It’s a double-barrelled day of note in Canada this Wednesday, October 17, as it’s both the anniversary of the death of beloved iconic Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie and the first day of “legalization” of marijuana smoking across the nation.

A number of events are being held to celebrate the removal of criminal penalties for simple possession of small amounts of weed (and the expected announcement that the government will also implement pardons for those saddled with criminal records because of past such convictions).

Likewise several tributes to the Hip and Downie are also being staged, with at least a couple of fundraisers for The Gord Downie Brain Cancer Research Foundation he established after being diagnosed with brain cancer as well as at least one benefitting The Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund, about which we told you in a previous article last November.

At least one show will combine the celebrations, as a band calling itself the Fully Completely Band will perform the seminal Hip album live at a show on the big stage at The Rockpile at 5555 Dundas St. West in Etobicoke, while other acts are booked to toast the new legislations respecting pot smoking. Proceeds will go the The Gord Downie Brain Cancer Research Foundation.  Another show at Drums & Flats at 1980 Avenue Rd. uptown also has a Hip tribute, The Tragically Hits, and the $20 cover will also go to the Downie cancer research fund.

Another benefit raises funds to help stage the Ultra Relay —a November 7 run from Toronto to Montreal that will benefit three charities, including Kensington Health, Start2Finish and Good Foot Delivery— was inspired, the organizer says, by the death of friend Colin Buchanan, who suffered from the same brain cancer as Downie.  Taking place at The Hideout, 423 College St. from 7:30 till 12, it features the Pop stylings of songwriters Shawn Brady and Don Campbell.  (Advance tickets available from an Eventbrite page.)

Certainly The Hip and pot smoking have more than a little in common —indeed, how else to make sense of some of the lyrics to the biggest hits, not to mention the undulating style of Rock/groove music that infuses their catalogue?  But according to an online publication called The Puff Post, the connection goes even deeper, as apparently the band in May of last year, while Gord was still actively performing, bought 5.4% of licensed marijuana producing company Newstrike Industries —which shares the publication estimates are now worth nearly $40 million!

The publication goes on to quote Hip lead guitarist Rob Baker, who also owns shares in two other pot-related enterprises, as saying that “it’s the kind of thing that the guys in the band discussed many times, often over a joint.  It just seemed a natural thing to get into this.  We all knew legalization was coming.”

If you’re out celebrating being allowed to get high in public, perhaps spare a thought for Gord and his legacy (and if you can, maybe make a donation to either the brain cancer fund or to the Chanie Wenjak fund).  With many researchers and enthusiasts claiming that pot can help ease the symptoms, suffering and possibly even help cure various types of cancer, it’s a good night indeed to get “tragically high.”

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

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, October 17, 2021

Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically. 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 -Broadview/Bayview to Ossington

Noon-1> Sofya Gulyak @ Four Seasons Center, 145 Queen St. W. ~Classical piano; $

6-8> Peter Hill solo @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz piano & vocals; $10-20/pwyc

6> The Real Shade @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.

6-9> Trubaci @ Drom Taberna, 458 Queen St. W. ~Jazz workshop

6> Turi Mercuri; Tony Bradley @ Socialite, 276 Augusta Ave.  ~contemporary original; $

6:30> John Pittman Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

**7 (7 p.m. sign-up open stage at 8) with 9 p.m. feature by Mike Katz @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall) ~songwriters

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

7> Japandroids @ Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St. ~contemporary original; $

7> Duckwrth; Deem Spencer @ Velvet Underground, 508 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $

*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> Practically Hip @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~tribute to Tragically Hip; $39 (includes snacks/2drinks)/proceeds to The Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund

7:30-12> Shawn Brady; Don Campbell for Ultra Relay runningtherunway.com fundraiser for run to Montreal in support of Kensington Health, Start2Finish & Good Foot Delivery @ The Hideout, 423 College St. ~smooth Rock/Pop; $25

7:30> Rufus Wainwright @ Four Seasons Center, 145 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $

7:30> Yellow Tentacles with Nessun Angelo Che Balla @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~Jazz

7:30> Sue & Dwight @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St.  ~Roots singalong

8> Moffett/Mackinnon @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.

8> The Tragically Hits celebrating life and legacy of Gord Downie with @ Drums N Flats, 1980 Avenue Rd. ~tribute to Tragically Hip; $20 (proceeds to The Gord Downie Brain Cancer Research Foundation)

8> Zoubi and the Sea; Owen Wolff @ Wasted Youth, 834 Bloor St. W. ~indie; $pwyc

8-10:30> Ron Korb (recording release for World Café) @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz; $

8> Makk Mikkael; Surauchie; Malachi @ Adelaide Hall, 250 Adelaide St. W. ~contemporary original; $

*8-11> open mic @ Ram In The Rye, 63 Gould St. (Ryerson University)

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

8> Joey Dosik; The Pick Brothers Band @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W. ~contemporary original; $

8> Talking Violet; Drago Dit Dragon; Animal Type; Tonemirror; Hallowe’en costume show & contest @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W. ~original Rock/Pop; $

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

8-12> Jazz jam @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St.

8:30> Beak>; Absolutely Free @ Mod Club, 722 College St. ~contemporary original; $

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> Marie Goudy 12tet (recording release for The Bitter Suite) @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

10> Country Casanovas @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Country

10> Liu; NG; Pencer @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.

