Doc Higgins revives Sunday afternoon open stage today

\ BARRIE \

The Sunday afternoon open stages hosted in his home by Barrie songwriter Doc Higgins have a been a sort of off-and-on affair over the past couple of years after the soulful social justice advocate decided to take a break after nearly three years to focus on recording his own music.

Now Doc has announced that starting today the weekly 1 – 5 p.m. series (in his studio basement at 1 Wallace Drive) is resuming with a new twist: in addition to doing a showcase set —broadcast on www.openfolk.net along with the rest of the event— the feature artist will also be interviewed for a profile segment of the show. He says he has in mind a concept similar to Pete Seeger’s television show “Rainbow Quest”, of which you can view an episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQq0dw7rmtc .

You can tune in today to check it out or go to the website any time for more general info, including a list of upcoming features. There are also, btw, a number of open spots in February and March and I’m told by one performer who did a feature there a few years ago that it’s a delightful afternoon of music with enthusiastic participation by an interesting variety of Simcoe County-area artists. Having attended many nights of his open stages he used to host in TO in the 90s, I can certainly also attest that he’s a warm, welcoming host.

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Sunday January 11, 2022:

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.

11-2> Evan Desaulnier for Jazz brunch @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO East

11am-2pm> Lenka Lichtenberg & The Yiddish Meydal for Jazz brunch @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~Worldbeat Jazz

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

noon> Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

1-5> Doc Higgins hosts OpenFolk.net open stage with feature by Doc Higgins @ 1 Wallace Drive, Barrie + live online at www.openfolk.net

1> Toronto Improvisers Orchestra @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

1-5> all-ages jam with host Gear Music @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville

*2-5> Glen Hornblast & Tony Quarrington @ Morgan’s, 1282 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

2> James Clark solo; Sean Poluk @ Village Vinyl Music Emporium & Café, 2925 Lakeshore Blvd., W., Etobicoke South ~indie Roots with bite

*2-5> acoustic jam with host Bill Black @ The Working Dog Saloon, 3676 St. Clair Ave. E., Scarborough

*3-6> open mic with Nicola Vaughan @ Hirut, 2050 Danforth Ave., TO East

*3-6> Michael Brennan @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. TO ~East Coast Rock/Blues Roots

*3-7> jam at CJ Barleys, 213 The Queensway, Keswick

3> Chicken Pot Pie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

3:30-6:30> Red Hot Ramble @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

4-8> Lost Patients @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke ~Pop Rock

4-8> Ed Culjak @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South

4> Tim Bradford @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~acoustic Pop

*4:30-8> New Orleans Connection All Stars & guests @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~New Orleans Jazz

4> Doug Libby/Dale @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Jazz

*4:30-8> Chuck Jackson’s All Stars @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues

*5-9> John Dickie/Pat Perez Band @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave, TO East ~R&B/Blues

5-7> Cadre @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Roots-Blues

*5-9> All ages open jam with Juggernaut Jam Band featuring Andy Narsingh @ West Shore Bar & Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering

**5-8> John Borra & Sam Ferrara w. guest @ The Communist’s Daughter, 1149 Dundas St. W. TO West ~Country

5-9> LMT Connection @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~Funk/R&B; $10

5-8> Chris Coole @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~old time Country

5> Max Layton @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~poet

**5-8> The Stew @ Mulligan’s, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~R&B/Rock

*7-1> open stage with hosts Steve York & Tony Rabalao (2 songs each -signup @ 7 or pre-sign online) @ The Supermarket, 268 Augusta St., TO

*7-11> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax

7-9:30> Allison Au @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*7-11> open jam @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough

**7-11> The Nomads @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit

*7> open jam with Mike Shotton & The Flying Squirrels @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

7:30> Parker Abbott Trio @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> Zack Werner’s Canadian Idol School showcase @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

8:15> Mike MacDonald, Paul Jones, Chris Lord & Kim Doolittle @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Blues

*8:30-12:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby

9> Los Cabelleros del Son @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Cuban traditional

*9 karaoke with Randy Petrie @ King’s Belly, 429 Donlands Ave., TO East

*9> Rob Hiemstra solo @ The Unicorn, 175 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North ~Rock/Pop

*9-1> jam with Mike Roland and Lenny Vaccari @ Stewart Maguires Landing, 15 Allan Dr., Bolton

*9-1> jam @ Ivy Arms Pub, 201 Main Street East, Milton

*9:30-1> jam with the Stir It Up Band featuring Bryan Van Dusen & David Macmichael @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

*9:30-1:30> jam with Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South

9:30> Roarshaq @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*10> Horshack feat. Chris Caddell @ Orbit Room, 580 College St., TO ~Bluesy contemporary & classic Rock

10> The Lina Allemano Four @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

*10> The Mercenaries @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

**10> Blues jam with Brian Cober, Bill Hedefine & guest bassist @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

*10> jam with Groove Stone feat. Dale Harrison @ Scruffy Murphy’s Uptown, 150 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North

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

10:30> Scott Baragar @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

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