With Canadian Music Week going on in clubs all across the downtown, west end and even in the east, regular shows have a tough row to hoe to attract a lot of attention tonight.

That’s not stopping a few dedicated acts from carrying on with planned special event shows, including Kayla Howran’s final residency show at Cameron House, the First Fridays jamboree with Hold The Bus at Grossman’s and an album launch by Blues veteran Dylan Wickens at Dora Keogh.

Howran, a dynamic spitfire of a Country singer who’s also an energetic songwriter, is ending a Friday residency of several years at the Cameron after having moved back to her hometown of Peterborough and becoming more involved in the scene there and in performing with her band at outer-GTA rooms. Although officially she’s listed as one of the acts on the venue’s front room roster for Canadian Music Week, you can bet the room is going to be packed with longtime followers. For some time she appeared in the room at 408 Queen St. West every week and has continued to be featured the first Friday of the month for the past few years. She promises to perform covers that she started out doing there five years ago along with some new tunes. Having caught her act previously, I can attest to the fact that she’ll provide a lively set of solid entertainment that no doubt will continue after the official CMW shows end at 11.

At Grossman’s, meanwhile, count on the usual great turnout for the monthly 6-9 First Fridays Country/Rootsabilly show featuring Diane Baker-Mason, who for these shows has basically taken the place of Sandi Marie as lead singer and host for Hold The Bus following the latter’s move to the east coast last year. That occasioned a name change of the band, which also features Kevin Jeffrey on bass, but the vibe at the First Fridays —and for the Fourth Thursday jams also at the 379 Spadina Ave. club but with Nicola Vaughan usually fronting— has continued unabated. No doubt there’ll be special guests galore, as always seems to happen at these shows.

I haven’t seen Dylan Wickens perform in years but I have no doubt the soulful Blues songwriter and flawless guitarist has only become better over time and that his new album is definitely going to be a keeper.  Dora Keogh, at 141 Danforth Ave. near Broadview, is intimate and has pretty good sound and there’s no cover for the release party, which should get underway around 9.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Friday, May 06, 2022:

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.

Names of subscribers appear in bold, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, highlighted, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

CMW = Canadian Music Week showcase; wb = wristband

416 - Toronto Central

*3-7> acoustic jam with John Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

*4-6> Hogtown Syncopators @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*5-8> Kensington Kitchen Party with host Kevin Jollimore of Sin City Boys, Kim Cadilla on bass & guest musicians @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~Pop Rock with heart

*5-7> The Friends of Hugh Oliver @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Folk

*5-5:45> Robert Scott @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~solo piano Jazz

*5:30> Jazz Generation; Melissa Smeets @ Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas St. E., TO ~Jazz

6-9> First Fridays with Hold The Bus featuring Diane Baker-Mason & Kevin Jeffrey @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Roots/Country

6-2> CMW: tba; Patrick Brealey; Kayla Howran; The Double Cuts @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Country; $10/wb

6-3> CMW: The People The Poet; The Census; Sturie Dagland; St. Lenox; Ed Munster; Beds; Rogue Tenant; Jay Holy; Hush Pup @ The Central, 603 Markham St., TO ~indie; $10/wb

6-8> Faith Amour & Max Hatt @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10/pwyc

6:30> Teri Parker Four @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

7> CMW @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO ~indie; $10/wb

7:30> Starfires @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> Jessica Leung; Lo Carmen; Sumersett; Switchback @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~indie; $10/wb

8-3> CMW: Poor Nameless Boy; The Rouyal Foundry; Surf dads; The Velveteins; We Were Lovers; Boreal Sons; DGS Samurai Champs @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock; $15/wb

8> CMW: Diarrhea; Planet; New Swears; Jeff The Brotherhood; Wintersleep; Hannay Georgas; Alberta Cross; Music Band @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $10/wb

8> CMW: Yarrow; Holly Macve; Elm; NEFE; The Lazys @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen Street West, TO ~indie; $10/wb

*8:30-12:30> All Star Band feat. Joe Bowden & Brooke Blackburn @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues

9> CMW @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~$10/wb

9> The Clearing @ Drums N Flats, 1980 Avenue Rd., TO North ~Rock/Top 40

9-11:30> Steve Koven Trio @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~solo Blues piano

