Recording: Labikova/Turcotte/Tielli/Clutton/Zurawinski

Artist: Bea Labikova/Kevin Turcotte/Doug Tielli/Rob Clutton/Mark Zurawinski

Song: The Four Seasons: Autumn [composer: Mira Martin-Gray]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Clue Note presents), March 25, 2025.

Bea Labikova/Kevin Turcotte/Doug Tielli/Rob Clutton/Mark Zurawinski - The Four Seasons: Autumn

This ensemble was originally constructed to essay Mira Martin-Gray's "Four Seasons", a suite with four movements introduced by haiku. In Martin-Gray's absence, the group presented the piece — and with the evening's trivia portion postponed, ended up performing for two sets, improvising a bit and trying out a few pieces by members Clutton and Tielli.

You can check out the full Four Seasons and some more from this night over on youtube:

Monday Roundup #222

Community notes:

• This came through from the City's Music Office:

Are you an artist looking for space to work on your craft or an upcoming project? Apply to TO Live’s Making Space program!

Making Space is a TO Live program that offers the artistic community of Toronto affordable spaces for rehearsals, creative residencies, workshops, meetings/convenings, and research.

We know how important it is for artists to have access to spaces for creating, rehearsing, and even just dreaming. As stewards of three key civic theatres—St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Meridian Arts Centre, and Meridian Hall—TO Live is Making Space for artists in our venues.

Applications are being accepted year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Space will be allocated based on requirements and availability. Submit your application at https://tolive.com/Making-Space.

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Concert announcements:

Nick Storring [Mirante LP release celebration] (Khôra & Mas Aya) / Allan Gardens Children's Conservatory 2025-04-24 (Thursday). $22.63. [FB event]

Exit Points #59 (feat. Doug Tielli/Lina Allemano/Victoria Miller/Matthew Ryals/Mehdi Rostami / Champagne James Robertson/Tia Alandra/Naomi Sky/Nick Flanagan/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups) / Array Space 2025-04-25 (Friday). $15 early bird / $20 adv / $25 door. [FB event]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Zach Rowden / Shadow Pattern / Kristina Guison) / Agenda Cafe + Bar 2025-04-26 (Saturday). $pwyc. [more info]

catl. / The Belle and the Beacon 2025-04-26 (Saturday). $pwyc. [more info]

Pet Sounds Band [instrumental re-imagining of Pet Sounds, played in its entirety] [Christine Bougie/Dafydd Hughes/Andrew Downing/Julia Hambleton] / Hope United Church 2025-04-27 (Sunday – 3 p.m.). $20. [tickets/more info]

Sympathetic String Band Residency (feat. Sympathetic String Band / Isla Craig / Carl Didur) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-27 (Sunday – early) [FB event]

CMC Presents (feat. The Cluttertones [Lina Allemano/Rob Clutton/Ryan Driver/Tim Posgate]) / Canadian Music Centre 2025-05-02 (Friday). $15 Advance / $20 at the door (CMC Members and Arts Workers: $12 Advance / $15 at the door; Students: $10 anytime). [more info]

Track Could Bend #104 (feat. Allison Cameron / Allemano/Driver/Klager / Hex-A-Decimal) / Wenona Lodge 2025-05-06 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

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Shows this week:

Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Ben Rositsan / Caleb Klager/Karen Ng/Chris Pruden) / Wenona Lodge 2025-04-15 (Tuesday)

Cassiar Records presents (feat. John Oswald/Josh Cole/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-15 (Tuesday). $15/pwyc. [FB event]

Elastic Recordings presents (feat. Bryn Roberts Trio [Bryn Roberts/Dan Fortin/Fabio Ragnelli with special guests: Allison Au (April 17)/Kelly Jefferson (April 18)/Michael Davidson (April 19)]) / The Rex 2025-04-16–19 (Wednesday–Saturday). $16 & up. [FB event]

Makam Nights (feat. Rihab Azar & Jawad Azar) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2025-04-17 (Thursday). $pwyc. [FB event]

