Editor’s Note: As you go about your “love day” celebrations, you might want to consider the origins of the festivities, which reach all the way back into antiquity and which would fit right in with the action in some of the bars in TO today!  To give you more insight, here’s a “guest” article about Valentines Day from our sister publication, East York Chronicle, that has proven popular.

Valentines Day didn’t begin as a celebration of romance

Although we may think of Valentines Day as an occasion to celebrate romance and coming together with that “special someone” who completes us, its origins are actually quite different in nature.

There are many various theories as to how Feb. 14 evolved to become the hallmark of love, the most likely of which may be related to the 4th Century B.C. Christian saint Valentinus. He is now regarded as one of the martyrs, although two other church figures of similar names Saint Valentine and Hieromartyr Valentine, are recognized by the Orthodox Church, which commemorates them on July 6 and July 30 respectively.

In Brazil, meanwhile, a whole other figure, Dia de Sao Valentim is honoured on June 12! Many other Christian martyrs were also named Valentine. Valentinus was said to have written a letter to the daughter of his jailkeeper, whom he’d befriended, the night before his execution (for being Christian) and signing it “Your Valentine,” precursing the cards sent today.

However, many historians have argued that the customs of St. Valentines Day are actually watered down derivations of a much more sensual pagan fertility festival celebrated Feb. 13-15 by early Greeks and Romans.

During Lupercalia, as the orgiastic celebration was known, men were said to have drawn the names of maidens from a jar and then proceeded to mate with them. That hardly has much in common with the portrayal of “lovebirds” which some associate first with the English poet Chaucer in a poem written in 1382!

By the middle of the 16th Century Valentines Day was celebrated much as it is today, with the sending of cards and giving of chocolates and other presents to the “apple of your eye”.

The earliest known English language Valentine is said to be one written in 1477 by authoress Margery Brewes to her fiancé, though apparently there is an even older one in French. Vive l’amour!

-Gary Webb-Proctor for East York Chronicle

SHOW LISTINGS for Tuesday, February 14, 2022

For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.

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ON AIR/ONLINE

4-6pm> Blues Blast w Ken Wallis @ 101.5 FM or 1015thehawk.ca

**7-8> “Songtalk Radio” songwriters interviews/chat with weekly guest @ CJRU 1280AM Toronto and online

7-9> “Unsung and On The Side” with Carolyn Fe on Rock-Fm.ca

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

*6-8> Robert Scott @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz piano; 0$

6> The Weather Station @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.

6-12> Paul LaMarche; Leslie Huyler; Annie Bonsignore; Chris Birkett; special guests @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~indie; $10-$20/pwyc

6:30> Ken McDonald Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

*6:30-9:30> Stacie McGregor @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Jazz piano

7-11> “Love My Toronto” fundraiser for homeless photography project with The Tantrums; more @ Hard Rock Café, 279 Yonge St. ~$100-$125

8-1> Zeyon @ Mod Club, 722 College St. ~R&B; $

7:30> Ornate Ornette @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick St.

*8> eclectic open mic @ Cavern Bar, 76 Church St.

8> Art Bar poetry & open stage @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. ~spoken word

8> Mykki Blanco; Cakes Da Killa @ Velvet Underground, 508 Queen St. W. ~Hip Hop; $

*8:45> Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Jazz/Blues; $

9> Micah Barnes Trio with Jackie Richardson @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz; $35

9> The Killer Wails; Altered by Mom; Hallers; The Draughtsmen @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~local indie; 0$

*9> open mic @ The Paddock, 178 Bathurst St.

9:30> The Dog Walkers @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave.

**9:30> Jazz jam hosted by Chris Gale @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

*10-2> The Sattalites @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. ~original & cover Reggae/Funk; $

10> Michael Davidson @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick St.

10> The Sinners Choir @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Country/Rockabilly

416 –TORONTO EAST

5-10> Mark Sepic for Valentines dinner @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Flamenco Jazz; 0$

*6-9> Julian Fauth solo @ Sauce, 1376 Danforth Ave. ~original Blues piano

8 > FingerStyleGuitar.ca open stage @ Hirut, 2050 Danforth Ave. ~Roots

8> Jonathan Markov; Alexandra Hawse @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave. ~indie; 0$

**8-11> open stage hosted by Jay Pennell or Kyle Duffin @ The Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave.

8:30-10:30> Phil Snowdon @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.

*9-1> jam with Mike Sedgewick & The Blue Gurus @ The Duke Live, 1225 Queen St. E.

*9> open mic with host Asha Diaz @ Groove Bar, 1952 Danforth Ave.

