\ TO CENTRAL \
One of the things I really enjoyed about hosting open mics for about 25 years in TO was hearing and meeting “new” talents who in many cases were accomplished veterans but who had been flying under my radar along with that of many other people.
One good example of those “discoveries” was the duo of Mark Yan & Barry Mulcahy, who only a few years ago came to my attention when they attended one of my events at the behest of Glen Hornblast, with whom Mark has had a long musical and personal friendship.
Utilizing two guitars and voices, the pair deliver smooth acoustic Pop that’s comparable in quality to what Phil Naro and Sil Simone (or these days Phil and John Rogers) do, what Rory Cummings and Ralph De Jonge used to share as participants and features my events eight years ago as Two Guys With Guitars while Rory was in the process of starting up his group The One Shot Band, or as delightful as David Love and Brian LeBlanc used to be when performing as the Love & LeBlanc duo. In a word: impressive!
While I’ve also heard Mark solo just a few times (for example sitting in with Hornblast and his Queen Street Cowboys at a 2014 show at Linsmore Tavern and with other groups on occasion) it’s usually been in conjunction with Mulcahy that I’ve written about him, most notably perhaps when they did a feature set at the weekly Fat Albert’s coffeehouse about a year ago tonight.
Tonight Mark returns to the event, but this time he’s doing the feature solo, which seems to be a direction that both he and Mulcahy are pursuing a little more often these days.
Mulcahy, for example, appeared on his own this past Sunday for a Roots showcase at a bar in Georgetown. Mark, in addition to tonight’s appearance, is also participating solo in an upcoming in-the-round session as part of the May 25-27 Nashville Songwriters Association’s Tin Pan North Festival on Friday May 26, sharing the stage with Dayna Shereck and James Gordon at the Clock ‘N Hen bar in Brampton.
“I’m so excited to play with James Gordon,” Yan enthused, as he informed me about confirmation of that show.
Although there are no plans for the Yan/Mulcahy duo to go its separate ways (the pair now actually also have an ep available, which I’d assume Mark will have with him tonight, plus several upcoming gigs), there’s certainly plenty of room, it seems, for more attention to be paid to each’s individual talents as an individual artist as well.
I wish I could say I’m familiar with Mark’s original work but unfortunately I have not yet had the pleasure of hearing any of his tunes, since mostly it seems to be deftly delivered covers of acoustic Pop and Roots material that I’ve heard him perform as part of his duo and with other outfits. But I would think it’s quite likely you’ll hear some of that material for yourself if you get out to hear his set tonight.
Cover for the Fat Albert’s shows, which take place in the Steelworkers Hall at 25 Cecil St. across from Grossman’s) is by donation and they’re happy to receive even a toonie. The music gets underway around 8, with Mark’s set starting at 9 but if you also want to perform you’ll want to arrive by 7, when sign-up begins.
-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca
SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, May 10, 2022
For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.
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ON AIR / ONLINE
8am> Humber College Radio Broadcast Program’s “Unsigned” series live-to-air singer-songwriter profiles with guest songwriter Jordan Hart @ Radio Humber, 96.9 FM and online (repeat of last night’s show)
*6-8pm> The Rock-A-Round with Slim Tim @ www.rockabilly-radio.net ~ Rockabilly tracks (from UK, repeat show from previous Friday)
9-9:20> Humber College Radio Broadcast Program’s “Unsigned” series live-to-air singer-songwriter profiles with guest songwriter Freeman Dre @ Radio Humber, 96.9 FM and online (repeats 8 am tomorrow)
416 – TORONTO CENTRAL
5> Gordon Shawcross @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St.
6-8> Ori Dagan & Friends with special guest Jordan O’Connor @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc
6> Golden Country Classics @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.
6> Comhaltas Irish Slow Session @ Tranzac Club (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~folk dancing
6:30> Victor Bateman Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $
**7 (7 p.m. sign-up open stage at 8) with 9 p.m. feature by Mark Yan @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall) ~songwriters
*7> Jim Heineman Trio @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. ~Jazz
7> Pryde; Mutari @ Mod Club, 722 College St. ~contemporary original; $
*7-10> Blues jam with Mark Stafford & Ken Yoshioka @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St.
