Oasis, Coldplay, Metallica, Jack White among Toronto's top 2025 tours

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Published Dec 25, 2024 • Last updated 6 minutes ago • 4 minute read

Oasis’ Liam Gallagher and his brother Noel are reuniting in 2025 for a series of live shows in Europe and North America, including two concerts scheduled for Toronto’s Rogers Stadium next August. Photo by Simon Emmett

Music will soothe the savage breast — and may even awaken it — given that the top tours coming to Toronto in 2025 include an Oasis reunion, with the battling Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, back together.

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Here are the top 10 highlights of next year’s concert scene in Toronto:

Jack White, Feb. 6, History; Feb. 7-8, Massey Hall: Leave it to the former White Stripes leader to mix it up a bit by playing two intimate venues in Toronto on his No Name tour. The trek is titled for the singer-guitarist’s latest release, which got a 2025 Grammy Award nomination for best rock album. (Other Canadian dates: May 22-23. Vancouver, Commodore Ballroom.)

Billy Joel, March 15, Rogers Centre: The Piano Man said, “Go big or go home,” for his first Toronto performance in 11 years. And so Joel will play the downtown stadium for his only Canadian date of 2025. It’s also his first performance at Rogers Centre in 30 years. He last played at the home of the Toronto Blue Jays on March 29, 1995, and his last visit to Toronto was at Scotiabank Arena on March 9, 2014. He did open Fallsview Casino’s new OLG Stage on Feb. 25, 2023.

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Mary J. Blige onstage during the MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. — Mary J. Blige onstage during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 12, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Photo by Charles Sykes /Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

Mary J. Blige, March 24, Scotiabank Arena: The queen of hip hop soul brings her For My Fans Tour, with special guests Ne-Yo and Mario, to Toronto for its only Canadian date. It’s all in support of her new 2024 album, Gratitude, and you can expect the big-voiced, knee-bending Blige to wow with her singular vocals.

Metallica has announced two stadium dates at Toronto's Rogers Centre on April 24 and 26 as the only Canadian dates of the band's 2025 North American tour. — Metallica L-R: Robert Trujillo, Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett. Photo by Warner Music Canada

Metallica, April 24 and 26, Rogers Centre: Heavy metal kingpins Metallica’s extension of its record-breaking M72 World Tour means two different shows — in terms of set lists and support — in Toronto for their only Canadian dates in a stadium setting. The first night will see Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies open, while the second night will see Limp Bizkit and Ice Nine Kills do the same. Blow the roof off the joint indeed!

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Shakira performs in concert at Madison Square Garden, Aug. 10, 2018, in New York. Photo by Greg Allen /Invision/AP

Shakira, May 26, Scotiabank Arena (rescheduled from Nov.30 ): The Columbian singer-belly dancer’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour finally arrives in Toronto in spring. Remember, her hips don’t lie, so it should be a good show. (The other Canadian date is May 20, Montreal, Bell Centre.)

Barry Manilow, May 31, Scotiabank Arena: Are you a fanilow? I sure was as a kid. In any event, this will be the 81-year-old Manilow’s last ever concert in Toronto. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to visit these great cities of which I have so many fond memories,” said Manilow in a statement. “Each one is special to my touring history.” (The other Canadian date is May 30, Montreal, Bell Centre.)
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Rapper Kendrick Lamar performs during the 2023 Governors Ball Music Festival at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York City on June 11, 2023. — Rapper Kendrick Lamar performs during the 2023 Governor’s Ball Music Festival at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York City on June 11, 2023. Photo by YUKI IWAMURA /AFP via Getty Images

Kendrick Lamar and SZA, June 12-13, Rogers Centre: This formidable rap-R&B twosome proved so popular with their Grand National Tour in a stadium setting that a second show was added for their Canadian dates. Lamar, of course, will be coming off his much-hyped Super Bowl half-time show in February 2025, plus all eyes will be on hometown rapper Drake given their infamous 2024 feud.

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James Taylor, June 27, Budweiser Stage: There’s nothing quite like the warm dulcet tones of Sweet Baby James’ voice on a summer night, so his arrival at the city’s outdoor amphitheatre by the lake for his only Canadian date comes as welcome news. The 76-year-old Taylor will be accompanied by his All-Star Band.

Chris Martin of the band ColdPlay perform on stage during Day 4 of Glastonbury Festival 2024 at Worthy Farm, Pilton, on June 29, 2024 in Glastonbury, England. Photo by Joe Maher /Getty Images

Coldplay, July 7-8 and July 11-12, Rogers Stadium: The British pop-rock outfit will bring their Music of the Spheres World Tour to Toronto for no fewer than four dates (with two more added due to popular demand) at the cities’ newest seasonal outdoor venue — Rogers Stadium (capacity 50,000) out at Downsview Park. These are the band’s only Canadian dates.

Oasis, Aug. 24-25, Rogers Stadium: Britpop’s legendary Gallagher brothers — the famously fractious lead singer, Liam, and his sibling, Noel — have defied the odds by ending their feud and reuniting 17 years after their last North American date. The Manchester rock band will play Toronto’s newest seasonal outdoor venue for two shows, with a second concert added due to popular demand. Oasis last played at Toronto’s now-defunct V Festival in 2008 during which a fan rushed Noel on stage, breaking and dislodging some of his ribs. Let’s hope for no repeats.