9-12> Stuart Laughton’s Radio Dial @ Dora Keogh ~eclectic vintage Pop/Jazz

*9:30> Peter Verity @ Black Swan, 154 Danforth Ave. ~Folk Roots

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

*8> Groove Stone @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~Rock/Soul

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

*9:30> Valentines karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ The Fossil & Haggis, 790 Military Trail

416 – TORONTO WEST

5-8> Celtic & Croon @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz

6-12 (2 shows)> Valentines concert/dance with Guaracha y Son with guest vocalist Angel Luis Marquez ~ Cuban Son quartet; $

7-12> SpaceGirl Valentines show with opener Carmen Toth (7-8) @ Toronto Style Bar, 1546 Bloor St. W. ~original & cover Pop

7-9> Albert Lee (first of two shows) @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Country guitar icon; $35-49

8-10:30> Tuesday duos with Peter Hill on keys & guest Ben Bishop on guitar @ La Rev, 2848 Dundas St. W. ~Jazz/Blues

8> Rare Drugs @ Holy Oak Café, 1241 Bloor St. W. ~acoustic Pop

*8-11> Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party @ The Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. ~acoustic Folk-Rock originals & covers

8> Tragedy Ann; The Lifers; Sam Boer; New Civilization @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W. ~indie Pop duos; $5

8:30> The Cluttertones featuring Lina Allemano @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W.  ~Jazz; $15

8:30> Tush; Footprints @ The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St. W. ~indie; $8

9> Mercy Flight; Branko; Dame Alexander @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. ~indie; pwyc

9> Nichol Robertson & His Honkytonk Boogaloo Boys @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Honkytonk

9> Peter Kauffman Jazz Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz

9> Myra Maines Valentines show @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St. ~indie & cover Pop; $3 or one real human tear

519

2-4> jam session at W.G. Johnson Centre, 31 Kribs St., Cambridge

*6-8:30> Ukulele jam & workshop @ Idea Exchange, 1 North Square Queen’s Square, Cambridge

6-9> Sylvia Dee & The Boyfriend @ Morty’s Pub, 272 King St. N., Waterloo ~Blues/Roots

*7-10> open mic with Andy Hughes @ The Joint Café, 43 Cork St. E., Guelph

*7-11> Waterloo Wellington Bluegrass Association holds Bluegrass jam @ Galt Legion RCL #121, 4 Veterans Way, Cambridge

*7-9> Juneyt @ Easy Pour Wine Bar, 1660 Blair Rd., Cambridge ~Flamenco guitarist

8> Conor Gains & guest tba @ Kiwi Gastropub, 47 Dickson St., Cambridge

9> open mic jam @ Sip Club, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

9> jam with John McKinley Band @ Churchill Arms, 355 Erb St. W., Waterloo

10> Matty P @ Doogie’s & Pablo’s, 37 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

10> Chalkline @ Duke of Wellington, 33 Erb St. W., Waterloo

*10> open jam with host Chris Brown @ Brando’s Beach House, 135 Market St., Brantford

705

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

8> Royal Wood; Diana Chittester @ Show Place Performance Centre, 290 George St. N., Peterborough ~$

905 EAST

*6:30-11> The Woodshed jam with Don Niblett & Frank Zochodne @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

9> Dean James @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country Rock

*9-1> open acoustic jam @ The General, 21 Celina St., Oshawa

*10> open mic with Josh Beaven @ The Atria, 59 King St. E., Oshawa

905 NORTH

7-10> open song circle with Patti McLaughlin @ Aw Shucks, 15474 Yonge St., Aurora

7> open mic with Bernadette Connors @ Lake Simcoe Arms, 21089 Dalton Rd., Jackson’s Point

*8> open mic @ The Tickled Toad, 330 Steeles Ave. W., Thornhill

*8-11> jam with Matthew Kane & The Brews Brothers @ The Crown, 9580 Yonge St., Richmond Hill

*8> acoustic jam @ Copper Kettle, 517 Main St., Georgetown

*8:30-12:30> open mic @ Falcon & Firkin, 10300 Yonge St., Richmond Hill

*9> open mic with Manny D, Andy Earle & Dave Breckels @ Big Chris BBQ, 17380 Yonge St., Newmarket

905 SOUTH

6:30-8:30> “Southern Supper” with Alfie Smith & Nicole Christian @ Mississippi Queen Foods, 635 King St. E., Hamilton ~original & cover Blues; $

*8> Blues & Jazz jam hosted by Wayne Janus & The Syncopaths @ Rebel’s Rock, 537 King St. E., Hamilton

8> tba @ The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta St., Hamilton

8> tba @ The Baltimore House, 43 King William St., Hamilton

8-2> Dizzy Spells; The White Crowleys; Walrus; Elephant Stone; Poutine @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~indie Pop/Rock

*8> open stage with Wayne Petti @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton

*8> Chris Clause @ Thirsty Cactus, 2 King St. E., Dundas ~acoustic

9> open acoustic jam @ Side Bar, 96 George St., Hamilton

9> songwriters night with tba @ The West Town, 214 Locke St. S., Hamilton

*9:30> Ten Gallon Cat @ Cat ‘n’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton ~Country?

*9:30-1> Traditional Irish jam @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

9:30> Lauren Knowles Trio @ Gallagher’s Bar, 69 Augusta St., Hamilton

10> jam night @ Lazy Flamingo, 19 Hess. St. S., Hamilton

905 WEST

7:30> John & Sheila Ludgate @ Montfort Grill Burlington, 796 Brant St., Burlington

*8> The Phil & John Show @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~acoustic Pop Rock

*8> open stage (signup at 7:30) with host Neil McNaughton @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; $2

*8> open mic night @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line, Burlington

*8:45> open mic with Matt Zadkovich @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga

9-1> Big in Japan @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Funk; $

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 by Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon,ca. All Rights Reserved