\ OAKVILLE \

Showcases of various talented Country-Roots artists put on by the Toronto-area organizers of the Nashville Songwriters Association International organization have become rather common of late, taking place almost at the rate of one a week it seems, as the organization strives to collect funds to stage its annual Tin Pan North showcases coming up in a couple of months, I believe.

(I’m not really sure because for some reason not only does this organization not support TorontoMoon.ca with even an annual subscription —let alone advertising— it doesn’t even bother to send us press releases, despite the fact that I have met organizers on a few occasions now and amiably encouraged them to do all three.)

There was in fact another NSAI-related event just this past Saturday, when the monthly “Nashville Bound” in-the-round songwriters’ showcase at Free Times Café hosted by Glen Hornblast was dedicated to raising funds for NSAI —even though there’s no actual formal connection between it and Glen’s efforts.

Nevertheless, Glen is no stranger to NSAI’s other shows, and in fact is part of a similar happening tonight at Moonshine Café in Oakville, where he is teamed up with seven other original talents including event host Dan McVeigh —a longtime local NSAI force and also a pretty fine Country songwriter himself.

Two sets of four performers together will also include Garth Baker, Augusta Ray, Imogen Bel and three others who also appeared Saturday: Dayna Shereck, Roger Beckett and David McLachlan.

I’ve written many accolades about the talent of Hornblast but McLachlan, a laid-back fellow whom I believe performs mostly part-time, is a lot less well known than his talent merits.  Fortunately, he’s got a pretty decent website that links to songs from his debut 2003 album and last year’s sophomore effort —both well worth repeat listens.

As we told you back in November, his new Not A Through Street disc is on cdbaby.com, as is his debut Can’t Close A Blind Eye. Both collections are chock full of honest songs, which McLachlan’s voice and deftly versatile guitar (doing a pretty lively job on some Roots-Rock style numbers) imbue with an upbeat, optimistic sensibility despite moments of poignancy and pain.

David is part of the second hour’s set at the 8-11-or-later event, which turns into an open stage afterwards.  Signup for that begins at 7:30 in the very live-music-friendly room at 137 Kerr St., with performers being given two songs apiece plus more if time allows.

While I don’t believe there’s a cover charge, you can expect that someone from NSAI will have —if not a tin pan in outstretched hand to collect silver (or paper)— at least a hat or jar available to encourage donations.  Hopefully artists’ cds are also available for purchase and sell briskly.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, March 30, 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

6-7:30> Gigi Marentette & Friends @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz, Brazillian, French; $10/pwyc

*6-8> James Dunbar @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~11-year old solo Blues piano prodigy

6> Golden Country Classics @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6> The League Of Rock @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

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

6:30> Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*7-11> Jim Heineman Trio @ N’awlins, 299 King St. W., TO ~Jazz

*7:30> Mike Constantini @ 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 Zoe Henderson @ 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

8-10:30> Michael Jerome Brown @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~award-winning Blues

8-12> variety night with Jacelyn Holmes @ The Den, 423 College St., TO ~eclectic

9> Sol with Oteino Terry, Brothers From Another @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~$20

8:30> Square Bear Improv @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO ~Comedy; $5

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> Young Fathers @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~$15

9> Rich Cloke Live @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO

10> Lily Frost and The Kelvinators @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10> The Ryan Driver Band and Fiver @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

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

10> 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-Funk

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

8:30-10:30> Graham Nicholas @ 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

8-1> Jeremy & Jenn @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~acoustic Pop duo

9> Space Jazz jam with guitarist Youngchan Na & band with weekly guest Julian Anderson-Bowes @ Placebo Space, 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke ~Jazz; $5-20/pwyc

 

416 – TORONTO WEST

5-8> Christine Aziz Quartet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

7> Real Friends @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West

**8-10:30> Hump Night Blues with Dave McManus & Cleave Anderson + special guests Roots n’ Branches @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St., TO West ~Blues

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

8:30> Stephanie Martin album release @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~original Jazz/Pop; $33

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

9> Noah Zacharin & Peter Boyd as The New Zeitgeist Ramblers @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO ~original Roots

9> Lucy Dacus; The Most Loyal @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~indie Rock; $10

9> The Conductors @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Folk/Swing

10> Geoff Marshall and the Mail Order Cowboys with GT Harris and the Gunslingers @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Honky Tonk; $10

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

519

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> Bill Dickinson @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

8-11> Shawn Steinhart @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood

8> open mic with Mallory Stone @ Black Honey Desserts, 221 Hunter St. West, Peterborough

9> Sean Conway @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

905 EAST

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

*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

**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> The Motorleague; Poor Young Things; Kandy Face @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~original Rock

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

9> Monthly Variety Show @ Homegrown Hamilton, 27 King William St., Hamilton ~eclectic; $10/pwyc

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

905 WEST

8-1> Nashville Songwriters Association International in-the-round showcase and open stage with host Dan McVeigh; Garth Baker; Augusta Ray; Dayna Shereck; Roger Beckett; David McLachlan; Glen Hornblast; Imogen Bel @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~songwriters

8-12> Maxine Young @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop; $

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

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