\ TO EAST \

The last Thursday of every month the small but inviting Black Bear Pub in East York near Scarborough features a rip-roaring Rock/R&B/Blues band that has established a strong following in the area and now also hosts the weekly Sunday jam at the friendly room at 1125 O’Connor Drive.

Last month, as I described in our sister East York Chronicle publication in its November issue, the Black Bear All Stars band put on a bittersweet version of its usual show as it hosted a wake for one of the club’s regulars and a longtime TO soundman, musician and promoter, Tommy Flannigan, who, as we told you here at the time, passed away October 22 after a blessedly short battle with liver cancer.

But things are back to normal tonight and from 8-12 the group can be expected to offer up its usual wide ranging selection of Rock, Blues and Pop covers, with occasional guest artists getting up to do a tune with the band if past occasions are any indication.

The 6-piece combo includes very solid veteran east-TO drummer William A. Miller, inventive and energetic Mike Witzenhausen on bass, solid strummin’ Gregg Peterson on guitar, versatile Bill Evans on keys and sax, multi-instrumentalist Gord McKinnon on harp and experienced and poised Al Vanwart doing lead vocals.

(The lineup for the Sunday 4:30-8:30 jams, for which they just took over hosting duties this past weekend, is nearly the same except Evans and Peterson are not available so McKinnon does keys and harp and young, dynamic Sean Turner is on guitar.)

The roadhouse/neighbourhood bar-style grub here, prepared in an open kitchen beside the bar, is more than acceptable and both food and drinks are very reasonably priced.  There’s no cover tonight nor for the other eclectic styles mix of weekly Thursday night shows the bar features with a rotating cast of bands through the month.

SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, November 24, 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

6-8> Urban Folk Salon with host Gannon Hamilton and poets & artists including Mark Yan @ Mount Pleasant Library, 599 Mount Pleasant Rd.

6> Alyssa Baker; Sarah Carmosino; Havelin @ The Central, 603 Markham St., TO ~all-ages

6> Dave Borins @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Country

6-8> John Amato @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

6:30> Kevin Quain @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~moody Blues; $

*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

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

8> Gordon Lightfoot @ Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., TO ~Canadian Folk icon; $32.50-$119.50

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

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

8> Loscil; Silver Pools; Coral King @ Array Space, 155 Walnut St., TO ~experimental music; $10

8> Old James; Brother Levon; Eagelson; Lipstick Junkies @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~indie; $10

8:30> Cat Jahnke @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~songwriter

8:30-12:30> The Whisper Game; Sprawls; Nutrients; Greenhouse @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~indie; $

8:30> The Wrong Kids @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Top 40

8> Tarkus @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~progressive Rock covers & originals; $

8:30> Machine Gun Kelly @ Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St., TO ~$45

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

9> Albeit; Kaleidoscope Horse; Nikki Fierce; Huttch @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO ~indie

9> Radiant Divide; Bleeding Lights; Crowns and Crossbones @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $

9-12> Mahta Moatari @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO ~indie

9> Amberwood; Basic White; guests @ Hard Luck Bar, 772 Dundas St. W., TO ~indie Rock; $8

9-12> Ron Hawkins; Myrle @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~$

9> CY; Anzola; Aaron Santos vs Cosmic JD; Yuri P @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave., TO ~indie

9-11:30> Oliver Jones Trio @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $25

9> Katey Gatta; Eriksen; Havelin; Ayerhart Roofing Co. @ The Central, 603 Markham St., TO ~indie

9> The Franklin Electric; Common Deer @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $15

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

9> Holt Stuart-Hitchcox Group @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave., TO ~original Jazz-Rock Fusion

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

9:30> Joe Sullivan Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*9:45> Mary McKay @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues; $

10> Paul Reddick @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Blues

10> Adjunadeep; Clarian; Theo Kottis; Yotto @ The Hoxton, 69 Bathurst St., TO ~indie

10> Starfires @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Pretzel Logic @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Steely Dan tribute; $

