Occasionally, a hole in the English language is plugged by a pop culture noun-turned-adjective. The word “Radiohead” has come to mean anything that straddles that elusive line between critical acclaim and massive popularity. However, in this case, it refers to one of the biggest bands in the world. After reshaping the record industry with the historic PWYC e-release of In Rainbows, the band has hit the road. Since they’re just giving records away they could really use your concert cash. They play the Molson Amphitheatre on August 15th.


The hugely popular Hot and Spicy Food Festival (August 15 to August 17) is more divisive than Morgentaler's Order of Canada. It has attendees either running for the milk or scrounging for a fork like a junkey looking for a lighter. However, for the heat-sensitive, this World Routes event still has a number of draws, from subtle pageantry to vibrant aural accompaniment, care of apropos bands. Now in its 11th year, the Hot and Spicy Food Festival will have your tongue aflame; that's a good thing. -S.T.


The Ex has a bittersweet allure. One final tumultuous thrust before summer unofficially hits a roadblock in the form of a smoking-feet coda (i.e. Labour Day), from August 15 to September 1, the Ex is your last chance to win prizes and brave perennially invigorating (terrifying?) rides. Founded in 1878 the annual festival has continued to balloon since inception. Now, the two week extravaganza welcomes over 1 million visitors each year. Proverbially, it's an all-ages event, so ditch the kids half way and settle into the casino with a libation and a Pogo. Look for midways and visual extravaganzas. -S.T.


Though Labour Day Weekend marks your last opportunity to wear white, the two-day, Island-based V-Fest can prove exigent for your apparel; perhaps you should go with clothing that doesn’t pick up grass stains. Foo Fighters are on top of the marquee for day one, but look for Bloc Party to steal the festival. The zeitgeist-capturing, post-punk dynamo seamlessly roves form sonic booms to regal snail builds and Mayan pyramid layering to resonant, sad-kid weep-induction. Spiritulaized, Wintersleep, the Constantines, and MGMT round out the day’s stellar line-up. Day two is an anglophile’s wet dream with Oasis headlining and Paul Weller and Stereophonics supporting. The Brit-theme continues with the Wombats and the Pigeon Detectives, but incorporates palpable Canadian talent by way of one of the greatest socially/politically conscious literary rock outfits of all time: the Weakerthans. –S.T.