\ TO CENTRAL \

It’s their first time sharing a showcase billing tonight, but earnest, heartfelt Roots songwriters Mark Yan and Brian Jantzi couldn’t have easily found a much better fit than one another to share a night and backing band for their sets at their “Alt-Thanksgiving Show” at Free Times Café this evening.

The two have been prominent in our listings for the past few years now.  In Yan’s case he’s been often either teamed with fellow songwriter Barry Mulcahy in a duo or going solo doing acoustic Pop covers and some originals at venues across the GTA, or hosting house concerts in his hometown Brampton.

In Jantzi’s instance, he’s usually as part of a parade of talents assembling for good causes or as a featured guest and occasional host at open stages, often, as we’ve told you previously, doing covers of tunes by other local artists but also teaming up with other artists and appearing with his Lost Mariachis Band.

But tonight the pair, each backed by Tom Hamilton on fiddle and Bob Cohen on electric guitar, will both be showcasing their original material, which in both cases is part of a deep reservoir of song that too often ends up overshadowed by their other material and activities. And those originals in both cases are uncompromisingly honest, heart-on-my-sleeve tunes that stay with you well after the first listens.

We’ve already told you about Jantzi’s new album, Junkie for Emotion, released earlier this year, but we haven’t written previously about Yan’s original material, some of which resides on a solo release, Greetings, that he issued way back in 2005. Although it’s not yet online to hear or purchase (Mark, an old school Folkie when it comes down to it only sells them at shows) he tells me he’ll have some with him tonight, along with copies of an ep he recorded with Mulcahy last year.

You can also find some live performances of Yan and Mulcahy on YouTube, including a soulful rendition of his “Back to Sault Ste. Marie” song about growing up in the northern harbour city and others such as his “Crossroads” about making life choices, “The Heart Beat Every Day” and there’s also a solo rendition of his political “Occupy It Song”.

We mentioned a few months ago that Mark is beginning to carve his own niche on the local scene but in fact he’s been a presence in the GTA North area for some time now, as a member of the Brampton Folk Club and, for the past four years, hosting house concerts at his Brampton home, with all the dough going to the artists.

But recently he has acquired a few new feathers, opening at one show for Juno and Canadian Folk Music Awards nominated Roots duo Dala, and performing with Mulcahy at this year’s Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival as well as solo at one of the Tin Pan North Nashville Songwriters Association International festival events.

Tonight’s action kicks off at 8 and runs till 11 in the cozy, acoustically magnificent back room of the venue at 320 College St.  Cover is $10 or pay-what-you-can and I’m told there may be some “cd doggie bags” available as well.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca
[email protected]

SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, November 23, 2021

For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.

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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

8> Ken Wallis show with tracks and interviews @ www.bluesandrootsradio.com

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

*5-8> Danny Blue @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave. ~acoustic Pop

*5-9> open jam @ Steve’s Music, 415 Queen St. W.

6-8> Community Naloxone Anti-Overdose Kit Training 3 @ Tortilla Flats, 459 Queen St. W. ~workshop; free kit to participants; $0

6> Within The Ruins; Currents; Enterprise Earth; Embodier; Kraign @ Hard Luck Bar, 812 Dundas St. W. ~indie; $

6> Corin Raymond @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~songwriter

6-8> Robert Scott @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~solo piano Jazz; $

6-8> Ryley Murray; Royal Condition recording release for 313 @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~$10-20/pwyc

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

6:30> Sundown @ Pilot Tavern, 22 Cumberland St. ~Jazz

*7:30-9:30> Bluegrass Thursdays with Houndstooth @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.

7:30> Espirit Orchestra @ Trinity St. Paul’s Centre, 487 Bloor St. W. ~Classical; $

*7:30> Otto & The Pilots @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St. ~Jazz

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

8-11> The Alt-Thanksgiving Show with songwriters Mark Yan & Brian Jantzi @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~songwriters; $10/pwyc

8> Toronto Symphony Orchestra @ Roy Thomson Hall, TO Central, 60 Simcoe St.  ~Classical; $

8> Andy Shauf; Jennifer Castle @ Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St. ~contemporary original; $

8> Lil Windex @ Nocturne, 550 Queen St. W. ~Rap

*8-12> Joe Bowden’s Nothin’ But The Blues @ N’awlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues

8> Liam Gallagher; Warbly Jets @ Rebel, 11 Polson St. ~contemporary original; $

8> acoustic open mic @ Sidestreet Bar, 768 Dundas St.