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

416 – TORONTO EAST

7-9> Dirty Dishes @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Country/Bluegrass/Gospel fem trio; no cover

8-12> The Black Bear All Stars @ Black Bear Pub, 1125 O’Connor Drive, TO East

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

9> Park Eddy @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Rock/Soul; no cover

9> Andrew Fetterley Duo @ Murphy’s Law, 1702 Queen St. E., TO East ~Pop Rock

9:30> DoubleShot Blues @ The Peppery Cat, 1953 Queen St. E., TO East ~Blues

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

*10-2> karaoke with Shane Taylor @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

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

416 - TORONTO ETOBICOKE

7:30> Allison Au Quartet @ Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd., Etobicoke ~Jazz; min table charge

8> Kimberley Wetmore Band @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

*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 featuring Tommy Rocker host acoustic open jam @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough

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

416 – TORONTO WEST

5-8> Hello Darlings @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

8> Spencer Burton @ Drake Hotel Underground, 1150 Queen St. W., TO West ~$12+

8> Bredren Version.6 @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Reggae/Dub

8> Sisters Euclid @ 3030 Dundas West, 3030 Dundas St. W., TO West ~original Jazz/Rock Fusion; $10

8> Diamond Head @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W., TO West ~$20

8> Taffelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra @ The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W., TO West ~Classical; $22

8> Groenland @ Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., TO West ~orchestral indie Pop; $15

8:30> Coco Love Alcorn album release @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Jazz/Pop songwriter; $30

9> Marcus & Nolan @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~Roots/Country duo; pwyc

9-11> Lost Patients @ 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

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

9-12> Kristin Lindell Jazz Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> The Woodshed Orchestra; Heavy On The Willie @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West ~$5

9> Nichol Robertson and his Honkytonk Boogaloo Boys @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~instrumental Country-Pop

9> Darboi; Tomacco; Suburban Smith @ Holy Oak Café, 1241 Bloor St. W., TO West ~indie

9:30> Christina Martin; Matt Epp @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~songwriters; $12

9:30> The Reposadists Quartet @ Reposado, 136 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Jazz

10> Vulva Culture; Lonely Parade; Dohn Valley; Protruders @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West ~indie

10> Sun K @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~$10

519

6-11> The Most Loyal; Merival @ The Cornerstone, 1 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

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

6> Joni NehRita @ The Loose Grape, 656 King St. E., Cambridge

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

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

8> open mic night @ M&M Bar, 475 Main St., Cambridge

8> Sean Poluk @ Easy Pour Wine Bar, 1660 Blair Rd., Cambridge

*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

10-1> Rival Town; Romancer @ Jimmy Jazz, 52 Macdonell St., Guelph

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

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

8-11> EIDN Slam featuring Bashar Lulu Jabbour @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough ~poetry

8> Drew McIvor @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood

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

10> Basement Revolver; Sean Conway; Nick Ferrio @ 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> tba @ Rum Diaries, 368 Bayly St. W., Ajax

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

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

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

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

9:30> open mic with hosts Two For The Show @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax

*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

7:30> Tariq Harb @ Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St., Richmond Hill ~Classical guitar; $

*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

7-10> Sarah Smith; Darcy Feaver; Robin Benedict @ Tracie’s Place, 592 Upper James St., Hamilton ~songwriters; $10

7:30> Black Collar Union @ Bay City Music Hall, 50 Leander Dr., Hamilton ~indie Hard Rock

8> Brendan Canning (of Broken Social Scene); Shy Kids @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~original Pop; $?

8> Slim Cessna’s Auto Club; Frankie and Jimmy @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton

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

*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 & guest Wendell Ferguson @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Blues

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

8-12> Semi Tone @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington~Rock/Top 40

*8> Salsa band @ The Franklin House, 263 Queen St. S., Streetsville ~Latin

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

8:30> CR Avery @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~original beatbox poet/cabaret Blues; $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

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

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