\ PETERBOROUGH \

It would be now just about forty years since the summer afternoon in the late 1970s that I first encountered the outrageously delightful duo known as Reverend Ken & Washboard Hank (also know sometimes as The Duke of Washboardom and the Parson of Panhandlerdom) on the streets of London, Ontario, where they were tying up traffic with their busking act.

Police were called to investigate the disturbance at the corner of Dundas Street and Wellington, which was a long stone’s throw from a second-floor office I occupied on Dundas Street (next to the legendary Fryfogles Tavern) and from whence I was publishing Satellite Community Newsmagazine (later reformatted as City Scan newspaper) and orchestrating a weekly “Spaceship London” live television show on Rogers Cable.

At the time I was just starting to get into regularly attending live music events at rooms like the York Tavern and Blue Boot Hotel and had only a couple of years previously begun writing songs and performing myself at the weekly open stage at Smales Pace (successor the iconic Smale’s Place coffeehouse).

Alerted to the situation on the street by one of my confederates, I rushed to get there with my camera and discovered that the cops were considering arresting the duo for disturbing the peace.  That hardly seemed fair but I quickly came up with a ploy to save them: showing my official-looking business card I told the officers that the pair were not to blame because I had arranged for them to be there and create a commotion “as a publicity stunt” to promote their forthcoming appearance on the tv show.  (Back in those days you could get away with almost anything explaining it that way.)

Although I’d never met either of the bedraggled but energetic twosome before, the cops bought the fib and after my abject “apologies” allowed them to depart with me back to the office.  Where we proceeded to introduce ourselves and smoke a few big fatties.

They did end up coming on the tv show too!  And of course later went on to much acclaim and fervor in both Toronto, where they anchored the Reverend Ken and The Lost Followers band that regaled The Brunswick House regularly during the 1980s and also apparently in Peterborough and the Kawarthas (from which area they hail) and where they are now regarded, according to the kararthasnow.com, as “a piece of Peterborough’s musical history.”

If you’re not familiar with the pair you’ve missed some delightfully unorthodox musical fun that combines elements of Bluegrass, Rock and Country.  While Ken sings drinking songs about tales of wasted days and wasted nights and played guitar and sometimes fiddle, Hank is a one-man band accompaniment with a signature washboard supplemented by various bells, whistles, percussion instruments, horns, a kitchen sink tuba and others that defy description, including the “fallopian tube” he invented.

Ken Ramsden hasn’t been as active on the performing scene during the past decade or so but he did arise to national prominence in the 1990s when he mounted a Supreme Court challenge to bylaws by both the City of Peterborough and City of Toronto attempting to ban postering on street poles —and won!

Hank Fisher, however, has continued to appear regularly as Washboard Hank in as a solo act and in various duos and also with his Washboard Hank and The Honkers and lately Washboard Hank & The Wringers band —which luckily I was able to catch up with for a few tunes a couple of years ago when they appeared at Dora Keogh.

Tonight, however, the pair are reuniting for a special one-off (so they say!) revival of their street busking duo act at a Peterborough club that’s well known for its commitment to an eclectic blend of live musical artists nearly every night of the week, The Garnet at 231 Hunter Street West.  According to the kawarthasnow.com writer, Bruce Head, the venue was also, when it was known as Orpheus Music Store in a previous incarnation in the ‘70s, where the two first performed as a busking duo in heart of the cottage country city.

It’s a nice enough day for a road trip so if you have a yen for something completely different, head up to “The Electric City” (it was the first in Canada to install electric streetlights, apparently) well before the 8 p.m. show start, pay your $15 at the door.  Grab a chair if you’re there early enough and then hold on tight to your socks —lest they get blown off by a musical experience that is guaranteed to generate its own special kind of electricity.

-Gary17, TorontoMoon.ca
[email protected] * [email protected]

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, August 22, 2021

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

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ON AIR / ONLINE

*6-8pm> The Rock-A-Round with Slim Tim @ www.rockabilly-radio.net ~ Rockabilly tracks (from UK, repeat show from previous Friday)

 

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

11:30am-1:30> Louisiana Three @ Berczy Park, 35 Wellington St. E.  ~New Orleans Jazz; $0

Noon-1:30> The Guitar Guys @ Mackenzie House, 82 Bond Street ~smooth Rock/Pop; $0

5-7> Dione Taylor & Th Backsliderz @ Roy Thomson Hall (patio), 60 Simcoe St. ~$0

6-8> Richard Whiteman @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

6> Savar Savar @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.

