\ TO EAST \

It’s never easy keeping an open mic going for more than a few months or maybe a year or two.  For various reasons people either get bored or have life changes, so attendance can be quite variable and often trails off when the novelty wears off after a few months.

To keep one thriving longer requires not only a high level of talent coming out to participate (and hopefully not always doing the same songs week after week) but a host who knows how to keep things fresh and to engage each particular audience and combination of artists.

As I’ve written before, that’s something that Nicola Vaughan is admirably capable of and perhaps has a lot to do with why tonight she’ll hit the five-year mark of her Wednesday open stage jam at Black Swan Tavern in east TO at 154  Danforth Avenue near Broadview.

In addition to being a genuinely likeable and personable presence, Nicola, as I told you recently, is supremely talented at performing herself in a number of genres ranging from Pop, Rock and Blues through Jazz, show tunes and Country.  She’s a kind of singing/strumming musical encyclopedia who’s also an ace composer of catchy Pop Rock ditties. (Get her to play an original!)

Fellow artists respond to her charms as readily as do audiences and she easily engages people and encourages improvisational combos.  So at one of her open mics (she also hosts weekly 3-6 on Sundays for over four years now at Hirut Café on Danforth a little farther east) you seldom hear exactly the same thing twice and often there are scintillating moments of impromptu magic.

You can find that at Swan starting at 9:30 pretty much any Wednesday, but I’d expect tonight is going to be supercharged!

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, May 03, 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 Corin Raymond  @ Radio Humber, 96.9 FM and online (repeat of previous evening’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 Signe Miranda @ Radio Humber, 96.9 FM and online (repeats 8 am tomorrow)

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

5> Gordon Shawcross & Burke Carroll @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St.

6-8> Ori Dagan & Friends @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

6> Golden Country Classics @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Rockabilly/Country/Roots-Rock

6:30> Victor Bateman Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

6:30> Mastodon; Eagles of Death Metal; Russian Circles @ Rebel, 11 Polson St. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $

**7 (7 p.m. sign-up open stage at 8) with 9 p.m. feature by Lynn Harrison @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall) ~songwriters

*7> Jim Heineman Trio @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. ~Jazz

7> Mayday Parade; Knuckle Puck; Milestones @ Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St. ~indie; $

*7-10> Blues jam with Mark Stafford & Ken Yoshioka @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St.

7:30> Raleigh Ritchie @ Velvet Underground, 508 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $

7:30> Troubleshooting @ 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> Scott B with Yawn Temiseva @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. ~songwriters

8-10:30> Heillig Manoeuvre @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz; $

8> Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s “Arabian Nights” @ Roy Thompson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.  ~Classical; $

8> Wordspell @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St. ~spoken word

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> The Dirty B-Sides jam @ Studio Bar, 824 Dundas St. W. ~Freestyle/Hip Hop; 0$

9> Dirty Doc; Lyrical Mind; Taddy So Baddy; MLN; Wade Jackson; T-LA; Und3rdogz; Johnny Bars @ Nocturne, 550 Queen St. W.

*9-2> What’s Poppin’ indie jam @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St.

8> Fenech-Soler; Knox Hamilton @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~indie; $

*9-1> open mic with hosts Aberdeen Alley Cats @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave.

*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> Zimzum @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

10> Derek Downham & Friends @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~songwriter

10> Ghostlight @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~Jazz

10-2> Scully @ The Hideout, 423 College St. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

*10-2> Blues-Rock jam with Al Webster Band @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO

10:30> Elise LeGrow & Co. @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Soul/R&B covers & originals; $10

416 – TORONTO EAST

5:30> Anthrax; Killswitch @ The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $

7> The Devil Wears Prada; Code Orange @ The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave. ~contemporary original; $

*7:30-10:30> The BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

8> acoustic jam with Gary LaRocca @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave.

8:30-10:30> Civil Wray @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E. ~songwriter

*9:30> 5^th anniversary of open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan Tavern (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave.

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

8-1> Marshall Dane @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~Country-Pop covers & originals

*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> Rob Davis Blues Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Blues

6-8> The Layrite Boys @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Bluegrass; $0

6> Gabrielle Papillon @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~songwriter; $

*6:30-9> Carl Bray & guest @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St. ~solo piano

7> Panamania Big Band @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~Latin Jazz; $

7-9> open mic with host Elspeth Tremblay @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W.

8> Chelsea Reed; Stacey Dowswell; Emily Rockarts; Jenie Thai @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave. ~fem songwriters; $7/pwyc

8> Froth @ Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $

8> Laser Background; Norwegian Arms; Champion Ski @ The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St. W. ~indie

8> Gentle Brent recording release for Just Dandy on tape; guests Paul Linklater; Pinecones @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. ~songwriter; $10 inlcudes copy of tape or cd

*8> MFA open mic @ Remix Lounge, 1305 Dundas St. W.

*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 David Craig @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St. ~Blues

8:30> Stephan Crump’s Rosetta Trio @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~Jazz; $

**9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Juno-winning Blues

9> Sintja Baba @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St.

9> Laser Background; Dohn Valley; Norwegian Arms; Champion Ski @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St. ~indie; $

9> Jessica Stuart; Lizzie Lyon @ Orchard Bar, 1174 Bloor St. W. ~songwriters

9> Maureen Kennedy & Ben Bishop @ Mezzetta, 681 St. Clair Ave. W. ~Jazz

9> The New Choir Boys @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~ $10

9> Voodoo Raha @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave.

*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> MusicWorks/StageWorks showcase @ River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich St., Guelph ~youth talent show; $0

7:30> John McDermott @ River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich St., Guelph ~songwriter; $47.50

7:30> Celtic Session @ Penny Whistle, 2 Quebec St., Guelph

8-12> acoustic jam @ Anaf Club 344, 32 Gordon St., Guelph

8> Matt Weidinger Band @ Lancaster Smokehouse, 574 Lancaster St. W., Kitchener

*8:30-11:30> The Gaes @ Churchill Arms, 355 Erb St. W., Waterloo ~Celtic

9-2> Miesha & The Spanks @ Dstrct, 10 Wyndham St. (main floor), Guelph ~indie

9> Tim Louis @ Kiwi Gastropub, 47 Dickson St., Cambridge,

*9> jam with Mike Meacher & Nathan Bulla @ Argyle Arms, 210 King St. E., Cambridge

*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

*9-12:30> Josh Morgan & Mike Francis @ Donaleigh’s Irish Public House, 28 Dunlop St. E., Barrie ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

905 EAST

*8> open stage and karaoke with Eddy Culjak @ Boston Pizza, 20 Taunton Rd., Whitby

*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> The Honest Heart Collective; Outshined; Texas King; Lights In The Valley @ 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> Cecilia String Quartet @ Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St., Richmond Hill ~Classical; $40

*8-12> open mic with Kevin Ker @ Unionville Arms, 189 Main St., Unionville

8-12> jam with Rebelljo Band featuring Dave Girdlestone of Soul Funkshun on guitar @ Fionn MacCool’s Brampton, 11 Ray Lawson Blvd. Brampton

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> 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> Vittorio Mezza @ Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton ~Italian Jazz pianist; $20

**8-1> Boogie N Blues jam with Ian Andrews & Friends @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

*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

9> Ginger James & The Grinders @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~Rockabilly/Country/Roots-Rock; $

*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

*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> Red Dirt Skinners @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~U.K. Roots-Rock; $15

*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