\ TO WEST \

I haven’t yet had what I assume to be the pleasure of attending a show at a newish venue on the College Street strip, The Emmet Ray at 924 College, which I include in the “TO West” geographical category in listings since it’s a little west of the Ossington Avenue dividing line from “TO Central”.

But the room has offered some pretty fine talents over the past several months since I learned of its existence, including two Jazz acts every Sunday and Monday afternoons and evenings as well as a pastiche of accomplished Roots. Jazz and other original artists like Noah Zacharin and Peter Boyd some Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Tonight’s appearance by one of the most versatile and distinguished songwriters and guitar players around, Tony Quarrington, suggests to me that this place must definitely be worth checking out.

I’ve told you many times about Tony’s impressive talents and accomplishments, most recently in August when writing about a new album being released at the forthcoming Winterfolk Festival in February, on which a stellar lineup of talents do covers of some of fifteen of his songs.  And among many other articles, a couple of years ago I told you about his remarkable compositional suite of art-related tunes.  (Click the links in the above articles or search his name on the website for more stories about Tony.)

Tonight’s 9 p.m. show is being billed as “Tony Quarrington and Friends” so it’s quite possible he’ll also have some acclaimed accompanists on hand, but since no names are listed in the promo I guess you’ll just have to go there to find out.  Cover for all the Emmet Ray shows is listed at pay-what-you-can.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, December 22, 2021

Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically.

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). Events preceded by question mark (?) usually take place but have not been confirmed. Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

Names of subscribers appear in bold and underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites or event page. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type and highlighted, include a live link to their website and also have a copy of the ad included in listings.

ONLINE / ON AIR

9-10am> “The Bill King Show” with host Bill King & guests @ CIUT 89.5 FM ~Blues/Jazz

Noon-2> Blues on Rock Radio UK with Carolyn Fe

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

*5-8> Danny Blue @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave. ~acoustic Pop

6> Corin Raymond @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Country-Pop songwriter

6-8> Pat Murray & Riley Murray @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

6:30> Justin Bacchus @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

7> Switchbeat @ Drums N Flats, 1980 Avenue Rd., TO North ~Rock/Top 40

7> Rumpus Room @ Tranzac Lounge (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*7> open mic with Derek Mok @ Kensington Lodge, 21 Kensington Ave., TO

*7:30-9:30> Bluegrass Thursdays with Houndstooth @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> Signe Miranda’s Veranda @ Antler Room, 149 Front St., TO ~original Pop

8> Michael Billik @ Dominion Pub, 500 Queen St. E., TO ~cover Pop Rock

*8-12> Joe Bowden @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues

8> Eric & The Soo @ Graffit’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO

8> The Emergency Monologues @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO

8:30> Sam Cash and the Romantic Dogs host benefit for SKETCH Working Arts and Daily Bread Food Bank with guests Terra Lightfoot; Brendan Canning; Norman Blake; Charlotte Cornfield; Simone Denny @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~eclectic covers; $5 or non-perishable food item donation

8> Bianca’s “Holidaze” @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~art-Pop songwriter

8:30-1> 4^th Thursday jam featuring Kevin Jeffrey & Diane Baker Mason @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

8:30> VON featuring Sarah Jordan @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Top 40

*8:30> Organic Groove open mic with host Dylan Hennessy @ Cannabis Culture, 461 Church St., TO

8:30> Arjun party @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W., TO

9> Midnight Vesta; Alex Leggatt & The Flood @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO ~indie; $12

9-11:30> Ben Walker & Michael Keith @ Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas St. E., TO ~songwriters

9> Holt Stuart-Hirtchcox Group @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave., TO ~Jazz

9-11:30> Howie Silverman Quintet @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $

9> The Skydiggers; Tom Thompson @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~alt-Country originals; $32.50

9> Darlene Shrugg; Tough Age @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock; $

