/TORONTO WEST/

As I’ve written about before on several occasions, Roncesvalles Ave. on Saturday afternoons is a special place to be for live music pretty much any weekend of the year.

But today it’s extra-special as the local Business Improvement Area and community-oriented residents in the area put on the 5^th annual Roncy Rocks festival of music, art and culture from 11 a.m. through till early evening.

There’s a plethora of musical talent performing free on five outdoor stages as well as art displays, an art auction and art judging event and a whole raft of things for kiddies and their parents to do together, not to mention displays from many local merchants and outdoor food offerings.

All of this is in addition to the shows that regularly happen at three venues along the strip every Saturday afternoon!

The outdoor stages feature acts like Fraser Melvin Blues Band, North Of Queen, Michelle Rumball, Peter Elkas, David Celia, Fraser/Daley Duo, Erika Werry and many more, including Celtic Roots-Rock artist Michael O’Grady. [Full listings with times appear on the event’s website.]

O’Grady, who’s on the Marmaduke Stage from 2-3, p.m., happily also appears afterwards with his full band as the special guest act for the weekly Gate 403 matinee hosted by Bill Heffernan from 5-8 p.m.

Rootsy Blues songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Arthur Renwick still appears 5-8 at The Local across the street from G403, and probably there’s also a 4-7 act at Inter Steer Tavern, which I’ve written about before when the Laura Hubert Band appears there (not today, unfortunately).

The festival wraps around 8 p.m. but if you’re still hankering for more, both The Local and G403 also have evening entertainment. Or, what I would recommend, you could venture not too far away from there, over to Axis Gallery & Grill at 3048 Dundas St. West.  There you’ll find The Junction City All-Stars, with Dave McManus on bass, Kenny Yoshioka on harp and Bart der Stepanian on the kit, teamed up with melodic Pop artist Jay Pennell —and welcoming back an old friend, Les Hoffman—  to do a rollicking no-cover Blues-Rock show starting at 9:30.

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). 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.

11m-8pm> Roncy Rocks festival with five free stages featuring live bands and entertainment, Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~variety

11:30 a.m.> Yonge/Lawrence Village Day Street Festival with Jessica Blake & more @ Yonge St./Lawrence Ave. intersection, TO North

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

*12-3> Chris Kettlewell @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Gypsy Swing

12-6> Durham West Blues Fest workshops with Jack de Keyzer (noon); Junior Blues Jam with Mark Bird Stafford (2); Harmonica Workshop with Carlos del Junco (4) @ Annandale Golf & Country Club, 221 Church Street S., ~Blues; $30

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

1-4> open mic with host Michelle Christine @ Full Of Beans, 1348 Dundas St. W., TO West

2-6> The Meteors with special guest Neil Chapman @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Blues/Rock/R&B

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

**2-6> Saturday Blues Sermon with James Anthony & special guest Donnie Meeker @ 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> The Hot Five Jazzmakers @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~traditional Jazz; $5

*3-7> open stage jam @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; $2

*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> Jerome Godboo @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Blues

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

3:30> The Madmen @ The King Dragon, 534 Lake Drive S., Keswick ~60s-70s Rock ‘n’ Roll

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

4-5:30> Carmen Toth @ Steve’s Music Store, 415 Queen St. W., TO ~acoustic original Pop

*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

*4:30-6:30> Big Rude Jake @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO E. ~Blues/Roots

5-8> Bill Heffernan & Friends with guests Michael O’Grady Band @ 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

6-8> Ginger St. James @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Rockabilly/Cabaret

6-12> Durham West Blues Fest with Johnny Max Band; Mackenzie Blues Band (7:15); JW Jones (8:30); Downchild Blues Band (10) @ Annandale Golf & Country Club, 221 Church Street S., ~Blues; $75

6:30> Joe Hall @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

7> Nick Teehan Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~ Jazz

7> Brenda Lewis & Margaret Stowe @ The Flying Beaver Pubaret, 488 Parliament St., TO ~Jazz; $10/$15

7:30> Mark Yan & Barry Mulcahy; Don Ablett & Brent Cooper @ house concert, 31 Maidstone Cresc., Brampton ~Pop Rock; $15 at door

7:30> Queen’s Players present “Orange Is The New Burgundy” @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~comedy theatre; $

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

8> Songwriters Showcase with Michelle Rumball; Tempting Murphy @ The Feathers, 962 Kingston Rd., TO East ~songwriter

8> Woodshed Open Mic with host David Shilman & feature by Paul Irvine @ Lazy Daisy Café, 1515 Gerrard St. E., TO East ~Roots/Pop

8> Toronto Songwriters Association showcase @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East ~songwriters

8-12> Cormac Cleary @ Ember Hot Stove, 3039 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~acoustic Pop

8-12> They Key Frames; Young Running @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~indie Pop; $10

8:30> Glendale One with the B-Town Horsn & Carolyn Scott @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~Pop; 20/-

8:30> Julia Rohan with Meg Tennant & Douglas Cameron @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~Roots; $10

9> Ronny & The Corvairs feat. George Baumann on sax @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~vintage Blues/R&B

9-1> Tyler Schwende @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~acoustic Pop/soft Rock

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

9> Lucas Stagg Band @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Roots-Rock

9-1> The Rizdales @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

9> Rowena & Kaitlin; Piper Hayes; Carmela Antonio @ Café Pamenar, 307 Augusta Ave., TO ~indie Pop

9> Sheesham & Lotus @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West

9> Treeline & Shaela Miller @ El Mocambo, 464 Spadina Ave., TO ~Alberta Honky Tonk; $

9> Nuno Miller & Brenda McGovern @ Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Gypsy/Flamenco

9> Blizzard of Ozz @ Smiling Jack’s, 3482 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough ~Ozzie tribute

9> Jevon Rudder Band @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9-1> The Tone Dogs @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

9-1> FirkinFest with Georgie Luttrell; Sara McGeown; OBM; Nude Accomplice; Lottery Records @ Lion & Firkin, 1091 Gorham St., Newmarket

9> Rez Blues featuring Murray Porter & Robbie Antone’s Blues Machine; Blaine Bomberry @ The London Music Club, 470 Colborne St., London ~Blues; $15/-

9:30> Mark T Band @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Gerry Garcia tribute; $5 adv./$10 door

**9:30-11:30> Bill Wood & The Woodies @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~original songwriter

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

9:30> The Junction City All-Stars feat. Dave McManus with guest Jay Pennell @ Axis Gallery & Grill, 3058 Dundas St., W., TO West ~Blues/Pop

9:30> Red Velvet @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North ~Rock/Top 40

9:30> G Wood @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> United Soul Nations @ Timothy’s Pub 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Soul/R&B/Funk

9:30-1:30> Busted Again @ MVP Sports Lounge, 1325 Eglinton Ave. E., Mississauga ~classic Rock

9:30> Pat Hewitt @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington

9:30> Janet Jafferys Band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9:45> Raoul & The Bigger Time @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Blues

*9:45> Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

10-2> 22^nd Street @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock/Top 40/R&B

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

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

10> Healing Power presents @ Tranzac Club  (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10-2> SHE + 3 @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40

10> Craig Peterkin Band @ West Shore Bar & Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering ~Rock/Blues

10> The Lonely Parade Co. album release @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

10:30> The Beggars @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

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

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