9> CMW @ The Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~indie; $10/wb

9> Aundein; Adam Tobias; Matt Blais; KVAV @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO

9:30> James King @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/Soul/R&B; $10

9:45> Ross Wooldridge’s Benn Goodman tribute @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

9:45> Dee Dee & The Dirty Martinis @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~60s R&B; $

10> Dave Murphy Band @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Rock/Funk/R&B; $

*10> Homesick featuring tba @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO ~Punk; $5

10> The Governor’s 35^th with Volur & special guests @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Of Gentlemen & Cowards @ Bier Markt Esplanade, 58 The Esplanade, TO ~Pop Rock

10> CMW @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~indie; $10/wb

10> Killin’ Time Band @ Bier Markt King, 600 King St., West, TO ~Pop Rock

10:30> Combo Royale @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Blues

416 - Toronto East

5-7> The Straight 8s @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

7> Skepta @ The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., TO East ~$35.75+

*9> open mic with Matt & Mike @ The Grover Pub, 676 Kingston Rd., TO East

9> Dylan Wickens album launch @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Blues

9> Sister Speak @ Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave., TO East

*9:30> Thunderfunk @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Funk trio; no cover

9:30> Ear Candy @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~classic Rock/Pop; $

10> Dustin & Caleb Duo @ An Sibin Pub, 709 Queen St. E., TO East ~Pop Rock

10:30> Bernadette Connors Band @ Bier Markt Don Mills, 7 O’Neill Rd., TO East ~Pop Rock

416 – Toronto Etobicoke

7:30> Canadian Jazz Quartet @ Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd., Etobicoke ~Jazz; min table charge

9> Low Hanging Fruit @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9> Owen Sound @ Maple Leaf House, 2749 Lake Shore Boulevard West, Etobicoke ~Rock/Top 40/Blues

9:30> Two For The Show @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40; $

9:30> The O’Deadlys @ Refinery Public House, 3039 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke ~Pop Rock

10-2> Atomic Tomb @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~classic/hard Rock

10> Wasted Measures @ Bier Markt Etobicoke, 199 North Queen St., Etobicoke ~Pop Rock

416 – Toronto Scarborough

9:30> Rough & Ready featuring Mike Eby on drums @ Smiling Jack’s, 3482 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough ~Country Rock

9:30-1:30> Tommy Rocker Band @ Karla’s Roadhouse, 4630 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~classic Rock

9:30> Supernatural @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough ~classic Rock

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

9:30> Under Cover @ The Loaded Dog, 1921 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough ~Rock/Top 40

416 - Toronto West

5-7> The Fabulous Thomleys @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~foot stompin’

5-8> Michael Phillip & Rob Phillip Duo @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

6-2> CMW: Amanda Rheaume; Redsteps; Jesper Munk; Timberwolf; Motel Raphael; The Honest Heart Collective; Shane Murphy @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W. ~indie; $10/wb

7:30> Lindsay Brohan @ Brazen Head Pub, 165 East Liberty St., TO West ~Pop Rock

7:30> CMW: The Haig; Spaceport Union; Champion Lover; This Drama; The Love Junkie; Broken Hands; Double Date with Death @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West ~$15/wb

7:30> Jay Danley Ethiojazz Project @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Ethiopian Jazz; no cover

8> CMW: Rel McCoy; Men I Trust; Altona; Little Boxer; Few Bits; Run Coyote; Bend Sister @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie; $10/wb

8> CMW: Wake Island; Bernice; Alana Yorke; Merival @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~indie; $10/wb

8:30> Lynn Miles accompanied by Keith Glass @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~songwriter; $25

9-1> Root Down Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Roots

9> $5 Rock Show @ The Tennessee, 1554 Queen St. W., TO West  ~Rock

9> JoJo Worthington album release @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West ~indie; $5/10

9> Matty Powell @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West

9:30> Arthur Renwick @ Amico’s Pizza, 1648 Queen St. W., TO West ~Roots/Blues songwriter

9:30> Michael Coughlan @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West

9:30> Paul Reddick @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West ~Blues; $5

