Rough Trade with Carole Pope

On March 28, 2026 at Under The Neon Palm in Toronto, Carole Pope takes the stage for Rough Trade with Carole Pope, revisiting the sharp edges and sly wit that shaped the city’s new wave scene. Frontwoman of the Toronto-formed band Rough Trade, Pope forged a catalog built on frank lyrics and a cool, cutting delivery, pushing pop songwriting into darker, more candid territory. Tracks like High School Confidential and All Touch set the tone: tense grooves, jagged guitars, synth shadows, and vocals that land with clarity and bite.

This show centers on that songbook and the voice behind it. Pope moves between punchy post-punk rhythms and slow-burn ballads, drawing a straight line from Rough Trade’s downtown club beginnings to her later solo work. Expect taut arrangements, choruses that stick, and narratives that look desire and power in the eye without blinking. In Toronto, at Under The Neon Palm, the set plays like a homecoming: lean, focused, and anchored by a performer who knows exactly how these songs breathe on stage.