More Noise Please! Presents: The Ecstasy Of Noise (feat. Ritual Purification / Fussing / Eric Baylies / Brian Ruryk & %%30%30 / Auto Feeder) / The No No Room at the Dock Ellis 2025-04-17 (Thursday) [FB event]

Avalon Tassonyi (Westelaken / Jo Passed) / The Baby G 2025-04-17 (Thursday). $24.11, 19+. [FB event]

Lunchmeat [album release show!] (Gold Watch / Pit Scum / Nour Hadidi) / Monarch Tavern 2025-04-17 (Thursday). $17.50, 19+. [more info/tickets]

Trés Bien Ensemble (Doc Pickles) / The Mezz 2025-04-18 (Friday) [FB event]

Ants in Pants [Brian Abbott & Germaine Liu] (Rob Clutton & Tania Gill) / Array Space 2025-04-18 (Friday) [more info]

Blunt Object [Brodie West/Ben Dietschi/Gordon Hyland/Jesse Malone/Teppei Kamei/Heather Saumer/Robin Jessome/Josh Bird/Tania Gill/Victor Bateman/Nico Dann] / The Rex 2025-04-19 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $10/$15. [FB event]

Elisa Thorn & Laura Swankey / Sellers and Newel 2025-04-19 (Saturday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

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It happened this week...

• ...on April 14, 2017 at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge).

IC/JC/VC - [edited excerpt]

• ...on April 16, 2017 at Array Space (Music Gallery's Departures Series).

Peter Evans Ensemble - unknown

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Recording: Cosmic Homeostasis XXVII

Artist: Cosmic Homeostasis XXVII

Song: Helium [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), March 23, 2025.

Cosmic Homeostasis XXVII - Helium [excerpt]

Returning to the Southern Cross for teh first residency appearance of 2025, Cosmic Homeostasis was shifted from its traditional fifth-Sunday-of-the-month but still had a robust turnout to generate some drifting space-drones.

You can listen to the full session over on Bandcamp:

The ensemble for this performance consisted of:

• Dan Friedman - Sonicware Liven XFM, Korg NTS-1, Hmong mouth organ, namer-of-things
• Philip Hamilton - oscillators
• %%30%30 - percussion
• Jim Davis - bass sans fret, vox
• Jonny Luke - cornet
• Eric Cinnesealach - clarinet, recorders, whistles
• Eliza Cinnesealach - clarinet, recorders, whistles
• Rob Cruickshank - electronics
• Sarah Peebles - shō
• Del Stephen - radios, tapes, synthesizer, whistles
• Scott M2 - Roland S-1
• Paul Newman - tenor saxophone
• Ian McPhedran - kalimba, pedals
• Sterling McPhedran - kalimba, pedals
• Elliott Chapin - flute
• Patrick O'Reilly - piano (set 2 only)
• Heraclitus Akimbo - Roland S-1, effects

Recording: Nolan Hildebrand

Artist: Nolan Hildebrand

Song: portals II

Recorded at University of Toronto – Walter Hall (Nolan Hildebrand’s DMA Recital), March 11, 2015.

Nolan Hildebrand - portals II

You know it's not business as usual when you arrive for a DMA recital at the music school and greet your candidate as he's setting out a big jar of earplugs for the audience. Coordinating the proceedings in a Meshuggaht-shirt, Nolan Hildebrand's afternoon of music presumably had the requisite rigour required by his professors, but kept things wrapped in noise show aesthetics.

With an eight-channel speaker array set up around the auditorium, many of the pieces used spacialization effects quite nicely, moving from the interstitial audio collages to the performaces on stage. There was an inneresting variety to those as well, ranging from Hildebrand's own solo improvisations for modular synth (with some cool sound-triggered visualizations) to pieces for violin and MAX patch, to a percussion ensemble, to the all-star group (Colin Fisher, Patrick O'Reilly, Louis Pino) joining Hildebrand on this piece.