7> poetry slam @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W. ~spoken world
7:30> Brodie West Quintet @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO
**8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers’ jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~$10-20/pwyc
8> Denis Schingh @ Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. ~contemporary original; $
8> Vulfpeck @ Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St. ~contemporary original; $
8-10:30> Maciek Flont and the Colin Hunter Quartet @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz; $
8> Gavin James @ Velvet Underground, 508 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $
8:30> Songwriters Association of Canada Toronto Regional Songwriters Group showcase & open stage @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St. ~songwriters who apparently cannot be named; 0$
8:30> The Black Lips; Surfbort; Vypers @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $26.50
9> The Digs @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Funk/Jazz/neo-Soul; $
*9 (signup at 8:30)> open mic with Alan Carter @ Lowdown, 276 Augusta Ave.
9> Do It For The Gram @ Set on King, 333 King St. W. ~indie
9> The Dirty B-Sides jam @ Studio Bar, 824 Dundas St. W. ~Freestyle/Hip Hop; 0$
*9-2> What’s Poppin’ indie jam @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St.
8:30> Jo-Jo & The Woods @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St.
*9:30> After Funk @ Nightowl Toronto, 647 College St. ~Funk; 0$
*9:30-2> The All Nighters open jam @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave.
9:30> Terry Promane & Dave Young Octet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $
10> Dani Nash @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Country
10> Ken Aldcroft @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO
10> OKAN with special guest Paco Luviano on bass @ Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. ~Cuban music; $
10-2> The Undercovers @ The Hideout, 423 College St.
*10-2> Blues-Rock jam with Al Webster Band @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO
*10:30> Sons of Rhythm @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Funk/R&B; $10
416 – TORONTO EAST
7> Laura Marling; Valley Queen @ The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave. ~contemporary original; $
*7:30-10:30> The BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz; 0$
8> Improvised Creations @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave.
8:30-10:30> Gypsy Rebels @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.
*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan Tavern (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave.
416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE
7:30> Havana Nights @ Old Mill, 21 Old Mill Rd. (Home Smith Bar, minimum table charge) ~Jazz
8-1> Tony Paglia @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~Rock/Top 40 covers
*9-1> open mic with Daniel Gagnon @ The Old Sod, 2936 Bloor St. W.
9-12> Space Jazz jam with singer Meagan Luchko & guitarist Kevin Bolger & band with weekly guest @ Placebo Space, 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. W. ~Jazz; $5/pwyc
416 – TORONTO WEST
5-8> Mr. Rick @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~acoustic Roots/Blues
6-8> The Layrite Boys @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Bluegrass; $0
*6:30-9> Carl Bray & guest @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St. ~solo piano
6:30-7:30> Zeynep Ozbilen recording release for Zest @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~Turkish-Canadian songwriter
*8> MFA open mic @ Remix Lounge, 1305 Dundas St. W.
8> Soul Glo; Growing Fins; Narra and Chris @ Smiling Buddha (lower level), 961 College St. ~indie; $
*8-11> Fraser/Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Rootsy Blues
**8:30-10:30> Hump Night Blues with Dave McManus, George Baumann, Cleave Anderson + special guest Fergus Hambleton @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St. ~Blues
8:30> Chris Duncan; Vivien Shepard & Johnny Devil; Stan Klich; Kick Bucket @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals; $5
8:30> Anna Thorvaldsdottir; Du Yun; Janet Sit; Kate Soper; Monica Pearce; Sofia Guaidulina; Lydia Davis @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~songwriters; $10
8:45> The Hip Shakers @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. ~50s-60s Rock/Top 40 covers
**9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Juno-winning Blues
9> Peter Boyd & The Mutant Mariachis @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Roots-Rock
9> Lese Majesty @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St.
9> The New Choir Boys @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~ $10
9> Ritalin Boy; The Mightabins @ The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St. W. ~indie
9> Rhythm Dealers @ Mezzetta, 681 St. Clair Ave. W. ~Cuban Roots Jazz
9> Voodoo Raha @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave.
