Recording: Sarah Hennies & Tristan Kasten-Krause

Artist: Sarah Hennies & Tristan Kasten-Krause

Song: [second piece]^*

Recorded at East End United Church's Gymnasium (The Music Gallery presents What Is: heart(break) – Rebound), May 16, 2025.

Sarah Hennies & Tristan Kasten-Krause - [second piece]

If the other nights of the MG's What Is: heart(break) were anywhere nearly as innovative and unique as this night, it musta been a heckuva spring fling. Heading down into the basement of the East End United Church, the audience found a subterranean basketball court that they could lounge on — or hover over, given the raised platforms running along both sides of the court. A classic east-end "Tad find", animating an untraditional venue in the manner that Tad Michalak has done so often over the years.

Sarah Hennies' percussion performances tend not to work in the realm of exploring her instruments' rhythmic possibilities so much as their vibrational ones, filling spaces with surging waveforms that can physically affect the audience. This is especially true for her work with bowed vibraphone, where the intensity of the sound can sneak up on you (and get into your skull) despite not being aggressively loud. And in this outing, Tristan Kasten-Krause added to the sense of eerie dislocation as he coaxed some of the highest, screechiest sounds possible from his double bass. Add to that some spacialized bells/gongs/metal sheets and some envelope-pushing reed work and the set as a whole moved from pleasant meditation to brain-buzzing uneasiness.

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

Recording: Imaginary Percussion Ensemble

Artist: Imaginary Percussion Ensemble

Song: [first piece]^*

Recorded at East End United Church's Gymnasium (The Music Gallery presents What Is: heart(break) – Rebound), May 16, 2025.

Imaginary Percussion Ensemble - [first piece]

If the other nights of the MG's What Is: heart(break) were anywhere nearly as innovative and unique as this night, it musta been a heckuva spring fling. Heading down into the basement of the East End United Church, the audience found a subterranean basketball court that they could lounge on — or hover over, given the raised platforms running along both sides of the court. A classic east-end "Tad find", animating an untraditional venue in the manner that Tad Michalak has done so often over the years.

Leading off the night arranged in a triangle of power, Germaine Liu, Mark Zurawinski and Joe Sorbara brought some of their renowned game-like percussion exercises (passing around a cardboard box, hiding under the polyethylene silver emergency blanket that it contained, clanking plastic pop bottles, and so on) but at this show these were treated more as punctuation points between more formal pieces based around mallet percussion. That allowed a more melodic sensibility to move to the foregound, as heard on the charming piece here.

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

Monday Roundup #228

Community notes:

• "Club Night is a new monthly gathering that brings Tranzac members old and new to celebrate community, creativity, and connection. More than just a social event, Club Night invites members to help shape each evening—whether by contributing ideas, sharing talents, or simply showing up to build community. The first Club Night is open to everyone, including non-members, and is a great chance to come see what we’re all about. We’ll be screening the documentary Join or Die, an inspiring look at how belonging to a club strengthens democracy and well-being."

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Concert announcements:

Holy Oak Family Singers present: Bad Songs Done Well (feat. Thom Gill/Robin Dann/Bram Gielen/Bells Larsen/Charlotte Cornfield/Carlyn Bezic/Stefana Fratila/Dorothea Paas/Luka Kuplowsky/Fan Wu/Maggie Keogh/Ivi Mairi/Ben Gunning/Joseph Shabason) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-06-04 (Wednesday – early) [more info]

NO HAY BANDA [performing Sarah Davachi’s "Three Unisons for Four Voices"] (HxH) / The Music Gallery 2025-06-05 (Thursday). $10 (MG Members), $15-$25 (PWYCA). [more info]

More Noise Please! Presents: An Evening of Noise (feat. Pet Retina & Colin Fisher / Owen Kurtz / NIMAAH / Stefan Powell) / Burdock Music Hall 2025-06-06 (Friday). $16.95, all ages. [more info/tickets]

Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman / Drew Smith / Jaz Tsui / Nick Flanagan) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-06-08 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.) [FB event]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents [pre-tour send-off show!] (feat. Wilderness Adventure Ride) / Oculus Pavilion 2025-06-08 (Sunday). outdoors. [more info]

The Lori Freedman Trio [Lori Freedman/Adrianne Munden-Dixon/Allison Cameron] / Sellers and Newel 2024-06-08 (Sunday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Wesley Shen [works for solo piano by Anna Höstman and Emilie LeBel] / Array Space 2025-06-10 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Audiopollination [please come out to help celebrate Mike Lynn, on his last night hosting the series after thirteen years of crucial community-building!] (feat. David Sait/Marilyn Yogarajah/Magick / cheryl o/Neil Wiernik / Heraclitus Akimbo/Laura Swankey/Judy Zhu / Mickle32 & Rod Campbell) / Array Space 2025-06-13 (Friday) [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Kara-Lis Coverdale [record release]) / 918 Bathurst 2025-06-13 (Friday). $31.56, 19+. [more info]

