Monday Roundup #293

Community notes:

• The 2026 Musicworks Electronic Music Composition Contest is now open. "Compose/submit an experimental piece in any electronic-music genre — acousmatic, electroacoustic, glitch, soundscape, intelligent dance music (IDM), turntable art, video music et. al. The contest is open to entries from anyone located anywhere in the world and from artists at any age or stage of career. Pieces must be previously unpublished, i.e. not released on a commercially available recording at the time of submission." Maximum length is 10 minutes. Contest entry fee is $30, and entrants receive a free one-year subscription to the print edition of Musicworks. Get all the information you need here.

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Concert announcements:

Altered States Artist Showcase (feat. Rebecca Hennessy/Michael Herring/Tim Shia) / Water to Wine 2026-09-02 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [more info]

the grandson [album release show] [Yoshi Maclear Wall/Ezra Schell/Lee Rosensweet] (Genre Fiction [Ben Culver/Alex McPherson/Miles Cakebread-Kraus/Ali Rashid]) / Burdock Music Hall 2026-09-02 (Wednesday). $10. [more info]

ESP Free Jazz Thursdays (feat Brent Tanemura/Jake Bikay/Diana Piruzevska/Gloria Ksimuniv) / Water to Wine 2026-09-03 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents: Back to School Field Trip ["a festival of outdoor experimental sounds and actions"] (feat. Germaine Liu / Fossils / Day of Niagara) / "River" 2026-09-05 (Saturday). $pwyc. [more info]

Adjacent Spheres ["performing original music inspired by and composed by Dean Veneruz"] (feat. Village [Michael Davidson/Joel Bracken/Aline Homzy/Jen Lo/Hiro Tanaka/Mateo Mancuso]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-09-06 (Sunday)

Ministry of Phonic Services presents: Back to School Field Trip ["a festival of outdoor experimental sounds and actions"] (feat. Vampire John Coltrane / Bee Solomon / Cows in Rain) / "Porch" 2026-09-07 (Monday). $pwyc. [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents: Back to School Field Trip ["a festival of outdoor experimental sounds and actions"] (feat. J.Vulgare / Colby Richardson / Fan Wu / Mariana Medellin) / "Mall" 2026-09-09 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents: Back to School Field Trip ["a festival of outdoor experimental sounds and actions"] (feat. Brian Abbott's Tone Cathedral / Mani Mazinani & Marilyn Yogarajah / Bea Labikova) / "Creek" 2026-09-11 (Friday). $pwyc. [more info]

Elastic Recordings Presents: Inhabiting & Releasing Spontaneous Structures – A Concert & Workshop (feat. The Plastic Waste Band / Michael Davidson & Bjorn Kriel / Aline Homzy) / Annette Studios 2026-09-13 (Sunday – workshop @ 3:00 p.m., concert @ 8:00 p.m.). $20-$25 concert only (advance), $25-$40 concert + workshop (advance), $free (kids 12 + under). [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip: Installation Garden ["a festival of outdoor experimental sounds and actions"] (feat. various artists) / "Ravine" 2026-09-13 (Sunday). $pwyc. [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip: BPM (Big Percussion Meeting) ["a festival of outdoor experimental sounds and actions"] (feat. Amiel Ang / Brian Ruryk / Raf Wilcot / Victor O / Caleb Clawson) / "Playground" 2026-09-15 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [more info]

Green-House (Masahiro Takahashi) / The Baby G 2026-09-16 (Wednesday). $25.03, 19+. [FB event]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents: Back to School Field Trip ["a festival of outdoor experimental sounds and actions"] (feat. HAHAHAHAHAHA / shemona / quivering / Emergency Euphoria) / "Highway" 2026-09-23 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents: Back to School Field Trip ["a festival of outdoor experimental sounds and actions"] (feat. SlowPitchSound / Fleshtone Aura & Sandro Perri / Gayle Young & Reinhard Reitzenstein / tête à tête [Philippe Melanson & Matthew Pencer]) / "UFO" 2026-09-25 (Friday). $pwyc. [more info]

Soundstreams Encounters: Nagoya Marimbas [featuring Steve Reich’s "Mallet Quartet" and "Nagoya Marimbas", plus works by Ann Southam and Juri Seo] (feat. Kairos Percussion Quartet with Aerin Cho) / Hugh's Room 2026-09-29 (Tuesday). $free with reservation. [more info]

Soundstreams Encounters: Violins Unbound [works by André Ristic, John Beckwith, Chris Paul Harman, Parisa Sabet, Ana Sokolović] (feat. Judith Fliedl & Roan Ma) / Hugh's Room 2026-11-02 (Monday). $free with reservation. [more info]

