Guitarist Girdlestone helps attract top talent to Monday jam

/PORT CREDIT/

Back in early February I described the advent of a new Monday jam with the Kimberley & Co. band at Roc’n Doc’s in Port Credit as “an exciting development”. That phrase has certainly been proven to be prescient, as in the past three-and-a-half months the event has attracted some stellar talents to the club at 105 Lakeshore Rd. E. in the very musically alive little burg.

Not too long ago, for example, club patrons were astounded —and delighted— to see that while host band singer Kimberley Wetmore wasn’t able to be there one Monday, her fill-in was, shall we say, more than an adequate replacement.

Group guitarist Dave Girdlestone, who also plays with the band Soul Funkshun and as a sideman for many top area acts such as the Amanda Rose Band, had arranged for famed Jazz diva Liberty Silver to come in to fill Kimberely’s shoes for the night! He also backs her in her club band these days so she was more than happy to oblige him and a stellar night of performing ensued, I’m told.

With his multitude of connections from many years of performing with various groups —and as a jam host at various clubs in the west GTA— Girdlestone, although maybe not quite as good looking as Wetmore, is nevertheless a magnet for talented players from disparate genres ranging from Blues through Rock and even Jazz.

The jam starts about 10 p.m. but get there earlier than that to get a good seat and, if you’re a player, to get a choice spot in the night’s lineup.

-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.

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5-8> Toby Hughs Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

6> Joe Nolan @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

*6-9> Calliope’s Nest open stage/jam for women @ Lola Pub, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

6:30-8> Peter Hill Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7> Songwriters open stage with host Samantha Martin @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO

7> Hard Time Mondays with Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

*7:30> M Factor Mondays with host Elana Harte & features Kort Kameda; Sarah Smith @ Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave., TO East

7:30> GTA Swing Band @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North ~R&B/Swing

*8-11> Stratochief @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., Toronto East ~Blues-Rock

8-12> open stage with Julian Taylor & 9:30 feature by Robert Priest @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave. TO East

8-10> Danny Michel Band & guest @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

**8-1> open stage with host Christian Bridges @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

8> This City Live’s Indie Mondays presents Tame Hell; Quique Escamilla; Warren McGoey @ The Sister, 1554 Queen St. W., TO West ~indie Pop; pwyc

*8-11> open stage @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough

8-12> BBQ & jam night with host Shawn Brush @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; ($8.95 with BBQ dinner special starts at 6)

*8-12> open stage @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

**9-1:30> jam with No Band Required @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

*9-1> Hamstrung Stringband @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Bluegrass

*9-1> Cheryl White Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Rhythm & Blues

*9-1> eclectic open stage/jam @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West

*9> open mic (2 songs; signup starts 8p.m.) @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*9-1> jam with Tom Barlow @ The Harp, 55 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit

*9:30-2> Sebastian Agnello & friends @ Black Swan (ground floor), 154 Danforth Ave., TO East

9:30> John MacLeod’s Rex Hotel Orchestra @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*10-2> jam with Kimberley Wetmore & Company feat. Dave Girdlestone of Soul Funkshun @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore E., Port Credit

10> Jordan John @ The Orbit Room, 580 College St., TO ~R&B/Blues

10> Chris Weatherstone @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10:30> Big Otter Creek Unplugged @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

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