\ TO EAST \

Having written at some length just last July about the appeal of hearing R&B/Skat/Soul singer Steven Ambrose with an all-star cast of backing musicians, I’m not going to go into a recitation of his many varied vocal skills and enchantments in a storied career of fronting some of Canada’s top bands.

But this afternoon at Black Swan Tavern not only will patrons enjoy yet another team-up of Ambrose with the SongTown “Boogie Party” series house band Slidewinder —Mike McKenna and fellow guitarist Tom Robertson, bassist Hap Roderman and drummer Roy Kirkpatrick— but will see the same unit also with George Olliver and backing the pair of Soul crooners together!

Ambrose, many will recall, was one of the early honourees of the ongoing Honouring Our Own concert series put on by Pete Otis since 2010, being the object of a lot of affection at the May 2011 event, as I reported back then —before there even was a SongTown!  His past achievements and ongoing prowess to delight make him a stellar attraction anytime.

Olliver surely needs no introduction to any fan of R&B/Soul/Toronto Sound Rock.  The now 55-year career veteran “Blue-eyed Prince of Soul” has a honeyed yet powerful voice and his legendary “splits” routine is still a staple of his concert show with his Gangbuster band.  As I wrote just a year ago this month as well as in several previous articles (including one about an Otis show that celebrated George’s 50^th anniversary in the biz five years ago) he’s one of the living legends of the Canadian music scene.

During this current impressive run of Sunday soirees Olliver and Ambrose have both been reliable favourites of SongTown impresario and songwriter Pete Otis (who will also, along with Pat Little and David Morrison, do short sets with the house band).  Of the 15 previous shows in the series, both Ambrose and Olliver have appeared at four each, including one together in April of last year to celebrate McKenna’s birthday.

As part of their fifth appearances today, starting at 4 p.m. on the full back room stage in the room at 154 Danforth Ave., the pair have indicated that they’ll be debuting a new Sam & Dave tribute segment, so this could actually end up being historic!

Hopefully there’ll be many more such team-ups of the two, as appreciation of their talents continues to grow, not only among those who still remember their early years but by plenty of new young fans as well.  But as some of these legends hit their mid-to-late sixties and even early seventies, we all need to remember that truly we never know which show could end up being the last, so we need to make the moments count.

Unbelievably Pete is still way undercharging for this stupendously impressive cavalcade of talent of the highest calibre, so cover is only $10.  These things often get packed early and today’s should be no exception but do eat first as while the bar usually has a selection of not-bad pre-packaged snack items on hand there’s no kitchen.  Not that you’ll be thinking about eating once the show starts; Shakespeare’s suggestion that “music be the food of love” will certainly find expression here and also it’s obverse: love will be food for the music too.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca
[email protected] * [email protected]

 

SHOW LISTINGS for Sunday, March 18, 2022

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

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ON AIR / ONLINE

*3-5am> The Rock-A-Round with Slim Tim @ www.rockabilly-radio.net ~ Rockabilly tracks (from UK, repeat of Fri show, also runs Wednesdays 6-8am)

*6, 7, 10 & 11am; 5 & 7 pm> “Sunday Morning Soul” with Johnny Max @ www.sundaymorningsoul.com ~Blues

9am> “The Hoose Radio Show” Wee Dan Hoose @  http://www.bluesandrootsradio.com/ ~ artist interviews and tracks

4> “Georgian Bay Roots” official show of Summerfolk Festival @ CFOS AM 560 (simulcast on www.560cfos.ca)

5-8> “Across The Universe” with Ken Stowar on CIUT 89.5 FM

9pm-midnight> 60s, 70s Soul, Jazz & Funk Cape Town/UK LIVE on FM Radio & Online Worldwide @ https://m.mixcloud.com/WorldofMusicSFonMuthaFM/

 

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

10:30am-1:30> Blues brunch with Robert Davis @ Southern Accent, 839 College St.

11am-2pm> Gloria Valentine & Nina Shapilsky for Jewish brunch buffet @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. ; $5 (music only)

Noon-3> Hart House Ensembles @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz

Noon-1:30> Lainee @ Café de Melbourne, 193 Church St. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

1> “The Road to Summerfolk” youth showcase with artists no one can be bothered to name @ Supermarket, 268 Augusta St. ~songwriters; $?

12:30> Toquetrad French Canadian Music Session @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.

3-5> Alaniaris @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~Jazz

3> Clemens Hagen & Kirill Gerstein @ Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. ~Classical strings; $

3:30-6:30> Dr. Nick & The Rollercoasters @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Blues; $

3:30-5:30> Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra & Chamber Choir @ Trinity St. Paul’s Centre, 487 Bloor St. W. ~Classical; $

4> David Diao Group @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave. ~experimental Jazz; $5

*4:30-8> New Orleans Connection All Stars & guests Michael Keith & Gene Falbo @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. ~New Orleans Jazz

4:30-7:30> Allison Au @ The Local Gest, 424 Parliament St. ~Jazz

5> Monk’s Music @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~vibraphone Jazz

6-7:30> Karen Slater; Jaymee Fuczek; Jayne Peters @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~songs & poetry; $20

6> Movements; Can’t Swim; Super Whatevr; Nightwell @ Hard Luck Bar, 772 Dundas St. W. ~indie; $

6> Charlie Ringas & guest Melissa Boyce @ The Foggy Dew, 803 King St. W. ~Jazz

*7-1> Freefall Sundays open stage (2 songs each -signup @ 7 or pre-sign online) @ The Supermarket, 268 Augusta St.

7> Song Studio open mic @ C’est What, 69 Front St. E.

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

7-11> Centennial Colle Music Industry Arts and Performance students showcase with The Postscripts; Funk That Noise; Lounge Brothers; Dear Scarlet; Continental Drift @ Tranzac Lounge (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~Jazz; $10/2 for $14

7-9:30> Tom Reynolds Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

7-9:30> The Best of Braun @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz; $

7-10> The Rhythmaturgically Syncopated Social Hour Jazz jam @ Tranzac Lounge (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave.

*7-10> Brooke Blackburn @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues/Jazz/R&B

7> Riverboat Band @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.

7:30> Diane Roblin with Kayla Milmine-Abbott, Cheryl O, Bea Labikova @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.

*7:30> set by Fresh Mistake followed by open mic (sign up starts at 7:45) @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St.

8-11> Gordon’s Acoustic Living Room with Wayne “Neon” Smith & many more @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. ~eclectic song sharing; 0$

8> Wetelaken; Pacer; Shane @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W.; $

8-10:30> Roots slam open mic with Dwayne Morgan @ A Different Booklist, 777 Bathurst St. ~spoken word

8:30> Ed Smith & The Even Squares @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~Country/Roots-Rock/Rockabilly; $0

8:30-10> Melissa TGorelli; Megan Starkman @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz; $20

9> The Databats (recording release) ; Slumother; Devecseri; Vancorvid @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave. ~eclectic indie; $

9> John Rollett; Jadh @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W.

9:30> Kite Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Montreal Jazz; $

*10> Horshack feat. Chris Caddell @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. ~Bluesy contemporary & classic Rock

10> Makeshift Island with Kevin Breit @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~original Jazz

10> Jack Marks @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Country/Roots-Rock/Rockabilly

10-2> Pat Wright @ The Hideout, 423 College St.

**10> Blues jam with Bill Hedefine & guests @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave.

 

416 – TORONTO EAST

11am-2pm> Evan Desaultnier for Jazz brunch @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

2> Tea; Poly Trap Super Six; Joyful Joyful; more @ The Redwood, 1300 Gerrard St. E. ~eclectic indie; $25

*3-6> open mic with Nicola Vaughan @ Hirut, 2050 Danforth Ave.

4-9> Songtown’s “Blues & Boogie Party 16” featuring guests Steven Ambrose & George Olliver with house band Mike McKenna & Slidewinder + sets by Pete Otis; Pat Little; David Morrison @ Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave. ~Blues/R&B/Soul; $10

4> Helen Stewart @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E. ~Country/Roots-Rock/Rockabilly

*4:30-8:30> Rock/Blues jam with William A. Miller & The Black Bear All Stars @ Black Bear Pub, 1125 O’Connor Drive

5-8:30> Hogtown Country @ The Duke Live, 1225 Queen St. E. ~Country; $0

6> Dying Fetus; The Art is Murder; Enterprise Earth; Rivers of Nihil; sanction @ The Opera House, 735 Queen St. E. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $27

7> Cairokee @ The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave.~contemporary original; $

7-11> Sam Taylor & The East End Love @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave ~Blues; 0$

*9-1> jam with the Stir It Up Band featuring David Macmichael @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave.

