Although I’ve used the accompanying picture of Big Tobacco & The Pickers (from their www.bigtobaccoandthepickers.com website) a few times now, I’ve never actually seen this “new old Country” group and am really only familiar with the talents of one —the pedal steel player, Anne Werbitzky. I got to fully appreciate Anne’s sensitive ear and skilful playing first hand when she came up with and recorded the wonderful pedal steel riffs that adorn my “Never So Happy” Country single. But I’ve also been hearing about this lively 6-piece for some time now and am hoping to finally get to hear them myself tonight when they do the third of four Wednesday shows in March at the new Rock ‘N’ Horse Saloon at 250 Adelaide St. W., a shade west of Duncan St. in what was once one of those big ass disco clubs back in the heyday of the “club district”. The venue’s website suggests it’s now one of those faux-Country bars with a million tvs showing sports, a mechanical bull and, it appears, servers who wear cowboy hats, jeans shorts and boots. The Wed. shows with BT&TP are the only night music is listed but hopefully if the group attracts new bodies they’ll continue with and maybe expand their live show offerings. -Gary 17 LISTINGS: 5-8> Chelsea McBride Jazz Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO W. ~Jazz 6> Declan O’Donovan @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO 6:30> Griffith-Hiltz Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz *7-11> open jam with Wayne Buttery Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach *7:30-10:30> Peter Griffin & BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO E. ~Jazz *7:30-11:30> jam with host band Redder featuring Michelle Deneault @ Relax Shack, 2312 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South 7:30> Sue & Dwight with Michelle Rumball; Tony Laviola @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO ~Roots; $8 7:30> Emilyn Stam & Friends @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO *8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ Chalkers, 247 Marlee Ave., TO NW 8-1> Leslie Hudson; Martin Rouleau; Lorne Allen @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~showcase **8> open stage with 9 p.m. feature by Pau Nash & Carol Farkas @ 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> Melissa Boyce Quartette @ Monarchs Pub (Eaton Chelsea Hotel), 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Jazz *8-12> all-ages jam with The Brand New Low @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville 8-1> Three Dads @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock *8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg *8-11> Fraser-Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. TO W. ~Roots/Blues *8-11> jam with Juggernaut @ Black Bear, Ajax, 967 Westney Rd. S., Ajax 8> Jacob Moon cd release for ‘Fascination’ @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~songwriter; $25 *8:30> open mic with Jenn Fiorentino @ Earl Of Whitchurch, 6204 Main St., Stouffville *8:30> Crazy Strings host High Lonesome Wednesdays with opening acoustic act @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~Bluegrass *8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country *9> open jam with Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock show featuring Jim Cornell & members of Still Sunday @ The Loaded Dog, 1921 Lawrence St. E., Scarborough *9> jam with Rockin’ A Hard Place featuring Andrew J. Walsh @ Oscar’s, 1785 Queen St. E., Brampton *9-12> jam with Damage Control @ St. Louis Bar & Grill Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax *9?> jam with Michael Zane @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville 9> Bruce Gorrie @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa 9-12> G Street Jazz Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO W. ~Jazz 9> John David Williams & Adrian Gross @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO W. ~Ragtime Jazz *9-1> open mic jam with Whiskey Birds @ Sweetz Lounge, 5289 Hwy 7, Woodbridge-Vaughan 9> The Manvils @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W. *9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave., TO E. 9:30> Julienne Dionne; Garage Baby @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~comedy/variety; $10 9:30> Max Senitt Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz *9:30-2> jam with Live Animals @ The Unicorn, 175 Eglinton Ave. E., TO N. 9:45> Wednesdays Go Pop showcase with tba @ Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave., TO ~indie 10-12> Big Tobacco & The Pickers @ Rock ‘N Horse Saloon, 250 Adelaide St. W., TO ~original Country; $5 10> Paul Reddick @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Blues 10> Blurred Vision @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO W. ~original Pop Rock 10> Danielle Knibbe with Alex Vissa @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO *10-2> Blues-Rock jam with Bruce Domoney @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO *10-2> Paul & Curtis @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop 10:30> Pat Wright @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock *10:30> The LMT Connection @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Funk/R&B; $ Copyright © 2014 Toronto Moon Magazine. All Rights Reserved