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A super-versatile songwriter who composes songs in genres as diverse as Pop Rock, Folk, Reggae, R&B, Bossa Nova, Celtic ditties and even in Balkan stylings, Steve-Paul Simms has a number of memorable tunes from a large catalogue spanning at least 30 years that I know of. His ability to write in and mimic the voices and musical feel of so many diverse streams of music makes him a real treasure of a composer.

As we’ve reported previously, Simms’s subject matter is as diverse as his musical approaches, ranging from standards about love gone wrong and right and making the world a better place but also encompassing topics like sports (his paean to Maple Leafs great Frank Mahovlich stands out) celebrating Toronto and, particularly relevant today, tweaking the noses of St. Patrick’s Day poseurs.

His song “Green, Green, Green” is one of my big-time S-PS faves, pillorying all the “instant Irish” bands and partiers who turn St. Patrick’s Day into drunken revelries that have little to do with authentic emerald isle roots. It’s bitingly sarcastic satire that lilts with an Irish drinking singalong-style and gets audiences rollicking with voice and tapping toes.

It’s always a highlight of the show whenever Simms performs “Green, Green, Green” and today between 5 and 7 p.m. he’ll be doing so at least once, as he’s recording a live video of the song, with some special help, at the Tranzac Lounge in TO’s Annex area. For in addition to encouraging the audience to join in on the chorus, he’ll be accompanied by two other gifted songwriters and performers with whom he has some history and great rapport.

Although for several years Simms performed with and released some albums teamed up with Roots-Rock songwriter John Jackson, since Jackson moved out of the city a couple of years ago he’s lately been doing a monthly duo show in the Southern Comfort room of the club at 292 Brunswick Ave. with another stellar musical wordsmith: Lynn Harrison.

Today, with Jackson back in town for at least a bit, he’ll have both of his trusted musical companions on hand, which should make for not only a great video recording but also a delightful couple of hours of musical gems by all three performers.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Sunday, January 24, 2022:

Listings are organized by area in which shows take place and listed chronologically within each area field.

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

416 – Toronto Central

11am-2pm> The Shpeelers for Jewish brunch buffet @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

12-3> Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

3-5> Rick Kane @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Folk/Roots songwriter

3> The Wintergarten Orchestra @ C’est What, 69 Front St. E., TO

*3-6> Michael Brennan @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. TO ~East Coast Rock/Blues Roots

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

5> Live video recording of “Green, Green, Green” with Steve-Paul Simms and guests Lynn Harrison & John Jackson @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

5> The Conductors @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6-7:30> Perlhaze @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10/pwyc

*6-9> open mic with Eddy Culjak @ Fox & Fiddle Wellesley, 27 Wellesley St., TO

*7-1> Freefall Sundays open stage with hosts Steve York & Tony Rabalao (2 songs each -signup @ 7 or pre-sign online) @ The Supermarket, 268 Augusta St., TO

7> The Double Cuts @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Western Swing

7-9:30> David Hutchinson Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

7:30> Gathering Sparks @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Folk

8> Alex Mendenall; Jess Spagnolo; Eastsidewest @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~songwriters

8-9:30> Tracey Gallant Trio @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz/Pop; $10/pwyc

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

9:30> Laura Lwankey @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

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

10> KlezFactor with Ali Berkok @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> New Grease Revival @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

**10> Blues jam with Brian Cober, Bill Hedefine & guest bassist JungTae Kim @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

10:30> Scott Baragar @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

416 – Toronto East

11-2> Liane Fainsinger for Jazz brunch @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO East ~Jazz

*2-5> Annie Bonsignore Duo @ Morgan’s, 1282 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

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

*3:30-7:30> jam @ Black Bear, 1125 O’Connor Drive, TO East

4> Bad Luck Woman & Her Misfortunes @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

5-7> Cadre @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Roots-Rock/R&B

6-9> acoustic jam with Niko Love @ Fox & Fiddle Wellesley, 27 Wellesley St. E., TO

*9-1> jam with the Stir It Up Band featuring Bryan Van Dusen & David Macmichael @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

9> Watch This Sound @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~vintage Jamaican music

416- Toronto Etobicoke

4-8> BG Rhythm Section featuring Gary Kendall + guests Mark “Bird” Stafford & Emily Burgess @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Blues/R&B

5-8> Freedom Train @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke ~Pop Rock

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

416 – Toronto Scarborough

*7-11> open jam @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough

416 – Toronto West

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

*12-3> Julian Fauth’s Blues brunch @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

* 12-3> The Cosmotones @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Rockabilly

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

*5-8> Michael Darcy @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~old-time Country Roots

5-8 Toronto Jazz Collective @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

*8:30-11:30> Fraser Melvin Blues Band @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West ~Blues

9-1> Virginia MacDonald Quartet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> The Brothers Celia @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~original & cover Roots/R&B

9> John Spence; Lisa Bozikovic; Rory Lavelle @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~piano-fest; $

9> Emily McCann; Lemon Drop; Frank The Pig; Dean McKinnon @ The Tennessee, 1554 Queen St. W., TO West ~acoustic Pop/Folk; pwyc

10> The Beauties @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~alt-Country/Pop; $10

519

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

8:30> Samantha Martin & The Delta Sugar @ Manhattans Guelph, 951 Gordon St., Guelph ~Blues; $

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

705

*3-7> jam at CJ Barleys, 213 The Queensway, Keswick

10> Geoff Bernier @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St., W., Peterborough

905 East

*3-7> Jam with jam with hosts Still Sunday featuring Jim Cornell @ West Shore Bar & Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering

*5-10> All-ages open jam with Juggernaut @ The Edge Lounge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax

*8:30-12:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Pearson Pub, 101 Mary St. W. Whitby

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

905 North

**1-3> Joe & Frank with guest performer @ Lake Simcoe Arms, 21089 Dalton Rd., Jackson’s Point ~Jazz

1:30-4:30> Blaine Burnie with guest Willie Magee @ Coach House Pub, 3 Felcher Boulevard, Stouffville ~Roots/Blues

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

*3-7> Daniel Davies Band hosts jam @ CJ Barley’s, 213 The Queensway South, Keswick

*4-8> open mic with backline & keys @ Yogi’s Bar, 1285 Elgin Mills Rd. E., Richmond Hill

*5-9> open mic with feature guest @ Sgt. Pepper’s Aurora, Walmart Plaza (Hwy 404 & Aurora Rd.), Aurora

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

905 South

2-6> Bay City Blues Band & guest Joel Johnson @ Bay City Music Hall, 50 Leander Drive, Hamilton ~Blues; $5

905 West

**2-6> Country matinee with host Colin Connors and guest The McGrath Family @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington ~Country

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

**5:30-8:30> The Stew @ Mulligan’s, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~R&B/Rock

**7-11> The Nomads @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit

7> jam @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville

*7:30> open jam hosted by Troy Harmer @ The Brown Barrel, 1515 Upper Ottawa St., Hamilton

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

*9-1> Jake Robertson @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~$

*10:30> Adam Cooke & The Adams Family @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington

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