It's official. Neil Young is NOT coming to Luminato!

A slew of other great artists from around the world are, however.

Despite mis-aimed, breathless media reports suggesting that the legendary Canadian rocker might perform at the 3rd annual Toronto festival of arts and creativity, Young is touring Europe this month and is unable to come.

One of the highlights of this year's Luminato -- held indoors and outdoors across downtown from today through June 14 -- is the all-star tribute performance of Young's legendary 1971 concert at Massey Hall. More on that in Jane Stevenson's music picks, on the facing page.

From the eclectic to the supremely popular to the bizarre, Luminato offers a wide range of programming in music, stage, dance, movies, literature, visual arts and more.

For a full listing of events and descriptions, go to luminato.com/2009

For our critics' picks in music, stage and movies, read on ...

FILM

Liz Braun's picks

Expect the inspired and the unusual in The Luminato Reel, a collection of shorts, features and documentaries jointly presented by the festival and the National Film Board.

June 6 is Guitar Festival, with five music-themed movies including a Daniel Lanois documentary about the completion of his sixth solo album and Danny Clinch's film We Have Arrived, about the 2004 Bonnaroo Music Festival.

Yamandu Costa and Romero Lubambo are featured in the film Brasileirinho, a documentary about Choro music.

Movies later in the festival include Sunday morning's screening of Tono: from Seed to Stage, a documentary highlighting the creation of Red Sky Performance's Tono, the dance and music project about the tribal identities of indigenous peoples in Canada, China and Mongolia.

Then there's Nederlands Dans Theater Celebrates Jiri Kylian, which features three ballets; RedBall Project and Crossing The Line, films that examine art in urban spaces; R. Murray Schafer's Music For Wilderness Lake; Yiddish Theatre: A Love Story (a documentary about Zypora Spaisman); award-winning shorts about literacy from the NFB, and Animated Poe: four short animated films, old and new, about Edgar Allen Poe's poems.

All screenings of Luminato films are free of charge, and are screening at the National Film Board of Canada screening rooms, 150 John St.

MUSIC

Jane Stevenson's picks

Canada's largest guitar festival is the undisputed highlight of Luminato's 2009 music program.

Look no furthur than tonight's free show by Canadian rock icon Randy Bachman at Yonge-Dundas Square, while across town Three Girls and their Buddy (Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin and Buddy Miller) play Massey Hall.

Tomorow afternoon at 4 p.m., Luminato attempts to break a Guinness World Record for the largest guitar ensemble at Yonge-Dundas Square by having registrants play Neil Young's Helpless in unison. The current record was set in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany, where 1,802 guitarists assembled to perform Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water.

There will be even more Young content next Wednesday night, when there's an all-star performance of The Canadian Songbook: A Tribute to Neil Young's Live at Massey Hall, featuring ex-Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page among others re-enacting Young's famous 1971 concert at the venue.

Also playing free shows in town are Taj Mahal tomorrow at Metro Square, and Daniel Lanois on Sunday at Yonge-Dundas Square as part of blues guitar and slide guitar celebrations, respectively.

If your tastes are more worldly, Goran Bregovic and his Wedding and Funeral Orchestra take over Yonge-Dundas Square on June 12, while a Brazilian guitar marathon takes place June 13 at Village of Yorkville Park.

Both events are free.

STAGE

John Coulbourn's picks

Obviously, any discussion of Luminato and the performing arts must start with Robert Lepage's audacious production of Lipsynch, slated to open tomorrow at the Bluma Appel Theatre -- but it certainly doesn't have to end there.

While nine hours of the Lepage genius might seem like a gift from heaven to many theatre fans, there's plenty going on to appeal to other tastes as well.

Those without nine hours to feed their addiction to theatre, for instance might want to take a dark and stormy night to check out Edmonton's Catalyst Theatre in their theatrical exploration of the world of Edgar Allan Poe, titled Nevermore. opening June 11 at the Winter Garden Theatre.

And fans of contemporary opera are going to want to be on hand for the world premiere of The Children's Crusade, showcasing not just the genius of composer R. Murray Schafer, but the impressive talents of the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus as well, all under the direction of Tim Alberry. Crusade opens today at 153 Dufferin St.

Devotees of dance can choose between the National Ballet of Canada's Carmen (opening tomorrow at the Four Seasons), Red Sky Performance's Tono (opening today at the Fleck Dance Theatre) or the Nederlands Dans Theater's mixed program opening June 11 at the MacMillan Theatre. Can't decide?

Then check out the Young Centre, where the New Waves Festival holds sway both this weekend and next, showcasing a veritable cornucopia of activity.

And finally, plan on a visit to Harbourfront sometime between June 12 and 14 --if for no other reason than to catch at least part of a unique event created for Luminato by the artists at Cirque du Soleil, an event that will run the entire weekend and then just disappear.