Just call it “Julian Fauth Day” in TO’s Junction area

/TORONTO WEST/

I told you last month about the travails that Juno-winning Blues songwriter and piano player Julian Fauth has been through over the past couple of years. He lost seven months of work after breaking a hand before leaving for a major tour in 2011, then contracted a serious respiratory ailment last spring that took him out action for nearly a year, until just a few weeks ago, when he was finally able to resume his regular gigs.

Since then it’s been steady as she goes for his weekly appearances in the Junction and the nearby Roncesvalles area of West TO:  brunch shows that he does with various guest artists every Saturday and Sunday at Axis Gallery and Grill and a Blues night at Gate 403, now taking place every Wednesday.

He was missed while he was away, particularly by the various artists with whom he regularly teams up, either at his own shows or sitting in at theirs. And while it’s probably a coincidence, today he’ll be doing three shows in that area, two of them as the special guest of artists with whom he regularly performs. It’s a nice kind of “welcome back” indeed.

To me that makes it seem fitting to proclaim today “Julian Fauth Day” in the area to celebrate his return to action and to honour all that Julian has brought to the local Blues scene and the west-TO community he’s become so much a part of (even though he lives in the east end) over the past several years.

He’ll start off the day as he does every Saturday, doing the noon-3 p.m. performance brunch at Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W. near Quebec St., when, as he also does there every Sunday, he brings in various players to work with him, usually including harp player Kenny Yoshioka (a formidable Blues artist in his own right).

He’ll be back at Axis tonight for a 9:30 show as the featured guest member of The Junction City All-Stars, an amorphous Blues/Rock/R&B group headed up by bass player Dave McManus and this night also including Yoshioka and drummer Jon McCann.

In between, Julian’s over at Gate 403 on Roncesvalles Ave., just south of Howard Park, where he’s the special guest of Bill Heffernan for his weekly 5-8 extravaganza that is sure to be a packed house for this one. Here, Fauth gets to play the beautiful, big house piano that dominates the middle of the club where the performers set up.

As an added bonus to the afternoon show you’ll discover, if you peruse today’s listings and look at the addresses of the shows at that time, that you’re only a few doors away from Inter Steer at 361 Roncesvalles Ave., where the Laura Hubert Band, featuring another ace piano man, Peter Hill, performs Pop Jazz classic tunes from 4-7 –so you can take in a set there and then head up to the Gate to catch Julian and Bill!

BTW, if you don’t already own all of Julian’s albums, talk to him about picking one up at any of the shows he’s doing today –after all that time off he could probably use the extra coin selling you one would generate, and you’ll never be sorry you spent that money once you spin this remarkable artist’s collection of tunes. His songs evoke a time when life was simple and miserable –they sound like Tin Pan Alley compositions but are all completely original and touch on topics that are modern and current as well as themes and issues that are timeless and universal.

-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.

CMW= Canadian Music Week $/wristband admission charge. Full CMW listings at: http://cmw.net/music/schedule/

10am-2pm> Social Potion (Carmen Toth & Aaron Jones) for Ride For The Rouge fundraiser for Rouge Valley Conservation Area, 1749 Meadowvale Rd., Scarborough ~Rootsy Pop

*12-3> Julian Fauth’s Blues Brunch @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

*12-3> Danny Marks @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~eclectic Jazz/Blues/Rock

12:30-2:30> Nicole Coward @ Humble Beginnings, 3109 Dundas St. W., TO West ~acoustic Roots/Blues/Pop

1-4> open mic with Peter Mathieson @ Full Of Beans, 1348 Dundas St. W., TO West

*2> Saturday Sessions @ The Swan open mic with Brian Gladstone @ Black Swan, 154 Danforth Ave., TO East

*2-6> jam w. Tom Finocchio @ Sam’s Place, Barton-Chestnut Sts., Hamilton

**2-6> Saturday Blues Sermon with James Anthony & special guest Jeanine Mackie @ 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

*3-7> jam with Michelle Deneault & Redder @ Port Credit Legion, 35 Front St., Port Credit

*3-6> jam @ Sauce, 1376 Danforth Ave., TO East

*3-7> open stage jam @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville

*3:30-6> Johnny Wright @ Outriggers, 2232 Queen St. E., TO East ~R&B

*3:30-6:30> Climax Jazz Band @ Seven44, 744 Bayview Ave., TO North ~Jazz; $

3:30> The Advocats Big Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Swing Jazz

3:30> Pat Labarbera Quartet @ The Pilot, 22 Cumberland St., TO ~Jazz

*4-8> The Bear Band & guests @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock-R&B

