If you thought festival season was done, you were WAY wrong!

\GTA West\

Now that summer is finally here and I can start wearing white again, since we’ve passed Labour Day it must be festival time! [I know, it’s absurd, but no more so than what the weather has been this year!]

And indeed it is, with at least three community/music festivals happening this weekend in the westerly portions of the GTA: two in Etobicoke and one in Port Credit. All of them feature stellar talent and the listings included in today’s Shows Listings calendar only represent those that I was specifically made aware of, often by a subscriber. But the lineups for all three of these events —which each feature plenty of free music— are very impressive by any standard.

The early bird starts are in Etobicoke: the Taste of Kingsway festival takes place 11-11 along a closed-to-traffic Bloor St. West on either side of Royal York Road and the Shorefront Festival, set up along Lakeshore Blvd. West at Islington Ave., runs 11-8ish.

The Shorefront Festival is a one-day affair with basically only one stage, but lots of community-oriented and family-friendly activities happening all around it, then a night-time coalescing at local Rock bar NTB Lounge. It’s a very community-oriented event for sure, as local merchants in an area that has been somewhat down at the heels in recent years are working together to give it some new life —and why not? This is a great part of the city, with the lake right there and big skies overhead when you look south. The entertainment includes James Clark Institute at 11:45 (will he really be awake then?), Elvis impersonators and karaoke and a $500 Star Of The Shore singing competition to find a talented new artist from right there in the heart of “New Toronto” as the area used to be called.

The more established and upscale Taste of Kingsway, with two stages and lots of ancillary activity, actually began yesterday and runs all day today and resumes tomorrow. The lineup of live acts for this event is absolutely first class.

And then there’s Southside Shuffle, which seems to have turned into a kind of cult thing the past few years, since they no longer ever bother to send me press releases, offer to accredit me as media, or anything —even though I was very much involved in promoting the first few years of this now well-established and apparently smugly self-satisfied event.

Whatever my disappointments in the organizers, however, there’s no denying this event brings in super live music on several stages and in a couple of handfuls of local bars and restaurants over its three-day run, which started last night. While many of the events (including bar/restaurant shows) do carry cover charges, not all do.  But either way you can expect long waits to get in at the most popular rooms and service could be a little dodgy depending on the venue.

However you won’t be disappointed by the quality of entertainment in any of the participating rooms —Southside Shuffle may have become a cult, but it’s one that always includes first-class musical talent.

And if the festival did need any more redeeming features, well, there’s this afternoon’s free 2-6 p.m. Street Shuffle, for which Lakeshore Rd. is closed for several blocks, along which people will meander to sample the sonic wares of live performers (including the Laura Hubert Band outside Waterside Inn) set up on the street in front of 26 locations.

Magnificently, the weather forecast suggests that Friday night’s storms and overnight/early Saturday rain is supposed to clear up and resolve to a beautiful blue sky with moderate temperatures exactly around the time that the Street Shuffle is set to begin. Hmmm … maybe this is a cult that has ins in the right places!

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Saturday, September 06, 2021:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). 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, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

11am-9:30> Taste Of The Kingsway with two stages featuring Skip Tracer; Honeyrunners, Mama Kin, The Wholigans & more @ Bloor St. W. and Royal York Rd., TO West

11am-11pm> James Clark Institute (11:45 am) + many other acts for The Shorefront Festival Main Stage @ Lakeshore Blvd. W. & Islington Ave., Etobicoke South

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

12-3> Chris Kettlewell & Friends @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

12:30-2:30> Sandi Marie & Guy Breau @ Humble Beginnings, 3109 Dundas St. W., TO West ~acoustic Roots/Blues/Pop

1:30-4:30> Words & Music with hosts Linda Stitt & Peter Solmes  & guests Glen Gary; Robert Priest; Pat Bisset; Steve McCabe; Lucile Barberk; Michael Laderoute; Harpin’ Norm Lucien; Bob Cohen @ Portobello, 995 Bay St. TO ~eclectic original mix

2-6> Laura Hubert Band featuring Peter Hill on keys for Southside Street Shuffle @ Waterside Inn, 15 Stavebank Rd., Port Credit

2-6> Southside Shuffle Street Shuffle with live music in 26 street locations @ Lakeshore Road E. & W., Port Credit

*2-6> open mic with hosts Bill & Mark Galloway Band @ MacKenzie’s High Park, 1982 Bloor St. W., TO West

2-6:30> The Nomads; Groove Hammer for Southside Shuffle Festival @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit

*2-6> jam w. Tom Finocchio @ Sam’s Place, Barton-Chestnut Sts., Hamilton

**2-6> Saturday Blues Sermon with James Anthony & special guest Rip Lee Pryor @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Blues

*3-6> Danny B’s House Party Band feat. Michael Keys on piano @ Blue Goose, 1 Blue Goose St., Etobicoke South ~R&B/Pop

*3-7> Screamin’ Evil Blues Band hosting jam for Southside Shuffle Festival @ Port Credit Legion, 35 Front St., Port Credit

*3-6> jam @ Sauce, 1376 Danforth Ave., TO East

*3:30-6> Johnny Wright @ Outriggers, 2232 Queen St. E., TO East ~R&B

*3:30-6:30> Climax Jazz Band @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~Jazz; $

3:30> Chris Hunt Tentet + 2 @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

3:30> The Jazz Collective @ The Pilot, 22 Cumberland St., TO ~Jazz

*4-8> The Bear Band & guests @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock-R&B 

4-8> Ozone Baby feat. Phil Naro for Southside Shuffle @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40

*4-7:30> Ronnie Hayward Trio @ McQueen’s, 993 Queen St. E., TO E. ~Blues/Roots

*4-8> The Meteors with special guest @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Blues/Rock/R&B

*4> Sam & Mary @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa ~Blues

*4:30-6:30> Big Rude Jake @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO E. ~Blues/Roots

5-8> Bill Heffernan & Friends with guests Roots n’ Branches Quartet feat. Dave McManus on bass @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West –Rootsy Pop

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

6-10> Mark Yan & Barry Mulcahy Duo @ Ray’s Bistro, 1475 Queen St. W., Alton ~Country Pop

6-8> Rattlesnake Choir @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30-11> Soul B Vibe; United Soul Nations for Southside Shuffle Festival @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit

7-8> Dana Beeler @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Nova Scotia touring Country songwriter

7:30> Tara Kannangara Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~ Jazz

7:30> Michelle Willis @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

7:30> Abigail Lapell & Friends @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost @ The Feathers, 962 Kingston Rd., TO East ~Roots-Rock

8> Callan Furlong @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

8> Mudpunch @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Blues-Rock duo

8:30> Friends Of Fiddler’s Green @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~Roots; $22.50/-

8:30> Russell Leon Band @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~Roots-Rock

9-12> Baltic Ave. @ Habits Gastropub, 928 College St., TO ~eclectic Rock

*9-1> karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ Tudor Rose, 700 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

9-1> Colin Amey @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~acoustic Pop/soft Rock

9-1> Melissa Boyce Jazz & Blues Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~ Jazz

9> Los Dobros @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West

9-1> “after-party” for The Shorefront Festival with various acts @ NTB Lounge, 2878 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9> Eric Lambier & The Gang @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9:30> The Legendary Castaways @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~70s Blues/Rock

9:30-11:30> Red Brick @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~original/cover Pop Rock

9:30> aBabe showcase with The Lipstick Junkies; The Celebration Army feat. Nelson Sobral; Diia @ The Press Club, 850 Dundas St. W., TO ~indie

9:30> Al Reilly’s Catalyst @ Karla’s Roadhouse, 4630 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~classic Rock

9:30> Whatever Sticks feat. Sue Martin @ West Shore Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering ~Rock

9:30> Soul Funkshun featuring Dave Girdlestone @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville ~Funk/Soul

*9:30-2> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough

9:30> Exale @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North

9:30> Fat Tony @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> The Speck Brothers @ Timothy’s Pub 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> The Nomads @ Jake’s Boathouse Brampton, 59 First Gulf Rd., Brampton ~Pop Rock

9:30> Chelsea Bennett Band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9:45> Brian Dickinson @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*9:45> Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

10-2> In2U @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock/Top 40

10> Ride The Tiger @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Funk/Soul

10> Trevor Jones @ Amsterdam Bicycle Club, 54 The Esplanade, TO ~eclectic Roots-Pop/Reggae/Rock

10> Chris Culgin @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10> Wool and Howl @ Tranzac Club  (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10-1> David Gavin Baxter & Kara Lea Manovich @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO

10-2> Ollie Vee @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

10-2> Two For The Show @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd. E., Ajax ~Pop Rock

10-2> The Ronnie Douglas Band for Southside Shuffle Festival @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40

10> Oxford Blue; Blackwood Honeybees @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

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

11-2> Rough Copies for Southside Shuffle Festival @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit

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