 

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

1-3> Kristy Hagerman; Philip Garcia opens @ Starbucks, 2940 Bloor St. W. ~songwriters; $0

4-7:30> BG Rhythm Section featuring Gary Kendall + guests Jenie Thai & Fraser Melvin @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd. ~Blues/R&B

5-9> The Sunday Sinners featuring Michael Theodore @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~classic Soul; $

*10-2> jam with Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

 

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

*7-11> open jam with host Gtar Live @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave.

*8-12> acoustic jam with hosts Dan Walek & Paul Evans @ Al Mac’s, 2459 Kingston Rd.

 

416 – TORONTO WEST

**11-2> live Jazz brunch @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W.

*noon-3> Julian Fauth & Ken Yoshioka @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W. ~Blues

* noon-3> The Cosmotones @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Bluegrass

1-3> Geoff Marshall & The Mail Order Cowboys @ The Tennessee, 1554 Queen St. W. ~Country

2-6> Joel Saunders @ Golden Gecko Coffee, 282 Jane St. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

4-7> The Seeger Sessions @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W. ~tribute to Bob Seger

**5-8> John Borra & Sam Ferrara w. guest @ The Communist’s Daughter, 1149 Dundas St. W. ~Country

5-8> Ivan Rosenberg & Friends @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~old-time Country Roots

5-8> Levi Collins Duo @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz

6> Deniz Lim-Sersan Group @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz; pwyc

7-9> Field Study @ Wenona Craft Beer Lodge basement, 1069 Bloor St. W. ~songwriters

7> Spill Gold @ Smiling Buddha Stage 1, 961 College St. ~indie

7> The Dalliance Cabaret @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~eclectic Jazz; $15

7-11> Conor Gains @ Alchemy, 890 College St. ~original Blues

*7-10> “Another Bloody Folk Club” @ Gin Mill, 2202 Bloor St. W. ~Roots

8:30> Spill Gold; Fetter; Dinah Thope @ Belljar Café, 2072 Dundas St. W. ~indie; $?

8:30> Little Suns; Amateur; Naomi Floods @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~indie; $

8:30> Kontraband Kollektif @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~orignal Jazz improvisation; pwyc

9> Never Betters; Grievances; Bald Britney @ The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St. W. ~Punk/Thrash; $

9-1> Michael Coury Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz

9> Joey Wright @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave.

*9:30> The Mercenaries @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~retro R&B/Soul/Funk; $0

 

519

1:15-3:15> Women Fiddlers Jam @ Button Factory Arts, 25 Regina St., Waterloo

3-5> Ben Rosenblum Trio @ Silence, 46 Essex St., Guelph ~original Jazz; $

*3-7> acoustic open mic with Scott Rhodes @ The Pick and Shovel, 30 Water St., Cambridge

4> jam with Carl Harvey @ The Boathouse, 97 Jubilee Drive, Kitchener

8> Tom Cochrane & Red Rider @ River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich St., Guelph ~contemporary CanRock original; $

9:30> Romeo Sex Fighter @ Duke of Wellington, 33 Erb St. W. Waterloo

*10-2> open mic @ Jimmy Jazz, 52 Macdonnell St., Guelph

 

705

*2-6> open mic @ RCL (Royal Canadian Legion) #103, 34 Bridge St. W., Campbellford

3> Sean Hulley @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

*8> open stage with Ryan Van Loon @ McThirsty’s Pint, 155 Charlotte St., Peterborough

 

905 EAST

4> Braden Koke Quintet @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Jazz

4:30-8> Tom Leighton and Rick Bauer @ Arthur’s Pub, 930 Burnham St., Cobourg ~Celtic

6-10> open jam with Juggernaut @ The Edge Lounge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax

*6> Phlo @ Oasis Bar, 31 King St. E., Cobourg ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

*8> Gibran & Matt “Smokey” Wildfong @ Harwood Blues, 7 Harwood Ave., Ajax ~Blues

*10> Another Round @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

 

905 NORTH-EAST

*11am> Robert Lee Trio @ Lil’ Brew Hops, 209 Main St. S., Newmarket ~Jazz

1> Mike “Hurricane” Thompson guests for York/Durham Fingerstyle Guitar Association open mic @ The Tipsy Cow, 6298 Main St., Stouffville (collecting clothing for homeless)

*1:30-4:30> Blaine Burnie, Mark Thackway & friends @ Coach House Pub, 3 Felcher Boulevard, Stouffville ~acoustic Roots

*3-7> open stage with Kevin Ker @ The Earl Of Whitchurch, 6204 Main St., Stouffville

*3-7> Daniel Davies Band hosts jam @ C.J. Barley’s, 213 The Queensway S., Keswick

