\ TO EAST \

He’s never played a musical note on any instrument that I’m aware of, but James Ratch has been responsible for more people enjoying more live music than many of those who call themselves career musicians.

As a promoter of Hard Rock and other acts, as security director at live shows and as one of the few remaining eminent icons at Long & McQuade Musical Instruments (where although he works as chief of collections he’s earned more musical friends than naysayers from the position) “Ratch” as he’s universally known, is much loved and respected by everyone I know in the TO music industry and beyond.

For many years he worked closely with and was one of the best friends of the late Jon Long and between the two of them and a few other veterans of the scene working in sales and service, for more than one generation of musicians were the true architects of the reputation of truly caring for musicians that the chain still trades on today.

Ratch is also famous for his love of Jack Daniels whiskey and over the years has often staged elaborate spectacle shows sponsored by the company at which, as the slogan for the celebrations always says, he and guests have proceeded to “get shit-faced” while enjoying a procession of live bands.

Like most of us who recall those days (hazily), the scary-looking but seldom gruff music enabler doesn’t drink like he used to. But while the shit-faced days may be pretty much behind him at this point, definitely enjoying his drink of choice will still be on the agenda for him tonight as he celebrates turning 70. I’d expect this to be a night where the bar will be well-advised to stock up on Tennessee’s finest export.

Although there’s not an elaborate concert planned as he’s arranged in some years past, there will be a parade of great talents on hand to help him revel at Black Swan Tavern starting at 9:30.

Songwriter Sebastian Agnello is one of Ratch’s oldest friends and pretty much every Monday you’ll find the new septuagenarian in the audience for the weekly open mic Seb hosts in the room at 154 Danforth Avenue.

For tonight I happen to know that Ratch has asked several other performers —including, for example, Pete Otis, for whose SongTown shows Ratch works the door every month— to come out to serenade him at the no-cover event.  Given the infusion of requested artists and that the weekly affair usually already attracts top calibre talent every Monday, you won’t even have to get shit-faced to enjoy it!

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

SHOW LISTINGS for Monday, July 30, 2021

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

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ON AIR/ONLINE

*6> “Underplayed and Underpaid” interviews and performances by Guelph area bands on CFRU 93.3 FM broadcast and online

6> “Soundcheck with Sabrina” with Sabrina Fallah @ Jungle 77.3 & online at http://www.jungle773.com/ ~eclectic tracks, interviews etc.

 

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

12:15-1:15> Romanza @ Holy Trinity Church, 10 Trinity Square ~Spanish/South American music; $0

*5-9> Jim Heineman Trio @ Mirto Italian Restaurant, 25 Toronto St. ~Jazz

5:25-9> Momondays Toronto with guest host Ven Virah, guests Zubin Sethna; Loree Appleby; Alena Nyvltonva; Emanuela Fernandes; Karen Aristide more + feature by Jacques Russell Trio featuring Michel Neray and Abbey Sholzberg @ The Hideout, 423 College St. ~networking, performance, conversation; $22

6> Running Red Lights @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~original Rock/Pop; $

6-8> Dana Sipos; Dana Gavanski @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick St. ~songwriters

6:30> Peter Hill Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

6:30> “Legend Night 2018” with Padma Vibuhusham and over 80 South Indian performers @ Scotiabank Arena / Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St. ~eclectic Worldbeat; $

**7-1 (sign-up at 7, show starts 7:30)> open stage with host Wayne Neon @ Free Times Café, 320 College St.

*7-10> open stage with Brad Scott @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave.

7> Kina Grannis; Imaginary Future @ Mod Club, 722 College St. ~contemporary original; $

7:30> Calling All Captains; Rival Town; Poor Judgement; Like Satellites @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. ~indie; $

7:30-10:30 Balfolk @ Drom Taberna, 458 Queen St. W. ~folk dancing to live music fiddlers etc.

7:30-9:30> Jordan John @ Casa Loma Glass Pavillion, 1 Austin Terrace ~contemporary original; $30

**8> open mic (2 songs; sign-up starts 8 p.m.) with host Yawd Sylvester @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.

8> Dua Lipa; Allie X @ RBC Echo Beach, 909 Lake Shore Blvd. West ~contemporary original; $?

8> Ukulele jam @ Tranzac Lounge (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave.