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/Bayview to Victoria Park

7> Marmalade Jazz feat. Dave Restivo @ Jam Factory, 2 Matilda St.  ~Jazz

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$

7:30> 80s Night benefit for Rezonance Ensemble @ Louis Cifer Brew Works, 417 Danforth Ave.

*8-11> Paul Reddick & Friends also featuring Derek Downham @ Sauce on the Danforth,1376 Danforth Ave. ~original Blues

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

*8:30> jam with Copy Machine @ Frog and the Crown, 1871 O’Connor Drive

9> jam @ Originals, 1660 Bayview Ave.

*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> Alison Young Quartet @ Old Mill, 21 Old Mill Rd. (Home Smith Bar) ~Jazz; $0 (minimum table charge)

8> Celebration of cannabis legalization and tribute to Gord Downie’s life fundraiser for The Gord Downie Brain Cancer Research Foundation with Fully Completely Band @ The Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W. ~tribute to Gord Downie; $

*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> Eliza Bronte @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~songwriter; $12

7-12> Julian Fauth 7-9; set with Krewe de Blue featuring George Bauman 9-10; Krewe de Blue with guests Fergus Hambleton & John Huntley 10-12 @ La Rev, 2848 Dundas St. W. ~Blues/R&B; $0

7> Juilie Neff (recording release for ep) @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave. ~songwriter

7> 10/17 Celebration with Harrison, Nino Brown, more @ Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W. ~indie; $

8> Sarah Jerrom & Friends @ Alchemy, 890 College St. ~Jazz

8> Darwin Deez; Soren Bryce @ The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St. W. ~indie ~indie; $

8> Restorations; Wild Pink; Jiants @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. ~indie; $

8> Kingston All-Stars; House of David Gang @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~contemporary original; $

8> Hey Ocean @ The Great Hall, 1078 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $

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

8:30> Holly Near; Fraser Anderson opens @ Hugh’s Room Live, 2261 Dundas St. W. ~songwriter; $45

9> Tiny Music @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz

9> Slow Leaves; Kelly Sloan @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W.  ~songwriters; $15

9> Tom Boy; Ketch Harbour Wolves; Kristen Violet May @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. ~eclectic indie; $

9> Mike Murley & Reg Schwager @ Mezzetta, 681 St. Clair Ave. W. ~Jazz; $10

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

9> Sugar Brown @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave.  ~original Blues

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

10> Bill Simms @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W.   ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

 

519 EAST -Guelph/K-W & vicinity

*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

6:45-11> open stage (sign-up starts at 6) featuring Marianne Micros @ Silence, 46 Essex St., Guelph; pwyc

7> open mic/jam with Stonegrown @ Taste at The Tannery, 121 Charles St. W., Kitchener

7:30> Will Stroet @ River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich St., Guelph ~contemporary original; $

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

7:30> Classified @ Guelph Concert Theatre, 166 Wyndham St. N. ~contemporary original; $

8> Jontue Elan @ Manhattan’s Guelph, 951 Gordon St., Guelph

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> Allison Brown; Barry James Payne; Alison Corbett @ The Boathouse, 57 Jubillee Dr., Kitchener ~acoustic Pop covers & originals; pwyc

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

8> New City @ Maxwell’s, 220 King St. N., Waterloo ~contemporary original; $

*8-11> A New Ground @ Churchill Arms, 355 Erb St. W., Waterloo ~Celtic

8> Fortunate Ones @ Centre In The Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener ~Roots-Rock originals; $

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

*10> open stage hosted by Enio and Patrick @ NV Kitchen Bar, 16 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

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

 

705

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

7-10> open mic with Jamie Drake @ Flying Monkeys, 107 Dunlop St. E., Barrie

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

7> The Fame; Splice; Basketball Knees @ Red Dog, 189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~indie; $

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

8-11> open mic @ Dreams of Beans, 138 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~Jazz

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

*8> Ken Tizzard @ Church-key Pub, 26 Bridge St. W., Campbellford

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

9:30> Rap Club 7 featuring Danger Grove; garbageface; Mean Joe Tunes @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~contemporary original; $8

 

905 EAST -Pickering to Cobourg

6> Bruce Gorries @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

7-10> open mic night @ Copper Branch – Brooklin, 66 Baldwin St. W., Whitby

*8> open stage and karaoke with Eddy Culjak @ Boston Pizza, 20 Taunton Rd., Whitby

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

*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.

*9:30-1:30> open mic jam @ London Pub, 9724 Yonge St., Richmond Hill

 

905 NORTH-WEST -West of Hwy #400

*6> Steve Melville @ Uncorked on Main, 72 Main St. S., Georgetown ~Jazz guitar solo

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 -Hamilton & vicinity

7> Matt Maloney @ Mulberry Street Coffeehouse, 193 James St. N., Hamilton

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

8> TroyBoy; That’s My Drag; Mona Moore @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~drag Rock

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

8> Joe Landreth; Roman Clarke @ 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> 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 –south Peel, Halton

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

6> open mic jam with host James Anthony @ Halton Naval Veterans, 2444 Industrial St., Burlington

7> open mic with Gillian Nicola @ Copper Kettle Waterdown, 312 Dundas St. E., Waterdown

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> jam with The Grindstones @ American House, 324 Dundas St. E., Waterdown

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

*9-1> Kevin Reid and the Dedbeats @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit-Mississauga ~Rock/Pop; $

9-1> John Marlatt hosts Songwriters Night with Noel Yousie; Matt Ashton; Marc Zara @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~songwriters; $5

*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 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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