8:30> 54-40 (second of four nights) @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $

8:30-12> Skevious Tips; Camino Jazz Club; Soo Casa; Young Vercetti; Jay Chronic @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St. ~indie; $

9?> Jordan Klassen @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W. ~$

9> Chris Lord Ideal @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave. ~original Blues

9> Auston Strange @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W. ~indie; $

9> The Balconies @ Roundhouse Rec Room, 255 Bremner Blvd. ~indie Pop; $

9-11:30> Colin Hunter and The Anthony Terpstra Big Band @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Sinatra Jazz; $

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

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

9:30> Nuf Said @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~NYC Jazz; $

9:30> “Bovinefest 4” with The Electric Dead; Badgermilk; Band Against Humanity; How To Die In Oregon @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $

*9:45> Alison Young @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Jazz; $

10> Tequila Jay Swinnerton @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~songwriter

10> The Nilan Perera Ensemble @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~Jazz

10> Sons of Rhythm @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO  ~Funk/R&B/Soul; $

10> Phillip Garcia @ Amsterdam Bicycle Club, 54 The Esplanade

10> Patrick Ballantyne recording release for Calendar; Ambre McLean recording release for My Heart @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E. ~songwriters’ double album release; $10

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

416 – TORONTO EAST

6-9> Lamblion @ Pan On The Danforth, 516 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz

6> White Chapel; Camifex; Rings of Saturn; Entheos; So This Is Suffering @ Opera House, 735 Queen St. E. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $

7-9> Sabrina Soares Band @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~songwriter; 0$

8-12> open mic with Amber Durette & Gary Edward Allen @ Legends, 774 Danforth Ave.

8-10> Artie Roth & Steve Koven @ Sauce, 1376 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz

8> Craig Robertson @ The Beach House, 1953 Queen St. E.

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

9> Raindogs @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave.

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

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

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

416 - TORONTO ETOBICOKE

7:30> Bob Brough, Adrean Farrugia, Arti Roth @ Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd. ~Jazz; min table charge

9> Kimbeley Wetmore @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~Pop Rock

9:30> Bryan Tyrell @ The Old Sod, 2936 Bloor St. W. ~Pop

*10-2> Skip Tracer @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. ~Rock/Pop

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

*8-12> jam with Juggernaut @ Muckish Irish Pub, 74 Hymus Ave.

8> open jam with host David Wildsmith and special guest Gord Aeichele on sax @ Silly Goose Pub, 1703 Victoria Park Ave.

8-12> jam night with Copy Machine @ The Birchmount, 462 Birchmount Rd.

9:30> Sil Simone @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd. ~Pop Rock

10> jam & karaoke @ Smiling Jacks, 3482 Lawrence Ave. E.

416 – TORONTO WEST

5-8> Robert Lee Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz

6> Brianna Clarke @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W.  ~songwriter; $

7> Bossa Tres @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz

7-9> Four Chords and the Truth @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave.

7> Stars @ The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W.

7:30> fundraiser for Puerto Rico rebuilding with A New Tradition; OKAN; Afoxé Omo Akeko; more @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W.

*7:30> Jean Baptiste De Collier & Jon Pearson @ The Station, 2457 Bloor St. West ~Roots-Rock

8> 20 Thousand Days featuring Paul Smith on keys; Jordana Talsky @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W. ~indie Rock

8> Edward Sauers recording release for Underdog Overlord; The Noolands; Black Suit Devel @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. ~indie; $

8> Blues Hearts @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W. ~Blues-Rock

8> Duchess Says; Yamantaka; Sonic Titan @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W.

8> Mango Reinhardt recording release for ep @ Shameful Tiki Bar, 1378 Queen St. W. ~songwriter; $

8> The St Royals @ 3030 Dundas West, 3030 Dundas St. W. ~Funk/R&B/Soul

*8> open mic @ Axis Gallery & Grill, 3048 Dundas St. W.