8:30> Daron McColl Trio @ The Cavern, 76 Church St. ~original Jazz; $pwyc

9-1:30> open mic/jam @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave.

9> With Control; The Mystics; Forc3 @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~indie; $?

*9:30> open mic @ Amsterdam Bicycle Club, 54 The Esplanade

9:30> Sam Dickinson Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

10> Jordan John @ The Orbit Room, 580 College St. ~Jazz-Rock fusion; $

10> Friendly Rich & The Lollipop People @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~indie; $0

10-2> Dan Gagnon @ The Hideout, 423 College St. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals; $0

 

416 - TORONTO EAST

7-10> Dan Walsh @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~songwriter; 0$

7:30> “Revolution Mondays” with host Fat Head Hazel & guest feature Carrie Chestnutt @ The Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave. ~songwriters; 0$

*7:30> Metro Big Band @ The Duke Live, 1225 Queen St. E. ~big band Swing Jazz/Soul; $10

**8> open mic with host Scott Carruthers @ Murphy’s Law, 1702 Queen St. E.

*8:45-12> Riverboat Mondays acoustic open stage jam with Tyler Ellis @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave.

*9-12> The Out of Towners @ Sauce on Danforth, 1376 Danforth Ave.

*9:30-2> Sebastian Agnello & friends open stage & celebration for Ratch’s 70^th birthday @ Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave.; 0$

 

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

*8-12> Al Reilly’s Catalyst host Rock jam @ Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W.

 

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

*8-12> open jam with All or Nothing @ Newfoundlander Tavern, 472 Danforth Road

 

416 – TORONTO WEST

6-8:30> Harry Bartlett Trio (recording release for ep) @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~original Rock/Pop; $10

7> Aidan Funston Trio @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz; pwyc

*8> open mic/jam @ The Wicket Pub, 1671 Bloor St. W.

*8-11> open mic with Jean Baptiste De Collier @ Station Ale House, 2457 Bloor St. W.

9> Delaware String Band @ Hawaii Bar, 989 Dovercourt Ave. ~Roots-Country; $0

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

*9-1> eclectic open stage/jam with host Nelson Sobral @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave.

9:30> Alex Lakusta Group @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz; pwyc

10> Good Enough Live Karaoke band @ Drake Hotel Lounge, 1150 Queen St. W.

*10> open mic with host Liam Kearney @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W.

 

519

*5> open mic with Dennis Napper @ Rhapsody Barrel Bar, 179 King St. W., Kitchener

*7:30-12> open mic with Anthony Schmanthony @ The Cornerstone, 1 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

*8-12> open stage @ The Boathouse, 57 Jubilee Drive, Kitchener

*9-2> Anthony Damaio @ Jimmy Jazz, 52 Macdonell St., Guelph ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

 

705

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

8-12> jam night with Rob Drake @ Sticky Fingers Dunlop, 199 Essa Rd.

8> Andy and the Fun Machine; Lance Isaacs; Little Rapids @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~indie; $?

 

905 EAST

6> Brian Ferris @ Arthur’s Pub, 930 Burnham St., Cobourg ~Jazz

*8-11> open mic & karaoke night @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

 

905 NORTH

7-1> open mic @ The Barrel, 2180 Steeles Ave. W., Vaughan

9:25-1:05> jam/open stage with backline @ Sneakers Uptown, 18025 Yonge St., Newmarket

 

905 SOUTH

Noon-2> Mary Simon @ Jackson Square, Hamilton, 2 King St. W. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

12:30> Matty Simpson; Justine Fischer @ Cotton Factory, 270 Sherman Ave. N., Hamilton ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

6> Michael Wainwright & Rick Labrie @ Innsville, 1141 Highway 8, Stoney Creek ~Beatles covers

*8> The New Rebel Westerners @ Cat ‘n’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton ~Country

8> T-Rextacy; Ellis @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~contemporary original; $10

 

905 WEST

6-10> Mississauga Music Week kickoff party with Melle Rose; The Southdowns; Keys To Belfast @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit-Mississauga ~electic indie

*7-10> open mic with Chris Partland @ 5 West Brewpub, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington

*8-12> jam with Tom Barlow @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit-Mississauga

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

*8:30> Gracie @ Spice Lounge, 52 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit-Mississauga ~Pop covers & originals

 

LISTINGS KEY

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

-Copyright © 2018 by Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon.ca. All Rights Reserved