\ TO DOWNTOWN \

An open stage or jam can be successful because of a variety of factors that make it particularly appealing to the performers who participate and audiences who regularly support the event.

Some events rely upon the personality or skills of the host, others depend on the appeal of the venue, still others attract adherents because of the particular genre or style of music that’s encouraged and yet others are basically local affairs, mostly drawing people from a particular neighbourhood.

An event that combines many of those factors and has been a roaring success since debuting some 18 months ago, Dr. B’s Acoustic Medicine Show at Free Times Café Saturday afternoons features a popular, talented host, a room a lot of people want to play, a specific focus on Roots/Blues music and takes place in a busy downtown area.

But so popular is this event that it also draws a lot of people from outside of the Toronto area, artists whom Folk songwriter, ace fingerpicker and host Brian Gladstone refers to as “the out of towners” and who travel from places as far afield as Brampton, Uxbridge and even Stratford to take part.

Tonight at the 7:30-10:30 p.m. second installment of his “Best of Dr. B’s Acoustic Medicine Show” series, also taking place in the cozy back room of the club at 320 College St., the focus is on some superb talents who travel fair distances to take part in the Saturday afternoon open stage.

Songwriter David Storey calls Uxbridge home but is a regular participant at the Saturday shows and other open stages, where he often performs tunes from his recent Coming Home album, which, as we’ve previously noted, is a tour de force of soulful ballads.

Mark Yan and Barry Mulcahy are Brampton residents who perform as a Roots-Pop duo doing originals and covers in various locations in the north GTA but who are also getting pretty well known in TO through frequent shows at Black Swan Tavern and their regular appearances at Gladstone’s open mic.

A veteran performer who recently has been making appearances and doing features and hosting at various open stage events across town, and who has an album release coming up this month, Kirk Felix will also be on tonight’s bill, along with Scarborough ex-pat and now Stratford area resident Sharron Katz (who’ll be accompanied by east-TO resident Steve Raiken) and Sean Peever, whom I believe now lives in Mississauga.

As founder and director of the annual Winterfolk Festival, host Gladstone (who will likely also do a few tunes to kick things off) is well acquainted with artists from all over the country.  And with all these out-of-town Roots talents congregating together in one evening, tonight’s get-together has all the makings of a mini-Winterfolk show!

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

 

 

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, April 13, 2022

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.

Names of subscribers appear in bold and 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.

416 – Toronto Central

5> Gordon Shawcross @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO

*5:30> Kama House Band @ Kama, 214 King St. W., TO ~Jazz

6-8> Gigi & Friends @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10

6> Dave Borins @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Country/Roots

6> Comhaltas Irish Slow Session @ Tranzac Club (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~folk dancing

6:30> Bugaloo Squad @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

7:30> Raconteurs @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~storytelling

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

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

7:30-10:30> Best of Dr. B’s Acoustic Medicine Show “Out of Towners” with Brian Gladstone, Mark Yan & Barry Mulcahy, David Storey, Kirk Felix, Sharron Katz with Steve Raiken. Sean Peever @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO ~Roots; $15

7:30> Arnd Jurgensen @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

*7:30> Jeff Willingham @ Lou Dawgs Ryerson, 76 Gerrard St. E., TO ~acoustic Pop

**8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers’ jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO

**8 (7 p.m. sign-up)> open stage with 9 p.m. feature by Mike Weidman @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall), TO ~Roots

8-1> open jam with Wednesday’s Child feat. Johnny Bootz Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

8> The Distillery @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

9> The Digs @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Funk/Jazz/neo-Soul; $

*9 (signup at 8:30)> open mic with Alan Carter @ Lowdown, 276 Augusta Ave., TO

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

9> Joya; The Cheap Flights; For Jane; The Riot Police; Running Violet; Aiden Mires @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $5

9:30> Kirk MacDonald Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

10> David Baxter @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Roots-Rock

10> Ken Aldcroft & guests @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~Jazz

*10-2> Blues-Rock jam with Bruce Domoney @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO

10:30> Sons of Jameson @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

*10:30> The LMT Connection @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Funk/R&B; $10

416 – Toronto East

*7:30-10:30> The BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

8> Lzrszn @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East ~space Jazz

*8> acoustic open mic with Phil Hood @ An Sibin Pub, 709 Queen St. E., TO East

8:30-10:30> Gypsy Rebels @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave., TO East

416 – Toronto Etobicoke

7> Morning Fame @ The Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke

8-1> Nancy B Duo @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock; $

9> Space Jazz jam with guitarist Youngchan Na & band with weekly guest tba @ Placebo Space, 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke ~Jazz ; $10/pwyc

416 – Toronto West

5-8> Michelle Rumball Duo @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz/Roots-Blues

7> poetry & stories open mic @ Humble Beginnings, 3109 Dundas St. W., TO West ~spoken word

7-11:30> Jaymz Bee’s Official Birthday Bash with live Jazz, videos, Ian Dury tribute band, Funk band, dj & more @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~eclectic; $20

**8-10:30> Hump Night Blues with Dave McManus & Cleave Anderson + special guest Fergus Hambleton @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St., TO West ~Blues

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

8:30> Sleaper-Fauth Group @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West

8:30> Old Man Luedecke & Tim O’Brien @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Bluesy Roots; $37

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

9> Mermaids; Lemon Water; Lina Allemano’s Titanium Riot @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West  ~eclectic Roots/Pop/Jazz; $8

9> JIANTS; Yucca Flats; The Black Fever @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West

9> Mayhemmingways @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Folk

9> Saras; Beige; Hudson Hogarth @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie; $

10> Heavyweights Brass Band; Park Eddy @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~ $10

*10> Kristine Schmitt & The Lonesome Ace Stringband @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Pop

519

8> tba @ Fionn MacCool’s Kitchener, 4287 King St. E., Kitchener

9> The Phil & John Show feat. Phil Naro @ Molly Bloom’s Waterloo, 170 University Ave., Waterloo ~acoustic Pop Rock

705

*7-11> open jam with The Freacon Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach ~ Blues, Jazz; $5

7:30> Catfish Willie & The Bucklebusters featuring Washboard Hank @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough ~Country

8> CR Avery @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

905 East

8-12> open mic night @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 32 Kingston Rd. E. Ajax

8> Bruce Hughes @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg

*10> Two For The Show @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

905 North

*7> open mic night with Tanya Joy Senior @ Col. McGrady’s Pub, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge

*7-close> open mic with Kevin Ker @ The Mill, 139 Mill St., Unionville

*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

*9:30> open mic with The Villagers @ Main’s Mansion, 144 Main St., Markham

*10-2> jam night with Switchbeat Trio @ Maguires, 284 Queen St. E., Brampton

905 South

*7> open mic night @ Donnelley’s Pub, 54 Front St., Thorold ~Blues

7> Hamilton Regional Writers Group @ Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton ~spoken word

8> Harte & Mazur featuring Elana Harte @ Phoenix – McMaster University Main Building, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton ~original Roots-Rock

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

8> Terrie Petrie & band hosts Country Wednesdays @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster ~Country

8> charity jam for art/music programs at St. Joseph’s Hospital with Illim; Frixtion; Kid Hitz; Jakob Bell; Endzwell; Snypz Dxo; So Calm; Supreme Dynasty @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton; no cover

*8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country

9> Wild Soul Wednesday with Skirt Check @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton

905 West

8-1> Rob Mclay; Jordan Haller @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~songwriters

*8:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

9-1> Maxine Young @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop; $

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