8:30> The Last Waltz (first of two nights) @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W. ~tribute to The Band; $45

8:30> Benjamin Dakota Rogers @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W.  ~original Roots; $

9> Several Futures; Not Of; Spoils @ The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St. W.  ~indie; $

*9-12> open mic night with Anthony Abbatangeli @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W.

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

9-12> Peter Kauffman Jazz Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz

9> Dirty Talk @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St. ~indie; $

9> Angie Gunn @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave.  ~Country Honky Tonk

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

11> The Digs @ Drake Hotel Lounge, 1150 Queen St. W. ~groove Rock; 0$

519

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

6> Dave Menard @ StrykerZ Kitchen, 120 Ottawa St. N., Kitchener

6:30> open jam night @ Grand River Brewing, 295 Ainslie St., Cambridge

7> University of Guelph Jazz Ensemble @ Manhattan’s Guelph, 951 Gordon St., Guelph ~Jazz

7-9> Ceilidh On Night @ McDougall Cottage, 89 Grand Ave. S., Cambridge

7> Jesse Parent with Nick Barkley @ Monigram Coffee Roasters, 16 Ainslie St. S., Cambridge

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

7:30> DreamSpeak with Gary Diggins @ Silence, 46 Essex St., Guelph ~ambient music; $15

7:30-10> jam night @ RCL #126 Preston Legion, 334 Westminster Dr. N., Cambridge

7:30> “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” @ Centre In The Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener ~tribute to Buddy Holly; $59.50

8> Jessit T @ Easy Pour Wine Bar, 1660 Blair Rd., Cambridge

8> Rob Szabo @ Rhapsody Barrel Bar, 179 King St. W., Kitchener

8> SonReal @ Maxwell’s, 35 University Ave. E., Waterloo ~contemporary original; $22-94.91

8> Jeremy Fisher @ Starlight Waterloo, 47 King St. N., Waterloo ~$20

*8:30> acoustic jam hosted by Mike Meacher & Vic Freitas @ Kiwi Gastropub, 47 Dickson St., Cambridge

*8:30-12:30> acoustic jam with Dennis Napper & Joe Lopez @ Fiddle & Firkin, 707 King St. E., Cambridge

9> The Baudelaires; openers The Dead Souls @ The Boathouse, 97 Jubilee Drive, Kitchener ~Ska/Reggae tribute to Sex Pistols, Joy Division; $

9> jam with Miss Jaye Baxter Band @ Black Wolf Smokehouse, 139 Broadway Ave., Orangeville

9:30> Bareback Riders @ Stampede Corral, 248 Stirling Ave. S., Kitchener ~Country

*10-2> Mike Something @ Royal Electric, 52 Macdonell St., Guelph ~acoustic Pop

10> Darlene Shrugg; Biblical @ EBar, 41 Quebec St., Guelph ~indie; $

705

7-11> John Fraser Findlay Band @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood ~Blues/R&B

*7:30> Rob Phillips Jazz/Blues Trio and Marsala Lukianchuk @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

8> Vesperia; Unbowed; Becomes Astral; Doors and Floors @ Foxx Lounge, 16 Dunlop Street East, Barrie ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $

*8> The Quickshifters @ Hot Belly Mama’s, 378 George St., Peterborough ~pwyc

*8-11> Open mic @ George & Orange Taproom & Kitchen, 67 Orange St., Cobourg

8> Campfire Poets Duo @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood  ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

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

9-1> Shawn Steinhart @ Donaleigh’s Irish Public House, 28 Dunlop St. E., Barrie

10> One Bad Son @ Red Dog Tavern, 189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~indie; $

*10> Jan Schoute @ McThirsty’s Pint, 166 Charlotte St., Peterborough

905 EAST

*5-8> Nelson Denis @ Frank’s Pasta, 42 King Street E., Cobourg ~eclectic mix (Folk, Jazz, soft Rock, Latin)

*6-10> Sticks & Tones @ Fionn MacCool’s Oshawa, 214 Ritson Rd., Oshawa ~Rock/Top 40 covers

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

8-11> Mellow Dee & guest Amber Hardy @ Rum Diaries, 368 Bayly St. W., Ajax ~soft groove Pop/R&B