CCMC / Array Space 2025-06-26 (Thursday). $pwyc, livestream available. [more info]

Noah Franche-Nolan & Dan Pitt [Arid Landscapes record release] / Sellers and Newel 2024-09-12 (Friday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Emily Klassen/Ben Stein/Amahl Arulanandam / Sellers and Newel 2024-10-23 (Thursday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

The Patrick Smith Trio [Patrick Smith/Lowell Whitty/Dan Pitt] / Sellers and Newel 2024-11-07 (Friday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Brittany Pitt/Dan Pitt/Laura Swankey / Sellers and Newel 2024-11-21 (Friday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

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

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Shows this week:

Confluent Motion [Bill Gilliam/Kayla Milmine/Rob Clutton/Joe Sorbara] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-26 (Monday) [more info]

Jim Lewis Quartet [Jim Lewis/Harley Card/Dan Fortin/Ethan Ardelli] / The Rex 2025-05-27 (Tuesday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

Solitary Shrew (feat. Mimi / Hivemaker) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-27 (Tuesday – early) [more info]

In The Round (feat. Char Aragoza / Casey Mecija / Louie Sanchez) / Burdock Music Hall 2025-05-27 (Tuesday). $16.95, all-ages. [tickets + more info]

Nick Fraser presents (feat. Nick Fraser's Special Topics [Nick Fraser/Josh Cole/Kae Murphy/Max Stover]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-27 (Tuesday)

May Residency (feat. Roy) / The Cameron House 2025-05-28 (Wednesday – 6 p.m.) [more info]

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]

CCMC / Array Space 2025-05-29 (Thursday). $pwyc, livestream available. [more info]

Heraclitus Akimbo [Decade compilation release & ten-year celebration concert] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-29 (Thursday) [FB event]

Forty on Friday [works by Martin Arnold, Jason Doell (world premiere), Tyshawn Sorey, and Joanna Bailie] (feat. Continuum Contemporary Music) / Hugh’s Room Live 2025-05-30 (Friday). $22.63/$19.44 senior/student/arts worker. [more info]

Exit Points #60 (feat. Benson Lee/Stella Turcica/Adam Tindale/Stephanie Chua/Katherine Semchuk / Chibuzr/Dafydd Hughes/amielangonline/Lance Keizer/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups) / Array Space 2025-05-30 (Friday). $15 Early Bird/$20 Advanced/$25 General Admission. [FB event]

The Ryan Driver Sextet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-30 (Friday). [more info]

Batuki Music Society presents: Mieux Vaut Tard Que Jamais / Better Late Than Never release celebration (feat. Njacko Backo & Kalimbas At Work / Nii Osabu/Nyama Bill/Nkoni Backo) / The Redwood Theatre 2025-05-31 (Saturday). $20 with CD (advance) / $25 with CD (door). [FB event]

Bayê Bakûr (Northern Breeze) (feat. Shahriyar Jamshidi & Hezil) / Canadian Music Centre 2025-05-31 (Saturday). $25 (advance)/$30 (at the door). [FB event]

Digital Bath [Josh Sparks/Ben Rositsan/Steven Noronha/Ray Goudy/Josh Cole/Phil Melanson] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-31 (Saturday) [more info]

Uma Nota Culture and Lulaworld Festival present: Bruno Capinan's Pride Month Party (Concert & Drag Cabaret) (feat. Bruno Capinan) / Lula Lounge 2025-06-01 (Sunday). $30.58, under 18 with parent or legal guardian. [FB event]

Harrison Squared Quartet [Harrison Argatoff/Harry Vetro/Andrew Furlong/Max Stover] / The Emmet Ray 2025-06-01 (Sunday). $12. [more info]

Del Stephen & SOUSOU Sings / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-06-01 (Sunday). $pwyc

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Video hits:

• Alex Hamlyn (who's played sax or something else on a bunch of albums you probably dig) gives a droll performance in this nicely-shot video for Elrichman's "Kiss the Ring", which also happens to serve as a notification of the forthcoming album of the same name.

Recording: Holger Schoorl & Mark Zurawinski

Artist:

Song: Holger Schoorl & Mark Zurawinski

Recorded at Array Space (Audiopollination), May 9, 2025.

Holger Schoorl & Mark Zurawinski - [1st section]

Holger Schoorl's ongoing public embrace of the shreddier side of his guitar craft continues to dazzle, with some postpunk kachunk rolling along to Mark Zurawinski's rattles.

You can watch the archive of the full evening's livestream over on Audiopollination's youtube channel.