6-9> Sam Sundar-Singh with Jenn @ Drom Taberna, 458 Queen St. W. ~Roots-Rock; $0

6:30> Allison Au Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

7> Eyes Set To Kill; Dayshell; Awake At Last; Diamond Weapon @ Hard Luck Bar, 772 Dundas St. W. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $

*7> Jim Heineman Trio @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. ~Jazz

*7-10> Country open mic with Matthew Runaway @ Rockin’ Horse Saloon, 250 Adelaide St. W.

*7-10> Blues jam with Voodoo Walters @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St.

7> Omhouse + film screening for Open Roof Festival @ Castlepoint Numa, 158 Sterling Road

7> Unhuman; Brought By Pain; Becomes Astral @ Coalition, 282 Augusta Ave. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $

7> Aubrey Migo; Drake @ Scotiabank Arena / Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St. ~contemporary original; $

7> The U.S. Americans; The Reed Effect; Wrong Jeremy @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W. ~Punk/Thrash; $

7:30> Special Interest Group @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~activist protest songs

8-10> Reg Schwager @ Art Square Gallery, 334 Dundas St. W. ~Jazz; $0

8-11:30> Tyler Del Pino; Justine Giles; The Free Label; Tessa @ Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave. ~indie; $10

8-10:30> Carrie Chesnutt @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz; $

8-1> open mic @ The Boat in Kensington, 158 Augusta Ave.

8> Humber Music showcase with JK Mattews; Kay Walker; Juliette Pomeroy; more @ Nightowl Toronto, 647 College St. ~Funk; 0$

8-12> Sam Ruttan Septet @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St. ~Jazz

8-11> Lorah The Band; The Honky Tonk Zeros @ Wasted Youth Bar, 834 Bloor St. W. ~indie; $

8> Velvet Code; Deko-Ze @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W. ~indie; $

8> The Lost Chord; Jamie Mullen; Nick Zuebeck @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St. ~original Rock/Pop; $

8-1:30> open mic with Morgan Ross @ B-side, 669 College St.

8:30> Blue Dream; Lush Buffalo; Day Trip; The Take @ Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St. ~indie; $

8:30-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers’ jam with Lisa Particelli & band @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

8:30> Jerry Leger; Kenny Rob; Lindy @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~eclectic indie; $10

9> Blues jam with host Alana Truda Edwards & Mike Sedgewick @ Mirto Italian Restaurant, 25 Toronto St.

9> The Digs @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Funk/Jazz/neo-Soul; $

*9> open mic with Graham McI @ Watson’s, 388 Richmond St. W.

9> Jordan John Trio @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave. ~Blues/R&B; $10

*9-2> What’s Poppin’ indie jam @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St.

*9:30-2> The All Nighters open jam @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave.

9:30> Moderation Station @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

10> Actual Goners with guest David Newberry @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.

10> Maxwell McEachern Trio @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.

10-2> Sons of Jameson @ The Hideout, 423 College St. ~contemporary Rock

10-2> Action Sound Band with Leo Valvassori & Eric Schenkman @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. ~Blues-Rock; $0

*10:30> The LMT Connection @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. ~Funk/R&B; $10

 

416 – TORONTO EAST -Broadview to Victoria Park

4-9> Benefit for Resse Fallon Legacy Scholarship Fund with Tim Bovaconti Band; Patrick ALlcock; Kristin Lindell; Carlo Berarducci Jen Long Jazz Band feat. Abbey Sholzberg on bass; Yukon Cigar; Stephen Stanley Band; more @ Bob Acton Park, 34 William Hancox Ave.

6-9> Jenna Marie @ Stephenson Park, 61 Stephenson Ave. ~contemporary original; $0

7> Jeremy & Jenn @ Firkin on the Danforth, 2057 Danforth Ave. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

*7:30-10:30> The BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

8-10> open mic with host Tony Oldland @ The Beach House, 1953 Queen St. E.