4-7> Laura Hubert Band feat. Peter Hill @ Inter Steer, 361 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Pop Jazz with punch

*4-8> The Meteors with special guests Kimberley Wetmore & Dave Girdlestone of Soul Funkshun @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Blues/Rock/R&B

*4-7:30> Ronnie Hayward Trio @ McQueen’s, 993 Queen St. E., TO E. ~Blues/Roots

*4> PRJ @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa ~Blues

5-8> Bill Heffernan & Friends with guest Julian Fauth @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West –Rootsy Pop

5-8> Arthur Renwick @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Rootsy Pop

5> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

6-4am> CMW: Big Tobacco & The Pickers; Graham Nicholas; Ferraro; David Celia; Sam Cash @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $/wristband

6:30> Scott B Sympathy @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

7-9> Cam Penner @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West; $8

7-4am> CMW: Laura & Greg; Hein Cooper; Emilie & Ogden; Luca Vasta; Kirty; The River & The Road; The Babylones @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $/wristband

7> The Bacchus Collective @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~ Jazz

**8> Gary 17’s acoustic showcase & open stage with 9:30 feature by Harpin’ Norm Lucien @ King’s Belly, 429 Donlands Ave., TO East

8> Woodshed open mic hosted by David Shilman & Linda Lavender with feature by Craig Mannin @ Lazy Daisy Café, 1515 Gerrard St. E., TO East ~Roots

8-4am> CMW: Come On Live Long; Lake Forest; The Treasures; HIGHS; The Franklin Electric; BESTIE; PORT JUVEE @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie; $/wristband

8-4am > CMW: Forester; Babylones; Cub Sport; SoHo Ghetto; The Nils; Hisland; Cowpuncher; Bella Clava @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock; $/wristband

8> Bryce Jardine @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East

8-12> Alfie Smith; Little Suns @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Folk/Pop/World; $10

8:30> Greg Aymar with Paul Reddick Band; Roxanne Potvin @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~Blues; $22.50

8:30> CMW: Sydney Delong; Laura & Greg; Wolves As Friends; Anita Eccleston; INKA; Amy Carson Hunter @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~$10/wristband

*9-1> karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ Tudor Rose, 700 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

9-1> Sweet Derrick Blues Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~ Jazz

9> Music showcase with host Piper Hayes @ Café Pamenar, 307 Augusta Ave., TO ~indie/Roots

9> CMW: Greg Simpson’ Mindbending Friends @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~eclectic; $10/wristband

9> Whoa Nellie! @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Swingabilly

9-1> Mike Hines Duo @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Pop/soft Rock

9> James Anthony with special guest Robin Banks @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Blues/R&B

9> Colin Amey Band @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9-1> Better Daze @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

9-1> Two For The Show @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Brampton ~Pop Rock/Top 40/comedy

**9> Niagara Rhythm Section with guest Debbie Fleming @ The Old Winery, 2228 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-On-The-Lake ~R&B/Blues

9:30> The Mockers @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Beatles tribute; $5/10

**9:30-11:30> Monica Chapman @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO East ~original songwriter

9:30> Julian Fauth with The Junction City All-Stars feat. Dave McManus @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

*9:30-2> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough

9:30> Whatever Sticks feat. Sue Martin @ Westshore Bar & Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering ~Pop Rock/R&B/Motown

9:30> Midnight Jewel feat. Brian Potts on bass @ Crave, 120 Newkirk Rd., Richmond Hill

9:30> After Glow @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North

9:30> Anthony Carr the Rav for Elizabeth Simcoe fundraiser @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> Tres Hombres @ Timothy’s Pub 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~ZZ Top tribute

9:30> Killin’ Time Band @ The Harp, 55 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> The Nomads @ Jake’s Boathouse Brampton, 59 First Gulf Rd., Brampton ~Pop Rock

9:30> Groove Hammer @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville ~groovin’ Rock

9:30> Ric Jacobs @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington

9:30> Off The Wall @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9:45> Oz Noy Group with Will Lee & Aaron Fig @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~NYC Jazz

9:45> Lisa Smith’s Powerhaus @ Offsides, 200 Simcoe Ave., Keswick ~Rock/R&B

10-2> Mason Dixon @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock

10> Ride The Tiger @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Funk/Soul

10> Hobo Cubes; Man Made Hill; DJ Jasmati @ Tranzac Club  (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10-2> Soul King @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd. E., Ajax ~Sam Cooke tribute

10-2> Paul Curtis @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40

10> The Photogenics; Grainne Ryan @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~

10:30> The Wolfdog Hounds @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock

11> Alun Piggins @ The Feathers, 962 Kingston Rd., TO East ~indie Roots-Pop

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