*6-9:30> The Andy Earle Trio @ Big Daddy’s Newmarket, 446 Davis Drive, Newmarket ~Blues

*6-10> open mic with host Brian Wride @ Col. McGrady’s, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge

*7-10> Lynn McDonald @ Jester’s Court, 279 Queen St., Port Perry ~Pop/Jazz

*8> acoustic open mic with Kat Vhonda @ Wild Wing Newmarket, 340 Eagle Street, Newmarket

*9> King Henry’s open mic (sign-up starts 8:45) @ King Henry’s Arms, 9301 Yonge St., Richmond Hill

*9-1> Band jam with The Bandits house band feat. Matt Groopie @ Archibald’s, 8950 Yonge St., Richmond Hill

 

905 NORTH-WEST

*5> open mic with Crosstown Band @ Time Out, 68 Main St., Georgetown

5:30-8:30> Carmen Spada & Friends @ J. Red & Co., 341 Main St., Brampton ~Jazz

*5:30-9:30> open jam with host band Faces For Radio & guest @ Crown and Anchor Pub, 389 Main St. N., Brampton

7:30> Paul Shearer for “Candlelit Church” sessions @ St. Alban’s, 537 Main St., Glen Williams-Georgetown ~Roots

*9-1> jam @ Ivy Arms Pub, 201 Main Street E., Milton

 

905 SOUTH

11am-2pm> brunch with Michael Wainwright Band @ Royal Botanical Gardens, 1185 York Blvd., Hamilton ~acoustic Pop covers & originals; $45 (includes meal)

12-3> Jesse Visser & Daryl Buckle @ Rust City Brewery, 27 King William St., Hamilton ~Jazz

2-6> Sunday Blues with Brant Parker Band & guests @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young Street, Hamilton ~Blues; $7

*3> Brother Tom Finochio hosts kitchen party jam @ Rebel’s Rock, 537 King St. E., Hamilton

3-7> Godboogie @ Stonewalls, 339 York Blvd., Hamilton ~original Blues; $0

*4> open mic with Neon Moon @ Moose Lodge, 1860 Barton St., Hamilton

4> Blues jam & show by Wayne Janus and the Backline @ Masque Wine Bar Hamilton, 13 Hess St. S. Hamilton

4:30-7:30> Duane Rutter @ Cat ‘N’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton

7-10> Darren Hancock @ 33 Bowen, 33 Bowen St., Hamilton ~Country

8> Streetlight Saints; Reckless Upstarts; System System; Tough Fuckin’ Shit; Barbed Wire Braces @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~Punk/Thrash; $7

8> Lauren Knowles Trio @ Gallagher’s Bar, 117 John St., Hamilton

9-12> Adam Ostrosser & guest @ Cat ‘N’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton

9> open jam with Walker and Jamie @ The Pour House Hamilton, 1115 Fennell Ave. E., Hamilton

9> Shari Dunn & Jonny Kerr @ Lionshead Pub, 137 John St. S., Hamilton

*10> open mic with Kim Koren @ West End House, 151 Emerson St., Hamilton

10> Chris Chambers Band @ Augusta House, Hamilton, 17 Augusta St. ~Blues/R&B

 

905 WEST

*10:30am-3> Mike Maguire @ Pepperwood Bistro, 1455 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington ~Jazz

2-6> The McGrath Family @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington ~Country

*3-6> Chris Partland @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga ~Pop Rock

3:30> James Anthony @ Abbey Arms, 481 North Service Rd., Oakville ~Blues

**4-7:30> The Stew @ Mulligan’s, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~R&B/Rock; $5

4-7> Glenn Groves @ 5 West Brewpub, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington ~Country

*4:30-8> Chuck Jackson’s All Stars @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues

*5> Sara Mills @ Max Resto Lounge, 2180 Itabashi Way, Burlington

5:30-9:30> Host Neil MacNaughton with guest Aaron Griggs @ Bronte Sports Kitchen, 2544 Speers Rd., Oakville ~Roots-Rock

**8-12> The Nomads @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

8> Rebelljo Band @ Caven’s Alley, 585 Lakeshore Rd. E., Mississauga

8> Folk Music open stage @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~(collecting n-p goods for foodbank)

*8> open mic night with house band featuring Mike Shotton, Tim & Dave Johns @ Black Swan Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

*10:30> Strummers Union @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington

 LISTINGS KEY

Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically.

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, students, members, kids, etc).  /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

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