Artist: Matthew "Doc" Dunn
Song: Music Gallery Performance (excerpt)
Live at The Music Gallery, April 28, 2009.
Matthew "Doc" Dunn - Music Gallery Performance (excerpt)My notes for this gig can be found here.
Founded as a blog about one curmudgeon's love affair with the em dash, Mechanical Forest Sound has grown to become a community-based archive of local musical culture. Assuming that "independent music" isn't just boys with guitars and "culture" isn't just some sort of pageant, MFS is an investigation of a wide range of artists, reflecting on concerts as shared experiences, acts of citizenship and a chance to get down — fuzzy photographs and clear-sounding original live recordings a specialty.
Current manifestations of this project include Track Could Bend, a monthly concert series featuring "improvised music and weird rock offshoots", presented in a casual environment.
At one point I wrote full-on concert reviews, and for longer I thought I would catch up and write about shows in the past. But these days, because of, y'know, life, do not expect much in the way of full show reviews — but live recordings with blurbs will be posted as quickly after the fact as is feasible.
Check out my original live recordings from many of the gigs discussed here.
You can also check out full sets uploaded to the Live Music Archive. [not currently active]
N.B.: All recordings should be available & playable. If you come across any broken links, invisible or non-functioning players, etc, please leave a comment and I will tend to it ASAP.
ALSO N.B.: I'm perpetually on the lookout for a new place to stash my MP3's online. If you know of any place that allows a couple gigs of stuff to be openly linked to for streaming, drop me a line!
All comments are welcome, or you can reach me at mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com.
All MP3's on this blog are audience recordings shared as a reminder of the excitement of seeing live music. If you are an artist who doesn't want their music shared in this way, please contact me and I shall remove it forthwith.
If you're so inclined, you can also follow me on Bluesky @mfs-toronto.bsky.social
Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!
Track Could Bend #114 (feat. Bill Gilliam / Scallions [Holger Schoorl & Mark Zurawinski] / Tap slap wind and light) / Wenona Lodge 2026-03-03 (Tuesday – early start @ 8:30 p.m.). $pwyc. [FB event]
WORM “BLOOD” MOON [works for piano by Anna Höstman, Harry Somers and Alison Yun-Fei Jiang] (feat. Cheryll Duvall / Adam Sherkin) / The nanoSTAGE 2026-03-03 (Tuesday). $33.90. [tickets + more info]
Equinox and Solstice Residency (feat. Ghostlight) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-03-04 (Wednesday). $pwyc, sugg. $10. [FB event]
Drones Over Dufferin / The Emmet Ray 2026-03-05 (Thursday – 6:30 p.m). $15. [more info]
saucering [Tilman Lewis/Nilan Perera/Laura Swankey] [Where Things Are When album launch] / Sellers & Newel 2025-03-05 (Thursday). $20 minimum donation. [FB event]
Merival (Picastro) / Dina's Tavern 2026-03-05 (Thursday). $10. [FB event]
stef.in (not a band / Animatist) / Handlebar 2026-03-05 (Thursday). $20 or pwyc
Tania Gill Presents (feat. The Titillators with Alex Samaras [Ryan Driver/Alex Samaras/Tania Gill/Germaine Liu/Nick Fraser/Colin Cudmore]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-03-06 (Friday – early)
More Noise Please! presents: More Women in Noise Please! [Superjen's birthday bash! & celebration of international women's day!] (feat. Xicada × Iowyth Ulthiin / U9 × Water Stains / Autofeeder × Xodkaar / Kristina Guison / Esssena / Cellsync) / BSMT 254 2025-03-06 (Friday). $15/pwyc. [tickets + more info]
Doug Tielli and... (feat. Doug Tielli/Karen Ng/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-03-06 (Friday) [more info]
Long Winter @ Geary Art Crawl (feat. Kazdoura / cutsleeve / Kristina Guison / Dingani / TJ TRAXX) / Geary Factory Lofts x The Fueling Station 2026-03-07 (Saturday – all day, 2 p.m. 'til late). $pwyc (skip-the-line $25 day passes, $40 weekend passes available), all-ages/licensed. [tickets + more info]
