Longest night of the year brightened by seasonal shows

\ GTA \

It may be the longest night of the year as the Winter Solstice arrives and GTA residents experience less daylight than at any other time of the year. But for some folks that’s simply an excuse to party all the longer! And there’s no shortage of bright-lights events celebrating the holiday season taking place this afternoon and this evening, especially as there seems now to be no prospect of a repeat of last year’s ice storm catastrophe for this year at least.

Special shows include a rare Sunday afternoon show at Hugh’s Room in west TO, where prodigy trio The Ault Sisters perform a “Celebrate the Season Concert” starting at 1 p.m. that’s sure to include songs from the Christmas Feelings debut album these three siblings (who range in age from 18 to 22) released eight years ago.

Nearby at Axis Gallery & Grill in the Junction area, Dave McManus and Lucas Stagg team up to front a Rootsy Blues-Rock band that will perform 4-8 as Santa’s Hagglers as they collect toys and accept donations on behalf of the Red Door Family Shelter.

Out in Mississauga versatile Pop/Blues/R&B combo The Stew will hold a “Yule Party” at its regular 5-8 show at Mulligan’s Pub near the border with Oakville.

At Relish in TO’s East end, several Jazz artists will team up to perform a “Charlie Brown Christmas Music” concert from 6:30-8:30 prior to the club’s weekly Stir It Up Sundays jam, which is bound to end up being a de facto Christmas party for the music-loving tapas bar.

The politically savvy Womyn Of Indigo collective, meanwhile puts on a “Winter Solstice Showcase” with six various female indie artists at toney Ellington’s on St. Clair Ave. W. starting at 7 p.m.

Andy Narsingh of the Juggernaut Jam Band has cancelled this week’s installment of his group’s weekly afternoon jam at West Shore Bar in Pickering in order to join fellow members of his Formerly Heaven’s Fire Rock group in teaming up with Phil Naro and his prog-Rock outfit Druckfarben to put on a 7 p.m. Christmas show at The Edge Lounge in Ajax.

Back in TO East, Folk songwriter James Sloan will have a coterie of fellow Roots artists assembled to do festive tunes, including some originals, as he hosts “A Black Swan Christmas” at the club of the same name from 8-1.

Naturally there are several other similar shows not mentioned or listed here –this has been, as one person observed, a weekend of “parties everywhere all across the city.”

Wherever you go, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to lug along a few cans of non-perishable foods or even a couple of unwrapped toys; many of the events are also collecting for one or the other on behalf of various charities who this week will be distributing Christmas cheer to those who struggle even more mightily than musicians to make ends meet.

If you don’t get out today or tonight, btw, but still want to share in the spirit of giving tomorrow, Julian Taylor has announced that Monday night between 6 and 9 p.m. he and Mike Tanner will be collecting toys at Dora Keogh on Danforth Ave. in TO East prior to his regular open stage jam.

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Sunday, December 21, 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.

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

11am-2pm> Jewstice League for Jazz brunch @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

*11am-3pm> Rockabilly brunch with The Cosmotones @ Dominion On Queen, 500 Queen St. E., TO ~Rockabilly

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

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

1-3> Toronto Improvisers Orchestra @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

1-?> The Ault Sisters Celebrate The Season Concert @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Christmas songs; $12

*2-5> BOOM FOR RENT @ Morgan’s, 1282 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

*2-5> acoustic jam with host Bill Black @ The Working Dog Saloon, 3676 St. Clair Ave. E., Scarborough

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

3-5> Alaniaris @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

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

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

3:30-6:30> Red Hot Ramble @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

4-8> Christmas toy drive & benefit for Red Door Shelter with Santa’s Hagglers featuring Dave McManus & Lucas Stagg @ Axis Gallery & Grill, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Rock/Blues; unwrapped toy admission

*4-8> Michael Theodore 4-piece @ The Irish Shebeen, 5555 Eglinton Ave. W., Etobicoke North ~Pop

4-8> Danny B Band featuring Michael Keys on keys @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke ~Pop Rock

4-8> Michael Schatte @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

4> Cash On Demand @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Johnny’s Cash tribute

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

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

*5-9> John Dickie/Pat Perez Band @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave, TO East ~R&B/Blues

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

*5-9> Robbie Lane & The Disciples @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~vintage Rock/R&B; $10

5-8> Chris Coole @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~old time Country

5> Monk’s Music @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

5-8> The Gypsy Rebels @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Gypsy Jazz

5-9> tba @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

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

6:30-8:30> Charlie Brown Christmas Music with Alan Zemanitis, Jesse Boxer-Meyrowitz, Kyle Sullivan &guests @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO East ~Pop Jazz

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

7> Womyn of Indigo Acoustic Flow Winter Solstice Showcase with several artists @ Ellington’s, 805 St. Clair Ave. W., TO West ~songwriters; $10

7> Christmas Party show with Druckfarben featuring Phil Naro; Formerly Known As Heaven’s Fire feat. Andy Narsingh @ The Edge Lounge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax ~Rock; $10 (advance)/+

*7-11> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax

7> Song Studio @ C’est What, 69 Front St. E., TO ~eclectic; pwyc

7> Nevada @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

*7-9:30> Brian DeLima Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7> Flying Cloud Christmas Party @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Folk

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

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

*7> open jam with Mike Shotton & The Flying Squirrels @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

*7> open mic with Randy Hill @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

7:30> Reconnect Holiday party with Diane Roblin; Suzy Wilde; & guests @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8-1> Black Swan Christmas with James Sloan; Darwin Bruce; many more artists @ Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave., TO East ~eclectic Roots/Pop

8> karaoke with Randy Petrie @ King’s Belly, 429 Donlands Ave., TO East

8> Gordon’s Acoustic Living Room @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~acoustic Pop

8> One City Social Boogie @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East

8> Todd Shapiro Christmas Rock’n Roar party with Anna Cyzon, Rebel Emergency & special guest comedians @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO

*8:30-12:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby

8:30> Dr. Draw @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~electronic Jazz Rock fusion; $45

9-1> Cyndi Carleton Jazz & Swing Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Swing Jazz

9> Los Cabelleros del Son @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Cuban traditional

*9> Rob Hiemstra solo @ The Unicorn, 175 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North ~Rock/Pop

*9-1> jam with Mike Roland and Lenny Vaccari @ Stewart Maguires Landing, 15 Allan Dr., Bolton

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

*9:30-1> jam with the Stir It Up Band featuring Bryan Van Dusen & David Macmichael @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

*9:30-1:30> jam with Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South

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

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

10> Makeshift Island @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*10> The Mercenaries @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

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

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

*10> jam with Groove Stone feat. Dale Harrison @ Scruffy Murphy’s Uptown, 150 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North

10-2> Adam’s Rib @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40

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