10> Yani Borrell @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Cuban Salsa; $15

519

8> James Murray @ Fionn MacCool’s Kitchener, 4287 King St. E., Kitchener ~Pop

9> Blaine Bomberry Band @ Brando’s Beach House, 135 Market St., Brantford  ~Blues

9:30> Run For Cover @ Fionn MacCool’s Orangeville, 75 Fourth Ave., Orangeville ~Pop

705

5:30> Terry Finn’s Four Front @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

8-11:45> Groove Project @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood

8:30> Four Lanes Wide @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

10> The Venisons; Loosey and the Goose Necks  @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough

9:30> David Love Band also featuring Darrell McNeill @ Sticky Fingers Dunlop, 150 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

905 East

9> Ray Darren @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9> Professors of Funk @ The Moustache Club, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Funk

*9:30> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur & Lorraine @ Royal Canadian Legion #322, 112 Hunt St., Ajax

9:30> Taxi @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St., Ajax ~Rock/Funk

10-2> Andy Earl @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd., E., Ajax ~Pop Rock/Top 40

905 North

8:30> Jazz @ Lake Simcoe Arms, 21089 Dalton Rd., Jackson’s Point

9> Andrew Grady @ Fionn MacCool’s Newmarket, 17315 Leslie St., Newmarket ~Pop

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

9:30> The Mixx @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Brampton ~Top 40/Rock

*9:30> open mic @ Big Daddy’s, 460 Elgin Mills Rd., E, Richmond Hill

10> Groove Marmalade @ Aw Shucks, 15230 Yonge St., Aurora ~Pop Rock

10> Side B Vibe @ Keltic Rock, 180 Sandalwood Parkway, Brampton ~Rock/Top 40

905 – South

6-9> Alison Brown & Uncle Dan Henshall @ Homegrown Hamilton, 27 King William St. Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40; $6/pwyc

6> Dunn @ Puddy’s, 36 Wright St., St. Catharines ~Rock/Top 40

6:30> Ferguson Young with Liam McGlashon @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

8> McFlys Back To The 80s  @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster ~80s Rock/Top 40 tribute

8> Bunt; Scrapheat; Badminton Racquet; Vibrational Sound Complex @ Homegrown Hamilton, 27 King William St. Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40; $5/pwyc

8> Gayle Ackroyd, John Jackson, Tom Wells & Steve Beach @ Warmington’s Bistro, 42 George St., Brantford ~Blues

9> Back & Forth @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40

9> Customaries album release; guests Not Of; Catapult @ The Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~original Rock; $

9:15> The Old Winos & guest tba @ The Old Winery Restaurant, 2228 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-On-The-Lake

9:30> The Chasers @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton ~indie; $

9:30> Sylvester’s Cologne @ Stonewalls Hamilton, 339 York Blvd., Hamilton

9:30> The Bryce Moore Band @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls

10> Minotaur album release; guest Lee Reed @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~original AfroBeat psych-Rock; $10

10> Ronnie & The Rockets @ The Wellington Arms, 222 Cannon St. E., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40

905 West

*5> Adam Ostrosser & Joel Guenther @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington ~Pop

*6-9> Sil Simone & Joe Rebello @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~ Blues/Jazz/Pop

8> Whiskey Epiphany @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Roots/Country

8-11:30> The Ballroom Babies @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington

9> James Sheehan @ Fionn MacCool’s Oakville, 350 Dundas St. E., Oakville ~Pop

9> Jeremy De Freitas @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line, Burlington ~Pop

9:30> Kenny V @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Rebel Joe @ Fionn MacCool’s Britannia, 825 Britannia Rd. W., Streetsville Mississauga ~Pop

9:30> RENO @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga ~Pop Rock

9:30> Freedom Train @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington ~Pop Rock

9:30> Strive @ Boston Manor, 4460 Fairview Ave., Burlington ~Top 40

9:30> Tone Deaf @ Jersey’s Bar, 1450 Headon Rd., Burlington ~Rock/Top 40

9:30> IN2U @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Pop Rock

10-2> Speakeasy @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~

10:30> The Crimps @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock

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