\ TO DOWNTOWN \

As I wrote at the time of the release show for their latest album in February, The Dreadful Starlings are an alt-Pop band with charmingly catchy tunes that get your mind dancing as well as your body.  Clever lyrics and rhymes and some substance are delivered with Rock/alt Pop melodies, beats and harmonies that echo familiar forms yet are recognizably distinctive.

Fronted by Iliya Vee (whom some will also know as accompanying guitarist with up-and-coming Soul-Pop songwriter Jessica Speziale) the group went through a metamorphoses after releasing its debut disc Murmurations in 2013 [hear the track “The Regime” on the Featured Tracks page of the Moon website].

A lot of who they are today, in fact, was formed as they gelled and evolved in the studio in 2015 while recording this year’s follow up release Shack Up With The Downside, Vee told us in February.  That identity is as a group that draws on all its members to create tunes and which, as Vee puts it, never feels monotonous or predictable.

You can pick up a physical copy of the new 5-song album tonight when the group performs at Cameron House at 408 Queen St. West in the spacious back room equipped with a pretty good stage.  They are actually the opening act for the 9:30 p.m. show, performing at 10, with another hot local group, The Stormalongs, who describe themselves as “The Last Alt-Rock Band On Earth” and have their own recorded material, doing two sets starting at 11.

Cover is pay-what-you-can/pass-the-jug and obviously both bands are hoping you’ll also see fit to want to take home some of their merch, which certainly in the case of the Starlings I can confidently predict you will.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Friday, May 27, 2022:

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 type, highlighted, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

*3-7> acoustic jam with John Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

*4-6> Hogtown Syncopators @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*5-8> Kensington Kitchen Party with host Kevin Jollimore of Sin City Boys, Kim Cadilla on bass & guest musicians @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~Pop Rock with heart

*5-7> The Friends of Hugh Oliver @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Folk

*5-5:45> Robert Scott @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~solo piano Jazz

*5:30> Jazz Generation; Melissa Smeets @ Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas St. E., TO ~Jazz

6> Kelly Prescott @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6-8> Kevin Barrett & guest @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10/pwyc

6:30> Teri & The Dan Danns @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

7:30> Ben Walker Duo @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~songwriter

8> Patrick Brealey @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO ~Country

8> Michelle Rumball’s Beauty Saloon @ Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St., TO ~Roots-Pop songwriter

8> Exultate Chamber Singers “Songs Of Peace and Justice” @ St. Thomas Anglican Church, 383 Huron St., TO ~classical chamber choir

8> Deanna Petcoff @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~

*8:30-12:30> All Star Band feat. Joe Bowden & Brooke Blackburn @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues

9> Riff Raff @ Drums N Flats, 1980 Avenue Rd., TO North ~Rock/Top 40

9> Ought; Palm; The Lonely Parade @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $13

9> Wallace Hartley Band @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St.

9> Ameranouch @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~American Gypsy Jazz; $

9:30> The Dreadful Starlings featuring Iliya Vee; The Stormalongs @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~original indie alt-Rock; $

9:30> Anjelica Rees @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO

9:30> Tuesday Heartbreak @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Rd., TO North

9:30> ROMES; Kasador @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $

9:30> Lady Kane @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/Soul/R&B; $10

9:45> Brian O’Kane Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

9:45> Dee Dee & The Dirty Martinis @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~60s R&B; $

10> Dave Murphy Band @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Rock/Funk/R&B; $

10> Sugar Brown @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO

10> Ryan Driver Quartet featuring Tania Gill @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

10> The Better Half @ Bier Markt Esplanade, 58 The Esplanade, TO ~Pop Rock

10> Wasted Measures @ Bier Markt King, 600 King St., West, TO ~Pop Rock

10> Frankie Foo & The Yoyo Smugglers @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Ska

10:30> Mark Ripp @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~Roots-Pop songwriter

10:30> Parkside Drive @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~Rock covers & origianls

416 - TORONTO EAST

5-7> The Straight 8s @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

6-8> Bossa Trés @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Latin/Romantic love songs