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

 

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

6-10> The Paul Morgan Project @ The Irish Shebeen, 5555 Eglinton Ave. ~Country/Blues/Roots-Rock

7:30> Blondin  & Bayley Duo @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~smooth Rock/Pop

*9-1> open mic with Daniel Gagnon @ The Old Sod, 2936 Bloor St. W.

 

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

*6-10> Dan Walek hosts open stage/jam @ Working Dog Saloon, 3676 St. Clair Ave. E.

*8-1> open mic & karaoke @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. West

 

416 – TORONTO WEST -Ossington to Etobicoke

6-8> Pantayo; Liz Hogg; Goosebump @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~original Rock/Pop; $15

6> Sadie Campbell; Cam Labelle @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Country

8> Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! @ The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St. W. ~tribute to Devo, performing first album; $

8> Alice Phoebe Lou; Emma Beckett @ The Great Hall, 1078 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $

8-11:30> open mic @ Birky’s Bar, 1592 Queen St. W.

8> Conor Gains; Hendry Nozuka; Jeremy Legault @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W.  ~eclectic indie; $

*8-11> Fraser/Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Rootsy Blues

8> Video Futur; Filthy Fishing @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W. ~Punk/Thrash; $

*8:30> Julian Fauth @ La Rev, 2848 Dundas St. W. ~original Juno-winning Blues; $0

8-11:30> Kristin Lindell Duo @ Alchemy, 890 College St. ~Jazz; $0

8:30> The Primary Colours @ Hugh’s Room Live, 2261 Dundas St. W. ~Roots-Rock; $

9> Ejay Smith @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~songwriter; $10

*9-1> open mic with backline @ 420 Lounge, 1530 Queen St. W.

9> Steve Gleason @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~songwriter

*9:30> Spy vs Spy vs Spy @ Reposado, 136 Ossington Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

10> Big Beat Corporation @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave.

10> open mic with Myles @ T.O. Lounge, 1384 Queen St. W.

*10:30> Luke Vajsar @ Motel Bar, 1235 Queen St. W. ~Jazz

 

519

8:30-11:30> Dave Huber @ Royal Electric Bar, 52 Macdonell St., Guelph ~acoustic Pop covers & originals; $0

*6-8:30> ukulele jam @ Idea Exchange Hespeler, 5 Tannery St. E., Cambridge

*6-9> Dano & Jaye @ Ray’s Bistro, 1475 Queen St. W., Alton ~smooth Pop/Jazz

*7> open mic night @ Red Brick Café, 8 Douglas St., Guelph

7:30> Celtic Session @ Penny Whistle, 2 Quebec St., Guelph

8> Mauve Grove; Wooly Mantis; Softside @ Silence, 46 Essex St., Guelph ~indie; $

8> jam night with Ian Taylor @ Pops & Ruby’s Tap & Grill, 200 Preston Pkwy., Cambridge

8-11> John Lee & The Hookers host Blues jam @ Rhapsody Barrel Bar, 179 King St. W., Kitchener

8> Matt Weidinger Band @ Lancaster Smokehouse, 574 Lancaster St. W., Kitchener

*10> Mike Todd @ The Duke, 33 Erb St., Waterloo

 

705

*5-9> open mic with Rodina Patrick @ Vidya’s, 248 Barrie St., Thornton

*7-11> open jam with The Freacon Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach ~ Blues, Jazz; $5

7-7:30 open mic with Tyler Koke @ McGillicafey’s Pub & Eatery, 13 Bridge St.. N., Hastings

8-12> Nicholas Campbell & Friends @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

8> Marsala Lukianchuk & The Imports @ Dreams of Beans, 138 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~Jazz

8> The Return of Reverend Ken and Washboard Hank @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~Roots-Rock; $15

8> Bobby Bazini @ Del Crary Park, 2 George St., Peterborough ~contemporary original; $0

*8> open stage @ Dobro Restaurant, 287 George St. N., Peterborough

9> Kevin Foster @ McThirsty’s Pint, 166 Charlotte St., Peterborough

10> Michael Costantini @ Kenzington Burger Bar Barrie, 40 Dunlop St. E., Barrie ~smooth Rock/Pop

