Tibebe soldiers on Sundays as Hirut makes slow recovery

\TORONTO EAST\

It’s been several weeks now since the cook and namesake of Hirut Ethiopian eatery and music bar on Danforth Ave. near Woodbine has been able to work in her own restaurant. The likeable lady with a beaming, welcoming smile who is truly loved by a whole passel of regular customers has been suffering from an allergic reaction that required various medications and made it unsafe for her to be cooking.

While Hirut is now off the meds she still has to get her strength back and her weight back to normal, which will probably take at least another month, according to her husband, Tibebe, who’s been doing his best to keep the place running for music events in her absence, though it’s closed the rest of the time.

Since Tibebe is no cook and also works a demanding full-time job, it’s all he’s been able to do to be open for the Sunday afternoon 3-6 hootenanny hosted by Nicola Vaughan and so far has only missed one. Regulars miss the food of course, but the bar is operational and the quality of the performers each week ranges from good to awesome, with plenty of impromptu jamming on a stage that gets more and more pro looking each month.

And speaking of evolving infrastructure, Tibebe says he plans to make the best of the time the room isn’t operational by doing a facelift for the storefront at 2050 Danforth Ave. Hopefully that’ll include lighting to make it possible to actually see the name of the place at night!

In addition to Nicola’s weekly event, the Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar Association open stage –which itself took some time off over the past month, returns on Tuesday August 26 and two Tuesdays a month thereafter, while the  monthly comedy shows are on hold till late September.

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS for Sunday, August 17, 2021:

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.

11-2> Jordanna Talsky @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO East ~Jazz

11am-2pm> Kiki’s Klezmer Trio for Jazz Brunch @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~Jazz

*11am-3pm> Rockabilly Brunch with The Cosmotones @ Dominion On Queen, 500 Queen St. E., TO ~Rockabilly

*12-3> Julian Fauth’s Blues Brunch @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

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

1> Quebecois Jam @ Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*2-5> acoustic jam with host Bill Black @ The Working Dog Saloon, 3676 St. Clair Ave. E., Scarborough

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

3> Alanias @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

*3-7> open mic @ Moskito + Bite, 423 College St. TO

*3-6> Michael Brennan @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. TO ~East Coast Rock/Blues Roots

2> Gear Music Rock Camp @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville

*3-7> jam at CJ Barleys, 213 The Queensway, Keswick

3:30-6:30> Mr. Rick’s Tin Pan Alley @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*4-7> open jam with Mike Murphy @ The Brigadoon, 1109 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough

*4-8> Lost Patients @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke ~Pop

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

4> Red White Heat @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Jazz

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

4:30-9> Freedom Train; Kirt Godwin for Buskerfest Musicfest @ Lake Affect (outside), 1 Port St., Port Credit

5-7> Cadre @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Roots/Blues/Rock

*5-9> All ages open jam with Juggernaut Jam Band featuring Andy Narsingh @ West Shore Bar & Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering

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

*5-9> Robbie Lane & The Disciples @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~vintage Rock/R&B; $10

5-9> Telstars Rock’ n’ Roll Band @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke South ~vintage Rock/R&B faves; $5

5-8> Tim Bradford @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Country

5> Monk’s Music @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

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

*5:30-8> John Findlay Blues Trio @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave, TO East ~Blues/Funk/Reggae

*7-1> open stage with hosts Steve York & Tony Rabalao (2 songs each -signup @ 7 or pre-sign online) @ The Supermarket, 268 Augusta St., TO

*7-11> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax

*7-9:30> Dan Fortin Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7> Olga Korsak @ C’est What, 69 Front St. E., TO

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

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

*7> open jam @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

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

7:30> Diane Roblin presents: Bob Cohen & guests @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

7:30> Kailah Kher @ CNE Bandshell, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lakeshore Blvd W., TO West

7:30 (and @11)> The Carpet Frogs @ Midway Stage, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lakeshore Blvd W., TO West

8> Gordon’s Acoustic Livingroom @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~acoustic Pop

8> open jam @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville;

*8:30-12:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby

9> Los Cabelleros del Son @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Cuban traditional

*9-1> jam with Mike Roland and Lenny Vaccari @ Stewart Maguires Landing, 15 Allan Dr., Bolton

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

*9:30-1> jam with the Stir It Up Band featuring Bryan Van Dusen & David Macmichael @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

*9:30-1:30> jam with Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South

9:45> Alex Goodman Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

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

10> Makeshift Island @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> The Mercenaries @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

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

*10> jam with Groovestone feat. Dale Harrison @ Scruffy Murphy’s Uptown, 150 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North

10> Sean Pinchin’s Blues ‘n’ Beers @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues

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

*10:30> Semitone; Adam Cooke Band @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~contemporary & classic Pop Rock

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