\ TO CENTRAL, DOWNTOWN \
The monthly series of open participation shows known as “The Bridge” hosted by Lynn Harrison tonight marks its second anniversary and demonstrates how her distinctive and successful approach to an open mic event has been not a gimmick but a kind of reinvention of the concept of interactive multi-artist evenings.
Harrison curates the Bridge evenings, each of which have a theme and involve several artistic disciplines, much like an artist might put together an exhibition or a playwright a stage presentation, but leaving open the possibility of the unexpected since we never know for sure who might end up taking part on the stage.
The interesting and distinctive approach benefits from and perhaps relies upon her own poised, encouraging presence. A witty and soulful songwriter of some renown, as we’ve told you previously, she’s released several albums of pithy, deftly crafted tunes about society, the human condition and nature.
But more than that, Lynn is also very good at understanding and working with people in groups —as her recent ordination as a Unitarian Universalist minister in charge of the First Unitarian Congregation at the Avenue Road and St. Clair church, where they know her as Reverend Harrison, also attests.
We’ve described a little bit of the goings on at Bridge events previously and also noted how the concept was born in the tiny Tiki Room at Tranzac Club, migrated to that venue’s larger Main Hall and then, last July, moved to its current home in the Imperial Pub at 54 Dundas St. E. near Yonge Street.
To sum up: guests can each perform one song or poem relating to the monthly theme topic (tonight, for the second anniversary show, it’s “Light and Dark” to mark the fact that this evening is also the Summer Solstice) and in between the good reverend offers up various prepared inputs from spiritual or consciousness-raising sources that could be music, readings, dance or other forms of art aimed at stimulating further thought.
Past themes have included Identity, Motion, Things, Mystery, The Body, Time, Old and New and several other intriguing concepts and past attendance has been strong with an impressive roster of participants including songwriters like Steve Paul Simms, Glen Hornblast, Steve Raiken, Clela Errington, Noah Zacharin, Laura Fernandez, Brian Gladstone, Howard Gladstone, Soozi Schlanger, Henry Lees, Lawrie Ingles, Wayne Neon, Harpin Norm Lucien, Brian Jantzi, Diem LaFortune, Mike Katz, Rick Pearson, Karen Leslie Hall, the late Michelle Lecce-Hewitt and many more.
One of the things she’s proudest of, Lynn tells me, is that “we’ve consistently attracted both highly experienced professional performers as well as people new to the stage…and the age of performers has ranged from early twenties to mid seventies. 
“In addition to performing artists, there are always devoted listeners at The Bridge, and it’s always a very warm and respectful listening environment,” she says. “Every night is rich in insight and music and creativity…with a lot of personal sharing and a strong community spirit.”
Lynn has also presented special editions of The Bridge at the Winterfolk Roots and Blues Festival in 2016 and 2017 and, I’m told, is looking at adding a new location to the mix, planning to run trial shows at the Artscape Youngplace on Shaw Street on the second Tuesdays of July and August.
There’s no cover charge and things get underway at 7:30, though if you want to sign up to perform it’s recommended you arrive when that starts at 7.
-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca
SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, June 21, 2021
For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.
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ON AIR / ONLINE
*6-8pm> The Rock-A-Round with Slim Tim @ www.rockabilly-radio.net ~ Rockabilly tracks (from UK, repeat show from previous Friday)
416 – TORONTO CENTRAL
3-9> Brighid Fry; Boa; Violet Dreams; Jordan Alexander; The Skins; more @ Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. E. ~contemporary original & covers; $0
6-8> Laura Hubert Duo and Laura’s birthday celebration @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc
6> Golden Country Classics @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Country
6:30> Tune Town @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $
**7 (7 p.m. sign-up open stage at 8) with 9 p.m. with no feature this week @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall) ~songwriters
*7> Jim Heineman Trio @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. ~Jazz
7> Fates Warning; Infinite Spectrum @ Mod Club, 722 College St. ~contemporary original; $
7> open mic night @ General Purpose Bar, 112 Harbord St.
*7-10> Blues jam with Mark Stafford & Ken Yoshioka @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St.
7:30 (sign-up at 7)> The Bridge open stage 2nd anniversary and “Light & Dark” theme with between-set showcase music, poetry, etc.; hosted by Lynn Harrison @ Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas St. E.
7:30> Allison Cameron @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO
7:30> Sue & Dwight’s Folk Revival @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St. ~Roots; $
**8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers’ jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~$10-20/pwyc
8> Gregory Porter @ Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. ~Jazz; $
8-10:30> Ron Davis recording release for RhythmaRON @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz; $
8> Bif Naked; Iduna @ Adelaide Hall, 250 Adelaide St. W. ~Punk/alt-Rock songwriters; $
8> Toronto Symphony Orchestra @ Roy Thompson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. ~Classical; $
8:30> NXNE: Snake River Redemption; Uforia; Keychain; Polarity with host Scott Penfold @ Cherry Cola’s, 200 Bathurst St. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $5
8:30> open mic @ H Bar, 859 Queen St. W.
