TORONTO — Canadian alternative rock musician Melissa Auf der Maur will return to Toronto next month for an encore launch of her memoir, after an earlier event sold out quickly, underscoring continued audience demand for artists reflecting on the influential 1990s rock era.
The Montreal-born bassist, best known for her work with Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins, will appear March 22 at The Garrison as part of the Wavelength Music Festival + Conference 2026. The event, presented with Sonic Boom in partnership with TO Live, will centre on her new book, Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A ’90s Rock Memoir, released by Da Capo Press.
Organizers added the second Toronto appearance — billed as “Nineties Tea Time” — after a previous launch event at the Art Gallery of Ontario reached capacity.
The afternoon program will feature Auf der Maur in conversation with Toronto music journalist Emilie Hanskamp, creator of the music discovery platform @emilietheaux. The discussion will focus on Auf der Maur’s career, creative process and experiences chronicled in the memoir, which explores her rise in the alternative rock scene and her collaborations with some of the era’s defining artists.
Described by organizers as “a quarter of a century in the making,” the book combines elements of memoir, travelogue and personal archive. It offers a detailed account of Auf der Maur’s time performing with Hole and later joining The Smashing Pumpkins, capturing both the opportunities and challenges of working in the music industry during a period often considered the last analog decade before digital disruption reshaped music production and distribution.
The Toronto appearance will serve as the closing event in a broader weekend of programming featuring Auf der Maur at the Wavelength festival. Additional activities are expected to include a DJ set under her xMAdMx moniker and a curated evening of multidisciplinary performance co-presented by Basilica Hudson, the New York-based arts centre she co-founded, and Basilica SoundScape, its associated music festival.
Auf der Maur, who was born and raised in Montreal and trained in fine arts, has built a multifaceted career spanning music, photography, curation and cultural production. She first gained widespread recognition in the mid-1990s when she joined Hole, contributing to touring and recording during a pivotal period for the band. She later became part of The Smashing Pumpkins, further cementing her role in the alternative rock movement.
In addition to her performance career, Auf der Maur has expanded her focus to multidisciplinary arts initiatives. In 2010, she co-founded Basilica Hudson, a non-profit cultural centre in Hudson, N.Y., which hosts exhibitions, performances and festivals. The centre’s flagship event, Basilica SoundScape, presents experimental music, poetry and visual art in a repurposed industrial setting along the Hudson River.
Her memoir arrives amid sustained commercial and cultural interest in music-industry storytelling, particularly from artists associated with the 1990s alternative rock boom. Publishers and event organizers have increasingly positioned memoir launches as live cultural events, blending literary discussion with performance and audience engagement to reach both readers and music fans.
Wavelength Music, the Toronto-based non-profit presenting the event, has been active in the city’s independent music sector for more than two decades. Founded in 2000 by a collective of indie musicians, the organization presents concerts, festivals and discussions focused on music and urban cultural development. Its programming aims to support emerging artists and foster dialogue about the role of music in community and city-building.
The Wavelength Music Festival + Conference, held annually, combines live performances with panel discussions, networking opportunities and artist-led talks. Organizers position the conference as a platform for creative and industry exchange, bringing together musicians, cultural workers and audiences.
Tickets for the March 22 event are priced at $19.99 plus fees and will be sold through the DICE platform. The Garrison venue, located on Dundas Street West, includes accessibility accommodations, according to organizers.
The encore launch reflects both Auf der Maur’s lasting cultural relevance and the ongoing market for live literary events tied to music history, particularly those offering firsthand perspectives on influential artistic movements.