPLE PLAN

For more than two decades, SIMPLE PLAN has been one of the most culturally and commercially successful bands in rock. Their multi-platinum 2002 debut album, No Pads, No Helmets… Just Balls bore the smash singles “I’d Do Anything,” “I’m Just A Kid,” “Addicted” and “Perfect,” while subsequent hits “Welcome To My Life,” “Summer Paradise,” “Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me?),” “Shut Up!” and “What’s New Scooby-Doo?” have cemented their legacy as pop-punk legends. In all, the Montreal-formed quartet has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, captivated the main stages of the Vans Warped Tour and When We Were Young, performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics and with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, sold out shows around the world and raised more than $3 million through the Simple Plan Foundation. Their videos have garnered more than a billion YouTube views, while their inescapable social media presence driven another billion views on the viral #ImJustAKid Challenge alongside videos from *NSYNC, Ed Sheeran, and Venus and Serena Williams. Last year, they celebrated their landmark 25th anniversary with their biggest year yet, anchored by a career-spanning documentary on Amazon Prime Video, worldwide amphitheater and arena tours with Avril Lavigne and The Offspring and their most ambitious headlining trek in 20 years, the Bigger Than You Think! Tour. Can find the one sheet for Simple Plan here.

#SPOTTED: CARLY RAE JEPSEN, GORDON LIGHTFOOT AND MORE HONOURED AT 25TH ANNUAL SOCAN AWARDS

Hot on the heels of last night’s MuchMusic Video Awards, the 25th annual SOCAN Awards honouring accomplishments across multiple genres in Canadian Music. Held by the Waterfront at the Westin Harbour Castle, some of the Country’s most accomplished Musical Acts, Songwriters, Producers, Lyricists and more came out to celebrate their peers.

The likes of Dragonette, Ovi, Serena Ryder, Tom Cochrane, Carly Rae Jepsen, Gowan, Johnny Reid, Alan Frew (Glass Tiger), Mia Martina, Walk off the Earth, Magic, Josh Ramsay (Marianas Trench), Kardinal Offishall and more were in attendance, the Star of the evening was Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Gordon Lightfoot, who graciously walked the Red Carpet, taking his time fielding media questions. “Thank you for appreciating my music”, he was overheard saying. “I love to work!”.

The Belle of the Ball certainly was a recently back-from-Broadway (she starred in Cinderella) Jepsen who is working on her second major label album. “I’d have to say some of Tegan and Sara‘s stuff”, she says when asked which Canadian Song she wishes she had written.  She and the Team of Tavish Crowe and Josh Ramsay received the International Achievement Award for their Smash, Call Me Maybe.

Hip-Hop Megastar Drake also was honoured with the Global Inspiration Award, helping spark the careers of dozens of Songwriters, Beat-Makers and Producers.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#MMVAs: MARIANA’S TRENCH WIN “VIDEO OF THE YEAR” AT THE 2013 MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS

Canadian Music was front and center at the 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards, the annual Spectacle held at the Station’s Queen Street Headquarters and among tonight’s top Winners were Canadian Rappers Drake and Classified, in addition to Pop-Rock Outfit, Mariana’s Trench.  Hosted by Korean Pop Sensation PSY, Fans did not walk away disappointed as he danced and sang his way to the hearts of Canadians, with two high-energy performances of his Singles Gangnam Style and Gentleman respectively.

After being spotted arriving in Toronto at his Condo by Fans just after 8:00 PM tonight, Drake scooted over to MuchMusic right away to pick-up his Awards for both Director of the Year and Hip-Hop Video of the Year with his recent Single, Started from the Bottom.

Meanwhile, Nova Scotia-born Classified took home Video of the Year and MuchFact Video of the Year with Inner Ninja, his Collaboration with David Myles.  In total, he has earned five MMVAs in his Career.

Likewise, Mariana’s Trench who performed tonight in Dress Shirts and Underwear, also notched their fifth MMVA, winning Pop Video of the Year with Desperate Measures and Your Fave Video with Stutter.

After making their way to Toronto  for the Awards Show, Demi Lovato, Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift all were rewarded tonight.   Swift was awarded Your Fave International Artist or Group by Fans, saying in her Speech “Thank you to MuchMusic for playing Videos”, a statement which many might dispute about the Station.  This is Swift‘s first MMVA.

Lavigne won International Video of the Year by a Canadian with Here’s To Never Growing Up.  Several are reporting that the Singer may be pregnant, fueled further by lots of purple smoke being blown during her Performance tonight and a heavy focus on Close-Up Shots.  Lovato who performed tonight with fine vocals, won International Video of the Year – Artist with Heart Attack.  She is expected to fly out for a taping of The X Factor tomorrow.

For a complete list of Winners, click here.

Missed the MMVAs? Watch them here.

See my Snaps of some of the Stars around town this weekend here!

(Photo credit: Steve Haining and Sandra Elford)

#MMVAS: MARIANA’S TRENCH LEADS THE WAY WITH SIX NOMINATIONS AT 2013 MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS

The Nominees are in! The 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards are just a month away and all Contenders were confirmed earlier today. Leading the Pack this year with six nominations is Mariana’s Trench including coveted Video of the Year (Desperate Measures) and Pop Video of the Year (Stutter).

Not to be outdone, Toronto’s v. own Drake tallies in second with five nominations including Hip Hop Video of the Year and Video of the Year with his recent Single, Started from the Bottom.

Up for International Artist of the Year is a competitive field which includes: P!nk, One Direction, Taylor Swift and recently-announced Performers Demi Lovato and PSY.

Click here for a full list of Nominees!

The 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards air Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 9:00 PM EST on Fuse and MuchMusic.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#JUNOS: CARLY RAE JEPSEN WINS TOP HONOURS AT 2013 JUNO AWARDS

Carly Rae Jepsen was the big Winner at tonight’s JUNO Awards in Regina.  The 28 year-old-Singer/Songwriter swept in three major categories for which she was nominated, including: Album of the Year (Kiss), Single of the Year (Call Me Maybe) and also Pop Album of the Year (Kiss).  The Awards were hosted by Crooner Michael Bublé.

Beliebers, as much as they have supported Jepsen after their Idol helped expose her internationally, would not be shut-out however with Justin Bieber was named Winner of the Fan Choice Award.

Canadian Icon Leonard Cohen also took him some prestigious honours this year, including Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year – the latter repeating his feat in 1994, winning the same Award.

Toronto-based Rapper The Weeknd was rewarded handsomely for his work on Disc Trilogy, winning Breakthrough Artist of the Year and R&B/Soul Record of the Year.

Mariana’s Trench (fronted by Josh Ramsay who penned Call Me Maybe) was awarded Group of the Year, while Mumford & Sons won International Album of the Year with their Disc, Babel.

Click here for a full list of Winners.

 

(Photo credit: CTV)