Are there really any actual genres anymore?

/// As someone who grew up in a time before they really invented musical genres (when all the popular music being recorded by artists whom today you’d describe as either Rock, Country, R&B, Jazz, Adult Contemporary, Novelty, Pop, Blues, Folk, even Classical, or whatever, was all played on the same radio station) it’s not a problem for me seeing a bill of “Country” artists that reflects a wide disparity of musical styles.  But it does raise an interesting question about how we define what genres actually are. Personally I liked the idea of being able to hear a diverse selection of musical styles within the same hour. And I think that just might be what’s in store for patrons at Oakville’s Moonshine Café tonight who will be treated to a multi-artist bill under the aegis of the Nashville Songwriters International Association.

The bill does, however, feature Toronto Folk darling Glen Hornblast doing a solo set (btw, he’ll also be performing with his Queen Street Cowboys band tomorrow night at Linsmore Tavern in East York).  His soulful, articulate songs pull at the heartstrings while remaining easy listening —not an easy task by any means.  Another artist I’m somewhat familiar with is Oakville’s Krista Earle, a Country Pop princess with a very bright future ahead of her and a solid stage background (as a real-life Disney princess before becoming a singer!) behind her to ensure she doesn’t get wrecked by the process when she makes her inevitable breakthrough into stardom. The video of her signature tune, “Bad Hair Day”, is hilarious as well as engagingly high-energy and she doesn’t disappoint live either, even when appearing simply as a duo as she did last year as a feature at Julian Taylor’s Dora Keogh open stage.

The cover charge is listed as pay-what-you-can but you’ll want to be generous. And bring extra dough in case you fall in love with the music of an artist and need a cd -Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS:

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4> Steve Maloney @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

5-8> Jazz Money @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

6> Declan O’Donovan @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> Morgan Childs Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7> Rakkatak Open album release with guests Lenka Lichtenberg; Samidha Jogikear; Fernado Gallego Torres; Loulou bellydancer @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~female-fronted Tabla Fusion; $15/-

*7-11> open jam with Wayne Buttery Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach

7> Brian Haddelssey @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

*7:30-10:30> Peter Griffin & BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

7:30> Fried Up Fred & Co. @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

7:30> League of Rock season finale show with 6 bands and featuring singer Sue Martin @ El Mocambo, 464 Spadina Ave., TO ~Rock; $

7:30-12> Wicked Wednesdays with Keats Elizabeth Conlon; Peter Boyd; Northern States; Phil Jacobs @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~indie; $pwyc

*8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ Chalkers, 247 Marlee Ave., TO NW

8-1> NSAI Songwriters showcase and open mic with host  Barb Doran & sets by Glen Hornblast;  Meredith Shaw; Melissa Pigg; Paul Malysa; Krista Earle; Roger Beckett; Elora Taylor @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Country Roots

**8> open stage with 9 p.m. feature Michelle Lecce-Hewitt @ 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> Robin Banks @ Monarchs Pub (Eaton Chelsea Hotel), 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Jazz/Blues

*8-11> Fraser-Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West ~Roots/Blues

8-1> Three Dads @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

*8-12> all-ages jam with The Brand New Low @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville

*8-11> jam with Juggernaut @ Black Bear, Ajax, 967 Westney Rd. S., Ajax

*8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg

*8:30-12> David Bacha solo @ Karla’s Roadhouse, 4640 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~solo electric Rock

8:30> Sue & Dwight’s “Where Have All The Folk Songs Gone” with Michelle Rumball @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO ~Folk singalong; $8

8:30> “For The Love of Pete” Seeger tribute with David Newland; James Gordon; Ken Whiteley; Crabtree & Mills; more @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~message Folk; $30/-

*8:30> Crazy Strings host High Lonesome Wednesdays with opening acoustic act @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~Bluegrass

*8:30> open mic with Jenn Fiorentino @ Earl Of Whitchurch, 6204 Main St., Stouffville

*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

9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~original Jun0-winning Blues

9> Mr. Rick’s Café Americana with Rick Zolkower & special guests @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Rootsabilly

9> Peter van Nuis; Soul Disciplez; Zoe Bentley + acoustic jam @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~acoustic Pop

 9> The Treasures @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

*9?> jam with Michael Zane @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville

*9-12> jam with Damage Control @ St. Louis Bar & Grill Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

9> Bruce Gorrie @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*9-1> open mic jam with Whiskey Birds @ Sweetz Lounge, 5289 Hwy 7, Woodbridge-Vaughan

*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave., TO East

9:30> Julien Dionne; Garage Baby @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~comedy/variety; $10

9:30> Nuf Said @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~NYC Jazz

*9:30-2> jam with Live Animals @ The Unicorn, 175 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North

9:45> Wednesdays Go Pop showcase with Yolanda Ho; The Fox and the Moon; The Other Birds @ Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave., TO ~indie

10> QuiQue Escamilla @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10> MB10 @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~10-piece Jazz ensemble

*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; $10

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