Soundstreams Encounters: Orison [a new music theatre work-in-progress featuring the ondes Martenot] (feat. Daniel Áñez & James O’Callaghan) / Hugh's Room 2026-11-30 (Monday). $free with reservation. [more info]

Soundstreams Encounters: Hua ["an immersive audiovisual collaboration"] (feat. Margie Kelk & Alison Yun-Fei Jiang) / Paradise Theatre 2027-04-13 (Monday). $free with reservation. [more info]

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

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Shows this week:

Strings & Spirits presents [live score of indie game "A Short Hike", featuring composer Mark Sparling & developer Adam Robinson-Yu, along with special drinks & surprises!] (feat. Render File) / Canadian Music Centre 2026-08-24 (Monday). $PWYC, suggested minimum $10. [tickets + more info]

The AMBiENT PiNG & Imaginary North present: 27 Years of Ambient Love! (feat. Cheryl O / Nanotopia / Jim Field) / Handlebar 2026-08-24 (Monday). $PWYC. [more info]

Jazz Rat Mondays (feat. Patrick Smith/Anthony D'Alessandro/Chris Banks/Ernesto Cervini) / Dina's Tavern 2026-08-24 (Monday). $pwyc. [more info]

Nick Fraser presents (feat. BLOOP-tanium Riot with Christine Duncan [Christine Duncan/Mike Smith/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser/Ryan Driver]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-25 (Tuesday) [more info]

ESP Free Jazz Thursdays (feat. Brent Tanemura/Lauchlin Wood/Brodie West/Mateos Labbé-Phelan) / Water to Wine 2026-08-27 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]

Hieronymus Harry (Isla Craig / Jack Pine) / Pamenar (back patio) 2026-08-27 (Thursday). $15 or PWYC. [more info]

Caution Wet Floor Signs [Yoshi Maclear Wall/Garret Hildebrandt/Dame Cook/Will Hunt/fossa séu] / The Emmet Ray 2026-08-27 (Thursday). $12. [more info]

Karen Ng presents (feat. Rob Clutton ‘Scrapples’ Quartet [Rob Clutton/Kevin Turcotte/Tania Gill/Mackenzie Longpré]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-27 (Thursday). [more info]

Army Girls (By Divine Right / Amelia Maxwell) / The Drake Underground 2026-08-28 (Friday). $22.63, 19+. [more info]

Exit Points #75 (feat. Julie Lassonde/Lisa Santoprete/Yvan Sheremetieff/Andrew Chiappetta/Woolworm, Ontario / Kavi/Roa Lee/Sahil Gopal/Michael Palumbo/Awstad Afraaz Adam Mulji) / Array Space 2026-08-28 (Friday). $15-20 advance, $20 door. [more info]

The Ryan Driver Quintet [Ryan Driver/Martin Arnold/Rob Clutton/Brodie West/Mateos Labbé-Phelan] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-28 (Friday). $pwyw. [FB event]

The Silt [Doug Tielli/Ryan Driver/Marcus Quin] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-29 (Saturday – early)

4 Weeks for Sonny Rollins (feat. The Bridge Quartet [Shawn Nykwist/Lee Wallace/Chris Banks/Mark Hundevad]) / CONTXT by Trane 2026-08-29 (Saturday). $30.79 advance, $40 door. [FB event]

Devin Patten trio [Dan Pitt/Devin Patten/Aaron Blewett] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-29 (Saturday). [more info]

Joni Void ["two sets of improvised electronics and sample-based soundscapes, merging into an exclusive collaborative finale between both acts"] (Liz Hysen) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-30 (Sunday – noon). [more info]

Cosmic Homeostasis XXXIII / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-30 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.). $pwyc, all-ages + family-friendly. [FB event]

Amrita [Anita Katakkar & Kayla Milmine] / DROM Taberna 2026-08-30 (Sunday – 5:30 p.m.). $pwyc. [FB event]

Sympathetic String Band & Friends (feat. Sympathetic String Band / Andrew Timar) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-30 (Sunday – early). $pwyc. [more info]

Mifune Moods presents: Akira [live score] (feat. Mifune Moods [Ali Rashid/Annie Elgie/Fionn Ling/Luke Nickel/Sarah Laur/Keon Narinesingh/Yoshi Maclear Wall/Ezra Schell]) / Bampot 2026-08-30 (Sunday). $pwyc/$10, all ages. [tickets + more info]

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Bandcamp corner:

• There have been a variety of various sonic experiments and presentations in the past while, but it's exciting to see a new song — portending a new album of same — from Lisa Conway.

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It happened this week...

