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It was interesting to me to see how Brian Gladstone approached dealing with some issues related to slow sales at the bar for his still rather new 2-5ish Saturday afternoon “Saturday Sessions” open stage jam at Black Swan Tavern on Danforth at Broadview.
The founder of Winterfolk knows how to work with a community of Roots players and could write a book about “Songwriter Promo 101″ based on how the previously unknown balladeer assiduously built a personal network of followers and fans for his own sometimes quirky but always superbly crafted songs and albums. (It was that experience that also enabled him to bring Winterfolk together in what appeared to be such a seamless and certainly a very speedy way.)
In the case of his new show, a couple of weeks ago Brian used social media to ask his tribe, many of whom had been attending the event, what ideas they had to boost sales in order to make the show sustainable for the bar and everyone else. A flood of suggestions poured in and I’m curious to see which were implemented and how things are working out for this show, which is populated by many indisputably talented performers. With nice weather forecast, today seems like an ideal time for me to find out! -17
LISTINGS:
MCN = Music City North Queen Street Festival (Bar service hours extended till 4 a.m. at these venues)
*12-3> Danny Marks @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~eclectic Jazz/Blues/Rock
12:30-2:30> Jay Pennell @ Humble Beginnings, 3109 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~acoustic Roots/Blues/Pop
1-4> Songbird Sessions with Mary Stewart & guests @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO E. ~original songwriters
1-4> open mic with host Pete Janes @ Full Of Beans, 1348 Dundas St. W., TO W.
*2> Saturday Sessions @ The Swan open mic with Brian Gladstone @ Black Swan, 154 Danforth Ave., TO E.
*2-6> jam w. Tom Finocchio @ Sam’s Place, Barton-Chestnut Sts., Hamilton
**2-6> Saturday Blues Sermon with James Anthony & special guest Al Lukas @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Blues
*3-6> Danny B’s House Party Band feat. Michael Keys on piano @ Blue Goose, 1 Blue Goose St., Etobicoke South ~R&B/Pop
3-6> Dunn feat. Dee Flat @ East Side Bar & Grill, 750 Hamilton Rd., London ~Rock/Top 40
*3-7> jam with Michelle Deneault & Redder @ Port Credit Legion, 35 Front St., Port Credit
*3-7> open stage jam @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville
3:30> Sue & Dwight @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Folk singalong
3-5> Amy Campbell & The Road Less Travelled with guests Graydon James & Laura Spink @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~songwriters
*3-6> jam @ Sauce, 1376 Danforth Ave., TO E.
3> The Hot Five Jazzmakers @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~traditional Jazz; $5
3:30> Jerome Godboo @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Blues
*3:30-6> Johnny Wright @ Outriggers, 2232 Queen St. E., TO E. ~R&B
3:30> Chris Butcher Quartet @ The Pilot (2nd floor), 22 Cumberland St., TO ~Jazz
*4-8> The Bear Band & guests @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke ~Rock-R&B
*4> PRJ @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa ~Blues
*4-7> Climax Jazz Band @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North ~Jazz
*4-7:30> Ronnie Hayward Trio @ McQueen’s, 993 Queen St. E., TO E. ~Blues/Roots
*4-8> The Meteors with special guest Peter Graham @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Blues/Rock/R&B
5-8> Bill Heffernan & Friends with guest Jon Brooks @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. TO W. –Rootsy Pop
5-8> Arthur Renwick @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO W. ~Rootsy Pop
6> Roger Zuraw @ Classico Pizza, 2457 Bloor St. W., Toronto West ~Roots
6-8> Devin Cuddy @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO
7> LongShot Records presents MOXY; Michael White & The White doing ‘Led Zeppelin 2’ @ The Opera House, 735 Queen St. E., TO E. ~classic Rock; $25 / $5 with signup on Facebook event page
7-9> The Matinee @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W.
7> The Bacchus Collective @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~ Jazz
7:20> MCN: The Modern Hearts 8:20> The Living Satellites; 9:20> Sexsmith @ Velvet Underground, 510 Queen St. W., TO ~indie showcase; $10/wristband
7:20> MCN: Astro Junk; 8:20> New Design; 9:20> Highway Lights; 10:20> Leaving Esmeralda; 11:20> The Red Bay@ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie showcase; $10/wristband
6:30> Joe Hall @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~songwriter
8-12> Ryan Cook @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Country Punk; $10
8:30> 8:30> David Wilcox solo acoustic (night 2 of 2) @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~Rock/Blues/Roots icon; $35
8:30> Ben Crosby; As Studio; Beshir & Ahmed; Keely Xavier @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~songwriters; $6
9> MCN: Second Pass; 10> Iduna; 11> King Beez; 12> Run With The Kittens; 1> Garage Baby @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W., TO ~indie showcase; $10/wristband
9> MCN: New Company; 10> Jessica Speziale; 11> Hey Brother; 12: The Red Sands; 1: Brothers Of North @ Cherry Cola’s, 200 Bathurst St., TO ~indie showcase; $10/wristband
*9-1> karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ Tudor Rose, 700 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax
9-1> Kevin McKendrick Band @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
9-1> John Deehan Jazz Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO W. ~ Jazz
9> Jordan Faye & The Grey Owls @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO W.
9> River Junction Band @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country
9-1> Greg Wyard @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Pop/soft Rock
9> Musica Reflecta & Love Nation @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~songwriter
9-1> The Hip Kings @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Brampton ~Tragically Hip tribute
9:30> Groove Stone feat. Dale Harrison of The Headstones @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO E. ~Rock
**9:30-11:30> Massey Harris @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO E. ~indie Roots Pop
*9:30-2> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough
9:30> Tamin’ Thunder @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North ~Rock/R&B/Dance
9:30> David Love Band @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville ~vintage 60s Pop Rock
9:30> Grey So Young @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington
9:30> Gas Station Cowboys @ The Loaded Dog, 1921 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarb. ~Country/Southern Rock Rock
9:30> Blackboard Blues Band @ Timothy’s Pub 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke S. ~big band Blues
9:30> Sonny Boy Mick @ The Harp, 55 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40
9:30> Fresh @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville
9:30> G Wood Band @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock
9:45> Jake Chisholm Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz
10-2> Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Show @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock/Top 40/R&B
10-2> Dunn feat. Dee Flat @ East Side Bar & Grill, 750 Hamilton Rd., London ~Rock/Top 40
10-2> Midnight Jewel feat. Julie McClean & Brian Potts @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd. E., Ajax ~Pop Rock
10> Sandro Perri @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO
10-2> Lipstick Scream @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40
10> David Baxter Band @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Roots Pop
10-2> Jimmy Byron @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W.
10:30> The Dualing Divas @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock
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