Monday Roundup #221

Concert announcements:

Ants in Pants [Brian Abbott & Germaine Liu] (Rob Clutton & Tania Gill) / Array Space 2025-04-18 (Friday) [more info]

Blunt Object [Brodie West/Ben Dietschi/Gordon Hyland/Jesse Malone/Teppei Kamei/Heather Saumer/Robin Jessome/Josh Bird/Tania Gill/Victor Bateman/Nico Dann] / The Rex 2025-04-19 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $10/$15. [FB event]

Rachmaninoff – The All-Night Vigil (feat. The Tallis Choir) / St. Patrick's Church 2025-05-03 (Saturday). $30 General, $25 Seniors, $10 Students. [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

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Shows this week:

Chris Banks presents (feat. Chris Banks MRP Band [Chris Banks/Brodie West/Tom Richards/Michael Davidson/Nick Fraser]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-07 (Monday) [more info]

A Failed Entertainment (feat. Mack Longpré/Brodie West/Chris Pruden/Keon Narinesingh) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-08 (Tuesday) [more info]

Brodie West's Double Basses Quintet [Patrick O'Reilly/Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Nick Fraser/Brodie West] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-09 (Wednesday – early)

Never Was [Brandon Davis/Bea Labikova/Racha Moukalled/Patrick O'Reilly/Adrian Russouw/Joe Sorbara] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-09 (Wednesday)

Tranzac Fundraiser IV (feat. Dorothea Paas Band / Raf Reza / C'est La Fête) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-04-10 (Thursday). $28.27, 19+. [more info/tickets]

Newman Guitars (feat. Kurt Newman / Harris Newman) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-10 (Thursday) [more info]

Audiopollination (feat. Zack Goldstein/Dave Nelson/Janel Jones / Jamie Eriksen/Mike Filippov/Saba Saneinejad / Bill Gilliam/Jonnie Bakan/Zoë Alexis-Abrams / Turtle Pleasure) / Array Space 2025-04-11 (Friday). $10 cash or card, livestream available. [FB event]

Musica Universalis (feat. Barnyard Drama [Christine Duncan/Jean Martin] with Colin Fisher) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-11 (Friday). $pwyc/suggested $20.

B.A. Johnston (Sons of Butcher / Thunderkok) / The Baby G 2025-04-12 (Saturday). $21.53, 19+. [FB event]

FACS (Noble Rot / Natural Light) / The Dance Cave 2025-04-12 (Saturday). $28.19, 19+. [FB event]

SaltChunkJerry [album release show/40th b-day party] (Man Made Hill / Greydini / Shaaane) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-04-12 (Saturday). $pwyc

Cool New Instruments Night #4 (feat. Alex Raja Ven / Jordanne Chan / Sara Constant / Astrolope / Cookie Brunel / Alejandro Franco Briones / Colby Richardson / Michael Palumbo) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-12 (Saturday) [more info]

Stranger Still [Pete Johnston/Mim Adams/Randi Helmers/Rob Clutton] / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-04-13 (Sunday – 3 p.m.). $20 or PWYC

Art of Improv (feat. Christine Duncan & Eugene Martynec / Christine Duncan/Bill Gilliam/Eugene Martynec / Christine Duncan & The Element Choir) / Annette Studios 2025-04-13 (Sunday). $20/pwyc. [more info]

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It happened this week...

• ...on April 8, 2012 at The Garrison (Crosswires #7).

A. David MacKinnon - Looking for Ambrose Small

• ...on April 12, 2012 at Double Double Land.

HVYWTR - Dirty Tricks

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Recording: Myra Melford's Fire and Water Trio

Artist: Myra Melford's Fire and Water Trio

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at 918 Bathurst (Women From Space Festival 2025 – Night 3), March 8, 2025.

Myra Melford's Fire and Water Trio - [excerpt 1]

Myra Melford's Fire and Water Trio - [excerpt 2]

Once more, the Women From Space Festival filled up the, er, space at 918 Bathurst with joyous, colourful art and an enthusiastic community vibe. After big band blasts and movement in the round, the third and final night brought some top-tier sounds to the stage.

The festival closed with this trio (a distillation of the larger quintet of the same name), seeing pianist Myra Melford joined by Ingrid Laubrock (sax) and Lesley Mok (percussion). True to the group's moniker, there were some energetic, burning passages here was well as slower, deep-flowing conversations.

Recording: Mingjia Chen + Linnea Sablosky

Artist: Mingjia Chen + Linnea Sablosky

Song: Hockets for Two Flutes, arranged for voice [composer: Meara O’Reilley]

Recorded at 918 Bathurst (Women From Space Festival 2025 – Night 3), March 8, 2025.

Mingjia Chen + Linnea Sablosky - Hockets for Two Flutes, arranged for voice

Once more, the Women From Space Festival filled up the, er, space at 918 Bathurst with joyous, colourful art and an enthusiastic community vibe. After big band blasts and movement in the round, the third and final night brought some top-tier sounds to the stage.

Leading off the night with some nible vocal interactions, this was a homecoming show of sorts for Mingjia Chen, who was joined by Linnea Sablosky in essaying two suites of hockets by Meara O’Reilley — one was explicitly for two voices, while they opened with a series that abstracted the vocalization process to an extra remove by re-arranging flute duos. Very precise and technically deep stuff that still sounded fun and spontaneous throughout.

Monday Roundup #220

Concert announcements:

SaltChunkJerry [album release show/40th b-day party] (Man Made Hill / Greydini / Shaaane) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-04-12 (Saturday). $pwyc

Art of Improv (feat. Christine Duncan & Eugene Martynec / Christine Duncan/Bill Gilliam/Eugene Martynec / Christine Duncan & The Element Choir) / Annette Studios 2025-04-13 (Sunday). $20/pwyc. [more info]

Cassiar Records presents (feat. John Oswald/Josh Cole/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-15 (Tuesday). $15/pwyc. [more info]

Elastic Recordings presents (feat. Bryn Roberts Trio [Bryn Roberts/Dan Fortin/Fabio Ragnelli with special guests: Allison Au (April 17)/Kelly Jefferson (April 18)/Michael Davidson (April 19)]) / The Rex 2025-04-16–19 (Wednesday–Saturday). $16 & up. [FB event]

LAKE (Marker Starling / Bernice) / The Garrison 2025-04-22 (Tuesday). $24.11, 19+. [FB event]

Dinner Party: A new opera by Holger Schoorl (feat. Scott Gabriel/Elizabeth Lima/Holger Schoorl/Randi Helmers) / Array Space 2025-05-28 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

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Shows this week:

The Music Gallery presents (feat. Turntable Trio [Maria Chavez/Evicshen/Mariam Rezaei] / Kristina Guison) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-03-31 (Monday). $10 (members), $15-$25 PWYC. [more info]

A Tiny Drop of Peace [Brian Abbott/Paul Newman] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-31 (Monday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Justin Orok presents (feat. Rebecca Campbell + Strings [Rebecca Campbell/Else Langhans/Ted Crosby/Patrick O'Reilly/Justin Orok/Patrick Dilkie/Andrew Downing/Ambrose Veno/WIlliam Lamoureux/Tiffany Wu/Clara Nguyen-Tran/Jill Sauerteig]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-01 (Tuesday – early) [more info]

Track Could Bend #103 [Co-presented with Ministry of Phonic Services] (feat. Maebh Clark & Lucas Dvorsky / Aliyah Aziz & %%30%30) / Wenona Lodge 2025-04-01 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Eiko Ishibashi / Sweet Lips) / The Garrison 2025-04-01 (Tuesday). $45.11, 19+. [more info/tickets]

Peripheral Vision] (The Clearing [Kayla Milmine/Jonathan Kay/Nick Fraser/Patrick O’Reilly]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-01 (Tuesday) [more info]

Holy Oak Family Singers present the music of Ron Hynes (feat. Robin Dann/Justin Orok/Josh Cole/Ivy Mairi/Jessie Kussin/Ed Squires/John Power/Charles Spearin/Luka Kuplowsky/Caitlin Woelfle O’Brien/Joseph Shabason/Rachel Bobbit) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-02 (Wednesday – early) [more info]

Harry Bartlett's Mountain Air [Harry Bartlett/Aline Homzy/Andrew Downing] / Sellers and Newel 2025-04-02 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

S.A.M. trio [Miles Cakebread-Kraus/Steven Norohna/Aidan Mcconnell] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-02 (Wednesday) [more info]

stef.in [Icterus II LP Release!] (Animatist / Adversarial Networks) / Monarch Tavern 2025-04-03 (Thursday). $20, 19+. [FB event]

Corpusse / Sellers and Newel 2025-04-04 (Friday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Garlic Jr. (Body Butter / Tommy Tone / Battle Milk) / Low Bar 2025-04-04 (Friday). $10

Pit Scum / Decoy Bar 2025-04-04 (Friday). $10/pwyc

xodkaar (SUV / britney cage) / Collective Arts 2025-04-04 (Friday). $15 at the door / no one turned away. [FB event]

TONE presents: (feat. Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio / The Titillators) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-04-04 (Friday). $22.89 advance / $25 door. [FB event]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Allison Cameron / Naomi McCarroll-Butler / Aida Khorsandi) / Allan Gardens 2025-04-04 (Friday). $15. [tickets/more info]

Nona Invie & Nat Harvie [performing solo and duo] (Cots / DM Stith) / The Root Down Studio 2025-04-04 (Friday). $free with RSVP. [FB event]

Alex Samaras & Friends [Alex Samaras/Lauren Falls/Matt Newton/Dave French/Phil Melanson] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-04 (Friday) [more info]

TONE presents (feat. Tara Clerkin Trio / Slow Attack Ensemble / Potions) / Collective Arts 2025-04-05 (Saturday). $22.89, 19+. – POSTPONED [FB event]

Ambient soundscapes for babies to adults (feat. LordAUK / A L M A / Jessica Deutsch) / 918 Bathurst (Sunroom) 2025-04-06 (Sunday – 3 p.m.). $22.63 adults/children free, all-ages/family friendly. [more info/tickets]

Mike DeiCont Trio [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty] / The Rex 2025-04-06 (Sunday) [FB event]

Michael Davidson's Adjacent Spheres / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-06 (Sunday) [more info]

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It happened this week...

• ...on April 1, 2010 at Lee's Palace.

Hospital Ships - I Want It to Get Out

• ...on April 3, 2010 at The Horseshoe.

Love is All - False Pretense

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Recording: Del Stephen's Totoloto

Artist: Del Stephen's Totoloto

Song: [Totoloto excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #102), March 4, 2025.

Del Stephen's Totoloto - [Totoloto excerpt]

The recently-repatriated Del Stephen brought a song to play and some poems to read, as one might expect, but the heart of this set embraced some new explorations. Several generations of technology ago, one readily-available means of computer storage was the humble cassette tape — with data transformed into audible binary bursts. This was never something that was meant to be heard like a tape would normally be — but what to do when the tape lingers long after the accompanying tech has faded? "Time to sing a new kind of song" is the answer offered here.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend will be back at Wenona on Tuesday night (April 1st) with a special co-presentation with Ministry of Phonic Services presenting sets from Maebh Clark & Lucas Dvorsky and Aliyah Aziz & %%30%30.]

Recording: M.D.N.R.

Artist: M.D.N.R.

Song: [2nd piece]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #102), March 4, 2025.

M.D.N.R. - [2nd piece]

Some delightful sounds and nimble interplay from this pairing of percussionist Nate Robertson and and pianist Max Donaldson. The latter had his electronic keyboard in tow, allowing for some different keyboard sounds to emerge, such as the sweet electric piano sounds on the track heard here as well as some synth-y pads to close out the set.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend will be back at Wenona on Tuesday night (April 1st) with a special co-presentation with Ministry of Phonic Services presenting sets from Maebh Clark & Lucas Dvorsky and Aliyah Aziz & %%30%30.]

Monday Roundup #219

Community notes:

• Word on the street is that the Dakota Tavern isn't re-opening, so add one more to the list of defunct Toronto music venues. I wasn't a regular, but I liked the room and saw some pretty cool shows there! (Check out down below for some of my memories.)

photo by Jen Haslett via David McPherson

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Concert announcements:

A Tiny Drop of Peace [Brian Abbott/Paul Newman] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-31 (Monday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Eiko Ishibashi / Sweet Lips) / The Garrison 2025-04-01 (Tuesday). $45.11, 19+. [more info/tickets]

Harry Bartlett's Mountain Air [Harry Bartlett/Aline Homzy/Andrew Downing] / Sellers and Newel 2025-04-02 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

stef.in [Icterus II LP Release!] (Animatist / Adversarial Networks) / Monarch Tavern 2025-04-03 (Thursday). $20, 19+. [FB event]

Corpusse / Sellers and Newel 2025-04-04 (Friday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Allison Cameron / Naomi McCarroll-Butler / Aida Khorsandi) / Allan Gardens 2025-04-04 (Friday). $15. [tickets/more info]

Audiopollination (feat. Zack Goldstein/Dave Nelson/Janel Jones / Jamie Eriksen/Mike Filippov/Saba Saneinejad / Bill Gilliam/Jonnie Bakan/Zoë Alexis-Abrams / Turtle Pleasure) / Array Space 2025-04-11 (Friday). $10 cash or card, livestream available. [FB event]

Stranger Still [Pete Johnston/Mim Adams/Randi Helmers/Rob Clutton] / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-04-13 (Sunday – 3 p.m.). $20 or PWYC

More Noise Please! Presents: The Ecstasy Of Noise (feat. Ritual Purification / Fussing / Eric Baylies / Brian Ruryk & %%30%30 / Auto Feeder) / The No No Room at the Dock Ellis 2025-04-17 (Thursday) [more info]

Avalon Tassonyi (Westelaken / Jo Passed) / The Baby G 2025-04-17 (Thursday). $24.11, 19+. [FB event]

Elisa Thorn & Laura Swankey / Sellers and Newel 2025-04-19 (Saturday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Sarah Greene with Paul Kolinski & Michael Herring (Shawn Durkin) / Sellers and Newel 2025-04-23 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [FB event]

Mole Mountain and Isla Craig [Remembered In Exile: Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia release celebration!] [Mike Smith/Jake Oelrichs/Pete Johnston/Isla Craig/Andrew Killawee + guests] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-25 (Thursday – early). $pwyc.

Brittany Pitt & Evan Tighe / Sellers and Newel 2025-05-06 (Tuesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

The Lina Allemano Four [Lina Allemano/Andrew Downing/Brodie West/Nick Fraser] / Sellers and Newel 2025-05-10 (Saturday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Ladyfinger [Diane Roblin & Kayla Milmine] / Sellers and Newel 2025-05-14 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

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Shows this week:

Clue Note: Trivia Night and Creative Music [note: no trivia this time!] (feat. Rob Clutton/Bea Labikova/Mira Martin-Gray/Doug Tielli/Kevin Turcotte/Mark Zurawinski) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-25 (Tuesday – early) [more info]

Nick Fraser presents (feat. Nick Fraser's Special Topics [Nick Fraser/Kae Murphy/Max Stover/Josh Cole]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-25 (Tuesday) [more info]

Nosferatu: silent film with a live score! (feat. The Kupenta Singers/The Hybrid Ensemble/the DOG ensemble) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-03-26 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [more info]

Ronley Teper & the Lipliners / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-26 (Wednesday) [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents BPM: the Big Percussion Meeting (feat. _53d8ZxP / Aidan McConnell / Jaz Tsui / Louis Pino / Mateos Labbé-Phelan / Raphael Roter) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-27 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]

Exit Points #58 (feat. Behnoosh Behnamnia/Doris Du/Kimia Farokhzad/Zack Goldstein/Brank Oh! / Kristine White/Joel Ong/Piers Oolvai/Aisha Sasha John/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups) / Array Space 2025-03-28 (Friday). $15 early bird / $20 adv / $25 door. [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ...on December 16, 2009 at The Dakota Tavern (The Old Soul's 8th Anniversary Christmas Show).

The Old Soul - Let's Neck

• ...on April 5, 2011 at The Dakota Tavern.

Daniel Romano - Knowing That You're Mine

• ...on December 23, 2012 at The Dakota Tavern.

catl - 5 Miles

• ...on September 19, 2013 at The Dakota Tavern (September residency – Week 3),.

Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Fortune Tellin' Chicken / Plastics For 500, Bob / Customized

• ...on October 10, 2019 at The Dakota Tavern.

Pernice Brothers - The Weakest Shade of Blue

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Recording: Carded Ensemble

Artist: Carded Ensemble

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at Walter Hall, February 24, 2025.

Carded Ensemble - [excerpt 1]

Carded Ensemble - [excerpt 2]

"Carded", Patrick O'Reilly's ongoing compositional project, has been a work-in-progress for a few years now, taking blank playing cards and turning them into handmade improvisational cues. The cards can be dispatched in various ways, from dealing performers a hand, to (as was the case here) giving each player a full custom deck with the instruction to turn over and interpret a new card every minute.

That, with the addition of timed solo spots for each of the participants, gave enough structure to keep a nine-piece ensemble from tripping into chaos and too-muchness. It also fosters a genuine sense of play, both in the novel interpretations required and in the act of occasionally passing cards around to share a cue. This particular incarnation of Carded was even more deeply collaborative, as the decks of cards used by the nine performers were each made by nine guest "composers".

The ensemble for this performance was:

• Patrick O'Reilly: guitar and pedals
• Samuel Little, double bass
• amiel ang: vibes, gong, music stand
• Samuel Laramee: synths and piano
• Omar Yazaw: saxophone
• Leah Reavster: saxophone
• Brendan Beaton: trumpet
• %%30%30: percussion
• Annie Elgie: balloons, voice

Monday Roundup #218

Concert announcements:

Clue Note: Trivia Night and Creative Music (feat. Rob Clutton/Bea Labikova/Mira Martin-Gray/Doug Tielli/Kevin Turcotte/Mark Zurawinski) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-25 (Tuesday – early) [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents BPM: the Big Percussion Meeting (feat. _53d8ZxP / Aidan McConnell / Jaz Tsui / Louis Pino / Mateos Labbé-Phelan / Raphael Roter) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-27 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]

Exit Points #58 (feat. Behnoosh Behnamnia/Doris Du/Kimia Farokhzad/Zack Goldstein/Brank Oh! / Kristine White/Joel Ong/Piers Oolvai/Aisha Sasha John/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups) / Array Space 2025-03-28 (Friday). $15 early bird / $20 adv / $25 door. [FB event]

Leucrocuta (SUV / britney cage) / Collective Arts 2025-04-04 (Friday). $15 at the door / no one turned away. [FB event]

Mike DeiCont Trio [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty] / The Rex 2025-04-06 (Sunday) [FB event]

Tranzac Fundraiser IV (feat. Dorothea Paas Band / Raf Reza / C'est La Fête) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-04-10 (Thursday). $28.27, 19+. [more info/tickets]

FACS (Noble Rot / Natural Light) / The Dance Cave 2025-04-12 (Saturday). $28.19, 19+. [FB event]

Trés Bien Ensemble (Doc Pickles) / The Mezz 2025-04-18 (Friday) [FB event]

Labyrinth Ensemble with Âriâ Mohâfez / Aga Khan Museum 2025-05-03 (Saturday). $40 Regular, $36 Friends of Aga Khan Museum, $30 Students and Seniors. [more info]

