Hear Dan Mangan’s ambitious art rock at Massey Hall

The Vancouver artist Dan Mangan built his name on easy, likeable songs: palatable indie-folk melodies with quiet acoustic guitars and humble harmonies. By all accounts, they worked, because the songwriter has earned a pair of Junos and a Polaris nod. Instead of sticking to a winning formula, though, Mangan has taken a bold turn on his latest album, Club Meds, which he released with his new backing band, Blacksmith, in January. The new music is ambitious, in the experimental vein of Radiohead, toying with reverb-drenched layers of foreign sounds and effects. It incorporates elements of jazz, art-rock aesthetics and Mangan’s croaky, emotive baritone. The result, heard best in tracks like anthemic single “Vessel,” is an inspired, mature offering. See for yourself when Mangan shares the stage with the equally talented local songwriter Hayden at Massey Hall this weekend. The show is sold out, but a few tickets may still be available online.

Sat. Feb. 28. $18.94. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., 416-872-4255, masseyhall.com.