*9-1> Blackburn @ Jo Mamas, 317 King St. W., TO ~Blues

*9:30> jam with host band The Regulators @ College St. Bar, 574 College St., TO

9:30> Roberto Occhipinti @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*9:45> Stacey Kaniuk @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~60s Pop/Jazz; $

10> David Baxter @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Roots-Rock songwriter

10> Trevor Turple/Aaron Hutchinson & Ryan Driver @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Ride The Tiger hosts Orbit Room Christmas bash @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Rock/R&B; pwyc

10> Jack Walker’s Festivus Miracle with Jack Walker; Ally Paradis; Samara York; Jess Spagnolo; Josh Smart; Courtney Lynn; Matthew Issacs; Frosty Phil; Lisa Manis @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~songwriters showcase; pwyc

*10:30> Mike Barnes @ Pauper’s Pub, 539 Bloor St. W., TO ~acoustic Pop

416 – TORONTO EAST

4> Hap & Friends @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~songwriter; no cover

7> The Strumbellas; The Zolas @ The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., TO East ~original Pop Rock; $29/30-$45

7> David Barrett’s acoustic Xmas concert @ Whistler’s, 995 Broadview Ave., TO East ~acoustic Jazz; $10

8-11> Jazz Money @ Shore Leave, 1775 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz; 0$

*8:30-10:30> Jerry Leger & The Situation @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Folk-Rock/Country

9:30> jam with Julian Taylor @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~eclectic songwriter; no cover

9:30> Audio Tonic Christmas bash @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Rock covers; 0$

*9:30> open jam with host Kar Wong @ Sportsters, 1430 Danforth Ave., TO East

9:30> Darling Cora; Brian Passmore; Lora Ryan @ Wayla Bar, 996 Queen St. E., TO East ~songwriters; pwyc

*10-1> open jam with host Michael Villamor @ Breakwall, 1910 Queen St. E.

416 - TORONTO ETOBICOKE

7:30> Russ Little Trio @ Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd., Etobicoke ~Jazz; min table charge

9> Pretzel Logic @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Steely Dan Trio; $10

*9:30-2> Skip Tracer @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd., Etobicoke South ~Rock/Pop

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

8-12> jam night @ The Birchmount, 462 Birchmount Rd., Scarborough

9-1> The Tall Boyz Christmas party featuring Tommy Rocker host acoustic open jam @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough

9:30> Straight Shooter @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

416 – TORONTO WEST

5-8> G Street Jazz Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

7-12> St. Royal Revue @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Funk/Motown; $10

7:30> New Design; Shipley Hollow; Huge Cosmic; Silus @ Smiling Buddha Stage 1, 961 College St., TO West ~indie; $

8-2> The Beauties @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~original Rock/Country; 415

8> Jason Collett’s Basement Revue @ The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W., TO West ~indie; $

8> KHAY @ 3030 Dundas West, 3030 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Soul-Rock; $10

8:30> Kith & Kin and friends @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~seasonal singalong, shadow puppet show; $10

9> Tony Quarrington & Friends @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~eclectic songwriter & master instrumentalist; pwyc

9> Rich Roxborough & Friends @ Mezzrow’s, 1546 Queen St. W., TO West ~Rock/R&B

*9-12> open mic night with Anthony Abbatangeli @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W., TO West

*9> open mic with Phil Hood @ The Roncy, 390 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West

*9-1:30> open stage with Jay Pennell @ Dave’s On St. Clair, 730 St. Clair West, TO West ~eclectic

9-12> Toby Hughs @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> Islands & Empires; Grit; Big Evil @ Smiling Buddha Stage 2, 961 College St., TO West ~indie; $

9> Bredren @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie Rock

9> Jack Marks @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~songwiter

519

*6-10> Lucas Stagg @ Argyle Arms, 210 King St. E., Cambridge ~Roots-Rock

*7:30-12> open mic with K.M. Smith @ Molly Bloom’s Guelph, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

7:30> John MacKinnon @ Fionn MacCool’s Orangeville, 75 Fourth Ave., Orangeville ~Pop Rock