Cola (Jane Inc.) / The Garrison 2024-07-18 (Friday). $31.51, 19+. [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

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Shows this week:

Harley Card Trio [Harley Card/Dan Fortin/Ethan Ardelli] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-17 (Monday) [more info]

Freesound Presents: Music for Solo Instruments #1 (feat. Michael Murphy / Amahl Arulanandam / Matti Pulkki) / Array Space 2025-03-20 (Thursday). $22.63. [FB event]

CMC Presents (feat. DOG Ensemble [wrangled by Patrick O’Reilly]) / Canadian Music Centre – Chalmers Performance Space 2025-03-20 (Thursday). $15 Advance / $20 at the door ($12 Advance / $15 at the door for CMC Members and Arts Workers; $10 students). [more info]

Battle Milk (But Worse / New Time More Words) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2025-03-20 (Thursday). $pwyc (suggested $5). [more info]

Spheres of Southworth: Equinox Egg-Spiritus (feat. John Southworth & Friends) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-21 (Friday – early) [more info]

Acid Baby Jesus (The John Denver Airport Conspiracy) / The Sound Garage 2025-03-21 (Friday). $28.98, 19+. [FB event]

Long Winter 13.4 (feat. SLASH NEED / Secret Sign / Arc&Texture / Edmund Stay) / St. Anne's Parish Hall 2025-03-21 (Friday). $pwyc, all-ages. [more info]

Freesound presents (feat. Transsonic / Jason Doell) / Array Space 2025-03-22 (Saturday). $22.63. – postponed until fall [FB event]

Not Dead Yet Presents (feat. Kali Malone) / Trinity St. Paul's 2025-03-22 (Saturday). $43.35/$48.39, all ages. [more info]

Basic [Chris Forsyth/Douglas McCombs/Mikel Patrick Avery] / The Sound Garage 2025-03-22 (Saturday). $28.98, 19+. [FB event]

Long Winter 13.5 (feat. Roach / SO TIRED / Dynesti / Leevisa) / St. Anne's Parish Hall 2025-03-22 (Saturday). $pwyc, all-ages. [more info]

Cosmic Homeostasis XXVII / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-23 (Sunday – noon). $pwyc, family-friendly. [FB event]

Freesound Presents: Music for Solo Instruments #2 (feat. Michael Murphy / Amahl Arulanandam / Matti Pulkki) / Array Space 2025-03-23 (Sunday). $22.63. [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ...on March 17, 2012 at Placebo Space.

Maica Mia - Jonny-o

• ...on March 23, 2012 at Saving Gigi (Lazy Afternoon showcase).

Marine Dreams - Yet To See The Sun

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Recording: Many People

Artist: Many People

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Music Hosted by Karen Ng: A fundraiser show for Earlobe), February 18, 2025.

Many People - [excerpt]

This musical concept from Karen Ng continues to evolve from its origins as a massive horn section — though that's still at the heart of it, percussion and other noises are now increasingly incorporated, making the performances more akin to swelling jams than lingering zones. This particular instance of the group was convened to celebrate the launch of Earlobe, the new website/mailing list "listing experimental music and sound art events happening in Toronto", three of whose organizers were performing. The full ensemble was:

• Karen Ng - alto sax
• Maxwell Stover - tenor sax
• Marilyn Yogarajah - trumpet
• Heather Saumer - trombone
• Fahmid Nibesh - guitar
• Heraclitus Akimbo - electronics
• Kieran Maraj - bass
• %%30%30 - percussion
• Germaine Liu - percussion
• Mark Zurawinsky - percussion

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

Recording: Holger Schrool & Mark Zurawinski

Artist: Holger Schoorl & Mark Zurawinski

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Music Hosted by Karen Ng: A fundraiser show for Earlobe), February 18, 2025.

Holger Schoorl & Mark Zurawinski - unknown

This pairing opened up this night at Karen Ng's Wenona residency with surprising intensity — Holger Schoorl may not play as insistently quietly as he once did, but I don't think I've previously ever seen him rock the heck out.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!