A lot of benefit concerts have been held recently —with many more planned— at which musicians are pitching in to help victims of the Fort McMurray area wildfires by raising funds, and may the gods bless them all for doing so.
But it’s not just humans who have been left in dire straits by the catastrophic Alberta weather event still presenting a threat to all manner of living beings. And in addition to the tremendous loss of wildlife such events create, many other animals who were domestic pets and got lost in the rush to evacuate are also now in a life-threatening situations.
While most of us are focused on the human victims, some folks trained in working with four-legged and other critters are also engaged in animal rescue work in the area, and are also in dire need of working funds. That includes the Edmonton Humane Society, which seems to be taking the lead in helping to rescue animals left to fend for themselves after becoming separated from their human companions.
So tonight’s 8 p.m. Fort McMurray relief benefit at Silver Dollar (at 486 Spadina Ave. just north of College), for which the $10 cover charge will go to their good work, will come as a welcome assist to their efforts.
The roster is an eclectic lineup of talents, including high-calibre dance/Motown band BackTrack at 9 p.m., Funky groove Rock group Simple Damned Device, indie Pop songwriters Quincy Lepalm, Yawn Temiseva and Carl Lorusso Jr. as well as acts like Johnny Trash and Marlon Chapin.
I’d expect there’ll also be raffles and draws, etc., and no doubt artists with recorded product will be donating something from any sales of their material. And in addition to helping a great but underpublicized cause, you can count on this lineup to deliver full entertainment value.
-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca
SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, May 25, 2022
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. Advertisers’ listings are in larger, highlighted type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.
416 – TORONTO CENTRAL
5-7> Gordon Shawcross @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO
*5:30> Kama House Band @ Kama, 214 King St. W., TO ~Jazz
6-8> James Dunbar @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Blues; $
6-8> Whitney Ross-Barris with pianist Robert Scott @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10
6> The Thick; The Soundicate; Dirty Dick & The Dicktones @ The Central, 603 Markham St., TO
6> Dave Borins @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO
6:30> Trevor Giancola Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $
*7> Jim Heineman Trio @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W., TO ~Jazz
7> Senensky/Riley Organ Trio @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~R&B; $10
*7-10> Blues jam with Mark Stafford & Ken Yoshioka @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North
7:30> Brian Mehlenbacher; Kyle Layton Thomas; Garrett Gualberto @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~songwriters; $6
7:30> Toronto Songwriting School showcase @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~songwriters
*7:30> Jeff Willingham @ Lou Dawgs Ryerson, 76 Gerrard St. E., TO ~acoustic Pop
8> benefit for Fort McMurray Animal Rescue with BackTrack Band featuring Marty Zatzman (9pm); Simple Damned Device; Quincy Lepalm; Yawn Temiseva; Carl Lorusso Jr; Johnny Trash; Marlon Chapin @ Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~eclectic
**8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers’ jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO
**8 (7 p.m. sign-up)> open stage with 9 p.m. feature by Lilian Kim @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall), TO ~Roots
8-1> open jam with Wednesday’s Child feat. Johnny Bootz Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO
8> The Distillery @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO
8:30> Sophia Radisch & Chris Birkett @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO ~songwriter; $10
9> The Digs @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Funk/Jazz/neo-Soul; $
*9 (signup at 8:30)> open mic with Alan Carter @ Lowdown, 276 Augusta Ave., TO
9-11:30> Carlos del Junco @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Blues; $
9> Cactus Jack; Joel; Love Wagon; Tails; You Lose @ The Central, 603 Markham St., TO ~indie
*9-2> What’s Poppin’ indie jam @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO
9> Fortunate Losers; The Budds; Evan MacDonald; The Waking West @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $5
9> Emma Elena Grace @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO
9:30> Tyler Hornby Quartet featuring David Braid @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Vancouver Jazz; $
10> Sarah Burton @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO
*10-2> Blues-Rock jam with Bruce Domoney @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO
10:30> Sons of Jameson @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock
*10:30> The LMT Connection @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Funk/R&B; $10
416 – TORONTO EAST
7-10> James Carroll & Bob Strome @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~songwriter/acoustic Pop
*8> acoustic open mic with Phill Hood @ An Sibin Pub, 709 Queen St. E., TO East
8> Lzrszn @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East ~space Jazz
8:30-10:30> Mediterranean Stars featuring Ed Roth on accordion @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Baltic Folk Jazz
*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave., TO East
416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE
7:30> Havana Nights @ The Old Mill, 21 Old Mill Rd. (Home Smith Bar, minimum table charge) ~Jazz
8-1> Phil & John featuring Phil Naro @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~
9> Space Jazz jam with guitarist Youngchan Na & band with weekly guest tba @ Placebo Space, 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke ~Jazz ; $10/pwyc
416 – TORONTO WEST
5-8> Claire Lee Jazz Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz
7> The Abrams @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~$
*8> MFA open mic @ Remix Lounge, 1305 Dundas St. W., TO West
**8:30-10:30> Hump Night Blues with Dave McManus & Cleave Anderson & George Baumann + special guests Voodoo Walters & Gary Gray @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St., TO West ~Blues
8:30> Xu Shaoyang; Not the Wind, Not The Flag; Ye Xuan @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~indie
9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~original Juno-winning Blues
9> Sibling @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West
9> Sean Conway @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Roots/Rockabilly
9> Mother Tongues; Zoo Partridge; Valued Customer; DJ Just Babies @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie
10> Blue Sky Miners with special guests Tobero & Jeri Gogo @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~$
*10> Kristine Schmitt & The Lonesome Ace Stringband @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Pop
705
*7-11> open jam with The Freacon Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach ~ Blues, Jazz; $5
7> Mike Lornerhan @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough
8> Graham Playford @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood
8> open mic with Mallory Stone @ Black Honey Desserts, 221 Hunter St. West, Peterborough
9> Stephen Lewis and the Big Band of Fun @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough
10> Peter and The Wolves @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
905 EAST
8-12> open mic night @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 32 Kingston Rd. E. Ajax
8> Big Wind @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
*8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg
9> open mic @ The Moustache Club, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
9> Murder Burgers; City Mouse; Lee Sturgis; Critical Hit @ The Atria, 59 King St. E., Oshawa ~indie
*10> Two For The Show @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock
905 NORTH
6:30> Pierre MonAmi Bordeleau Duo @ Foxbridge Golf Club Clubhouse, 350 Reach St., Uxbridge ~acoustic Pop
*7> open mic night with Tanya Joy Senior @ Col. McGrady’s Pub, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge
*7-close> open mic with Kevin Ker @ The Mill, 139 Mill St., Unionville
*8:45> open mic jam with Matt Zady @ Magnums, 21 McMurchy Ave. N., Brampton
*9-1> open mic jam with Whiskey Birds @ Sweetz Lounge, 5289 Hwy 7, Woodbridge-Vaughan
*9:30> open mic with The Villagers @ Main’s Mansion, 144 Main St., Markham
*10-2> jam night with Switchbeat Trio @ Maguires, 284 Queen St. E., Brampton
905 SOUTH
*7> open mic night @ Donnelley’s Pub, 54 Front St., Thorold ~Blues
**8-1> Boogie N Blues jam with Ian Andrews & Friends @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton
8> Terrie Petrie & band hosts Country Wednesdays @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster ~Country
*8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country
9> Variety Show Night @ Homegrown Hamilton, 27 King William St., Hamilton
9> Wild Soul Wednesday with Skirt Check @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton
9> Severed Feathers; Terrorista; Aaron Levy @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton
905 WEST
8-1> Riddim Riders @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~acoustic Steeltown Reggae; $10
*8:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock
9-1> Tony Paglia Duo @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop; $
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