[Holger Schoorl will be showing off a different facet of his sounds at Array Space next Wednesday (May 28th) with a performance of his opera Dinner Party, where he'll be joined by Liz Lima, Scott Gabriel, and Randi Helmers. Audiopollination is back at Array Space on June 13th with sets by David Sait/Marilyn Yogarajah/Magick, cheryl o + Neil Wiernik, Heraclitus Akimbo/Laura Swankey/Judy Zhu and Mickle32 + Rod Campbell. It'll also be the last show hosted by Michael Lynn before handing things over to new hosts Marylin and Yasmine, so please come down to help celebrate the thirteen years he has been running the series.]

Recording: Mira Martin-Gray

Artist: Mira Martin-Gray

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Array Space (Audiopollination), May 9, 2025.

Mira Martin-Gray - [excerpt]

An unexpected solo set while bringing out the now-infrequently seen no-input mixer made this into something like a tendencyitis throwback set. Although there were some harsh edges to the feedback bursts, it was more interesting how much melody and rhythmic nimbleness there was taking over the centre of the sound.

You can watch the archive of the full evening's livestream over on Audiopollination's youtube channel.

[Audiopollination is back at Array Space on June 13th with sets by David Sait/Marilyn Yogarajah/Magick, cheryl o + Neil Wiernik, Heraclitus Akimbo/Laura Swankey/Judy Zhu and Mickle32 + Rod Campbell. It'll also be the last show hosted by Michael Lynn before handing things over to new hosts Marylin and Yasmine, so please come down to help celebrate the thirteen years he has been running the series.]

photo from the archived livestream

Recording: mkl32

Artist: mkl32

Song: [improvisation]

Recorded at Array Space (Audiopollination), May 9, 2025.

mkl32 - [improvisation]

With an unusual number of no-shows from the self-curated sign-up sheet thinning out the ranks of the evening's musicians, host Michael Lynn took up the challenge to fill in with a short solo set for double bass. Using paper towel rolls as preparations added to his repertoire of muted clonks and squirks.

You can watch the archive of the full evening's livestream over on Audiopollination's youtube channel.

[Audiopollination is back at Array Space on June 13th with sets by David Sait/Marilyn Yogarajah/Magick, cheryl o + Neil Wiernik, Heraclitus Akimbo/Laura Swankey/Judy Zhu and Mickle32 + Rod Campbell. It'll also be the last show hosted by Michael Lynn before handing things over to new hosts Marylin and Yasmine, so please come down to help celebrate the thirteen years he has been running the series.]

Recording: Mongeon/Palumbo/Roblin

Artist: Pierre Mongeon/Michael Palumbo/Diane Roblin

Song: [1st piece, excerpt]

Recorded at Array Space (Audiopollination), May 9, 2025.

Pierre Mongeon/Michael Palumbo/Diane Roblin - [1st piece, excerpt]

It'd been a good spell since I've been able to make an Audiopollination, so it was a prize to be able to slip back into the vibe with a classic "instant combo" like this one, with the three musicians playing confidently and listening intently. Michael Palumbo's modular synth mostly held down the high-end here ringing and buzzing above Diane Roblin's piano and Pierre Mongeon's trumpet/melodica.

You can watch the archive of the full evening's livestream over on Audiopollination's youtube channel.

[Audiopollination is back at Array Space on June 13th with sets by David Sait/Marilyn Yogarajah/Magick, cheryl o + Neil Wiernik, Heraclitus Akimbo/Laura Swankey/Judy Zhu and Mickle32 + Rod Campbell. It'll also be the last show hosted by Michael Lynn before handing things over to new hosts Marylin and Yasmine, so please come down to help celebrate the thirteen years he has been running the series.]

Recording: Allemano/Driver/Klager

Artist: Lina Allemano/Ryan Driver/Caleb Klager

Song: [two excerpts]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #104), May 6, 2025.

Lina Allemano/Ryan Driver/Caleb Klager - [excerpt 1]

Lina Allemano/Ryan Driver/Caleb Klager - [excerpt 2]

Trumpeter Lina Allemano keeps busy leading multiple ensembles, both in Toronto and Berlin, but still takes time to explore new sounds and new contexts. This experiment in electroacoustic alchemy mixed in two different flavours of synthesis from Ryan Driver and Caleb Klager, who worked to provide sonic context in the realms of texture more than melody. Incredible stuff, and definitely hoping we get a chance to hear more of this.

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

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on Tuesday, June 3rd with EMF emanations from Aliyah Aziz and prepared guitar collisions from William Davison and Phil Hamilton.]

Recording: Hex-A-Decimal

Artist: Hex-A-Decimal

Song: Greeps [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #104), May 6, 2025.

Hex-A-Decimal - Greeps [excerpt]

There was a time when you might have seen a show or a movie only once when it was on TV, and even if it profoundly affected you, all you would have was an unverifiable memory of it. For some resonant broadcasts, you might even elaborate on your memories, creating your own weird off-brand version with new details filled in by your imagination. Channeling sounds from some notional and nonlinear Ciat-Lonbarde synths, Hex-A-Decimal presented some scenes from a misremembered/re-imagined version of Brazil tracking artificial souls through a reality that only exists inside buildings — a notional and nonlinear retelling that had a discursive radiophonic quality, like something from a script by Chris Marker or Alain Resnais.