• ...on August 28, 2010 at The Shop under Parts & Labour.

Little Girls - Youth Tunes

Procedure Club - Feel Sorry for Me

[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: Jennifer Castle

Artist: Jennifer Castle

Songs: Full Moon in Leo + Piece of Glass + Fractal Canyon

Recorded at The Garrison, July 25, 2026.

Jennifer Castle - Full Moon in Leo

Jennifer Castle - Piece of Glass

Jennifer Castle - Fractal Canyon

It remains an object of complete incomprehensibility to one such as myself how folks could put down good money for a concert ticket, and then treat said concert as a place to have full-on conversations while the show is in progress in front of them. Gracing the city with this tune-up show before heading off for some festival dates, the first half-hour or so of this show was something of a write-off with the band competing in vain with a room full of people talking. It was only after some blessed soul took matters into their own hands and loudly told the room between songs to shut the hell up that the crowd seemed to realize there was a frickin' Jen Castle show going on in front of them and toned it down to a more suitable level.

That unpleasantness notwithstanding, this was a chance to see Castle interpret the songs of last year's excellent Camelot, as well and ranging through her substantial catalog. It turned out to be a fully-committed set, running about an hour and three-quarters, so there was a lot of ground covered, including a bring-it-all-down solo portion. Unsurprisingly, Castle came large with a stupendous band, with drummer Jay Anderson and guitarist Paul Mortimer anchoring things. Johnny Spence and Edwin de Goeij shared an interesting tag-team approach, swapping back and forth on bass and keyboards, while up front Vic Cheong and Isla Craig filled out the vocals. Having missed a few winter solstices now, I was glad to hear the newer material from such a crew (and also to hear some ace reinterpretations, such as a tough-as-nails/Fleetwood Mac-ified take on "Piece of Glass", a song that Castle has been rearranging for quite some time now.)

Recording: Potions

Artist: Potions

Song: Havelock

Recorded at The Garrison, July 25, 2026.

Potions - Havelock

In theory an opening slot for a beloved local entertainer is a prime opportunity for a young band hot off releasing their debut album. Unfortunately, the Saturday night Jen Castle crowd was not in "discovery" mode, mostly talking over the band's carefully-arranged folk numbers. For those willing to listen, all the elements were in place, with guitars and bass being freely swapped about on stage between Josh Sparks, Ben Rositsan, and Steven Noronha while the latter pair traded off vocals (and, at the back of the stage, Aidan McConnell's electronic interventions beyond his drumkit work filled space up nicely in the big room). With the songwriting burst that produced Beebo, Make a Wish (and the larger cache of tunes that that album drew from) now out in the world, there should be oppurtunities forthcoming to hear the band sharing this amazing music in more favourable circumstances.

[Potions will be trying their luck as an opener once more, welcoming Otto Benson to town at the Monarch Tavern on Tuesday, September 8th.]

Recording: The Fiver Trois

Artist: The Fiver Trois

Songs: R.J.D. + Only in the Longing

Recorded at Dina's Tavern, July 24, 2026.

The Fiver Trois - R.J.D.

The Fiver Trois - Only in the Longing

It's been far too long since I had a chance to see Simone Schmidt in performance, a gap in time that's brought a lot of new songs. In the case of the new album Cleaning House, some of those new songs have been kicking around for a while, waiting for the right moment to be finished off and sent out formally into the world. That gap in time also brought a new backing unit, with bassist Jeremy Costello joined by frequent collaborator Nathan Doucet on percussion, as well as newcomer Dani Crowther on pedal steel. Together, the group leaned into the new album's tunes, meaning there wasn't much room to revisit the back catalogue, and no room for anything older than some selections from 2021's Atlantic School of Spontaneous Composition album. But that focus lead to plenty amazing moments, with the band moving from rollicking psychedelic explorations to a quieter mid-show acoustic mini-set and back.

You can check out the full set over on youtube:

Recording: Isla & The Sorry Brothers

Artist: Isla & The Sorry Brothers

Songs: Long Vermont Roads [The Magnetic Fields cover] + Silver Dagger [trad. arr. Joan Baez]

Recorded at Dina's Tavern, July 24, 2026.

Isla & The Sorry Brothers - Long Vermont Roads

Isla & The Sorry Brothers - Silver Dagger

While Karsten Stryker and Kurt Newman kept up their nimble guitar interplay, Isla Craig prowled the stage like a spurned lover patiently awaiting a proper moment for vengeance. Heading out of the protective environs of the Tranzac, it was a delight to see this trio being given a warm and attentive welcome by a crowd unfamiliar with them as they played an opening set at someone else's gig. Finding the bluegrass essence of a diverse range of songs, it was also exciting to witness a fair turnover in the setlist from previous encounters.

