Enchanting Shikha Sehgal is an appealing mid-summer selection
\TORONTO DOWNTOWN\
As I’ve written in this publication before, I am often impressed by the lineup of Indie artists assembled by the music promotion group known as aBabe Music for the weekly Tuesday showcases put on at The Painted Lady on Ossington Ave.
It was through one of those showcases, in fact, that I first learned about talented NuPop songwriter Iliya Vee and his group The Dreadful Starlings, of which you can now count me as a fan.
But aBabe doesn’t only do the Tuesday shows at the Lady —occasionally they put on other nights with a similar format of showcasing several different up-and-coming artists, many of whom no doubt will become much better well known in years to come.
One of those future stars, I’d wager, is young singer and songwriter Shikha Sehgal, who is on the bill at a show aBabe is presenting tonight at The Press Club at 850 Dundas St. W. a little west of Bathurst St.
I caught this absorbing, enchanting performer one night in June when, accompanied by masterfully versatile guitarist Nelson Sobral of Melting Pot fame, she was the feature act at Jody Ferrer’s weekly Tuesday open stage at Groove Bar in east TO.
In a word, she was spellbinding.
Some of the musical arrangements on her original and cover Jazz-Pop numbers seemed to have a hypnotic Indian or Persian musical thread woven throughout that made them not only distinctive but also transcendent.
And Shikha’s lush, intimate vocals on originals such as “Sing Baby Sing”, (hear it on the Featured Tracks page of this site) felt bewitchingly intimate.
Her unique approach to covers was demonstrated on an acoustic take on “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies that was a refreshing departure from the original version and reminded me a bit of Neil Diamond in its passion —except that Neil has never sung with a soul as sultry and sexy as this young chanteuse.
Seeing her perform should be a wonderful fit for a warm, sensual, mid-summer long weekend evening. There are two other artists on the bill with Seghal at tonight’s show, which starts at 9:30 and for which there’s probably a small cover or donations jar.
-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca
LISTINGS for Saturday, August 02, 2021
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.
11am-11pm> Scarborough Ribfest with karaoke and music by Rob MacArthur, Elyse Saunders (2-4); Last Call Band (4:15-5:30); Good Brothers (6:30-10) @ Thomson Memorial Park, 1005 Brimley Rd., Scarborough
*12-3> Julian Fauth’s Blues Brunch @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues
12-3> Chris Kettlewell & Friends @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz
12:30-2:30> Mark Martyre @ Humble Beginnings, 3109 Dundas St. W., TO West ~acoustic Roots/Blues/Pop
1:30-4:30> Words & Music with hosts Linda Stitt & Peter Solmes & guests including Harpin’ Norm Lucien @ Portobello, 995 Bay St. TO ~eclectic original mix
*2-6> jam w. Tom Finocchio @ Sam’s Place, Barton-Chestnut Sts., Hamilton
**2-6> Saturday Blues Sermon with James Anthony & special guest Tyler Yarema @ 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> Jamzac @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO
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
*3:30-6:30> Climax Jazz Band @ Seven44, 744 Bayview Ave., TO North ~Jazz; $
3:30> Laura Hubert Band featuring Peter Hill on keys @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz
3:30> Greg Pilo 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
*4-7:30> Ronnie Hayward Trio @ McQueen’s, 993 Queen St. E., TO E. ~Blues/Roots
4-7> Chris Staig @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO ~Roots; pwyc
*4-8> The Meteors with special guest Peter Graham Mifsud @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Blues/Rock/R&B
4-8> Iain Leslie Band @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit
*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> Howard Willett Blues Duo @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West –Rootsy Pop
5-8> Chris Lord Ideal @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~original Blues
6-8> The Rattlesnake Choir @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO
7:30> Nick Teehan Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~ Jazz
8> Lucas Stagg & Tanya Philipovich @ The Feathers, 962 Kingston Rd., TO East ~original Rootsabilly
8> Mudpunch @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Blues-Rock duo
8> songwriters showcase & open mic with Glen Gary @ The Flying Beaver Pubaret, 488 Parliament St., TO; pwyc
8-12> jam with Buddy Love @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville
8> The Sarcastic Onions @ Duffy’s, 151 High St., Southampton
8> Hometown Hoedown with Nick Procyshyn; Chico No Face; Native Smokes @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
**8:30> Gary 17’s acoustic showcase & open stage with 9:30 feature by Trevor Jones @ King’s Belly, 429 Donlands Ave., TO East
8:30> Russell Leon Band @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~original Roots Rock; pwyc
9-close> Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Show @ Centro Pizza, 3406 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~classic Rock
9-1> Fraser-Daly @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Rootsy Blues
9-1> Donne Roberts Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~ Jazz
9> Kristine Schmitt & Her Special Powers @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Bluegrass
9-1> Side B Vibe @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit
9-1> Full Tilt @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Brampton ~Pop Rock/Top 40
9:30> James Faulkner @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Roots-Rock
9:30-11:30> Maria Ryan @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~original Roots-Pop
*9:30-2> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough
9:30> Al Reilly’s Catalyst @ The Loaded Dog, 1921 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough ~classic Rock
9:30> Shikha Sehgal; Chambers; The Roncy Boys for aBabe Music showcase @ The Press Club, 850 Dundas St. W., TO ~original Pop
9:30> Dunn featuring Dee Flat @ Canadian Crops Unit 43, 70 West St., Port Colborne ~Rock/Top 40
9:30> Rebeljo @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North
9:30> Grooe Marmalade @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock
9:30> Robin Hawkins Band @ Timothy’s Pub 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Rockabilly
9:30> John Chantry @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40
9:30> Terry Finn & Friends @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough
9:45> Sophia Perlman & The Vipers @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz
*9:45> Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues
10-2> Dave Grunsky Band @ 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> Luke Bill @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO
10> Robert Diac @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz
10-1> Sugar Brown @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO ~Blues; pwyc
10-2> Jimmy Byron @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West
10-2> The Government @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40
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