9> The Digs @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Funk/Jazz/neo-Soul; $
*9 (signup at 8:30)> open mic with Alan Carter @ Lowdown, 276 Augusta Ave.
9> Rachel Fawn @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave. ~songwriter
9> The Dirty B-Sides jam @ Studio Bar, 824 Dundas St. W. ~Freestyle/Hip Hop; 0$
9> Sam Kogon; Mannerisms; Prairie Cat; SHED @ Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St. ~indie; $
*9-2> What’s Poppin’ indie jam @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St.
9> London Stone; Floating Floors; Justin Hill & The Conundrum; Sam Aragones @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~indie; $
9> NXNE: Medieval Dan Strikes Again; Lynn Moffatt; Snake Spin Shivers @ The Paddock, 178 Bathurst St. ~indie showcase; $6
*9:30> After Funk @ Nightowl Toronto, 647 College St. ~Funk; 0$
*9:30-2> The All Nighters open jam @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave.
9:30> The Rex’s annual players’ party jam @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $
10> Zuze @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.
10-2> Devon Coyote & Don Campbell Trio @ The Hideout, 423 College St. ~indie; $
*10-2> Blues-Rock jam with Al Webster Band @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO
*10:30> The LMT Connection @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Funk/R&B; $10
416 – TORONTO EAST
*7:30-10:30> The BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz; 0$
8> The Hard Toms @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave. ~tribute to The Ramones
8> Lucero; Banditos @ Opera House, 735 Queen St. E. ~Punk/alt-Country; $
8:30-10:30> Mediterranean Stars featuring Ed Roth on accordion @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E. ~Baltic/Gypsy Folk-Jazz
*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan Tavern (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave.
416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE
8-1> The Achromatics @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line
*9-1> open mic with Daniel Gagnon @ The Old Sod, 2936 Bloor St. W.
9-12> Space Jazz jam with singer Meagan Luchko & guitarist Kevin Bolger & band with weekly guest @ Placebo Space, 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. W. ~Jazz; $5/pwyc
416 – TORONTO WEST
5-8> Lola @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Blues duo
6-9> Spiral Stairs; Preston School of Industry; The Two Koreas @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~indie; $10
6-8> Toronto Creative Music Lab presents “Sounds of Silence” project @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. art Pop; $20
*6:30-9> Carl Bray & guest @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St. ~solo piano
7> La Tournee Osheaga; @ Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W.
7> Train @ Budweiser Stage, 909 Lake Shore Blvd. W. ~contemporary original; $
7-9> open mic with host Elspeth Tremblay @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W.
8> Hot Summer Series with guest features Amai Kuda and Y’ Josephine; BackTrack featuring Marty Zatzman with @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W. ~big horns Jazzy Soul/R&B; 0$
8> Above Top Secret; Miracles; Max Melanin @ The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St. W. ~indie; $
8> NXNE: Dead Soft; Secret Satanists Big School; New Love @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. ~indie; $
8-11> Adam James & The Jazz.FM91 Youth Big Band @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~Sinatra tribute Jazz; $
8> Ollie DelMastro & The Cosmic Folk Orchestra recording release for ep; guests Howlin’ Circus; Detours; Colin Richards Show @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St. ~indie; $
*8> MFA open mic @ Remix Lounge, 1305 Dundas St. W.