9> Mark Yan & Barry Mulcahy @ Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave., TO East ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

*9> open mic with Matt & Mike @ The Grover Pub, 676 Kingston Rd., TO East

9> Sandra Bouza & Redbrick @ Old Nick Pub, 123 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Rock/R&B originals & covers

9:30> Steed @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~original Folk-Rock/Blues

9:30> The Del Fi’s @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Rock/R&B/Pop’ $

10> Between The Static @ An Sibin Pub, 709 Queen St. E., TO East ~Pop Rock

10:30> Shred Penner @ Bier Markt Don Mills, 7 O’Neill Rd., TO East ~Pop Rock

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

7:30> Cara Matthew Trio @ Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd., Etobicoke ~Jazz; min table charge

9> Straight Shooter @ Maple Leaf House, 2749 Lake Shore Boulevard West, Etobicoke ~Rock/Top 40/Blues

9:30> Harvest Moon @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40; $

9:30> Ladyshake @ Refinery Public House, 3039 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke ~

10-2> Groove Marmalade @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~classic Rock/Top 40

10> Daniella Watters @ Bier Markt Etobicoke, 199 North Queen St., Etobicoke ~Pop Rock

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

9:30> Broke Fuse Band @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

10> The Dirty Rottens featuring Anthony Cee @ Smiling Jack’s, 3482 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough ~classic Rock

416 - TORONTO WEST

5-7> HaiRbraIN @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~space-Folk

5-8> Bryan Thevanayagam Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

7-9> Skye Wallace with Run Coyote @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W.

7:30> Tin Pan North Festival (set 1) with Brea Lawrenson; Shae Dupuy; Barbara Lynn Doran; Liam Kinnon @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W., TO West ~songwriters; $

7:30> Andrew Grady Duo @ Brazen Head Pub, 165 East Liberty St., TO West ~Pop Rock

7:30> Alexander Brown Trio @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Jazz; no cover

8> Menage; Soulsonic DJ NV @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West

8:30> “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” with Lance Anderson; Chuck Jackson; Matt Weidinger; Quisha Wint; more @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Joe Cocker & Leon Russell tribute; $45

9-1> Fraser Melvin Blues band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Blues

9> Chloe Charles @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West

9> Little Kid; Boat Culture; Space Case; Tijuana Jesus @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West ~indie; $

9> Oh Geronimo; Young Doctors In Love; Jonesin’ And The Hurt @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West ~indie; $5

9> Voodoo Raha and Speedy Wax @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Swing/Blues

9> Hand of Aprhodite @ Holy Oak Café, 1241 Bloor St. W., TO West

9:30> Mark Thackway @ Amico’s Pizza, 1648 Queen St. W., TO West ~Roots/Blues songwriter

9:30> Arthur Renwick @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~original Rootsy Blues

9:30> Tin Pan North Festival (set 2) with Gil Grand; Paul Malysa; Chase Stevens; Krista Earle @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W., TO West ~songwriters; $

9:30> Raoul & The Big TIme @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West ~Blues

10> Voodoo Walters Band feat. Dave McManus & George Baumman @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St., TO West ~Blues

10-2> The Rizdales @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W.

10> Café Cubano @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Cuban Salsa; $15

519

8> Bands Battle for the KOI finals @ Maxwell’s, 35 University Ave. E., Waterloo

9> Michael Moses Band @ Fionn MacCool’s Kitchener, 4287 King St. E., Kitchener ~Pop

9> Hank Gets Dusted @ Brando’s Beach House, 135 Market St., Brantford ~Rock/Blues

9:30> BK Smith @ Fionn MacCool’s Orangeville, 75 Fourth Ave., Orangeville ~Pop

705

5-7> Chester Babcock @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

5:30> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

8-11:45> Tamica Herod @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood ~

8:30> Briannah Cotton Band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9> Pat Maloney @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood

9> No Pussyfooting; Kitten Academy @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough ~Rock

9:30> Sketch @ Red Dog Tavern, 189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

9:30> Practically Petty @ Sticky Fingers Dunlop, 150 Dunlop St. W., Barrie ~Tom Petty tribute

