\ TO DOWNTOWN & TO WEST \

Music festivals continue to proliferate in Toronto, a very promising development for those who want to promote our burg as a “Music City” and for the many talented artists —when they’re run with the welfare of the artists in mind rather than just exploiting them as fodder.

The second annual TWiMFeST event, starting tonight and running through Sunday, makes a point of trumpeting on its banner that at the 11 venues where they’ll be putting on shows they offer paying gigs with no “radius clause” and no pay-to-play fees.

(The radius clause, of course is a reference to the now infamous practice favoured by North By Northeast of requiring participating bands not to play any gigs within a specific radius of their festival shows over a period of time prior to their events. It now appears to have been dropped or reduced after vociferous and nearly universal condemnation by bands and their fans.)

TWiM, co-organized by Two Way Monologues and The Indie Machine (from which presumably TWiM is derived), takes place downtown and in the west end at some of the city’s most established venues (such as Horseshoe Tavern, Cameron House, Lee’s Palace and Sneaky Dees) as well as some (like The Painted Lady, Tennessee) that have been getting notice over the past while,  and a few brand new or on-again-off-again venues.

While I have to admit that I’m not familiar with the organizers nor most of the names on the very well organized schedule on the festival’s website, I’m impressed by their apparent artist-and-fans-first philosophy. That seems to extend to admission prices, which look to be pretty reasonable based on the fact that a kickoff showcase at Horseshoe tonight featuring the two organizing outfits has a cover of just $8.75 —a real bargain compared with what some other local festivals charge for even their second tier shows, let alone premium events.

If any readers attend any of the festival shows over the next few day and wish to write a review of their experience I’d quite welcome that.  After all, the whole idea behind being part of such events is to get known, so given that the organizers sound sincere maybe we can also help make that happen for a few of the groups involved.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, November 04, 2021

Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically.

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

TWiM = TWiMFeST indie music festival

416 – Toronto Central

6-8> Kevin Barrett + One featuring Amanda Martinez @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO

6> Copper Lassie @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> The Cookers @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

7> The Ault Sisters @ Monarchs Pub (Eaton Chelsea Hotel), 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Jazz

7:30> Troubleshooting + guests @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

**8 (7 p.m. sign-up)> open stage with 9 p.m. feature by Lucien Millette @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall), TO ~Roots

8> Michael Pickett @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz/Blues resonator guitar & harp

8> TWiM: Before the Flood; No King For Countrymen; Frisky Kids; Kasador @ Dundas Video, 831 Dundas St. W., TO ~indie

8> The Polyphonic Spree; Safe As Houses @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~$23.50

8> WordSpell @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO ~spoken word showcase; $6

*8:30> Crazy Strings host High Lonesome Wednesdays with opening acoustic act @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~Bluegrass

9> The Digs @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Funk/Jazz/neo-Soul; $

9> Pressgang Mutiny @ The Central, 603 Markham St., TO

*9-2> What’s Poppin’ indie jam @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO

9> TWiM: Two Way Monologues and The Indie Machine; Daniel Greer; Parks at Night; Amos The Transparent; Bamboo; Skye Wallace @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $8.75

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

9:30> Blues & Troubles @ The Cloak & Dagger Irish Pub, 384 College St. ~Blues

9:30> Hannah Barstow Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

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

10> 416 Festival: Brent Peters; Joe Oughten; POE; John Evans & Scott Marshall Quartet @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

*10-2> Blues-Rock jam with Bruce Domoney @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO

*10:30> The LMT Connection @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Funk/R&B; $10

416 – Toronto East

7> Scott “Professor Piano” Cushnie @ Leslie Jones Restaurant, 1182 Queen St. E., TO East ~Blues/Jazz

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

8> acoustic jam with Gary LaRocca @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East

9-11> blueVenus @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~indie Pop

*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave., TO East

416 – Toronto Etobicoke

8-1> Marshall Dane @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Country originals/Pop

416 – Toronto Scarborough

* 7> jam with Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Band @ Fox at Scarborough Junction, 646 Danforth Rd., Scarborough

*8:30> Al Reilly‘s Catalyst @ Centro Pizza, 3408 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~classic Rock

*8:30> open mic with Jadzia Skye & Michael Oesch @ Chez Helene’s, 1437 Kingston Rd., Scarborough

416 – Toronto West

5-8> Chris Reid & friends @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

**8-10:30> Hump Night Blues with Dave McManus & Cleave Anderson + special guesta Roots ‘n’ Branches @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St., TO West ~Blues

8> TWiM: Doc Pickles; The Wicked Mercy; Hail Robot; New Design @ The Tennessee, 1554 Queen St. W., TO West; ~indie

8> TWiM: When Was Young; Christian D and the Hangovers; Chris “Mojo” Martin’ Faiyaz & the Wasted Chances; The Red Boy @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West; ~indie

8> TWiM: Phill Hood & the Exclamation; Century Thief; Lakes of Canada; Eli & The Straw Man @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West; ~indie

8:30> The Mercenaries @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West ~Rock/Soul revival

8:30> Daniel Champagne @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Australian singer-songwriter; $20

9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~original Juno-winning Blues

9> Sam Taylor; Luke McMaster @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~indie Blues/Pop

9> Lotus Wight @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Country Blues

9> Rocket Surgery & guests @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~$10

519

8> Danielle Todd @ Fionn MacCool’s Kitchener, 4287 King St. E., Kitchener

9> The Phil & John Show feat. Phil Naro @ Molly Bloom’s Waterloo, 170 University Ave., Waterloo ~acoustic Pop Rock

705

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

7> Odd Man Rush @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

8-10:30> Tara Azzopardi poetry collection launch with guest reading by Stuart Ross & music by Ruine @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough

905 East

5-8> Bill Nadeau @ Great Blue Heron Casino, 21777 Island Rd., Port Perry ~Blues

7> Frank Z @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

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

*9-12> jam with Damage Control @ St. Louis Bar & Grill Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

905 North

*7> open mic night with Tanya Joy Senior @ Col. McGrady’s Pub, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge

*8-12> jam with Rebel Jo Band featuring Dave Girdlestone of Soul Funkshun on guitar @ Fionn MacCool’s Brampton, 11 Ray Lawson Blvd. Brampton

*8:45> open mic jam with Matt Zady @ Magnums, 21 McMurchy Ave. N., Brampton

*9-1> open mic jam with Whiskey Birds @ Sweetz Lounge, 5289 Hwy 7, Woodbridge-Vaughan

*9:30> open mic with The Villagers @ Main’s Mansion, 144 Main St., Markham

905 South

*7> open mic night @ Donnelley’s Pub, 54 Front St., Thorold ~Blues

**8-1> “Country Pubkin” Night with Country artists tba @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

8> Two Minute Miracles (reunion); The Medicine Hat; Drew Smith @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton; $

*8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country

9> Bump City @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~11-piece Tower of Power tribute

905 West

8-1> Pat Hewitt @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~$10

8:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

9-1> Liquid Sun @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop; $

*9> open mic jam with Jack B Nimble @ Blarney’s Gate, 1151 Dundas St. W., Mississauga

*9?> jam with Michael Zane or Pat Dowds @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville