\ TO WEST \
A songwriter who is known to eschew glorification —he initially declined to appear at a December 10 ceremony to accept his 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature— Bob Dylan might well wonder exactly what off-ramp he took from “Highway 61” if he were venturing into TO’s west end to celebrate his birthday tonight.
Not one or two but three area clubs are holding special multi-artist concerts this evening to mark today’s start of his 76th trip around the sun, though probably only one of the dozens of participants have actually ever met the celebrated and storied iconic balladeer.
That would be Paul James —whom Dylan has actually invited up on stage with him at concerts after connecting with him (and becoming a James fan!) many years ago— who joins an all-star lineup of talents saluting the legend at Hugh’s Room starting at 8:30 and for which admission is $30.
The “Don’t Think Twice” show hosted and organized by Roots songwriter and promoter Howard Gladstone (which also includes Jon Brooks, Laura Fernandez, Ariana Gillis, David Gillis, Paul James, Tabatha Johnson, Bob Wiseman, Katasha James, Vanessa Forgue and Noah Zacharin along with rhythm section Russ Boswell and Blake Howard) is the venue’s seventh such celebration —but very different from the previous six.
That’s because its previously annual “On A Night Like This” tribute, staged in that room at 2261 Dundas St. W. for six years by theatrical performer Robert Morgan and his band, will this year be taking place instead in nearby Lula Lounge at 1585 Dundas. It would seem that Morgan shifted the locale during the period earlier this year when Hugh’s was closed; no doubt he would have been reluctant to shift it back to the room that only re-opened a few weeks ago. (Kudos to Gladstone, btw, for pulling together the Hugh’s show on such short notice!)
The Lula event’s band also includes some super-versatile giants, namely Wendell Ferguson on guitar, Ed Roth on various keys and vocals, George Axon on third guitar and dobro, Hap Roderman on bass, Willem Moolenbeek on sax and Kevin Howley on drums. Cover is $25.
The third Dylan-centric event, which also starts at 7:30, takes place not far away from the other two at 1296 Queen St. in Parkdale’s Cadillac Lounge but has a very different shape from the gala-style gatherings.
“Bob Dylan’s Million Dollar Birthday Bash” actually has a dual nature, starting out as one of those note-for-note affairs —with Mark Ripp and the Stone Blue band rendering Dylan’s 1967 record The Best of Bob Dylan— and then becoming a Dylan-cover jam “for freewheelin’ musicians” (though artists who want to take part were asked to email the two songs they wanted to do to organizers The Vinyl Sessions). Cover here is far more modest, being listed as pay-what-you-can or free for players.
How will the poet laureate himself spend his birthday, one wonders? He’s not on tour till June (a few days after the deadline for him to submit his Nobel Laureate speech to the Swedish Academy in order to collect the nearly $1 million cash component of his award) and the internet offers no clues. But wherever he may actually be, Bob Dylan’s spirit and songs will certainly be in town tonight in the west end.
-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca
SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, May 24, 2022
For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.
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ON AIR / ONLINE
*6-8pm> The Rock-A-Round with Slim Tim @ www.rockabilly-radio.net ~ Rockabilly tracks (from UK, repeat show from previous Friday)
416 – TORONTO CENTRAL
5> Gordon Shawcross @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St.
*5:30> Kama House Band @ Kama, 214 King St. W. ~Jazz
6-8> Ori Dagan & Friends with guest Bernie Senensky @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc
6> Golden Country Classics @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.
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 Max Layton @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall) ~songwriters
*7> Jim Heineman Trio @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. ~Jazz
7> “Music Heals” fundraiser for Biggar Endowment for Muscular Dystrophy at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital @ Hard Rock Café, 279 Yonge St.
7> Brothers Of The North; Blackie Jackett Jr,; Dylan Hennessy @ Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St. ~contemporary original; $
*7-10> Blues jam with Mark Stafford & Ken Yoshioka @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St.
7:30 (sign-up at 7)> The Bridge on “Patterns” open stage on “patterns” theme and between-set showcase music, poetry, etc.; hosted by Lynn Harrison @ Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas St. E.
7:30> Piano Party @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO
7:30> “100 Years of Jewish Hollywood” starring Simon Spiro @ Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St. ~tribute to movie songs by Jewish writers; $36+
7:30> Thin Edge New Music Collective @ Array Space, 155 Walnut Ave. ~Classical; $15-36
**8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers’ jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~$10-20/pwyc
8> “21C Festival” Canadian Opera Company Orchestra & guests @ Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. ~originalClassical; $
8-11:30> David Backshell; Kristy Hagerman; Barre Sierra @ Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave. ~songwriters; $10
8> Boonie; Gen Gorman; Diamond Weapon; more @ Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St. ~Punk/Thrash; $
9-11:30> Peter Eldridge @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz; $
8> Dylan Menzie; Limestone Chorus; Tilsen; Wils & The Cast Aways @ Adelaide Hall, 250 Adelaide St. W. ~contemporary original; $10
8:30> Phil Cooper @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St. ~UK songwriter; $
8:30> open mic @ H Bar, 859 Queen St. W.
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.
9> Rheostatics (first of 4 nights) @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $
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> Carissa Neufeld @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $
10> Dani Nash @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Country
10> Samuel Weinberg, Henry Fraser @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO
10-2> The Undercovers @ The Hideout, 423 College St. ~Rock/Top 40 covers
*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
6> Topher Stott and the Outliers @ Local 1794, 1794 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz
7> Kurtis Eugene; Blue Lobelia @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave. ~original Roots; $
*7:30-10:30> The BTBs 5th anniversary show @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz; 0$
8> PSS presents Improvised Creations @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave.
8:30-10:30> The Jessica Stuart Few @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E. ~contemporary original
*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan Tavern (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave.
416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE
8-1> Lost Patients @ 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. ~original Roots
6-8> The Layrite Boys @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Bluegrass; $0
6> Larissa Tandy; Zach Cleisinger @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~songwriters; $
*6:30-9> Carl Bray & guest @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St. ~solo piano
7> Chance The Rapper @ Budweiser Stage, 909 Lake Shore Blvd. W. ~contemporary original; $
7> Blue Lobelia; Kurtis Eguene @ Orchard Bar, 1174 Bloor St. W. ~Roots-Rock
7:30> “On A Night Like This” with Robert Morgan & band featuring Ed Roth & Wendell Ferguson @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~tribute to Bob Dylan; $25
7:30> “Bob Dylan’s Million Dollar Birthday Bash” with Mark Ripp; Stone Blue @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W. ~tribute to Bob Dylan note-for-note followed by jam; pwyc
8> Tall Heights; Henry Jamison @ Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W. ~songwriters; $
8> Nightlands; The Building; Joseph Shabason @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. ~indie; $
8-11> The Old Salts @ Another Bar, 926 Bloor St. W. ~Roots-Rock
*8> MFA open mic @ Remix Lounge, 1305 Dundas St. W. 
*8-11> Fraser/Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Rootsy Blues
8:30> “Don’t Think Twice” with host Howard Gladstone & featuring Jon Brooks; Laura Fernandez; Ariana Gillis; David Gillis; Paul James; Tabatha Johnson; Bob Wiseman; Katasha James; Vanessa Forgue Noah Zacharin & rhythm section Russ Boswell & Blake Howard @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W. ~tribute to Bob Dylan; $30
**8:30-10:30> Hump Night Blues with Dave McManus, George Baumann, Cleave Anderson + special guests Full Bore Blues @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St. ~Blues
8:30> Unidentified Funk Object; Villainest @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. ~songwriter5
8:30> Ora Cogan; Julie Arsenault; Sarah Jane Scouten @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~songwriters; $
**9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Juno-winning Blues
9> Charlie The Kid; Kevin Foster; Daniel Greer; Hudson & The Sky Vines @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave. ~songwriters; $
9> Ben Edwards & Kristian Montano Unplugged @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~songwriters; pywc
9> Monteith; Robin Jupiter; Kobra Kobra @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St. ~indie; $
9> Bill McBirnie & Bernie Senensky @ Mezzetta, 681 St. Clair Ave. W. ~Jazz; $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
519
*8am-1pm> buskers @ Cambridge Farmers’ Market, 40 Dickson St., Cambridge
*6-8:30> ukulele jam @ Idea Exchange, 5 Tannery St. E., Cambridge
7:30> Celtic Session @ Penny Whistle, 2 Quebec St., Guelph
8-12> Song Circle acoustic jam @ Anaf Club 344, 32 Gordon St., Guelph
8> Fernanda Cunha & The Pat Collins Trio feat. Reg Schwager @ Descendants, 318 Victoria St. N., Kitchener ~tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim (“The Girl From Ipanema” songwriter) Bossa Nova/Brazilian; $
8> Matt Weidinger Band @ Lancaster Smokehouse, 574 Lancaster St. W., Kitchener
8:30-11> String Bone; Neil Little and the Chrome Hearts @ Red Brick Café, 8 Douglas St., Guelph
*8:30-11:30> The Gaes @ Churchill Arms, 355 Erb St. W., Waterloo ~Celtic
9-12> Richard Inman @ The Cornerstone, 1 Wyndham St. N., Guelph ~songwriter
9> Suspect @ Kiwi Gastropub, 47 Dickson St., 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
8-12> Trent University student bands @ 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> Cale C. Crowe and Friends @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough
10> Taylor Angus Duo @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~acoustic Pop covers & originals
905 EAST
7> Doug Dale @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
*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> 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
7-10> Piper Hayes with Carson Ritcey-Thorpe @ Wild Wing Milton, 6921 Derry Rd. W., Milton ~songwriters
*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> Mike Frazier; Kill No Albatross; Razzmatazz; Gary Reid @ Doors: Taco Joint & Metal Bar, 56 Hess St. 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> NLX; Tara Holloway; Sammi Morelli @ Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton ~songwriters; $10
**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
*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> jam with Gary White & Friends @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville
*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
