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I had started to wonder what had become of the Blues songwriter previously self-anointed as “Colorblind Brian Blain” (these days, I guess, “Formerly Colorblind Brian Blain” is more like it) since telling you about a showcase he did last year around this time at Old Mill in Etobicoke.

Even though I follow him on Twitter and he’s not exactly a reticent type despite a laid-back demeanour (he’s also, of course a very prominent Blues journalist and editor) I hadn’t really seen any show notices from him in some time, which is unusual since he’s been a fixture on the local scene for about a quarter century now.

Turns out, Blain’s been busy in the studio when not working with Maple Blues magazine, Toronto Jazz and online projects.  Two weeks ago back at Old Mill again for what now seems to be an annual appearance, he held a special event for the release of a newly re-recorded version of his 2011 solo live album New Folk Blues.

Apparently he’s taken the songs from that album and “sweetened them” by adding various accompanying performers, including the members of the ace band that joined him for the launch show: saxophonist Allison Young, rhythm section George Koller and Michelle Josef and his son Joel on soundscape effects via iPads.

In addition to the members of the release show group, New Folk Blues 2.0 also includes contributions from pianoman Patrick Godfrey and organist Clayton Doley as well as more sax from Colleen Allen, violin from Drew Jurecka, banjo from Tim Posgate, additional percussion by Wayne Stoute and guitar from Harry Manx.

With elements of Bluegrass, Reggae and Barrelhouse Boogie throughout, according to a description I read, it all sounds a far cry from the “Campfire” version of Blain that I’m used to seeing squatting on a stool solo, plunking soulful, thoughtful and often tender acoustic Blues.

But what I’m used to will be closer to what’s on offer tonight when Blain appears for an 8-11 solo show at Wolf Like Me at 834 Bloor St. W. a couple blocks east of Ossington, the second of two Monday gigs there this month.  There’s no cover but presumably if you like what you hear I’d expect he’ll have copies of the new album along with some of his previous releases on hand.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Monday, November 14, 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, are 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

6> Rainy Days on Monday with host Paul Linklater & guests Sandro Perri; Mmoh @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> U of T Jazz Ensembles @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

**7-1 (sign-up at 7, show starts 7:30)> open stage with host Signe Miranda @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

*7-10> open stage with Brad Scott @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

7> Calum Scott; Vacay @ The Mod Club, 722 College St., TO ~all ages; $18.50

7:30> Happy Hour with Chris Banks @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

7:30> Wintergarten Orchestra @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~R&B/Swing

8-11> Brian Blain @ Wolf Like Me, 834 Bloor St. W., TO ~acoustic Blues originals & covers

8> James Vincent McMorrow; Mustafa @ Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St., TO ~Irish troubadour; $29.50+

8> Second Pass; Citizen Zero; VAMPS @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~indie; $

8> Ukulele jam @ Tranzac Lounge (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

**9-1:30> jam with No Band Required @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

*9?> open mic @ Lou Dawgs Ryerson, 76 Gerrard St. E., TO

*9:30> open mic with host Mark Villamor at Amsterdam Bicycle Club, 54 The Esplanade, TO

9:30> Mike Herriott & The OTR Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

10> Jordan John @ The Orbit Room, 580 College St., TO ~R&B/Blues; $

**10> open mic (2 songs; sign-up starts 8 p.m.) with host Sarah Greene @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Sugar Brown @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

*10> Chris Gostling @ The Roxton, 379 Harbord St., TO ~songwriter; no cover

10> Lost In The Wilderness; guests Trapstar @ Lost And Found, 577 King St. W., TO ~Hip Hop

416 - TORONTO EAST

7-10> Smokey Folk @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., Toronto East ~Bluegrass

**7:30> M-Factor Mondays with host Elana Harte & Lucio Agostini with features by Fraz Milne Trio; Jae Cabrera @ The Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave., TO East ~songwriters

*8-12> Riverboat Mondays acoustic open stage jam with Julian Taylor & Tyler Ellis @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave. TO East

8:30-10:30> Paul Reddick @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Blues

*9-12> The Out of Towners @ Sauce on Danforth, 1376 Danforth Ave., TO East

*9:30-2> Sebastian Agnello & friends @ Black Swan (ground floor), 154 Danforth Ave., TO East

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

*8-12> Al Reilly’s Catalyst also featuring Anthony Cee & Rick Anderson host Rock jam @ Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

*8-11> open stage @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough

9> Uke jam/workshop @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough

416 – TORONTO WEST

5-8> Chris Reid & Nina Richmond @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

7> Nick Arsenau @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~Jazz; pwyc

*7:30> Balfolk @ La Rev, 2848 Dundas St. W., TO West ~French Folk music & dance; $5-10/pwyc

8> Uniform; HSY; Blai Iron Prison; Holy Grinder @ Smiling Buddha Stage 1, 961 College St., TO West ~indie; $

8> CRX; Streets Of Laredo; The Gloomies @ The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W., TO West ~~all ages; $17

8> El Perro Del Mar @ Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W., TO West ~$18

*8-11> Ken Yoshioka @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St., TO West ~Blues

8:30> Heather Bambrick album release @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Jazz; $30

8:30> Kev Corbett; Sarah Beatty @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~songwriters; $

9> Johnny 2 Fingers; Scarlett’s Hand; BBQ Pope @ Smiling Buddha Stage 2, 961 College St., TO West ~indie; $

*9-1> Hamstrung Stringband @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Bluegrass

*9-1> eclectic open stage/jam with host Nelson Sobral @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West

9-1> Chris Staig Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Pop/Rockabilly

9:30> Stephan Bauer Organ Trio @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~NYC Jazz; pwyc

*10> open mic with Richard McCarthy & feature @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W., TO West

519

*8-2> Matt Weidinger @ Jimmy Jazz, 52 Macdonell St., Guelph ~acoustic originals & covers

705

*7> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

7:30-8:30> Scott Cecchin; Kip Gordon @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough ~poetry

9?> jam night with Rob Drake @ Sticky Fingers Dunlop, 199 Essa Rd.

905 EAST

*8-11> open stage @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

905 NORTH

7:30> Roman Zavada @ Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St., Richmond Hill ~silent movie musical accompaniment to “Sherlock Jr.” and “Seven Chances”; $

9:25-1:05> jam/open stage with backline @ Sneakers Uptown, 18025 Yonge St., Newmarket

905 SOUTH

*8:30-12:30> songwriters open stage with host JP Riemens @ Cat ‘n’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton

905 WEST

*7-10> open mic with Chris Partland @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington

**8-12> BBQ & jam night with Catherine Harrison @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; ($8.95 with BBQ dinner special starts at 6)

9-1> Kevin Reid & The Deadbeats @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit

*9:30-1> jam with Tom Barlow @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit

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