>>> Veteran Folk singer Marianne Girard and fellow Roots artist Allan Fraser have been trying to figure out who they are together for the past several months. Not wondering what they’re doing teamed up as a duo —that’s obvious by the sheer talent they each possess and, according to reports I’ve received, the musical sympatico they have when they appear together, as they do this afternoon from 2pm at Full of Beans on Dundas St. West at Ossington. But for the past several months they’ve agonizingly been trying to settle on a name for their act. Finally, after exhaustive research, social media polling and brainstorming, they recently announced they’ve come up with one … wait for it … Fraser & Girard. Now I’m assuming they spell it with the ampersand (“&” symbol) instead of the word “and”, since when it comes to abbreviations I think “F&G” clearly works better than “FaG” or “FAG” —although obviously “F&G” is not without its perils too and of course “F’n'G” would only make things even worse. Ah, the things you have to think about when coming up with a band name!

Speaking of band names, here’s one for you: Captain Dirt and the Skirt. That’s the moniker that quirky and deep songwriter and visual TO artist Kristin Sweetland uses for her stage name. I have no idea who the Captain is, though, since when I saw the March 29 show she put on at Relish under that name it consisted of her and two other interestingly inventive female songwriters (Tricia Toster and Maria Ryan) each doing solo sets for a captivating night of distinctively original songs (although the other two did also join Kristin for a few tunes). I have no clue as to why she uses that peculiar stage name but you can ask her tonight when she does a 6pm show under that billing, with guest artist Annabelle Chvostek, at Cameron House on Queen St. West near Spadina. -Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. 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 include a live link to their websites where applicable. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

11-2> The Usual Suspects @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO E. ~Jazz

11am-2pm> The Horables for Jazz Brunch @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~Klezmer Gypsy 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> Hart House & Jazz-FM young players @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

noon> Michael Johnson Music Studio Seventh annual student recital and Spring Celebration [first of 4-part weekly series] @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~$15/-

**1-5> Open Folk open stage with Doc Higgins & feature Winnie Brave @ 1 Wallace Drive, Barrie & live online @ http://justin.tv/openfolk

1> Allison Cameron & Friends @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

2> Fraser & Girard (Allan Fraser & Marianne Girard) @ Full Of Beans, 1348 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Roots Pop originals

*2-5> Rita Di Ghent & David Restivo @ Morgan’s, 1282 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

*3-7> Pat Perez & John Dickie band feat. Mike Sloski, Ian Desouza & Norman Brown @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave, TO East ~R&B

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

*3-6> Gear Music all-ages jam @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; $5

*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

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

3> Bluegrass Menagerie feat. Mathew Fines @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

3:30-6:30> Club Django @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*4-8> Michael Theodore 4-piece @ 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> Eric Lambier @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Pop/Blues

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

**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 Blvd., TO North; $

5-9> George Olliver & Gangbuster @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke South ~Rock/R&B faves; $5

5-8> Laura Repo @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Country originals & covers

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

5-8> Carter Brodkorb Quintet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

5-9> All ages open jam with Juggernaut @ West Shore Bar & Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering

**5-8> The Stew with guest tba @ Mulligan’s, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga

6> Captain Dirt & The Skirt featuring Kristin Sweetland with Annabelle Chvostek @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~RootsyPop

*7-1> open stage with host Steve York (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> Tim Hamel Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

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

**7-11> The Nomads with special guest tba @ The Harp, 55 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit

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

7:30> The Lydia Persaud Group @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> The Flying Ukes ukulele jam night @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville;

8> Sex T-Rex @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~comedy; $10

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

8:30> Gregory Hoskins Trio Reunited @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Folk Rock; $22.50/-

*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

9-1> Karl Silverira Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> Sandunga @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Cuban Son & Changui

*9:30-2> 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> Isamu MacGregor Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~NY Jazz

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

10> The Woodchoppers Association @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Hot Rock @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~classic Pop Rock covers; $

*10> open mic/jam hosted by Phill Hood (with backline avail.) @ The Cage 292, 292 College St., TO

10> The Conductors @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

**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 Unplugged @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

*10:30> Phil & John Show feat. Phil Naro @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~contemporary & classic Pop Rock

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