Judy Perly celebrates 34 years at Free Times Café tonight

\ TORONTO \

Like so many other budding songwriters over the past 31 years, the first place I ever performed my original compositions in Toronto was at the Free Times Café at 320 College Street, which has been staging a Monday night open stage for the past 31 years since about three years after it first opened in December of 1980.

Tonight the club celebrates its 34^th birthday with a cavalcade of performers who have all hosted the open mic at some point over the last three-plus decades.

I don’t know the total number of players and I doubt Free Times owner Judy Perly does either, but tonight’s edition of the event (which will still try to fit other open stagers in, she tells me) will start earlier than normal, at 7 p.m., to accommodate what is expected to be a huge number of participants.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Monday, December 15, 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.

5-8> Ashley St. Pierre Jazz Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

6> Golden Country Classics @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

*6-9> Calliope’s Nest open stage/jam for women @ Lola Pub, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

6:30> Jake Koffman Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7-1> 34^th Anniversary of Free Times Café with Judy Perly & a cavalcade of previous open stage hosts @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

7> Michael Willis @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*7> Hard Time Mondays with Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

**7:30> M Factor Mondays with host Elana Harte & features Courtney Lynn; Bekah vs. Missy @ The Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave., TO East ~indie

7:30> George Lake Big Band @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~R&B/Swing

8-11> Bentroots feat. Michael Fonfara, Nick Balkou, Ed Roth & Robert Newman @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., Toronto East ~Swampy Southern Blues-Rock

8-12> open stage with Julian Taylor & guest host Dr. Jingles @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave. TO East

8> Piano Cutting Contest @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

*8-11> open stage @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough

**8-12> BBQ & jam night with tba @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; ($8.95 with BBQ dinner special starts at 6)

*8-12> open stage @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*8:30> Songbird Mondays with Nicole “Songbird” Coward online live @ http://www.streetjelly.com ~Roots/Folk

**9-1:30> jam with No Band Required @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

*9-1> Hamstrung Stringband @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Bluegrass

9> Little Boxer @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO

9> blueVenus @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~original Pop

9-1> The Sleaper Group @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9-12> Geoff Willingham @ The Roncy, 390 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~acoustic solo

*9-1> eclectic open stage/jam @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West

*9-1> jam with Tom Barlow @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit

*9:30-2> Sebastian Agnello & friends @ Black Swan (ground floor), 154 Danforth Ave., TO East

9:30> John Cheesman Jazz Orchestra @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

10> Jordan John @ The Orbit Room, 580 College St., TO ~R&B/Blues

*10> open mic (2 songs; signup starts 8p.m.) @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Robin Dann @ Tranzac Lounge (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> J. Swinnerton Blues Band @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

*10-2> Danckosmith Duo @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore E., Port Credit ~Pop

10:30> Big Otter Creek Unplugged @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

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