*8-11> Fraser/Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Rootsy Blues
8> The Bad Apples; Irenka; Alli Sunshine @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W. ~indie; $5
8:30> Special Costello; New Chance; Isla Craig @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~songwriters; $
**9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Juno-winning Blues
9> The Quickshifters @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. ~indie; $
9> CATQ; Derek Downham; Marcus Walker @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave. ~indie; $
9> Steve D’angelo @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~songwriter; pwyc
9> The Mick McKenzie Band @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Rock/Top 40 covers; $10 ($5 before 9)
9> Angela Turone; Chris Platt @ Mezzetta, 681 St. Clair Ave. W. ~Jazz; $10
9> Lotus Wight @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Country
*9:30> Spy vs Sly vs Spy @ Reposado, 136 Ossington Ave. ~Jazz; 0$
*10> Tanya Philipovich & Lucas Stagg @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W. ~original Roots/Blues
*10:30> Luke Vajsar @ Motel Bar, 1235 Queen St. W. ~Jazz
519
*8am-1pm> buskers @ Cambridge Farmers’ Market, 40 Dickson St., Cambridge
*6-8:30> ukulele jam @ Idea Exchange, 5 Tannery St. E., Cambridge
*6-9> Dano & Jaye @ Ray’s Bistro, 1475 Queen St. W., Alton ~smooth Pop/Jazz
7> Candace Hawkshaw @ McDougall Cottage, 89 Grand Ave. S., Cambridge
7:30> Celtic Session @ Penny Whistle, 2 Quebec St., Guelph
8-12> acoustic Bluegrass jam @ Anaf Club 344, 32 Gordon St., Guelph
8> Sandcatchers; Isaiah Farahbakhsh; David Hollingshead @ Silence, 46 Essex St., Guelph ~songwriters; $10
8> jam night @ Pops & Ruby’s Tap & Grill, 200 Preston Pkwy., Cambridge
8> Jonathan Knight hosts Blues jam @ Rhapsody Barrel Bar, 179 King St. W., Kitchener
8> Matt Weidinger Band @ Lancaster Smokehouse, 574 Lancaster St. W., Kitchener
8:30> Michael Coughlan @ Red Brick Café, 8 Douglas St., Guelph ~songwriter
8> Pat Maloney @ Monigram Coffee Roasters, 16 Ainslie St. S., Cambridge
*8:30-11:30> The Gaes @ Churchill Arms, 355 Erb St. W., Waterloo ~Celtic
9> Tim Louis @ Kiwi Gastropub, 47 Dickson St., Cambridge
*10> Mike Todd @ The Duke, 33 Erb St., Waterloo
705
*7-11> open jam with The Freacon Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach ~ Blues, Jazz; $5
*8> open stage @ Dobro Restaurant, 287 George St. N., Peterborough
*8-11> Michael Bell @ The Lounge By Lignum, 442 George St. N., Peterborough
*9-12:30> Josh Morgan & Kyle Charron @ Donaleigh’s Irish Public House, 28 Dunlop St. E., Barrie ~acoustic Pop covers & originals
9> Cody Watkins @ McThirsty’s Pin, 166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
905 EAST
*8> open stage and karaoke with Eddy Culjak @ Boston Pizza, 20 Taunton Rd., Whitby
*8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg
*8-10:30> open mic jam with Marty Hepburn @ Ganaraska Hotel, 30 Ontario St., Port Hope
9> open mic @ The Moustache Club, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
*10> Two For The Show @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock
*10> Emerson Ireland hosts open mic jam @ The Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby
905 NORTH
*7> open mic night with Tanya Joy Senior @ Col. McGrady’s Pub, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge
?*7> open mic with Matt Whittmann @ Red Door Gallery, 69 Main St. S., Georgetown
*8-12> open mic with Kevin Ker @ Unionville Arms, 189 Main St., Unionville
8> acoustic jam with Frank Logue @ Shepherd’s Crook, 86 Main St. S., Georgetown
*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
*10-2> jam night with Switchbeat Trio @ Maguires, 284 Queen St. E., Brampton
905 SOUTH
7:30> open mic with Keith Toms @ Staircase Bistro, 27 Dundurn St. N., Hamilton
*7:30> open mic with Brant Parker @ Donnelley’s Pub, 54 Front St., Thorold ~eclectic
**8-1> Boogie N Blues jam with Ian Andrews & Friends @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton
*8> Brad James @ Thirsty Cactus, 2 King St. E., Dundas ~Country
8> Terrie Petrie & band hosts Country Wednesdays @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster ~Country
*8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country
9> Singalong with Judy Marsales @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40
*9> open mic with Alfie Smith @ L’Etranger on James, 109 James St. N., Hamilton
8> Reverend Horton Heat; Agent Orange; Flat Duo Jets @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton
*10> Jazz jam @ Cat N Fiddle Hamilton, 174 John St., S., Hamilton
10:30> Adam Cooke & Adam Ostrosser @ Gallagher’s Bar, 69 Augusta St., Hamilton
905 WEST
*4:30> Adam Cooke @ SB Prime, 380 Brant St., Burlington
*6-10> open mic with host Dan Walek @ Lucy’s Seafood Kitchen, 6905 Millcreek Dr., Mississauga
*7> open mic with Gillian Nicola @ Copper Kettle Waterdown, 312 Dundas St. E., Waterdown
7> Rob Reed @ Max Resto Lounge, 2180 Itabashi Way, Burlington
*8> open mic with Jim Italiano @ Club 54, 3345 Harvester Rd., Burlington
8> jam with The Grindstones @ American House, 324 Dundas St. E., Waterdown
*8:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock
9-1> Kevin Reid and the Dedbeats @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop; $
9-1> Songwriters Night with John Marlatt, Alan Rhody & Josh Terk in the round @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~songwriters; $10
*9> open mic with Michael Zane @ Shakers Oakville, 589 Kerr St., Oakville
LISTINGS KEY
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.). Events preceded by question mark (?) usually take place but have not been confirmed. 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.
Copyright © 2017 Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon.ca. All Rights Reserved
