\ TO EAST \

Sunday afternoons at Hirut on Danforth Ave. continue to be a delightful experience under the tutelage of musically eclectic and very affable host Nicola Vaughan.

For over three years now, as I’ve mentioned on several occasions, she’s been shepherding a range of talents onto the music-loving Ethiopian restaurant’s nicely appointed stage for a diverse but always engaging 3-6 afternoon open mic and jam.

When an old friend with serious musical chops and history on the scene was in town recently, I was happy to steer her to the anything-goes event as part of our visit and was actually inspired to get up and do a few of my own tunes.

Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Leanne Poole has written for this publication almost since its beginning in the early ‘90s as the Open Season monthly jams digest.  She was instrumental in helping me to make the transition from that title to the weekly/biweekly to-nite 23 years ago and has continued ever since to chip in off and on with her literary talents —which are equal to her musical proficiencies.  (And, no snob, she also even did her time folding and stapling, back in the early hard copy days!)

Although she professed being rusty at performing, Leanne did a superb job using borrowed guitars and, backed by a pickup team of players, she proceeded to catch everyone’s attention with her skill and energy.  One fellow player in the house, who remembered her from jams at Grossman’s during the previous two decades, even ended up helping her to acquire a new guitar in order to be able to spend more time honing those skills!

Often, as on this day, Alex Andrusevich is on hand with his bass, Brian Pickard with sensitive and helpful guitar accompaniments and various others of like ilk chip in on a variety of instruments (though performers also always have the option to go solo).  I was also very impressed with the set by versatile and very polished guitarist-singer Steve Sher, who presented a very engaging series of acoustic covers.

The food in the room at 2050 Danforth Ave., a bit west of Woodbine, is also worth dropping in for any time.  On Sundays, it just tastes even that much better!

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Sunday, June 26, 2021

Listings are organized by area in which shows take place and listed chronologically within each area field.

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.

Names of subscribers appear in bold, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger highlighted type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

TJF = Toronto Jazz Festival

ONLINE / ON AIR

*6, 7, 10 & 11am; 5 & 7 pm> “Sunday Morning Soul” with Johnny Max @ www.sundaymorningsoul.com ~Blues

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

11am-2pm> Gypsy Jive Band for Jewish brunch buffet @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

noon-3> Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

noon> TJF: Shannon Butcher & Ross McIntyre @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $

3-7> Gentlemen Soul Brothers for Kensington Market Pedestrian Sunday @ Trinity Common, 303 Augusta Ave., TO ~jam band

3> Sarah Hiltz; Joshua Cockrill; Duane Forrest;  @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~songwriters; $10

3> Tia McGraff @ C’est What, 69 Front St. E., TO ~songwriter

3:30-6:30> Freeway Dixieland Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*4-7> Michael Brennan @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. TO ~East Coast Rock/Blues Roots

4> The Neil Young Sessions jam @ Hard Rock Café, 279 Yonge St., TO ~all welcome; no cover

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

5> Steve-Paul Simms with Bob Cohen & Dave Lang @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Roots

5> TJF: LJ Folk @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $

5-9> Darren Evorglens & Friends @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~vintage Rock/R&B; $10

*6-9> open mic with Eddy Culjak @ Fox & Fiddle Wellesley, 27 Wellesley St., TO

7> David Storey Duo; Soozi Schlanger @ Schlangrillah Studio, 648 Bloor St. W., TO ~original Roots; $10-20/pwyc

*7-1> Freefall Sundays open stage (2 songs each -signup @ 7 or pre-sign online) @ The Supermarket, 268 Augusta St., TO

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

7-9:30> TJF: Time Christensen Spin Cycle @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*7-10> Brooke Blackburn @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues/Jazz/R&B

7> Kevin Quain & The Mad Bastards @ Paddock Tavern, 178 Bathurst St., TO ~moody Blues

8-10:30> TJF: The Laila Biali Trio with guest Phil Dwyer @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $

8> open mic with host Carolyn T and The Reunion Jam All-Star Band @ The Antler Room, 146 Front St. W., TO

8> JF Robitaille @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~Folk-Pop; $10

*8> jam/open mic with backline & host band Meg and the Scene @ The Antler Room, 146 Front St. W., TO

8-9:30> TJF: Lady Be Good @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $

8> Old Cabin; Gianna Lauren and Gavin Gardiner @ Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St., TO

*8> open mic with Kyle @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO

*8-12> The Honour Roll with REMY trio @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W. ~freestyle Hip Hop; no cover

9:30> TJF: Metalwood @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

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

10> New Grease Revival @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

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

10> The Kount; The Flow; Ephram; Juvon Taylor @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~originals; $10

10:30> Autumn Kings @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

416 – TORONTO EAST

11 a.m. - 2> TJF: Liane Fainsinger Quartet for Jazz brunch @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO East ~Jazz; no cover

*2-5> Lisa Particelli’s Girls Night Out jam @ Morgan’s, 1282 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

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

3-5:30> Lazy Cat open stage with hosts Linda Lavender & David Shilman & feature by Lavender & Twang @ Bain Co-op Community Centre, 100 Bain Ave. (enter off Sparkhall Ave.), TO East

*3:30-7:30> jam @ Black Bear, 1125 O’Connor Drive, TO East

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

5-7> TJF: John Wayne Swingtet @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz; no cover

6-9> Johnny Cox @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave, TO East ~R&B/Blues

7-9> TJF: Marla Lukofsky @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz; no cover

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

*9> Michael Darcy @ An Sibin Pub, 709 Queen St. E., TO East ~Pop Rock

**9> open mic night @ The Groove Bar, 1952 Danforth Ave., TO East

9> Watch This Sound @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~vintage Jamaican music

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

4-8> Donnie Meeker @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Blues/R&B

5-9> David Love Band also featuring Darrell McNeill @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke ~60s melodic Pop Rock

8> Bury Your Dead; Obey The Brave; Kublai Khan; Crucible; Great American Ghost @ The Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke ~Hard Rock; $

*10-2> jam with Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

*Noon-3> Allison Au Trio @ Stone Cottage, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Jazz

*6> The Tall Boyz featuring Tommy Rocker host acoustic jam @ Coco’s, 2480 Eglinton Ave. E., Scarborough

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

416 – TORONTO WEST

**11-2> live Jazz brunch @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W., TO West

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

* noon-3> The Cosmotones @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Bluegrass

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

5-8> Hannah Shira Naiman @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~old-time Country Roots

5-8 Six Points Jazz Orchestra @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

6> Monk’s Music @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~vibraphone Jazz

8> Gulfer; I Love Your Lifestyle; Secret Stuff; Shipley Hollow; Doublas in Wyoming @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West ~indie

*8:30-11:30> Fraser Melvin Blues Band @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West ~Blues

8:30> Bloom @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~Jazz quartet

9> Talk Show Host; Serenity Now; Defile; Hilary Jean @ Smiling Buddha basement, 961 College St., TO West ~indie

9> ALLT CNTRL DLT @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W., TO West ~Rock

9-1> Roots Down Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Roots

9> Beverly Taft and The Swell Fellas @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~vintage Jazz/Blues

8:30> TJF: Adrian Underhill & Charlotte Cornfield @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~Jazz/$

9:30-1> Steve Amirault @ Amico’s Pizza, 1648 Queen St. W., TO West ~Jazz; no cover

10> The Mercenaries @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~retro Soul Rock; $10

519

*3-7> acoustic open mic with Scott Rhodes @ The Pick and Shovel, 30 Water St., Cambridge

7:30> Threat Signal @ Maxwell’s Music House, 220 King St. N., Waterloo ~indie; $

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

705

3-4:30> Nicole “Songbird” Coward with Howard Baer @ I Am Coffee Café, 49 Front St. N., Campbellford ~Roots; no cover

3> Jazz band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough ~Jazz

6:30-9:30> Joe Huron Trio with guest tba @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood ~Jazz

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

905 EAST

4> Bruce G Paul @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*5-10> All-ages open jam with Juggernaut @ The Edge Lounge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax

*8:30-12:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Pearson Pub, 101 Mary St. W. Whitby

905 NORTH

**1-3> Joe & Frank with guest performer @ Lake Simcoe Arms, 21089 Dalton Rd., Jackson’s Point ~Jazz

*1:30-4:30> Blaine Burnie, Mark Thackway & friends @ Coach House Pub, 3 Felcher Boulevard, Stouffville ~acoustic Roots

*3-7> open stage with Kevin Ker @ The Earl Of Whitchurch, 6204 Main St., Stouffville

*3-7> Daniel Davies Band hosts jam @ C.J. Barley’s, 213 The Queensway South, Keswick

*4-8> open mic with backline & keys @ Yogi’s Bar, 1285 Elgin Mills Rd. E., Richmond Hill

*6-9:30> The Andy Earle Trio @ Big Daddy’s Newmarket, 446 Davis Drive, Newmarket ~Blues

*8> acoustic open mic with Kat Vhonda @ Wild Wing North Newmarket, 340 Eagle Street, Newmarket

905 SOUTH

2-6> Bay City Blues Band & guest Sabrina Weeks & Chris Murphy @ Bay City Music Hall, 50 Leander Drive, Hamilton ~Blues; $5

2-6> Billy D & The Shakers @ Donnelley’s Pub, 54 Front St., Thorold

*3> Brother Tom hosts kitchen party jam @ Rebel’s Rock, 537 King St. E., Hamilton

3> Paranoid Visions; The Golers; The Strikelaid To Rest; Sick of Shit @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~original Hard Rock

9> Mykul @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton

905 WEST

**2-6> Country matinee with host Colin Connors and guests The McGrath Family @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington ~Country

*3-6> Chris Partland @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga ~Pop Rock

3-8> Salsa band @ The Franklin House, 263 Queen St. S., Streetsville ~Latin

*4-7> Glenn Groves @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington ~Country

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

**5:30-8:30> The Stew @ Mulligan’s, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~R&B/Rock

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

*7:30-11:30> open jam hosted by Troy Harmer & The Persuaders @ The Brown Barrel, 1515 Upper Ottawa St., Hamilton

*8> open mic night with house band featuring Mike Shotton, Tim & Dave Johns @ Black Swan Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

*9-1> Big In Japan @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~$

*10:30> Adam Cooke & The Adams Family @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington

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