*9:30> Spy vs Sly vs Spy @ Reposado, 136 Ossington Ave. ~Jazz; 0$
*10> Tanya Philipovich & Lucas Stagg @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W. ~original Roots/Blues
*10:30> Luke Vajsar @ Motel Bar, 1235 Queen St. W. ~Jazz
519
*8am-1pm> buskers @ Cambridge Farmers’ Market, 40 Dickson St., Cambridge
*6-8:30> ukulele jam @ Idea Exchange, 5 Tannery St. E., Cambridge
7> Madison Ing @ Arena Bar & Grill, 96 Gordon St., Guelph
7:30> Celtic Session @ Penny Whistle, 2 Quebec St., Guelph
8-12> Song Circle acoustic jam @ Anaf Club 344, 32 Gordon St., Guelph
8> Matt Weidinger Band @ Lancaster Smokehouse, 574 Lancaster St. W., Kitchener
8:30> Morgan Davis @ Red Brick Café, 8 Douglas St., Guelph ~original Blues; $10
*8:30-11:30> The Gaes @ Churchill Arms, 355 Erb St. W., Waterloo ~Celtic
9> Raine Hamilton; Anna Weibe @ The Cornerstone, 1 Wyndham St. N., Guelph ~songwriters; $10
?*9> jam with Mike Meacher & Nathan Bulla @ Argyle Arms, 210 King St. E., Cambridge
10> Scott Cairns @ Doogie & Pablo’s, 37 Wyndham St. N., Guelph
*10> Mike Todd @ The Duke, 33 Erb St., Waterloo
705
*7-11> open jam with The Freacon Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach ~ Blues, Jazz; $5
8-12> Odd Man Rush @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough
*9-12:30> Josh Morgan & Mike Francis @ Donaleigh’s Irish Public House, 28 Dunlop St. E., Barrie ~acoustic Pop covers & originals
9> Copper Crown; White Steve @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough
905 EAST
*8> open stage and karaoke with Eddy Culjak @ Boston Pizza, 20 Taunton Rd., Whitby
8> Frank Z @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
*8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg
*8-10:30> open mic jam with Marty Hepburn @ Ganaraska Hotel, 30 Ontario St., Port Hope
9> open mic @ The Moustache Club, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
*10> Two For The Show @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock
*10> Emerson Ireland hosts open mic jam @ The Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby
905 NORTH
*7> open mic night with Tanya Joy Senior @ Col. McGrady’s Pub, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge
?*7> open mic with Matt Whittmann @ Red Door Gallery, 69 Main St. S., Georgetown
*8-12> open mic with Kevin Ker @ Unionville Arms, 189 Main St., Unionville
8> acoustic jam with Frank Logue @ Shepherd’s Crook, 86 Main St. S., Georgetown
*8:45> open mic jam with Matt Zady @ Magnums, 21 McMurchy Ave. N., Brampton
*9-1> open mic jam with Whiskey Birds @ Sweetz Lounge, 5289 Hwy 7, Woodbridge-Vaughan
*10-2> jam night with Switchbeat Trio @ Maguires, 284 Queen St. E., Brampton
905 SOUTH
7:30> Marbin; Altobeelays; Earth’s Yellow Sun; Ten Meter Band @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~indie; $
7:30> open mic with Keith Toms @ Staircase Bistro, 27 Dundurn St. N., Hamilton
*7:30> open mic with Brant Parker @ Donnelley’s Pub, 54 Front St., Thorold ~eclectic
**8-1> Boogie N Blues jam with Ian Andrews & Friends @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton
8> Adrian Farrugia hosts Mohawk College music showcase with Ian Brown, Leah Korkowski & Nigel Stewart trio @ Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton ~$10
*8> Brad James @ Thirsty Cactus, 2 King St. E., Dundas ~Country
8> Terrie Petrie & band hosts Country Wednesdays @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster ~Country
*8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country
9> Singalong with Judy Marsales @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40
*9> open mic with Alfie Smith @ L’Etranger on James, 109 James St. N., Hamilton
*10> Jazz jam @ Cat N Fiddle Hamilton, 174 John St., S., Hamilton
10:30> Adam Cooke & Adam Ostrosser @ Gallagher’s Bar, 69 Augusta St., Hamilton
905 WEST
*4:30> Adam Cooke @ SB Prime, 380 Brant St., Burlington
*6-10> open mic with host Dan Walek @ Lucy’s Seafood Kitchen, 6905 Millcreek Dr., Mississauga
*7> open mic with Gillian Nicola @ Copper Kettle Waterdown, 312 Dundas St. E., Waterdown
7> Rob Reed @ Max Resto Lounge, 2180 Itabashi Way, Burlington
*8> open mic with Jim Italiano @ Club 54, 3345 Harvester Rd., Burlington
8> jam with The Grindstones @ American House, 324 Dundas St. E., Waterdown
*8:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock
9-1> Kevin Reid and the Dedbeats @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop; $
9-1> “Writers In The Round” with Alessia Cohle; more @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~songwriters; $
*9> open mic with Michael Zane @ Shakers Oakville, 589 Kerr St., Oakville
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 purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.
Copyright © 2017 Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon.ca. All Rights Reserved