10> Not Quite Presents! @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

905 EAST

9-1> Paul James @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Blues/Rockabilly

9> Greg Williams Band @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9> Brutal Wulfsex; Sacrificed Alliance; Screams of Demons @ The Atria, 59 King St. E., Oshawa ~original Hard Rock/Metall $

9> River Groves; Surf Cactus; Carpenters; Headswirl @ The Moustache Club, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*9:30> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur & Lorraine @ Royal Canadian Legion #322, 112 Hunt St., Ajax

9:30> 2 For The Show @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St., Ajax ~Pop Rock

10> Deuce @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~

905 NORTH

5-10> Brampton Rotary Rib n Roll with various bands @ Gage Park, Hwy #7 @ #10, Brampton

7:30> Tin Pan North Festival (set 1) with Genevieve Fisher; Brian Vain; Tara Shannon; Glen Hornblast @ Clock ‘n’ Hen, 71 West Drive, Brampton ~songwriters; $

9> Man Made Forest; Mayfly’s Landing @ Duchess of Markham, 53 Main St. N., Markham

9:30> Itchy & Scratchy @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Brampton ~Top 40/Rock

9:30> Tin Pan North Festival (set 2) with Thomas Wade; Bruce Madole; Augusta Ray @ Clock ‘n’ Hen, 71 West Drive, Brampton ~songwriters; $

*9:30> open mic @ Big Daddy’s, 460 Elgin Mills Rd., E, Richmond Hill

10> Switchbeat @ Aw Shucks, 15230 Yonge St., Aurora ~Pop Rock

905 – SOUTH

6-9> Nick Sherman; Benjamin Dakota Rogers @ Homegrown Hamilton, 27 King William St. Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40

6:30> Ferguson Young with Liam McGlashon @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

8> Adam Fielding Trio @ Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton  ~Jazz

8> Jackd Up @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster ~Rock/Top 40

9> Pkew Pkew Pkew; The Kettle Black; Effens; Tomahawk Love @ Homegrown Hamilton, 27 King William St. Hamilton ~indie Rock/Top 40; $

9> Erin’s Marlore @ Rebel’s Rock, 537 King St. E., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40

9:15> The Old Winos & guest Mike Lynch & Jeff Brown @ The Old Winery Restaurant, 2228 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-On-The-Lake

9:30> Whitespace @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton ~indie; $

9:30> UK-47 @ Stonewalls Hamilton, 339 York Blvd., Hamilton ~Brit Pop

9:30> The Hangover @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls

10> Chris Syrie @ The Wellington Arms, 222 Cannon St. E., Hamilton

905 WEST

*5> Adam Ostrosser & Joel Guenther @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington ~Pop

*6-9> Krista Blondin @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~ Blues/Jazz/Pop

7:30> Tin Pan North Festival (set 1) with Jessica Mitchell; Nicole Barron David Neale @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~songwriters; $

8-11:30> The Ballroom Babies @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington

9> Rhythm & Bones @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line, Burlington ~Pop

9:30> Peter Lafferty @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Southern Sky @ The Franklin House, 263 Queen St. S., Streetsville ~Country Rock

9:30> Time Trip @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga ~Pop Rock

9:30> Tin Pan North Festival (set 2) with Benita Hill; Paul LaMarche; Jeff Little @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~songwriters; $

9:30> Skip Tracer @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington ~Pop Rock

9:30> John Restas Band @ Boston Manor, 4460 Fairview Ave., Burlington

9:30> Jets To Ground @ Jersey’s Bar, 1450 Headon Rd., Burlington ~Rock/Top 40

9:30> Hellbent Rockers Band @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Rockabilly

9:30-11:30> Ugly Dog @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington

10-2> All Natural Flavours @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~

10> Frank Ryan @ Bier Markt Mississauga, 55 City Centre Drive, Mississauga ~Pop Rock

10:15> Turbo Street Funk @ Failte, 201 City Centre Dr., Mississauga ~Rock/Funk

10:30> Friday Night Special @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock

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