\ SCARBOROUGH \

Until two weeks ago it’d been way too long since I’d been out to enjoy one of the weekly jams now hosted by ebullient and effervescent singer-frontman Tommy Rocker in Scarborough.

Twice a week, on Sunday and Wednesday, Tommy and a crew of solid and enthusiastic house band members host jams at a welcoming room, The Fox at Scarborough Junction [aka Scarborough Junction], that seems to be trying to be a live music hub for the area.

Located at 646 Danforth Road on the southwest corner at St. Clair Ave. E., the club helps to ensure the events draw a crowd by giving patrons a free dinner at both the Sunday 6-10 jam and Wednesday 8-12 affair —and drink prices are very reasonable. It also regularly has weekend shows (though unfortunately doesn’t always really do much of a job of getting the word out about which bands are playing).

I had a chance to pop in for a bit to the Wednesday edition of Tommy’s jam on Canada Day and the place was jumping. By the way the substantial crowd, including a lot of talented players, was interacting it seemed pretty clear that most were regulars, so I don’t think it was just because it was a holiday that it was so lively.

Tommy’s house band for the Wednesday events feature veteran guitarist John Robbie, drummer Andre Mendes Eric Tarvitz (aka Ear Ache for those whose memories go back a couple of decades) on bass. All are versatile and accommodating to singers and jammers, though full bands are also welcome to come out and show their stuff with a chance the club might pick them up for a weekend showcase.

Among the participants during my visit were thumpin’ Funk bass rhythms artist Christian “Stone SQ” Mbanga and eclectic Pop/Jazz/Country singer Valerie Shearman but there were also some other impressive performances by people I didn’t know and whose names I unfortunately didn’t manage to write down. Maybe I was too busy watching the lovely ladies who were dancing up a storm as Tommy contorted and cavorted through a number of tunes as the event went into overtime!

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, July 15, 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.) 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

6> Ryan O’Shaughnessy @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> Nathan Hiltz Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7> Diane Roblin’s Reconnect @ Monarchs Pub (Eaton Chelsea Hotel), 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~original Jazz-Funk Fusion

7:30> Kara Lockwood @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

*8-1> open jam with Wednesday’s Child feat. Johnny Bootz Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

8> Polyphony Marimba @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

8:30> Best Of The Open Stage with Jana Teovano; Noel Berman; Jessica Rozman @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO ~songwriters

*8:30> Crazy Strings host High Lonesome Wednesdays with opening acoustic act @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~Bluegrass

*8:45> Bradley & The Bouncers @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues/R&B

9> The Dreamboats @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO

9> Fat As Fuck @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~$

9> Harlan Pepper; Terra; Lightfoot; Twin Within @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $8

*9> open mic with Sean Barker @ Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St., TO

*9:30-2> jam with B-Sides @ The Unicorn, 175 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North

9:30> Kirk MacDonald Quartet featuring Peter Bernstein @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

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

10> Josh Cole and friends @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

*10-2> Blues-Rock jam with Bruce Domoney @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO

10:30> The Undercovers @ 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

*6-11> Rock jam with Scar-Bro Pete & Lee Van Leer @ Melange, 172 Main St., TO East

*7:30-10:30> The BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

8> Conrad Gayle @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East

8:30-10:30> Mediterranean Stars @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Gypsy/Romantic Jazz

*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave., TO East

416 – Toronto West

1> Second Pass; Slayer; The Devil Wears Prada; Hellyeahkl King Diamond; Code Orange; for Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival @ TD Echo Beach, 1001Lake Shore Blvd. W., TO West

5-8> Concord Jazz Quintet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

7:30> Music, Magic and Dance show with Sketchy Magic magician and GRACE Funk-fem band + feature BackTrack (party/Dance band at 10) @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W., TO West; $15

*8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ Chalkers, 247 Marlee Ave., TO North-West

9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~original Juno-winning Blues

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

9> Willow & The Deep; Stacy Dowsell; Lucass Staff @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~original

9> Good Bad Kid @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

416 – Etobicoke

8-1> Three Dads @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

416 – Scarborough

* 7> jam with Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Band @ Fox at Scarborough Junction, 646 Danforth Rd., Scarborough

*8:30> Al Reilly‘s Catalyst @ Centro Pizza, 3408 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~classic Rock

*8:30> open mic with Jadzia Skye & Michael Oesch @ Chez Helene’s, 1437 Kingston Rd., Scarborough

905 East

*8> Howard Ross hosts “Big Mojo” Blues jam with guest performer Mike Tabares @ Corner Pocket, 45 Prince St., Oshawa

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

*8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg

*9-12> jam with Damage Control @ St. Louis Bar & Grill Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

905 West

*8-12> All-ages jam with band featuring Dave Girdlestone of Soul Funkshun on guitar & host Kevin Reid @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville

*8-2> Paul & Curtis @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop

8-1> Wayne Cheddie & Jason Sheehan @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~eclectic; $5

8:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

*9> open mic jam with Jack B Nimble @ Blarney’s Gate, 1151 Dundas St. W., Mississauga

*9?> jam with Michael Zane or Pat Dowds @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville

905 North

*7> open mic night with Tanya Joy Senior @ Col. McGrady’s Pub, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge

*8-12> acoustic jam with Tony Paglia & Aaron Soloman @ Jake’s Boathouse Brampton, 59 First Gulf Rd., Brampton

*8-12> open mic with Kevin Ker @ Aw Shucks, 15230 Yonge St., Aurora

*9-1> open mic jam with Whiskey Birds @ Sweetz Lounge, 5289 Hwy 7, Woodbridge-Vaughan

905 South

*8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country

**8-1> “Country Pubkin” Night with Country artists tba @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

519

*9> The Phil & John Show feat. Phil Naro @ Molly Bloom’s Waterloo, 170 University Ave., Waterloo ~acoustic Pop Rock

705

*7-11> open jam with Wayne Buttery Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach