\ HAMILTON \

I’ve written a couple of times about local songwriters who frequently cover songs penned by their musical colleagues, most notably Brian Jantzi and his pretty impressive repertoire of tunes by fellow Roots and Pop composers as well as shows he’s staged along with violinist-keyboardist Zoe Henderson at which players “swap songs” by doing one another’s numbers.

But tonight’s “Great Song Switch” taking place at funky This Ain’t Hollywood in Hamilton is taking the concept to an almost extreme level.  Extreme fun and excitement, that is, and all in the aid of an extremely worthwhile musical cause.

With highly regarded Blues tyro Alfie Smith and ubiquitous local Pop/Roots/Country performers like Adam Ostrosser and Adam Cooke among the ensemble, a total of 14 artists will take to the stage this evening to do tunes by others also included on the bill.

Adding an element of intrigue and surprise to the affair is the fact that no one except the organizers (presumably that’s host duo Jonny Kerr and Shari Dunn) knows who will be doing who else’s tune!

The other songsmiths, most of whom appear regularly at clubs in the Hamilton/Burlington and Niagara area, are Will Gillespie, Ian Andrews, Mary Simon, Justin Dunlop, Mark Wilson, Steven Elmo Murray, Deeps, Ryan Morrison, Matty Simpson and Greg Brisco.

There’s a $10 cover and it will help raise funds for the Brian Lee Griffith guitar bursary fund, established in the memory of the late musician who unexpectedly passed away of heart failure in November 2014 at just 60 years young.  A sizzling electric six-stringer who recorded with artists like Willie Nelson, Daniel Lanois, Lori Yates and Harrison Kennedy, among many more, I met the Hamilton scene stalwart many moons ago through one of his patrons and inspirations, the late Jackie Washington, at an impromptu kitchen jam in the Steel City.

Like Jackie, Brian became a lion of the vibrant Hamilton music scene and remained a member of his community despite acclaim from far and wide and was always approachable and helpful to younger players.

The bursary is awarded annually to a young musician who shows particular ability and an affinity for improvisational playing in any of several genres, which surely represents Griffith’s own versatile, eclectic approach to his art.  You can see him in performance with various accomplished bandmates on several videos (including one with the host couple) on the bursary organization’s website, where you can also read more about Brian’s legacy and pledge a donation.

Things get underway in the room at 345 James Street North starting at 8 p.m. and if you can’t afford ten bucks they’ll gratefully accept whatever you can afford to donate and still let you in for the show.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Tuesday, March 07, 2022

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

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ON AIR/ONLINE

4-6pm> Blues Blast w Ken Wallis @ 101.5 FM or 1015thehawk.ca

**7-8> “Songtalk Radio” songwriters interviews/chat with weekly guest @ CJRU 1280AM Toronto and online

7-9> “Unsung and On The Side” with Carolyn Fe on Rock-Fm.ca

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

noon-1> Charissa Vandikas @ Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W. ~Classical; 0$

6-12> Leslie Huyler with Eric St. Laurent & Scott Neary; Annie Bonsignore Band; Signe Miranda’s Veranda; Tristan Avazkian Bandguests @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~indie Pop; $10-$20/pwyc

6> Jeremie Albino and The Hope State @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.

6:30> Julian Anderson-Bowes @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

*6:30-9:30> Stacie McGregor @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Jazz piano

7-10:30> Dino Rubino @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz piano; 0$

7:30> William Hunt Quintet @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick St. ~Jazz

8> Save Ferris @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W. ~Ska-Punk; $

8> Vadim Serebryany & Barry Shiffman @ Trinity St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. ~Classical fundraiser for David Geringas Scholarship for musical teensl $30-$100

8> Mark Martyre @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~songwriter

8> Ro James; Kevin Ross @ Mod Club, 722 College St.

*8> eclectic open mic @ Cavern Bar, 76 Church St.

8> Art Bar poetry & open stage @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. ~spoken word

8> Ladyhawke @ Velvet Underground, 508 Queen St. W.

*8:45> Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Jazz/Blues; $

9> Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W.

*9> open mic @ The Paddock, 178 Bathurst St.

**9:30> Jazz jam hosted by Chris Gale @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

*10-2> The Sattalites @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. ~original & cover Reggae/Funk; $

10> Peripheral Vision @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick St. ~Jazz

10> Run With The Kittens @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~indie Pop

416 –TORONTO EAST

*6-9> Julian Fauth solo @ Sauce, 1376 Danforth Ave. ~original Blues piano

7-10> Django Jazz Jam @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Django style Jazz; 0$

8> Liv Gains; Arrester; Wes Fowler @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave. ~indie; 0$

**8-11> open stage hosted by Jay Pennell or Kyle Duffin @ The Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave.

8:30-10:30> Tom Waits Appreciation Congregation @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E. ~Tom Waits covers

*9-1> jam with Mike Sedgewick & The Blue Gurus @ The Duke Live, 1225 Queen St. E.

*9> open mic with host Asha Diaz @ Groove Bar, 1952 Danforth Ave.

*9:30> Peter Verity @ Black Swan, 154 Danforth Ave. ~Folk Roots

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

7:30-10:30> Gene DiNovi @ Old Mill (Home Smith Bar), 21 Old Mill Rd. ~piano/vocal Pop/Jazz; minimum food/beverage order $20

7-12> Uli John Roth of The Scorpions; guests Three Quarter Stone; Roadwolves @ The Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W. ~original Rock; $

*8> Groove Stone @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~Rock/Soul

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

*9:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ The Fossil & Haggis, 790 Military Trail

416 – TORONTO WEST

5-8> Roots and Branches @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Rootsy Blues

7-10:45> JAZZ.FM91 presents Youth Big Band meets The University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~big band Jazz; $10

8-10:30> Tuesday duos with Peter Hill on keys & guest Reg Schwager on guitar @ La Rev, 2848 Dundas St. W. ~Jazz/Blues

78> Chalotte Cardin @ Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W.

8> Slaves @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W.

*8-11> Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party @ The Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. ~acoustic Folk-Rock originals & covers

8> Bad Pop; Heliotropes @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St. ~indie; $

8:30> Messiah Carey; Grex @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W.  ~indie; $

9> Holy Water; Jacquelyn Tober and the Rose Country Ramblers; Stolen Statues @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. ~indie; pwyc

9> John Showman @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~

9> Bruce Chapman Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Blues

9> New Grease Revival @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Country; $7

519

*6-8:30> Ukulele jam & workshop @ Idea Exchange, 1 North Square Queen’s Square, Cambridge

6-9> Josh David @ Morty’s Pub, 272 King St. N., Waterloo ~Blues/Roots

*7-10> open mic with Andy Hughes @ The Joint Café, 43 Cork St. E., Guelph

*7-11> Waterloo Wellington Bluegrass Association holds Bluegrass jam @ Galt Legion RCL #121, 4 Veterans Way, Cambridge

*7-9> Juneyt @ Easy Pour Wine Bar, 1660 Blair Rd., Cambridge ~Flamenco guitarist

8> Songwriters Night with host Conor Gains & guest tba @ Kiwi Gastropub, 47 Dickson St., Cambridge

9> open mic jam @ Sip Club, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

9> jam with John McKinley Band @ Churchill Arms, 355 Erb St. W., Waterloo

10> Matty P @ Doogie’s & Pablo’s, 37 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

10> Chalklike @ Duke of Wellington, 33 Erb St. W., Waterloo

*10> open jam with host Chris Brown @ Brando’s Beach House, 135 Market St., Brantford

705

7> open mic with Randy Hill @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9> open mic night @ Red Dog Tavern, 189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

905 EAST

*6:30-11> The Woodshed jam with Don Niblett & Frank Zochodne @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

8:30-12:30> open mic with host Cheryl Stiles @ The Pearson Pub, 101 Mary St. W., Whitby

9> Steel City @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country Rock

*9-1> open acoustic jam @ The General, 21 Celina St., Oshawa

9> Goodbye3 Honolulu; The Fibonacci Sequence; Luke Princiotta @ The Atria, 59 King St. E., Oshawa ~indie Rock; $

905 NORTH

7-10> open song circle with Patti McLaughlin @ RCL 385, 105 Industrial Pkwy. N., Aurora

*8> open mic @ The Tickled Toad, 330 Steeles Ave. W., Thornhill

*8-11> jam with Matthew Kane & The Brews Brothers @ The Crown, 9580 Yonge St., Richmond Hill

*8> acoustic jam @ Copper Kettle, 517 Main St., Georgetown

*8:30-12:30> open mic @ Falcon & Firkin, 10300 Yonge St., Richmond Hill

*9> open mic with Manny D, Andy Earle & Dave Breckels @ Big Chris BBQ, 17380 Yonge St., Newmarket

905 SOUTH

*8> Blues & Jazz jam hosted by Wayne Janus & The Syncopaths @ Rebel’s Rock, 537 King St. E., Hamilton

*8> “The Great Song Switch” fundraiser for Brian Lee Griffith Guitar Bursary with Alfie Smith, Adam Ostrosser; Mary Simon, Adam Cooke, hosts Shari & Jonny, 9 more @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~14 artists cover each others songs; $10/pwyc

*8> Chris Clause @ Thirsty Cactus, 2 King St. E., Dundas ~acoustic

9> open acoustic jam @ Side Bar, 96 George St., Hamilton

9> songwriters night with tba @ The West Town, 214 Locke St. S., Hamilton

*9:30> Ten Gallon Cat @ Cat ‘n’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton ~Country?

*9:30-1> Traditional Irish jam @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

9:30> Lauren Knowles Trio @ Gallagher’s Bar, 69 Augusta St., Hamilton

10> jam night @ Lazy Flamingo, 19 Hess. St. S., Hamilton

905 WEST

7:30> tba @ Montfort Grill Burlington, 796 Brant St., Burlington

*8> The Phil & John Show @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~acoustic Pop Rock

*8> open stage (signup at 7:30) with host Neil McNaughton @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; $2

*8> open mic night @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line, Burlington

*8:45> open mic with Matt Zadkovich @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga

9-1> Marshall Dane Duo @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop/Country

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.

Copyright © 2017 by Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon,ca. All Rights Reserved