A Guns N’ Roses comeback, Summerlicious and five other things to do this week

A Guns N’ Roses comeback, Summerlicious and five other things to do this week

Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. Photograph by Getty Images

An explosive Guns N’ Roses reunion
This is not a drill: after 23 years of squabbling, the classic-rock kings—prima donna Axl Rose, top-hatted shredder Slash and follicly blessed bassist Duff McKagan—have tossed their tensions aside to make a boatload of…er…to reward the unwavering dedication of diehard fans. Expect plenty of pyro and a set list heavy with hits like “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Welcome to the Jungle.” Saturday, July 16. $49.50–$250. Rogers Centre, 1 Blue Jays Way, ticketmaster.ca.

Two weeks of Summerlicious
From now until July 24, take your pick from more than 200 three-course meals during the city’s fixed-price feast fest. The hot spots get booked pretty quickly, but the Summerlicious website has a handy page that lists which restos still have resos. (As of this morning, Canoe still had dinner bookings open today, so hurry!) From $18. To Sunday, July 24. Various locations, toronto.ca/summerlicious.

Duran Duran. Photograph by Stephanie Pistel

Duran Duran’s time-machine set
On their acclaimed 2015 album, Paper Gods, the new-wave legends completed their transition to elder statesmen: the pulsating synths and heavy drumbeats of recent singles evoke both ’80s nostalgia and today’s dance hits. In this concert, they embrace their transformation, alternating new tracks with classics like “Rio” and “Save a Prayer.” Wednesday, July 13. $34.25–$158.25. Molson Amphitheatre, 909Lake Shore Blvd. W., ticketmaster.ca.

Malcolm-Emilio Yarde, Toronto’s answer to Basquiat
Yarde’s large-scale canvases recall the naïve art of Jean-Michel Basquiat, bursting with eye-popping colour and playful depictions of musicians, urban life and working-class milieus. A vein of Rastafarianism underpins the self-taught Torontonian’s pieces, which are both politically provocative and wildly experimental: he’s used beets, cucumber and watermelon to create pigments. Wednesday, July 14 to Saturday, July 30. Liss Gallery, 112 Cumberland St., lissgallery.com.

A free screening of the best Canadian Hot Doc
Two months ago, Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World took home the prize for top Canadian documentary at the Hot Docs Festival. This week, the David Suzuki foundation is screening the movie—a breathtaking look at the British Columbian islands and the indigenous people who call them home—at Fort York. Bring a blanket or lawn chair; popcorn and Steam Whistle are available onsite. Thursday, July 14. Free. Fort York, 250 Fort York Blvd., facebook.com.

Elles, a free classical concert in a park
Montreal’s early-music ensemble Pallade Musica features baroque violin, baroque cello, harpsichord, theorbo (a large lute) and, in this program of songs about female characters, soprano Andréanne Brisson Paquin. None of the composers are household names, but two were revered in their day: the 17th-century Benedictine nun Rosa Giacinta Badalla, and Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, whose keyboard skills and compositional range captivated Louis XIV. Thursday, July 14. Toronto Music Garden, 475 Queens Quay W., harbourfrontcentre.com.

Kristian Matsson, a.k.a. the Tallest Man on Earth. Photograph by Cameron Wittig

Tallest Man on Earth’s Electric Dylan moment
Troubadour Kristian Matsson, a nasal-voiced Swede with an acoustic guitar permanently affixed to his hip, has been dodging Dylan comparisons his entire career. That’s what made last year’s Dark Bird Is Home such a surprise: it’s filled with horns, electric guitars and—gasp—synths. Backed by a full band, Matsson strums through fresh material, new arrangements of hits like “King of Spain” and a few solo numbers to appease the purists. Monday, July 11. $39.50–$59.50. Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., ticketmaster.ca.

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