You can check out Lola jam any Wed. you like, but can you ever leave?

\KENSINGTON MARKET\

It’s been a few years since I’ve indulged in the pleasure of hanging out on the patio at tiny Lola Pub in Kensington Market for a few hours while the artistic and often quirky gang who populate this unique part of downtown Toronto are jamming up a storm on a summer evening.

It’s not likely I’ll be doing that tonight either, but not because it’s not an appealing prospect. The problem is, it’s too damned appealing! For, like “Hotel California”, Lola is an easy place to arrive at and settle into, not so simple to actually get around to leaving.

An incident in my life from about 20 years ago, when I was briefly hosting an open stage at a prestigious (now long gone) club on Yonge St. in uptown TO, serves to illustrate the point.  Since I was living at that time in a ramshackle (and probably illegal) rooming house in Kensington Lane just behind Lola at 40 Kensignton Avenue, I decided to get in the mood for the night by having an afternoon beer or two on the patio of the funky little just-opened watering hole, then called Kim Café after its founder.

 

I did eventually arrive at the gig —about an hour late and three sheets to the wind— and I was told in no uncertain terms by the club manager that they didn’t want me in the room in that condition and cancelled my weekly show right there on the spot!

Another time I … well, maybe I’ve said too much already, but you get the idea. The beer is cheap —as in ridiculously cheap— here and the company, while at times a little edgy, is never boring and often inspiring, especially to a songwriter.

So don’t go to tonight’s weekly Wednesday open acoustic jam (usually conducted sort of in-the-round on the patio in nice weather) at Lola tonight unless you’re planning on staying awhile!

Host John “Johnny Bootz” Hutt will make it easy for you to want to hang around. He’s a give-no/take-no shit kind of guy who’ll put his life on the line for you at the drop of a hat once he’s decided he likes you and he’s also a pretty fine (and often funny) songwriter and very adept at a wide range of covers.

If you’re a player there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself picking and strumming along with others and having them do the same with you. And the belly laughs and chortles will be flowing as freely as the beers all night from the 8 p.m. start till 1 a.m. or later.

-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, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

*5-8> The Mediterranean Stars @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO East ~Jazz

5-9> MOSAIC BIA presents Joy Lapps Ensemble for Jazz In The Park @ East Lynn Park, Danforth Ave. @ East Lynn ~Latin/Caribbean Jazz

5:30> Robert Priest book launch for “The Paper Sword” @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East

6> The Morals @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> Kurt Neilsen @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7-11> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~original Juno-winning Blues

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

7> Roy Asseline @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

*7:30-10:30> The BTBs feat. Ed Kopala @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

7:30> Jeff LaRochelle @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

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

*8-1> open jam with Wednesday’s Child feat. Johnny Bootz Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

8> Michael Danckert Quartet @ Monarchs Pub (Eaton Chelsea Hotel), 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Jazz

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

8-1> Phil & John featuring Phil Naro @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

8-1> The Lovelocks @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~alt-Country duo; $7

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

8:30> Roger Zuraw with John Timmins on harp, introduces film “Shipwrecked On A Great Lake” @ Saddington Park, Front St. S. @ Lake St., Port Credit ~Roots

8:30> CADE; Gentle Ben @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO ~Folk; $5

*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

*8:45> Bradley & The Bouncers @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues/R&B

*9> jam with Dave Grunsky & friends @ Melange, 172 Main St., TO East ~Rock/Blues

9> Ron Leary @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Folk

9-12> Sean Peever @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO ~songwriter; pwyc

9> jam with Richard Underhill, Wayne Cass Band @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Jazz/Blues/eclectic

*9> open mic with Skip @ The Queen’s Legs, 286 Eglinton Ave. W., TO North

*9> open mic with Sean Barker @ Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St., TO

9> Amanda Soderholm; Elle Kay; JoJo Worthington @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO

9> Richard Blossom @ 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

*9-1> 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> open mic with Robbie & Mat @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> Dave Young Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

9:30> Saxy Sady T & The “It’s Not Just Jazz” Cats @ Apollonia, 1504 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

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

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

9:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

**9:45> Wednesdays Go Pop showcase with Stick and Poke; Tale Teller Heart; Garbageface; The Sole Pursuit @ Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave., TO ~indie

10> J Swinnerton @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10> Rhododendron @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

*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> Drive 3 feat. Stephanie Braganza @ Failte Irish Pub, 201 City Centre Dr., Mississauga ~Pop Rock/Dance

10:30> tba @ 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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