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

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on Tuesday, June 3rd with EMF emanations from Aliyah Aziz and prepared guitar collisions from William Davison and Phil Hamilton.]

Recording: Caleb Klager

Artist: Caleb Klager

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #104), May 6, 2025.

Caleb Klager - [excerpt]

On-site to perform as part of Lina Allemano's trio, Klager was also a last-minute fill-in to open the night, presenting some solo sounds for modular synth.

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

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on Tuesday, June 3rd with EMF emanations from Aliyah Aziz and prepared guitar collisions from William Davison and Phil Hamilton.]

Monday Roundup #227

Community notes:

• The second Tranzac Town Hall will be taking place on Sunday (May 25th) in the Main Hall from 1 to 4 p.m. "Open to all members of the Tranzac community: old members, new members, lapsed members and never members, artists, audience and attendees. We have been examining options around charitable status for the organization and we want to share those with you and get your feedback. If you have additional ideas or topics you would like to discuss please use this form and submit by May 21st."

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Concert announcements:

Confluent Motion [Bill Gilliam/Kayla Milmine/Rob Clutton/Joe Sorbara] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-26 (Monday) [more info]

The Ryan Driver Sextet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-30 (Friday). [more info]

Sonomadic Improv (feat. Walter Gershon [talk] / Schoorl/Milmine Duo / Imaginary Lines Quartet [Jonathan Kay/Walter Gershon/Joe Sorbara/Brandon Davis] / Astrid Gnome [Kayla Milmine/Jonathan Kay/Mike Smith/Alex Fournier/Aaron Blewett]) / Annette Studios 2025-05-31 (Saturday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Bayê Bakûr (Northern Breeze) (feat. Shahriyar Jamshidi & Hezil) / Canadian Music Centre 2025-05-31 (Saturday). $25 (advance)/$30 (at the door). [FB event]

Uma Nota Culture and Lulaworld Festival present: Bruno Capinan's Pride Month Party (Concert & Drag Cabaret) (feat. Bruno Capinan) / Lula Lounge 2025-06-01 (Sunday). $30.58, under 18 with parent or legal guardian. [FB event]

Track Could Bend #105 (feat. William Davison/Phil Hamilton / Aliyah Aziz) / Wenona Lodge 2025-06-03 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Equinox and Solstice Residency (feat. Ghostlight) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-06-04 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Araz Salek [Peripheries of Nahavand album launch and birthday celebration] / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-06-08 (Sunday – 6 p.m.) [FB event]

Hooveriii (The John Denver Airport Conspiracy) / Blood Brothers Brewing 2025-06-13 (Friday). $24.98, 19+. [FB event]

New Chance [A Rock Unsteady record release] (Bile Sister) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-06-14 (Saturday). $28.27. [more info/tickets]

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

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Shows this week:

Jim Lewis Quartet [Jim Lewis/Harley Card/Dan Fortin/Ethan Ardelli] / The Rex 2025-05-20 (Tuesday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Brodie West [solo] / Karen Ng/Leslie Ting/Germaine Liu) / Wenona Lodge 2025-05-20 (Tuesday) [more info]

Cassiar Records presents (feat. Josh Cole’s Quartet + Strings [Lina Allemano/John Oswald/Aline Homzy/Nick Storring/Blake Howard/Josh Cole]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-20 (Tuesday) [FB event]

May Residency (feat. Roy) / The Cameron House 2025-05-21 (Wednesday – 6 p.m.) [more info]

Doug Paisley / Monarch Tavern 2025-05-22 (Thursday). $34.37, 19+. [FB event]

Karen Ng presents (feat. Karen Ng/Patrick O'Reilly/%%30%30) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-22 (Thursday) [more info]

TONE presents (feat. Eric Chenaux Trio / Cici Arthur) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-05-23 (Friday). $28.27 adv / $30 door, all ages. [FB event]

Music & Poetry (feat. Silver Pools / Rhiannon Cobb / Bashar Lulu Jabbour / Man Meets Bear) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-23 (Friday)

Drone Day 2025 (feat. dreamSTATE / DRONE:KLUB:47) / Trinity St-Paul's Centre 2024-05-24 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $free, all-ages, family-friendly. [FB event]

Blunt Object [Jay Hay/Ben Dietschi/Gordon Hyland/Jesse Malone/Teppei Kamei/Heather Saumer/Robin Jessome/Josh Bird/Tania Gill/Victor Batemen/Eric West] / The Rex 2025-05-24 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $10/$15. [FB event]

Retrievals: New Music for Old Tech ["new works for violin and electronics by Tsz Long Yu and James Lowrie alongside Alvin Lucier's "Clocker". Expect 90s living room vibes, static, street lights indoors, an ice-fishing camera shaped like a fish, and very much more."] (feat. Arlan Vriens / Tim Roth) / Canadian Music Centre 2025-05-24 (Saturday). $free. [FB event]