*8> open mic with Mandippal @ Fionn MacCool’s Guelph, 494 Edinburgh Rd., S., Guelph

8> “Strummerfest” with Vienna D’Amato Hall; Ian Smith; Nick Skalkos; Drew Leith; TC Folkpunk; Skipnoize; Kensington Hillbillys @ The Boathouse, 97 Jubilee Drive, Kitchener ~eclectic songwriters/Roots-Pop; $15

*8-11> open mic with Sandy MacDonald @ Williamsburg Arms, 1187 Fischer Hallman Rd., Kitchener

*8:30> acoustic jam hosted by Mike Mecher & Vic Freitas @ Kiwi Gastropub, 47 Dickson St., Cambridge

*8:30-12:30> acoustic jam night @ Fiddle & Firkin, 707 King St. E., Cambridge

*9:30> open mic night @ The Black Badger, 55 Water St., Cambridge

*10-2> Mike Something @ Royal Electric, 52 Macdonell St., Guelph ~acoustic Pop

705

7-11> The Groove Project with guest @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood ~Blues

*7:30> Rob Phillips Jazz/Blues Trio and Marsala Likianchuk @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

7:30> Peterborough Poetry Slam featuring Venessa McGowan @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough ~poetry improv; $5-$10/pwyc

*8> The Joe Huron Trio @ Sticky Fingers, 199 Essa Rd., Barrie ~Jazz/Blues

8> Karla Crawford @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood

*9> jam with Ted Rusk @ The Sauble Dunes, 11 Southampton Parkway, Sauble Beach

10> Keyboards Family Christmas pageant @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

905 EAST

*5-8> Nelson Denis @ Frank’s Pasta, 42 King Street E., Cobourg ~eclectic mix (Folk, Jazz, soft Rock, Latin)

8-11> Quincy Bullen @ Rum Diaries, 368 Bayly St. W., Ajax

*?> jam with Darren Smith & Shayne Thomas @ The Corner Pocket, 45 Prince St., Oshawa

*9> jam @ The Wee Pub, 371 Wilson Rd. South, Oshawa

9> Blues jam @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

9> Ozone Baby @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax ~Led Zeppelin tribute; $20

*9:30> jam with Billick @ Harp & Crown, 300 Kingston Rd., Pickering

*10> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ St. Louis Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave., Ajax

10> Deuce @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop

905 NORTH

*6:30-10:30> jam with Faces for Radio @ Coasters, 55 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton

*7:30-11:30> jam with house band @ 52^nd St. Tap & Grill, 30 Kennedy Rd., S., Brampton

*8> open mic with host Kevin Kerr @ The Duchess of Markham, 53 Main St. N., Markham

*8-11> Jam with Jayme Lynn Reed @ Offsides Sports Bar, 200 Simcoe Ave., Keswick

9> open mic (signup starts at 8:30) @ The Barrel, 2180 Steeles Ave. W. Vaughan

905 SOUTH

*9> LMT Connection @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls ~R&B/Funk

9> Max The Lesser; Free Love; The Lost Angelos; Matt Pray & The Animal Hospital @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~indie; $5

*9> open mic night with rotating hosts @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton

10> Strummers Union @ The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta St., Hamilton

905 WEST

*6-9> Ric Jacobs @ Ivy Bar, 3330 South Service Rd., Burlington

*7-11> James Anthony Band & guests Dan Munro & Ron Winn @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Blues

*8-12> jam hosted by The Personics @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington

*8> Celtic Night @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line

8:30> Jacob’s Cattle @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~Roots-Rock; $10

9-1> Freedom Train @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop

9:30> Glenn Groves @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Honky Tonk Country new & old

*9:30> jam with Jack B Nimble @ Abbey Road Pub, 3200 Erin Mills Parkway, Mississauga

9:30> Chris Partland @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga ~Pop Rock

10-2> Semi Tone @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington

*10:30> The Killin’ Time Duo @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock

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