Recording: Felicity Williams

Artist: Felicity Williams

Song: Everything in Time

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Rebecca Hennessy's Singer-Songwriter Circle), July 12, 2026.

Felicity Williams - Everything in Time

This iteration of Rebecca Hennessy's singer-songwriter night presented a somewhat oblong circle, with herself and Felicity Williams offering most of the songs — though bassist Michael Herring took a couple turns at the mic while guitarist Patrick O'Reilly offered a couple more compositional-type pieces. The interesting throughline with this grouping was that Hennessey and Williams once performed together (a decade and a half ago!) in Hobson's Choice — Hennessy mentioned afterward that that group's exquisite arrangements were based on the almost telepathic connection the players had from working together. This informal gathering was much more ad hoc in its musical set-up, with lead sheets being passed around and keys negotiated as musicians saw a lot of the pieces for the first time, but there were still plenty evidence of musical savvy as things fell together (with a guitar line, a trumpet solo, or a backing vocal) with grace and ease.

Excitingly, Felicity Williams used the night as a chance to test out some new songs — and also this one, which surfaced on the first album from her You Can Can project.

Recording: Rebecca Hennessy

Artist: Rebecca Hennessy

Song: Mistress of Misery

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Rebecca Hennessy's Singer-Songwriter Circle), July 12, 2026.

Rebecca Hennessy - Mistress of Misery

This iteration of Rebecca Hennessy's singer-songwriter night presented a somewhat oblong circle, with herself and Felicity Williams offering most of the songs — though bassist Michael Herring took a couple turns at the mic while guitarist Patrick O'Reilly offered a couple more compositional-type pieces. The interesting throughline with this grouping was that Hennessey and Williams once performed together (a decade and a half ago!) in Hobson's Choice — Hennessy mentioned afterward that that group's exquisite arrangements were based on the almost telepathic connection the players had from working together. This informal gathering was much more ad hoc in its musical set-up, with lead sheets being passed around and keys negotiated as musicians saw a lot of the pieces for the first time, but there were still plenty evidence of musical savvy as things fell together (with a guitar line, a trumpet solo, or a backing vocal) with grace and ease.

This day was also Hennessey and Herring's wedding anniversary, and each offered some songs in celebration of that fact — though this one was not one of those.

[Rebecca Hennessy's songwriters' circle is off this month, but keep your eye out for its return on Sunday, September 20th.]

Recording: Country Phasers

Artist: Country Phasers

Songs: [1st piece] + [excerpt] (with Heraclitus Akimbo)

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge ("Ayal Senior & Friends"), July 12, 2026.

Country Phasers - [1st piece]

Country Phasers with Heraclitus Akimbo - [excerpt]

Kurt Newman brought his Country Phasers concept out of hiatus for this special appearance, which found his guitars very phase-y (and synth-y!) indeed, if perhaps less country-ish. In proper "Ayal & Friends" style, guest-host Joe Strutt then proposed an impromptu duo to close things out, adding more synthy layers to the proceedings.

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

[Ayal Senior & Friends will be back at The Tranzac on Sunday, September 13th.]

Recording: Meggie Remy

Artist: Meggie Remy

Song: Old Man Trim Tab [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge ("Ayal Senior & Friends"), July 12, 2026.

Meggie Remy - Old Man Trim Tab [excerpt]

In an inneresting coincidence, this July 12th gig fell on the birthday of two unique Americans — Buckminster Fuller and Oscar Hammerstein II — both of whom were born on July 12, 1895. Meggie Remy used that as a jumping-off point to look at what these men had in common: a sort of optimism, and a belief that small gestures could create large changes in complex systems. A reminder, in these troubled times of grifters and profiteers, that decency and inventiveness were once considered key parts of the American character. This tape collage piece juxtaposes some interviews from the pair along with appearances of several versions of Hammerstein's "Old Man River".

You can check out the full set over on youtube:

[Ayal Senior & Friends will be back at The Tranzac on Sunday, September 13th.]