More Noise Please Presents: An Evening of Relentless Noise (feat. Worth / Pain Appendix / Taskmaster / Jute / Toanche Dwelling) / The No No Room at The Dock Ellis 2025-05-24 (Saturday). $15/pwyc. [FB event]

Imaginary North presents: Ambient Afternoon/Drone Day Hangover (feat. Astrolope / dreamSTATE / Ely Lyonblum / Erica Whyte / Grace Scheele / Hymns57 / Kilometre Club / Kyle Gottschalk / Measure / Mia Moon / Michael Palumbo / Wakabuggie) / Standard Time 2025-05-25 (Sunday – 3 p.m.). $11.30. [more info/tickets]

Sympathetic String Band's Last Sundays Residency (feat. The Sympathetic String Band / Alex Lukashevsky / JOYSHAPE) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-25 (Sunday – early) [FB event]

Ben Mike & The Beatles [Ben Rositsan/Maxwell Stover/Zack Goldstein/Ray Goudy/Josh Sparks/Dylan Burrett/Ben Mike/Steven Noronha/Will Hunt/Sara May/Lauren Dillen/Aidan McConnell] (Carolina Lopez / Sweet Lips [debuting a new audio installation]) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-05-25 (Sunday). $20.00 (advance) / $25 (door). [more info]

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It happened this week...

• ...on May 23, 2019 at The Horseshoe Tavern.

Jon Langford & The Skull Orchard Welsh Male Chorus - Deep Sea Diver

• ...on May 24, 2019 at Array Space (Invocation Presents).

Nashville Minimalism Unit - May Two Four [excerpt]

[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: Labyrinth Ensemble with Âriâ Mohâfez

Artist: Labyrinth Ensemble with Âriâ Mohâfez

Song: Tasnif-e Parastu [composer: Habibollah Badiei]

Recorded at the Aga Khan Museum, May 3, 2025.

Labyrinth Ensemble with Âriâ Mohâfez - Tasnif-e Parastu

Another excellent night at the Aga Khan with the Labyrinth Ensemble, this time hosting Iranian santur player Âriâ Mohâfez. Although the concert followed the template that Labyrinth has been developing for the past couple years (an intensive rehearsal and teaching process leading up to the show, followed by a concert with suites of pieces punctuated by solo spots for the ensemble members) this had a different vibe than the previous shows — certainly a different sonic feel in how the strings related to the rest of the ensemble, but more strikingly, there was a shape to the presentation that saw the show's end eschew the "big finale" to instead close on a morally-resolute and solemn note with Mohâfez's pieces "Shokufan/Abloom" and "Nika", dedicated, respectively, to Iran's womens' movement and Nika Shakarami.

Recording: Stranger Still

Artist: Stranger Still

Song: Days End [based on a poem by Alden Nowlan]

Recorded at The Sun Room, 918 Bathurst, April 13, 2025.

Stranger Still - Days End

With a new set of Alden Nowlan poems set to music ready to be taken into the studio, Pete Johnston and company worked through the arrangements over a couple sets in the properly-sunny Sun Room, evoking East Coast feelings of bone-weary dread, gossip about the neighbours, the weight of the Great War, and various sentiments encountered while walking down various roads.

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

Monday Roundup #226

Contest reminder (+ festival reminder!):

• Just a quick reminder that you have one last day to get your name in to win a pair of tickets to What Is: Rebound, on Friday night. Curated by Tad Michalak, the show is East End United Church’s sunken basketball court and presenting a night of avant-percussion from Sarah Hennies and Tristan Kasten-Krause plus the Imaginary Percussion Ensemble. Draw is tomorrow (Tuesday the 13th) at noon! Go here to enter! And check out all the programming (on- and off-site) that the MG has as past of the Festival Tuesday to Saturday!

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Concert announcements:

Jim Lewis Quartet [Jim Lewis/Harley Card/Dan Fortin/Ethan Ardelli] / The Rex 2025-05-20 (Tuesday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

Blunt Object [Jay Hay/Ben Dietschi/Gordon Hyland/Jesse Malone/Teppei Kamei/Heather Saumer/Robin Jessome/Josh Bird/Tania Gill/Victor Batemen/Eric West] / The Rex 2025-05-24 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $10/$15. [FB event]

Retrievals: New Music for Old Tech ["new works for violin and electronics by Tsz Long Yu and James Lowrie alongside Alvin Lucier's "Clocker". Expect 90s living room vibes, static, street lights indoors, an ice-fishing camera shaped like a fish, and very much more."] (feat. Arlan Vriens / Tim Roth) / Canadian Music Centre 2025-05-24 (Saturday). $free. [FB event]

More Noise Please Presents: An Evening of Relentless Noise (feat. Worth / Pain Appendix / Taskmaster / Jute / Toanche Dwelling) / The No No Room at The Dock Ellis 2025-05-24 (Saturday). $15/pwyc. [FB event]

Sympathetic String Band's Last Sundays Residency (feat. The Sympathetic String Band / Alex Lukashevsky / JOYSHAPE) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-25 (Sunday – early) [FB event]

Jim Lewis Quartet [Jim Lewis/Harley Card/Dan Fortin/Ethan Ardelli] / The Rex 2025-05-27 (Tuesday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

In The Round (feat. Char Aragoza / Casey Mecija / Louie Sanchez) / Burdock Music Hall 2025-05-27 (Tuesday). $16.95, all-ages. [tickets + more info]

Exit Points #60 (feat. Benson Lee/Stella Turcica/Adam Tindale/Stephanie Chua/Katherine Semchuk / Chibuzr/Dafydd Hughes/amielangonline/Lance Keizer/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups) / Array Space 2025-05-30 (Friday). $15 Early Bird/$20 Advanced/$25 General Admission. [FB event]

Do West Fest (feat. ZONES / Noble Rot / Edmund Stay / Art D’ecco) / Transmit Stage 2025-06-06 (Friday). $free, outdoors, family-friendly. [more info]

Do West Fest (feat. Macaroni Birthday / Heaven For Real / Tijuana Bibles / Jay Feelbender / Orbital Ensemble / The Royal Family / Sam Jr. / Shiv & The Carvers / Prostitute / Fucked Up) / Transmit Stage 2025-06-07 (Saturday). $free, outdoors, family-friendly. [more info]

Do West Fest (feat. Huxlii / Twist / Dumb Crush / Fanclubwallet / cootie catcher / PONY) / Transmit Stage 2025-06-08 (Sunday). $free, outdoors, family-friendly. [more info]

Jessica Ackerley / Sellers & Newel 2025-06-18 (Wednesday). $20. [FB event]

Open Thread [Peggy Lee/Julien Wilson/Theo Carbo/Dylan van der Schyff] / Sellers & Newel 2025-06-19 (Thursday). $20. [FB event]

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

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Shows this week:

Toronto Electronic Music Open Mic (feat. Timothy 1105 / Chin Beats / Giant Floating Head / Tyrek / Ben Green / Alissa Vox Raw / Inchoate / naw / Puppies in Submarines / Extinction on Schedule / Samuel Lozano / Gruve Collective) / Handlebar 2025-05-12 (Monday) [more info]

Jim Lewis Quartet [Jim Lewis/Harley Card/Dan Fortin/Ethan Ardelli] / The Rex 2025-05-13 (Tuesday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

The Music Gallery presents What Is: heart(break) – 1:11 moonwatching (feat. Jenna Geen & Zoma / Aidan McConnell / Gary Kirkham) / The Music Gallery 2025-05-13 (Tuesday). $10 [MG members], PWYC $15/$20/$25; $45 fest pass [MG members], $70 fest pass [non-MG members], all-ages. [more info]

May Residency (feat. Roy) / The Cameron House 2025-05-14 (Wednesday – 6 p.m.) [more info]

Brodie West Double Basses Quintet [Brodie West/Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Patrick O'Reilly/Aidan McConnell] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-14 (Wednesday – early)

The Music Gallery presents What Is: heart(break) – Resurrection (feat. 8ULENTINA / Patrick Perez / Hagop Ohannessian) / Standard Time 2025-05-14 (Wednesday). $10 [MG members], PWYC $15/$20/$25; $45 fest pass [MG members], $70 fest pass [non-MG members], all-ages. [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Nikki Huang / Colby Richardson / Bag) / "a playground somewhere in Toronto" 2025-05-14 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [more info]

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

Never Was [Brandon Davis/Bea Labikova/Racha Moukalled/Patrick O'Reilly/Adrian Russouw/Joe Sorbara] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-14 (Wednesday). [more info]

Ronley Teper’s Lipliners [Ronley Teper/Tim Posgate/Dafydd Hughes] / The Rex 2025-05-15 (Thursday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

Playscape Emporium: Arcade-palooza (feat. Render File / Jason Leaver PuzzSoft) / Array Space 2024-05-15 (Thursday). $20.00 (or Pay What You Wish) / Livestream: $10.00 (or Pay What You Wish). [more info]

The Music Gallery presents What Is: heart(break) – Scentimental ["aromatic curator Sandro Petrillo will infuse the conservatory with hand-rolled incense"] (feat. Mas Aya / Sandro Petrillo / billie raphael) / The Music Gallery 2025-05-15 (Thursday). $10 [MG members], PWYC $15/$20/$25; $45 fest pass [MG members], $70 fest pass [non-MG members], all-ages. [more info]

Makam Nights (feat. Canan Sezgin-Geylan & Yahya Geylan) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2025-05-15 (Thursday). $pwyc, notaflof. [more info]

Above Top Secret [Record Release Show] (Sydanie) / The Cameron House (Back Room) 2025-05-15 (Thursday). $15, 19+. [more info/tickets]

Sub-Sessions #10 (feat. Pick A Piper / Essie Watts / Erik Masson / Blush) / BSMT 254 2025-05-15 (Thursday). $pwyc, $15 recommended. [FB event]

Spheres of Southworth (feat. John Southworth & The South Seas) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-16 (Friday – early) [more info]

The Music Gallery presents What Is: heart(break) – Rebound (feat. Sarah Hennies / Tristan-Kasten Krause / Imaginary Percussion Ensemble) / East End United Basketball Court 2025-05-16 (Friday). $10 [MG members], PWYC $15/$20/$25; $45 fest pass [MG members], $70 fest pass [non-MG members], all-ages. [more info]

The Music Gallery presents What Is: heart(break) – Empty It Out (feat. Secondsight / Empty-it-out Ensemble / Jade Blair / Khashayar Mohammadi) / The Music Gallery 2025-05-17 (Saturday). $10 [MG members], PWYC $15/$20/$25; $45 fest pass [MG members], $70 fest pass [non-MG members], all-ages. [more info]

Digital North No.1 — New Connections ["a brand new concert series in Toronto, Digital North supports new Canadian electroacoustic music from across the country by featuring both emerging Canadian composers as well as bringing new attention to historic and significant Canadian electroacoustic works", feat. works by Dominic Sambucco, Alison Hain, Mikael Meunier-Bisson, sylvi macCormac, Steven Webb, Matthew Ariaratnam, Norma Beecroft] / St. George by the Grange 2025-05-17 (Saturday). $25.00 (general admission), $18.00 (student/arts worker). [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ...on May 12, 2016 at Ratio (Somewhere There Presents).

Xavier Charles + Éric Normand - [excerpt]

Heather Saumer + Doug Tielli - The Forsaken Mermaid

[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: Man Made Hill

Artist: Man Made Hill

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Tranzac (Main Hall), April 12, 2025.

Man Made Hill - unknown

This set started off with some previews from MMH's forthcoming new album — hot new cruffins inbound from the test kitchen — but then ascended into an outrageous display of turntablism before everything came crashing down.

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

Recording: Greydini

Artist: Greydini

Song: Face Incubation Time

Recorded at The Tranzac (Main Hall), April 12, 2025.

Greydini - Face Incubation Time

Broadcasting from five minutes into the future, where mysterious videotapes emanate strange hallucinations of doom, Greydini brought a set of lurching stomps and psychoreactive slogans. Maybe the abstract threats from actual garbage cans will sort themselves out if you lean in and listen closely.

Recording: Shaaane

Artist: Shaaane

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Tranzac (Main Hall), April 12, 2025.

Shaaane - unknown

This mysterious pair with the shouted name and just a single track on Bandcamp turned out to feature a couple familiar faces, namely Greg Keefe and Cyril Penney, both of beloved jazz-punks Retired. This duo wasn't in completely different territory — but hewed to the side of Retired that featured noise-spasms, shoutbursts, and ranting samples.

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

Contest: What Is: heart(break)

What Is: heart(break)

May 13-17, 2025

Continuing to decenter its programming from X Avant, "What Is" — the Music Gallery's "spring" festival — continues to explore new connections and resonances. This year's festival asks "What Is: heart(break)", unlayering the stages over five nights of programming.

Even if you decide not to get too caught up in the conceptual arc of the shows, the musical content is more than enough to make this worthy of attention, mixing visiting artists whith a whole bunch of local faves that should be familiar to folks who peruse these pages. (And that includes Germaine Liu's Imaginary Percussion Ensemble, Aidan McConnell, plus an extended Mas Aya band featuring Isla Craig, Rob Clutton, Reimundo Sosa and Nick Storring.)

TICKETS + MORE INFO

Tickets for individual shows are $10 for MG Members, and $15/$20/$25 on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis for non-members. Festival passes are $45 for members and $70 for non-members.

CONTEST

Thanks to the Music Gallery, I have a pair of tickets to give away to Rebound, the festival's penultimate night (Friday, May 16th), curated by Tad Michalak. In classic Tad style, the show is at a unique east-end venue, taking over East End United Church’s sunken basketball court and presenting a night of avant-percussion from Sarah Hennies, Tristan Kasten-Krause, and the Imaginary Percussion Ensemble.

To enter, shoot me an email to mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com, with "contest" in the title and your name in the body. I'll randomly draw a winner on Tuesday, May 12th.

Monday Roundup #225

Concert announcements:

May Residency (feat. Roy) / The Cameron House 2025-05-14 (Wednesday – 6 p.m.) [more info]

Brodie West Double Basses Quintet [Brodie West/Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Patrick O'Reilly/Aidan McConnell] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-14 (Wednesday – early)

Digital North No.1 — New Connections ["a brand new concert series in Toronto, Digital North supports new Canadian electroacoustic music from across the country by featuring both emerging Canadian composers as well as bringing new attention to historic and significant Canadian electroacoustic works", feat. works by Dominic Sambucco, Alison Hain, Mikael Meunier-Bisson, sylvi macCormac, Steven Webb, Matthew Ariaratnam, Norma Beecroft] / St. George by the Grange 2025-05-17 (Saturday). $25.00 (general admission), $18.00 (student/arts worker). [FB event]

Josh Cole Quartet + Strings [Aline Homzy/Lina Allemano/John Oswald/Nick Storring/Josh Cole/Blake Howard] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-20 (Tuesday). $15/notaflof. [more info]

May Residency (feat. Roy) / The Cameron House 2025-05-21 (Wednesday – 6 p.m.) [more info]

May Residency (feat. Roy) / The Cameron House 2025-05-28 (Wednesday – 6 p.m.) [more info]

Heraclitus Akimbo [Decade compilation release & ten-year celebration concert] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-29 (Thursday) [FB event]

Batuki Music Society presents: Mieux Vaut Tard Que Jamais / Better Late Than Never release celebration (feat. Njacko Backo & Kalimbas At Work / Nii Osabu/Nyama Bill/Nkoni Backo) / The Redwood Theatre 2025-05-31 (Saturday). $20 with CD (advance) / $25 with CD (door). [FB event]

The Marker Starling Band (Derrick Anthony Vella) / BSMT 254 2025-06-14 (Saturday – early). $20, 19+. [FB event]

TONE presents (feat. Tara Clerkin Trio / Slow Attack Ensemble / Potions) / Collective Arts 2025-09-13 (Saturday). $22.89, 19+. [FB event]

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

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Shows this week:

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

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

Peripheral Vision ["playing (mostly) the music of Anthony Braxton"] [Trevor Hogg/Don Scott/Michael Herring/Nick Fraser with special guest Kevin Turcotte] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-06 (Tuesday). [more info]

May Residency (feat. Roy) / The Cameron House 2025-05-07 (Wednesday – 6 p.m.) [more info]

Tone Cathedral Trio [Brian Abbott/Paul Newman/Sara Constant] / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2025-05-07 (Wednesday)

Musica Universalis {feat. Spencer Cole & Colin Fisher) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-07 (Wednesday). $pwyc, $10 suggested. [more info]

Project Nowhere x Departure (feat. Mother Tongues / Motherhood / Jane Inc.) / The Garrison 2025-05-08 (Thursday). $20 adv / $25 at the door, 19+. [FB event]

Post-Bluegrass Bluegrass (feat. Isla and the Sorry Brothers [Isla Craig/Karsten Stryker/Kurt Newman]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-08 (Thursday)

Audiopollination (feat. Pierre/Michael Palumbo/Diane Roblin / Samiul Samir/Skits Harpi/Annie Spence / Michael Paddock/Mira Martin-Gray/Daria Morgacheva / Holger Schoorl and company) / Array Space 2025-05-09 (Friday). $10 (cash or card), NOTAFLOF, livestream available. [FB event]

Lina Allemano Four [Special 20th Anniversary Retrospective Show] [Lina Allemano/Andrew Downing/Brodie West/Nick Fraser] / Sellers and Newel 2025-05-10 (Saturday). $20 minimum donation. [FB event]

RITUALS [EP release] (Torrent / FORMING) / The Baby G 2025-05-10 (Saturday). $22.70, 19+. [FB event]

Liquid Architecture (feat. Raphael Roter / Denis Romanov / Dusty Attic Sunbeam / Ryan Kinney) / Mischief Makers 2025-05-10 (Saturday). $10 (cash or adv. ticket), $12 (card at door). [FB event]

Link Music Lab Label Release Party (feat. Kimia Koochakzadeh-Yazdi/Niloufar Shiri/Matti Pulkki/Scott Peterson/Caleb Klager / Persian Alchemy [Neda Mohamadpour/Isaiah Farahbakhsh/Mehdi Rostami]) / Cafeteria 2025-05-10 (Saturday). $16.95 (early bird), $22.60 (1st release), $33.90 (general admission), 19+. [FB event]

Jesse Levine presents (feat. CORDS [Jesse Levine/Jay Hay/Dan Gooch]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-10 (Saturday) [more info]

Toronto Improvisers Orchestra / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-11 (Sunday – noon) [more info]

Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Senior/Newman / Spaceship Landini / Nick Flanagan / Nathan Yell) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-11 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.) [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ...on May 8, 2015 at Ratio.

The Ryan Driver Band - Fruitless Endeavour

• ...on May 9, 2015 at The Tranzac's Main Hall (Blocks Final Concert).

The Barcelona Pavilion - Tidy Up Tidy Up

[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.]