Afternoon road trip to Port Perry will yield big music dividends

\PORT PERRY, On\

It’s a getaway kind of weekend —basically the last of the year as “The Summer That Never Was” finally seems to be finally arriving, very unfashionably late— and if you’ve got a yen to get out into the country, this afternoon could be just the ticket.

For one thing, you’ve already beaten the weekend migratory traffic jams, so it should be pretty smooth sailing north on Highway 12 (which becomes #7 North) up to Hwy. 7A going easterly to the southwestern tip of Lake Scugog, where you’ll find the town of Port Perry.

In addition to some beautiful scenery along the way –you’re basically at the entrance to the Land ‘o’ Lakes at this point— you’ll be rewarded, when you arrive at Palmer Park on the waterfront in the burg, by some stellar live music courtesy of the good folks of the Durham Region Music Society.

They’re putting on the Port Perry Music Festival from 1 p.m. through till 6 and they haven’t stinted on the talent roster. I know pretty much all of the acts performing there –Howard Ross with the Durham Allstars Band; Johnny Cox & The Magnetic Line; Jaime Wren; Brian Cober; and headliner Rick Fines of Jackson Delta fame. There’s also Bruce Longman; Terry Blankley and the Badass Brass. While mostly Blues oriented, the particular gifts of these performers admit a lot of other strains and styles, including Wren’s Roots, Cox’s Rock-tinges and R&B/Funk and Country from others.

And it’s all free! Since it’s still early when the music wraps up you might wend your way down towards Lake Ontario and check out some shows in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax or Pickering. There are a couple of hot clubs in Oshawa and at the new West Shore Grill on Bayly St. in Pickering you can catch Cox doing a full night starting around 9:30.

If you do go remember to drink in moderation (or maybe best not at all if you’re the one behind the wheel) and drive safely.

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS for Saturday, August 30, 2021:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). 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, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

*12-3> Julian Fauth’s Blues Brunch @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

12-3> Chris Kettlewell & Friends @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

noon-11> Brampton Wingfest with many bands @ Chinguacousy Park, 9050 Bramalea Rd., Brampton

12:30-2:30> Fraser Melvin & Indira @ Humble Beginnings, 3109 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues/Jazz/Pop

1-6> Johnny Cox & The Magnetic Line, Howard Ross & The Durham Allstars, Brian Cober; Jaime Wren; more for Durham Region Music Society’s Port Perry Music Festival @ Palmer Park, waterfront, Port Perry

*2-6> open mic with rotating hosts @ MacKenzie’s High Park, 1982 Bloor St. W., TO West

*2-6> jam w. Tom Finocchio @ Sam’s Place, Barton-Chestnut Sts., Hamilton

**2-6> Saturday Blues Sermon with James Anthony & special guest Hailee Rose @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Blues

*3-6> Danny B’s House Party Band feat. Michael Keys on piano @ Blue Goose, 1 Blue Goose St., Etobicoke South ~R&B/Pop

*3-7> jam with Michelle Deneault & Redder @ Port Credit Legion, 35 Front St., Port Credit

3 (and 6)> 905 Band @ CNE Midway Stage, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lakeshore Blvd. West @ Strachan, TO ~Rock

3> Jamzac @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*3-6> jam @ Sauce, 1376 Danforth Ave., TO East

*3:30-6:30> Climax Jazz Band @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~Jazz; $

3:30> Beverly Taft Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

3:30> Don Palmer Quartet @ The Pilot, 22 Cumberland St., TO ~Jazz

*4-8> The Bear Band & guests @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock-R&B

*4-7:30> Ronnie Hayward Trio @ McQueen’s, 993 Queen St. E., TO E. ~Blues/Roots

*4-8> The Meteors with special guest Neil Chapman @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Blues/Rock/R&B

4-8> Jonni X @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit

*4> PRJ @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa ~Blues

*4:30-6:30> Big Rude Jake @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO E. ~Blues/Roots

5-8> Jazz Forge @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West –Jazz

5-8> Sean Pinchin @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Blues

5> Art Lajambe @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

6-10> Mark Yan & Barry Mulcahy Duo @ Ray’s Bistro, Alton ~Country Pop

6-8> Colonel Tom & The American Pour @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

7:30> Nick Teehan Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~ Jazz

7:30 (and 11)> Carpet Frogs @ CNE Midway Stage, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lakeshore Blvd. West @ Strachan, TO ~Rock

7:30> Tom Cochrane (Autumns Cannon opens) @ CNE Bandshell Stage, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lakeshore Blvd. West @ Strachan, TO ~Rock

8> David Leask @ The Feathers, 962 Kingston Rd., TO East ~songwriter

8> Ken Yoshioka with Dave McManus on bass @ Revolucion, 2848 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

*9-1> karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ Tudor Rose, 700 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

9> Music City North: Emily Raquel; Victoria Marie; Mike Stanfield @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~songwriters; $5

9-1> Andre Brewster Quartet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~ Jazz

9> The Distillery @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East

9> Chris Staig & The Marquee Players @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Rock/indie

9-2> Millwinders, with opening set by Kat Kings @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

9-1> Speck Brothers @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit

9> James Cameron Band @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9-1> Full Tilt @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Brampton ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> The Marshalls @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~old-school Country

9:30-11:30> The Ditch Horses feat. Reid Pickering @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~

9:30> James Sloan @ Black Swan (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave., TO East ~original Roots

*9:30-2> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough

9:30> Johnny Cox & The Magnetic Line @ West Shore Grill, 875 Bayly St., Pickering ~electric Blues

9:30> Urban Sky @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North

9:30> City Soul @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> Fiddlestix @ Timothy’s Pub 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~fiddle fired Rock

9:30> John Chantry @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Andy Earle & The Bandits @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9:45> Ari Hoenig Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~NYC Jazz

*9:45> Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

10-2> Kick Back @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock/Top 40

10-11> David Storey @ Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Roots

10> Ride The Tiger @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Funk/Soul

10> J Swinnerton Blues Band @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10-1> Sean Conway @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO ~Country; pwyc

10-2> Basia Lyjak @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40

10> Dylan Ireland; Kyla Howran @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

10:30> The World Is Yours @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

10:30> Driven @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock

Copyright © 2014 Toronto Moon Magazine. All Rights Reserved