8> Matt Mays; Arkells @ Tribute Communities Centre, 99 Athol St. E., Oshawa

*8-11> open mic night @ George & Orange Taproom, 67 Orange St., Cobourg

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

*9-2> open mic with Rich With Sin @ Gravity Lounge, 45 Prince St., Oshawa

9> Deuce @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~acoustic Pop covers & originals duo

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

*10> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ St. Louis Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave., Ajax

905 NORTH-EAST

7-10> open mic jam with house band Mr. Mad Trio @ Lake Simcoe Arms, 21089 Dalton Rd., Jacksons Point

8> Fortunate Ones @ Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton ~acoustic Pop covers & originals; $24.95

*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

905 NORTH-WEST

*6:30-10:30> jam with Faces for Radio @ Coasters, 55 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton

7> J.J.Millstone @ Uncorked On Main, 72 Main St. S., Georgetown ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

7:30-11> jam night @ Spot 1, 289 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton

*7:30-11:30> jam with house band @ 52nd St. Tap & Grill, 30 Kennedy Rd., S., Brampton

9> open mic (signup starts at 8:30) @ The Barrel, 2180 Steeles Ave. W. Vaughan

*9> open mic with The Almost Cool Band @ St. George Pub, 7 Main St. N., Georgetown

*10:30> jam with Gary White & Friends @ Bryden’s, 270 Main St. E., Milton

905 SOUTH

7:30> “International Pop Overthrow Festival” with Blair Packham; The James Clark Institute; Clockwise; The Histrionics; Synners of Truth; Wild Night @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~indie; $10

*7:30> open mic @ Station Coffee House, 28 Main St. E., Grimsby

8> Pip recording release for Twenty-Four Obscurity Mills @ Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton ~songwriter; $10

8> Tylers Wierd @ Doors: Taco Joint & Metal Bar, 56 Hess St. Hamilton

*8-10> open mic with The Vaudevillian @ Rust City Brewery, 27 King William St., Hamilton

8-11:30> fundraiser for Victims Services Simcoe with Loose Moralz; Paul Sage; Mary Kovacs @ Bobbie’s Bar & Grill, 2965 Homestead Dr., Hamilton

8> In My Coma recording release for Next Life @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~original Rock/Pop; $10

8> Dylan Menzie; Key Yates @ Mills Hardware, 96 King St. E., Hamilton ~songwriters; $15

*8-10> Jose Coulter @ Judge and Jester, 17 Main St. E., Grimsby

8:30> Chris Chambers @ Lou Dawg’s Hamilton, 116 George St., Hamilton

9> open jam with Tim Ninehouse and Mr. Jay @ George Hamilton Restaurant, Hamilton, 152 King St. W.

*9> jam with Hank & The Boys @ Tartan Toorie, 969 Fennell Ave. E., Hamilton

*9> open mic night with rotating hosts @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Ancaster

10> Strummers Union @ The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta St., Hamilton ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

10> Matty Simpson @ Cat N Fiddle Hamilton, 174 John St., S., Hamilton

10:30> Chris Caddell & Friends @ Gallagher’s Bar, 69 Augusta St., Hamilton ~Blues-Rock

905 WEST

4:30> Adam Cooke @ SB Prime, 380 Brant St., Burlington

5:30-1> acoustic all-ages open mic @ Marco Polo Restobar, 1971 Lakeshore Road West, Mississauga

*7> Fraser/Daley @ Anchor Bar Burlington, 2000 Appleby Line, Burlington ~original Rootsy Blues

7> Rob Reed @ Max Resto Lounge, 2180 Itabashi Way, Burlington

*7-10> Clarke County @ Montana’s BBQ Mississauga, 5031 Hurontario St., Mississauga ~Country

*7-11> James Anthony Band @ 5 West Brewpub, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington

*7:30> Bluegrass jam @ RCL #551 Waterdown, 79 Hamilton St. N., Waterdown

8-12> open mic with Screamin’ Evil Band featuring Keith Danby @ Black Swan Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

8> The Grady Brothers @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40 covers & originals

8> Kent MacMillan @ Bronte Sports Kitchen, 2544 Speers Rd., Oakville

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

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

9> Steve Strongman @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~original Blues; $

9-1> Freedom Train @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop

*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

LISTINGS KEY

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.

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