Toronto concerts worth knowing about in August 2012.

Welcome to the first instalment of our new monthly music picks post, through which we hope to better foreground noteworthy bands making stops in Toronto. There's an incredible number of groups to get nostalgic about, as well as plenty of new bands to check out as the summer begins to fade.

HOT TICKETS

SIGUR ROS / AUGUST 1st / 7PM / ECHO BEACH (sold out)
Sigur Ros bring their ethereal, ambient sound to Echo Beach in support of their 6th album, Valtari. The first single, Ekki Múkk features a less-disturbing-than-usual video, but the powerful emotions remain. Echo Beach's outdoor, waterfront setting seems like the perfect place to catch them.

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE with THE WALKMEN / AUGUST 2 / 6:30PM / MOLSON AMPITHEATRE / $24.50-49.50
Florence Welch will belt it out while wearing gauzy capes on the first Thursday of the month. The Walkmen, and equally powerful lead singer Hamilton Leithauser, will join them to showcase their latest album Heaven, and their brand of vintage rock.

POW WOWS with MEANWOOD, CLETUS and SAVANNAH / AUGUST 2 / 9PM / THE SILVER DOLLAR / $6
Toronto boys Pow Wows just released their Killing Me 7" on Get Hip Recordings and their Silver Dollar show should be a rowdy celebration. Their classic twangy garage punk rock always makes for a great party.

THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN with NIGHTBOX / AUGUST 3 / 8:30PM / THE PHOENIX (sold out)
The legendary Scottish alternative band has been around since the early '80s and after 6 studio albums, a split that lasted almost a decade, a subsequent 2007 reunion at Coachella, and a smattering of shows since, this is one to catch. Don't be surprised if the brothers have firm words with one another throughout the show, or bop audience members on the head with microphone stands. Newer fans might remember them from the classic farewell between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannson in Lost in Translation. Nightbox will open: an Irish dance rock band featuring Toronto-born brothers.

SNOOP LION AND THE JUNGLE / AUGUST 3 / 7PM / THE HOXTON / $60
Snoop Dogg has embraced reggae and a new moniker for his aptly titled release Reincarnated. The Hoxton is sure to be packed so get your tickets early and get there early.

JUSTICE and M83 with AUSTRA, BURKA SOM SISTEMA and CHARLI XCX / AUGUST 4 / 5PM / FORT YORK - GARRISON COMMON / $49-$69
European electro invades Fort York on the long weekend. Expect high energy and incredibly danceable Justice to headline with the more ethereal M83.

THE BLACK KEYS with THE SHINS / AUGUST 4 / 7PM / THE MOLSON AMPITHEATRE / $39-$63.50
The Black Keys have gone from under the radar indie rock band (The Big Come Up, Thickfreakness) to stadium superstars with (arguably) the release of 2010's Brothers and beyond. You can argue that their sound used to be more raw but they still put on a helluva rock show. Twee darlings The Shins will open and provide the perfect soundtrack for a concert make-out session.

VELD FESTIVAL: DEADMAU5 with STEVE ANGELLO, KNIFE PARTY, STEVE AOKI, CHRIS LAKE, MICHAEL WOODS, DENIZ KOYU and FLIP SIDE / AUGUST 4-5 / 5PM onward / DOWNSVIEW PARK / $69.50-$129.50
VELD has curated some of the world's best EDM, DJs and producers to put on the biggest electronic music festival in Canada. As with all festivals (and dropping acid) remember to stay hydrated, kids!

COLD SPECKS with SNOWBLINK / AUGUST 8 / 8PM / THE GREAT HALL / $15
Industry darling and Etobicoke native Al Spx will showcase her deeply soulful tunes to what is sure to be a packed Great Hall. Recently shortlisted, this gal is on the verge of blowing up.

ALL CAPS! FESTIVAL (Day 1) with YAMANTAKA//SONIC TITAN, MAYLEE TODD, CHOIR! CHOIR! CHOIR!, TYVEK, WET HAIR and ESTHER GREY / AUGUST 11 / 3PM / $17-$65
ALL CAPS! is a cultural melting pot of a festival featuring music and art in a picturesque island environment. Headlining day one of the festival is Yamantaka//Sonic Titan — another Polaris Short List nominee. Toronto's community choir (that is, Choir! Choir! Choir!) will also make an appearance. VSVSVS provides staging, while food vendors such as the Wilco-themed Sky Blue Sky will satisfy your food needs.

ALL CAPS! FESTIVAL (Day 2) with A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS, LIONESS, OG MELODY, YOUNG MOTHER and CANADIAN WINTER / August 12 / 3PM / $17-$65
Day two of the festival has Brooklyn psych-rock outfit A Place to Bury Strangers headlining and a menagerie of talented locals. Single day tickets are only $17 and weekend passes go for $30, while camping passes are $65 and are still available in stores.

SEBADOH / August 20 / 8:30PM / THE HORSESHOE / $23.50
Formed by Dinosaur Junior bassist Lou Barlow, Sebadoh has a noticeably softer and lo-fi sound than his former band. Boasting an impressive catalogue, they've just released Secret EP — their first collection of new material in 14 years. The only place you can pick up a copy is on this tour so get out there!

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND / AUGUST 24 / 7PM / ROGERS CENTRE / PRICE TBA
It's The Boss, you guys. He's 62 and reviews of his current tour claim he isn't slowing down — in fact, he seems to have more energy than ever. This is not a group that rehashes old hits in a mildly depressing way; rather, Springsteen has been a treasure throughout his four decade reign.

OTHER FESTIVALS AND SHOWS

• OVO Fest featuring Drake with The Weeknd, A$AP Rocky
  and 2 Chainz / August 5 / 6:30PM / Molson Ampitheatre (sold out)
• Heavy T.O. featuring Slipknot with Marilyn Manson, Suicidal Tendencies and Gojira / August 11 / 1PM / Downsview Park / $145-$500
• Heavy T.O. (day 2) featuring System of a Down with Deftones, Five Finger Death Punch, Killswitch Engage and Cannibal Corpse / August 12 / 1PM / Downsview Park / $145-$500
• Steve Earle & the Dukes / August 14 / 7PM / Massey Hall / $49.50
• My Morning Jacket with Band of Horses / August 15 / 6:30PM / Echo Beach / $49.50
• Jimmy Cliff / August 18 / 7PM / The Phoenix / $47.50
• Blue Rodeo with Great Lake Swimmers / August 18 / 7PM / The Molson Ampitheatre / $20-$79.50
• Yeasayer with Daughn Gibson / August 21 / 8PM / Sound Academy / $22.50-$32.50
• Roxette with Glass Tiger / August 30 / 7PM / Molson Ampitheatre / $35.50-$95.50

For more music listings, head on over to our events calendar.

Looking for tickets? Check out Rotate This or Soundscapes to avoid Ticketmaster robbery. For sold out shows, there's always Craigslist (as if you didn't know that).

Have a concert you'd like us to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO events calendar.

Photo by Hamish Grant in the blogTO Flickr pool