Songs of Sorrow (feat. The Tallis Choir) / St. Patrick's Church 2026-03-07 (Saturday). $35 ($30 seniors). [FB event]
Dorothea Paas (Potions [Aidan McConnell/Ben Rositsan/Josh Sparks/Steven Noronha]) / St.Stephen-In-The-Fields Church 2025-03-07 (Saturday). $17.31, all ages/dry event. [tickets + more info]
Toronto Improvisers Orchestra / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-08 (Sunday – noon)
Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Senior & Newman / Lostworldsounds / Nick Flanagan / Nocturnes [Ayal Senior & Michelle Breslin]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-08 (Sunday – 2 p.m.) [FB event]
Long Winter @ Geary Art Crawl (feat. dogwhistle / GUTMACHINE / Bobby Gadda / Aliyah Aziz / SCRAPE / 358Narada & Asphalt Tomb) / Geary Factory Lofts x The Fueling Station 2026-03-08 (Sunday – all day, 2 p.m. 'til late). $pwyc (skip-the-line $25 day passes, $40 weekend passes available), all-ages/licensed. [tickets + more info]
International Women's Day (feat. Tania Gill/Aline Homzy/Karen Ng/Brittany Pitt/Mira Riselli) / Sellers & Newel 2026-03-08 (Sunday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Titanium Riot [Lina Allemano/Ryan Driver/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-03-08 (Sunday). $pwyc
Mike DeiCont presents: an evening of all ballads (feat. Mike DeiCont/Karen Ng/Mateos Labbé-Phelan/Patrick O'Reilly) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-03-09 (Monday)
Caylie Staples & Matt Brubeck / Sellers & Newel 2025-03-10 (Tuesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
The Adjacence [Lina Allemano/Karen Ng/Nick Fraser/Ryan Driver] / Sellers & Newel 2026-03-11 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Alex Lukashevsky with Mayme Joach / Drom Taberna 2025-03-11 (Wednesday) [more info]
mdbm [Michael White/Maggie Keogh/Don Rooke/Blake Howard] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-03-11 (Wednesday) [more info]
Thursdays at Noon (feat. Eve Egoyan) / Walter Hall 2026-03-12 (Thursday – noon). $free. [more info]
Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Xu Shaoyang / Owen Kurtz & Karen Ng / Mira Martin-Gray ["songs old and new", with her backing band of Josh Cole & Mark Zurawinski) / Agenda Cafe + Bar 2026-03-12 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]
Nash the Slash Rises Again! + Concert ["...a one night only event featuring the theatrical premiere of Nash the Slash Rises Again!, an in-person Q&A with the filmmakers and collaborators, plus a live musical performance with special guests!"] (feat. Ian Blurton/Christine Duncan/Rebecca Hennessy/Rob Higgins/Friendly Rich Marsella/Andrew Noseworthy/Frank Pahl/Eiyn Sof with house band: Kevin Breit/Dave Clark/Rebecca Hennessy/Michael Herring/Elena Kapeleris) / Hot Docs Cinema 2026-03-13 (Friday). $20 (general)/$15 (members). [FB event]
Max Donaldson [solo piano record launch!] / Sellers & Newel 2026-03-13 (Friday). $15 minimum donation. [more info]
The Music Gallery presents (feat. Brahja [Sam Shalabi/Daniel Gélinas/Damon Handoff/Georgia Wartel Collins/Devin Brahja Waldman] / High Alpine Hut Network) / Annette Studios 2026-03-13 (Friday). $PWYCA ($22.14/$27.29/$33.47). [tickets + more info]
Friends of Allan Gardens present: Water is a Shifting Mirror album release (feat. Eejungmi / Emissive) / Allan Gardens Conservatory 2026-03-13 (Friday). $22.60, 19+. [tickets + more info]
Ladyfinger [Diane Roblin & Kayla Milmine] / Sellers & Newel 2025-03-14 (Saturday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Liquid Architecture (feat. Michael Palumbo / destroya / Ryan Kinney / Adele Desmarais) / St Matthew's Clubhouse 2026-03-14 (Saturday). $10 (cash or e-transfer). [FB event]
Stranger Still [Rob Clutton/Mim Adams/Randi Helmers/Pete Johnston] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-03-15 (Sunday – 2 p.m.)
Bill Harris (William Hunt) / Sellers & Newel 2026-03-16 (Monday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Thin Edge New Music Collective: Solitudes [15th anniversary celebration! 2026 season launch! Works for solo performer and electronics by Kaija Saariaho, Rebekah Cummings, Chiyoko Slavnics, Gayle Young, and Paolo Griffin] (feat. Amahl Arulanandam / Cheryl Duvall / Nathan Petitpas / Justin Massey) / Array Space 2026-03-17 (Tuesday). $20 (arts/seniors/students), $25 (regular). [more info]
Motorists [album release!] (Deadbeat Beat / Automania) / Dina's Tavern 2025-03-18 (Wednesday). $20, 19+. [more info]
Labyrinth Musical Workshop Ontario presents Makam Nights (feat. Mariam Shakaa) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2025-03-19 (Thursday). $pwyc. [FB event]
David Occhipinti & Christine Bougie / Sellers & Newel 2026-03-20 (Friday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
LAL & Unit 2 Present: A Practice of Love: Live show preview (feat. LAL / Folke [EP release]) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2026-03-21 (Saturday). $17.31. [FB event]
Rob Clutton & Josh Cole / Sellers & Newel 2025-03-25 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Lipliners Residency (feat. Ronley Teper & The Lipliners) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-03-31 (Tuesday – early) [FB event]
Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Milkweed) / BSMT254 2026-03-31 (Tuesday). $24.94, 19+. [tickets + more info]
Bloop! [Lina Allemano & Mike Smith] / Sellers & Newel 2026-04-05 (Sunday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Jen Lo/Julien Bradley-Combs/Ben Dwyer / Sellers & Newel 2026-04-14 (Tuesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
The Evan Miles Trio [Evan Miles/Norbert Botos/Max Simpson] / Sellers & Newel 2026-04-15 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Gary Louris / Hugh's Room 2026-04-17 (Friday). $42.85 ($21.82 Arts Worker, Student, Underemployed). [tickets + more info]
Andrea Scala & Tania Gill / Sellers & Newel 2026-04-18 (Saturday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Art of Improv (feat. Mark Gane/Eugene Martynec/Bill Gilliam / Bob Wiseman/John Oswald/Jesse Levine) / Annette Studios 2026-04-19 (Sunday). $20 / PWYC. [FB event]
The Max Donaldson Quartet [Max Donaldson/Matteos Labbe-Phelan/Ian Afif/Max Stover] / Sellers & Newel 2026-04-19 (Sunday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Not Dead Yet presents (feat. The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis) / 918 Bathurst 2026-05-02 (Saturday). $37.10. [tickets + more info]
Playscape Emporium: Paint, Play (feat. Duo Cichorium / Constant Yen / Rowan Campbell / Charli/Fahmid/Joe/Mira) / Array Space 2026-05-21 (Thursday). $25 (or Pay What You Want), livestream: $12.00 (or Pay What You Want). [more info]
Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Cole Pulice / SpeariNg [Karen Ng & Charles Spearin] / Grace Scheele) / Collective Arts 2026-05-23 (Saturday). $22.89, 19+. [FB event]
Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Fuji||||||||||ta / Evicshen) / The Garrison 2026-06-10 (Wednesday). $30.14, 19+. [tickets + more info]
2026 Gigs
Tania Gill presents (feat. Victor Bateman/Brodie West/Nico Dann) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-02 (Friday)
The Silt / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-02 (Friday)
Track Could Bend #112 (feat. Duo BEAK / Vividness Trio) / Wenona Lodge 2026-01-06 (Tuesday)
Toronto Improvisors Orchestra / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-11 (Sunday)
Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Senior & Newman / Nick Flanagan / Aaron Knight / Azaria / Charter of the Forest) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-11 (Sunday)
ur audio visual presents (feat. Heraclitus Akimbo / Charter of the Forest) / The Sun Room @ 918 Bathurst 2026-01-18 (Sunday)
Track Could Bend #113 (feat. OH GEE / Ryan Kinney) / Wenona Lodge 2026-02-03 (Tuesday)
Toronto Improvisers Orchestra / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-02-08 (Sunday)
Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman / Destroya / Nick Flanagan / Roya/Marilyn/Ayal / Ayal Senior) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-02-08 (Sunday)
Bad Baby and Mayme Joach (Fan Wu / Colleen Coco Collins) / Burdock Music Hall 2026-02-08 (Sunday)
Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Max Stover/Mateos Labbé-Phelan/Andrew Furlong/Karen Ng) / Wenona Lodge 2026-02-17 (Tuesday)
Rapallo (Marker Starling) / Dina's Tavern 2025-02-21 (Saturday)
Earlobe fundraiser (feat. Many People) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-02-26 (Thursday)
coexisDance #113 (feat. New Chance / Rachana Joshi / Sid Eillers / Brandon Davis / Kayla Milmine / Brendan Swanson / Rowan-Muriel / Joel Lawrence) / Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre 2026-02-28 (Saturday)
Eliza Niemi (Shep. Treasure / Westelaken) / Dina's Tavern 2026-03-01 (Sunday)
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