Special guests really are at three shows tonight

\ OSHAWA / TO WEST / TO DOWNTOWN \

Keeping regular weekly shows fresh can be a challenge, but many jam and open stage hosts —and increasingly many artists who obtain residency gigs at clubs— are doing just that by utilizing the “special guest” gimmick, with varied results.

As long as the guest truly is special, and people know about their appearance, it should result in some of the visiting artist or band’s fans coming out to top up the regular patrons of the clubs and followers of the hosts, leading to a nicely balanced, interesting night for audiences and a lucrative one for the venue.

Tonight some of the guests on tap truly are special too.

At the weekly 8:30 p.m. “Big Mojo Blues Jam” hosted by Howard Ross at The Hub in Oshawa, two-time Juno winner for Blues Album Of The Year Jack de Keyzer will join Ross and his Full Count house band.

In the Junction area of TO, meanwhile, there’s a brand new “Hump Night Blues” 8-10:30 weekly showcase kicking off tonight anchored by uber talented bassist Dave McManus teamed up with Rockabilly/Blues/Rock drummer Cleave Anderson and a weekly special guest. Taking place at On Cue (Jane St. near Dundas West) tonight’s debut will feature rip-roarin’ Voodoo Walters.

Downtown at C’est What, where the captivating indie-Pop NorthStar duo of Nelson Sobral & Shikha Sehgal have a monthly residency, they’ll be joined by a charming and amusing songwriter who gigs far too infrequently for our liking.  Mary Stewart, who’s a fixture on the open stage at Relish in TO East Sundays and also behind the bar and waiting tables, will be the special guest and is bound to have a gaggle of fans along with her.

Other bands and open mic/jam anchors who also have guests regularly would also do well to note that one of the things all three of these hosts do well is let people know —well in advance— who their special guests will be, making it a lot more likely they’ll get some press attention.

 -Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, February 04, 2022

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.) 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 type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

5-8> Sokhna-Dior and Sean Stantey Duo @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

6> Justin Nozuka @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> Brett Higgins Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7> Brownman Akoustic Trio @ Monarchs Pub (Eaton Chelsea Hotel), 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Jazz

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

*7-11> open jam with Wayne Buttery Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach

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

7:30> Katie DuTemple and friends @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

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

*8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ Chalkers, 247 Marlee Ave., TO North-West

**8> open stage with 9 p.m. feature by Max Layton @ 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> Jay Pollock @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie songwriter

8> Acoustic jam with Gary Larocca @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East

*8-10> The Mediterranean Stars @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Jazz

*8-11> Fraser-Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West ~Roots/Blues

8-1> Marshall Dane @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Country Pop

*8-2> Paul & Curtis @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop

8-1> Nashville Songwriters Association International showcase in the round with host Shaun Devlin; Glen Hornblast; Zac Wrixon; Brad Battle; Chelsea Reed; Don Sawchk; Elora Taylor; Amy Rola @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Country Roots

*8-12> all-ages jam with The Brand New Low @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville

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

*8:30> Howard Ross hosts “Big Mojo” Blues jam with guest performer Jack de Keyzer @ The Hub, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

8:30> La Veenie @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO ~indie Pop Rock

*8:30> open mic with Jadzia Skye & Michael Oesch @ Chez Helene’s, 1437 Kingston Rd., Scarborough

*8:30> Crazy Strings host High Lonesome Wednesdays with opening acoustic act @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~Bluegrass

*8:30> open mic with Jenn Fiorentino @ Earl Of Whitchurch, 6204 Main St., Stouffville

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

*8:45> Bradley & The Bouncers @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues/R&B

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

9> Ben Sures @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Roots-Pop songwriter

9> Toreri; The Jessica Stuart Few; Ahi; The Sole Pursuit @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie

*9> open mic with Sean Barker @ Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St., TO

9> The Treasures @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

*9> open mic jam with Jack B Nimble @ Blarney’s Gate, 1151 Dundas St. W., Mississauga

*9?> jam with Michael Zane @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville

*9-12> jam with Damage Control @ St. Louis Bar & Grill Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

9> Frank Z @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*9-1> open mic jam with Whiskey Birds @ Sweetz Lounge, 5289 Hwy 7, Woodbridge-Vaughan

9> Ryan McNally; Ever Lovin’ Jug Band @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

9:30> NorthStar duo featuring Nelson Sobral & Shikha Sehgal & guest Mary Stewart @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~Pop songwriters; $pwyc

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

9:30> Matt Wilson Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*9:30-2> jam with B-Sides @ The Unicorn, 175 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North

9:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

10> Dave Quanbury @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10> Grannis Bea @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

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

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

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

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