*10> open mic @ British Arms Pub, 29 Dunlop St. E., Barrie

 

905 EAST

7-8:30> John Sautner @ Rotary Centennial Park, 800 Brock St. S., Whitby ~smooth Rock/Pop; $0

8> open jam @ Drums N Flats Ajax (main floor), 66 Randall Dr., Ajax

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

*8> open mic @ Arthur’s Pub, 930 Burnham St., Cobourg

*8-10:30> open mic jam with Rob Foreman & Clayton Yates @ Ganaraska Hotel, 30 Ontario St., Port Hope

9> When Particles Collide @ The Atria, 59 King St. E., Oshawa ~contemporary Rock

*10> Two For The Show @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

*10> Emerson Ireland hosts open mic jam @ The Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby

 

905 NORTH-EAST -East of Hwy @400

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

8-12> open mic with Kevin Ker (sign up at 7:30) @ Jakes Pub, 202 Main St., Unionville

*8:30-12:30> Jared Christopher Stafford @ Falcon & Firkin, 10300 Yonge St., Richmond Hill ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

8:30-11:30> open mic & acoustic jam with Don Fleming & Laurence Walters @ Father’s Moustache Grill, Aurora, 15570 Yonge St.

9-12> jam/open stage with house band The Generations @ Archibald’s Pub, 8950 Yonge St., Richmond Hill

 

905 NORTH-WEST -West of Hwy @400

*6-9> The Tone Dogs @ Symposium Café, 235 Guelph St., Georgetown ~Rock/Top 40 covers

7> Achona; Divine Lighbody; Juliet Oh @ Garden Square Brampton, 12 Main St. N., Brampton ~contemporary original; $0

8> acoustic jam with Frank Logue @ Shepherd’s Crook, 86 Main St. S., Georgetown

*8:45> open mic jam @ Magnums, 21 McMurchy Ave. N., Brampton

*10-2> jam night @ Maguires, 284 Queen St. E., Brampton

 

905 SOUTH

Noon-2> Miles Evans-Branagh @ Jackson Square, Hamilton, 2 King St. W. ~smooth Rock/Pop; $0

2:30-5:30> open jam @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton

7> Darling Cora; Greg Smith @ Mulberry Street Coffeehouse, 193 James St. N., Hamilton ~songwriters

7:30-11> open mic jam with Dave Gould and Alison Novak @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

8> The Sanjays @ Lazy Flamingo, 19 Hess. St. S., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40 covers

8> The Hypochondriacs; Matty Simpson Band; Dan Walsh @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~Country/Roots-Rock/Rockabilly; $10

8> Jon Cohe Ex; Hanna Bech @ Mills Hardware, 95 King St. E., Hamilton

8> Chris Chambers or Adam Ostrosser @ Thirsty Cactus, 2 King St. E., Dundas

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

9> Shades of Sorrow; Sleazy Way Out; Broken Issues @ Doors Pub, 56 Hess St. Hamilton ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $

9> Singalong with Judy Marsales @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40

*10> Jazz jam @ Cat N Fiddle Hamilton, 174 John St., S., Hamilton

 

905 WEST

*5> Adam Cooke @ SB Prime, 380 Brant St., Burlington

6:30-9> Jordan John @ Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Rd. W., Burlington ~Blues/R&B

7> Alan Cohen @ West End Social, 2432 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Oakville  ~smooth Rock/Pop

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

8-11> Gene Pool Boys @ Door FiftyFive, 55 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit-Mississauga ~Jazz

8-10:30> Isaac Eng @ Celebration Square Amphitheatre, 300 City Centre Dr., Mississauga ~smooth Rock/Pop; $0

8-12> talent showcase open mic (8-9) with host Edward Bose & sets by @ The Port House, 138 Lakeshore Rd. E, Port Credit-Mississauga

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

9-1> Mark Lalama Trio @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Blues/R&B; $

*9> open mic with Michael Zane @ Shakers Oakville, 589 Kerr St., Oakville

**10> open mic with host Kirt Godwin or Jonni X @ Spice Lounge, 52 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit-Mississauga

 

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 purchasers (eg., seniors, members, children, etc.).  /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

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