\ TO DOWNTOWN \

It’s the last Wednesday in June, which for scores of TO Folk music fans signals the end of yet another season of weekly open stages at the venerable unlicensed gathering known as Fat Albert’s Coffee House.

Although Fat’s has never been an actual venue (it’s a concept for an event, started in the basement of a church on Bloor Street in 1967 and in recent years held at the Steelworkers Hall at 25 Cecil St. off Spadina south of College) it’s an institution among two generations of Folk artists.

As we told you this time last year, some of those who’ve shared their music there went on to become household names (and continued to drop in even after finding fame) while legions more are unknown except to fellow artists and their friends.

But one of the great things about “Fat’s”, as regulars call it, is that fame doesn’t get you any special privileges –everyone, except the weekly feature act, does two songs and the order is determined by lots drawn from those who are there for the 7 p.m. sign-up (performances begin at 8) no matter how many record deals you may or may not have. And everyone is also expected to pay the cover charge (it’s a whopping $2) unless you really can’t afford it, in which case don’t worry about it –though all proceeds go to pay rent and keep the thing running.

Tonight’s finale feature will once again be by husband and wife Roots songwriting duo Jeff and Debbie Currie, who also did the honours last year. As usual for the finale you can expect a strong turnout by some fine and well known songwriting talents in the city as well as others you may discover for the first time.

You can also support Fat’s by purchasing one of the compilation discs they’ve made with participation by many of the artists who’ve graced the stage over the years –for more information visit their website at http://fatalbertsopenstage.blogspot.ca/

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, June 24, 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.

TDJ = Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival. For today’s full listings visit website’s calendar

416 – Toronto Central

6> Dave Borins @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6> Comhaltas Irish Slow Session @ Tranzac Club (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~folk dancing

5> TDJ: Michael Occhipinti’s Creation Dream @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz/Bruce Cockburn tribute

6> TDJ: Suzie Vinnick @ Distillery Distric Trinity Stage, 55 Mill St. ~Jazz; free

7> TDJ: Jim Heineman Trio @ N’awlins, 299 King St. W., TO W. ~Jazz; free

7> TDJ: Brownman & Arecibo @ Monarchs Pub (Eaton Chelsea Hotel), 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Jazz; free

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

8> TDJ: Radio Delus with Pizzarelli Quartet featuring Jessica Molaskey & guest Alex Pangman @ Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W., TO ~Jazz; $57.50

**8> season finale open stage with 9 p.m. feature by The Curries @ 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> TDJ: Kirk Macdonald @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

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

8:30> TDJ: Carlo Berardinucci Crooners Jazz @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Jazz; free

*8:45> TDJ: Robin Banks @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues; $

*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

10> TDJ: NYC’s Dan Weiss Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

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

10> Healing Power showcase @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

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

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

*10:30> The ATL Band @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~$

416 – Toronto East

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

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

8> Lzrszn @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Space Jazz

8> TDJ: Russ Macklem Quartet Jazz Jam @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave. TO East ~Jazz; free

8:30-10:30> Jazz Money @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

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

416 – Toronto West

5-8> TDJ: The G Street Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz; free

**8-10:30> Hump Night Blues with Dave McManus & Cleave Anderson + special guest Jake Chisholm @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St., TO West ~Blues

*8-12> TDJ: Girls Night Out Jazz singers jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ Chalkers, 247 Marlee Ave., TO North-West; $20

8> Joey Wright @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West

8> TDJ: Boxcar Boys @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Gypsy Jazz; $5

8:30> Studio 675 vocal showcase @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~$15/-

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

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

10> TDJ: Sulfur City; Valued Customer; Autumn Stones & guest @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Jazz; $10

416 – Etobicoke

8-1> Jeanine Mackie @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~R&B/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

7> Big Wind Band @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

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

*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> Roger Marin Band @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Roots/Country; $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

*9> The Green Rays; The Squids @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., 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

8:30> The Weber Brothers; Lazy Devils @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough ~Blues