Monday Roundup #292

Concert announcements:

Strings & Spirits presents [live score of indie game "A Short Hike", featuring composer Mark Sparling & developer Adam Robinson-Yu, along with special drinks & surprises!] (feat. Render File) / Canadian Music Centre 2026-08-24 (Monday). $PWYC, suggested minimum $10. [tickets + more info]

Jazz Rat Mondays (feat. Patrick Smith/Anthony D'Alessandro/Chris Banks/Ernesto Cervini) / Dina's Tavern 2026-08-24 (Monday). $pwyc. [more info]

Nick Fraser presents (feat. BLOOP-tanium Riot with Christine Duncan [Christine Duncan/Mike Smith/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser/Ryan Driver]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-25 (Tuesday)

ESP Free Jazz Thursdays (feat. Brent Tanemura/Lauchlin Wood/Brodie West/Mateos Labbé-Phelan) / Water to Wine 2025-08-27 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]

Karen Ng presents (feat. Rob Clutton ‘Scrapples’ Quartet [Rob Clutton/Kevin Turcotte/Tania Gill/Mackenzie Longpré]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-27 (Thursday). [more info]

Army Girls (By Divine Right / Amelia Maxwell) / The Drake Underground 2025-08-28 (Friday). $22.63, 19+. [more info]

Exit Points #75 (feat. Julie Lassonde/Lisa Santoprete/Yvan Sheremetieff/Andrew Chiappetta/Woolworm, Ontario / Kavi/Roa Lee/Sahil Gopal/Michael Palumbo/Awstad Afraaz Adam Mulji) / Array Space 2025-08-28 (Friday). $15-20 advance, $20 door. [more info]

Amrita [Anita Katakkar & Kayla Milmine] / DROM Taberna 2026-08-30 (Sunday – 5:30 p.m.). $pwyc. [FB event]

Jazz Rat Mondays (feat. Patrick Smith/Jen Lo/Mark Godfrey/Jon Catanus) / Dina's Tavern 2026-08-31 (Monday). $pwyc. [more info]

Drones Over Dufferin (biG kNiFE) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-09-01 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [more info]

Equinox and Solstice Residency (feat. Ghostlight) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-09-02 (Wednesday). $pwyx, sugg. $15. [FB event]

Humbucker Music’s Residency (feat. Humbucker Music [Nick Storring/Mira Martin-Gray/Colin Cudmore/Jason Doell] / Brian Ruryk) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-09-04 (Friday). [FB event]

Adjacent Spheres (feat. Michael Davidson/Angelica Zavala/Michael Herring/Miles Cakebread-Kraus) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-09-06 (Sunday). [more info]

Liam Cole (Westelaken / Wishbone Zoë) / The Rat's Nest 2026-09-11 (Friday). $15/pwyc

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

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Shows this week:

Jazz Rat Mondays: Music of Chick Corea (feat. Patrick Smith/Kae Murphy/Evan Miles/Ben Dwyer/Lowell Whitty/Brandon Davis/Jon Catanus) / Dina's Tavern 2026-08-17 (Monday). $pwyc. [more info]

Doug Tielli & Owen Kurtz (fossa séu/Yoshi(A)/Colin Cudmore) / Wenona Lodge 2026-08-18 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [more info]

Allison Au Quartet with Alex Samaras [Alex Samaras/Allison Au/Todd Pentney/Jon Maharaj/Fabio Ragnelli] / The Rex 2026-08-19–22 (Wednesday–Saturday). $20-$30. [more info]

Summer Music in the Garden: Persian Psychedelia (feat. Neda Mohamadpour with Chris Pruden/Caleb Klager/Mack Longpre) / Toronto Music Garden 2025-08-20 (Thursday). $free, outdoors, all ages + family-friendly. [more info]

Free Improvisation Thursdays (feat. Brent Tanemura/Tania Gill/Lauchlin Wood/Aidan Miller) / Water to Wine 2026-08-20 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]

Makam Nights (feat. Didem Başar) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2025-08-20 (Thursday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Ronley Teper's Lipliners / Drom Taberna – Patio 2026-08-21 (Friday)

4 Weeks for Sonny Rollins (feat. Mark Hundevad Quartet [Shawn Nykwist/Chris Pruden/James Thompson/Mark Hundevad]) / CONTXT by Trane 2026-08-22 (Saturday). $30.79 advance, $40 door. [FB event]

Partitions illimitées / Unlimited Scores (feat. Julie Lassonde/Sonia Leung/Sully Malaeb Proulx/Marilyn Yogarajah) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-23 (Sunday – 12:30 p.m.). $pwyc (sugg. $10-$20). [more info]

Mark Hundevad & Mike Gennaro / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-23 (Sunday – early). $pwyc

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Bandcamp corner:

• Sometimes it's a real joy when a band you hadn't heard from for years suddenly "goes live" and posts something to Bandcamp — just like this "new" track from beloved garage-pop duo Army Girls, who have announced their first show in a decade or so. (see listing above!)

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It happened this week...

• ...on August 22, 2015 at Handlebar.

Imaginary Flesh - Seven Haab Out of Xi Boötis [drone section]

• ...on August 23, 2015 at The Cavern Bar.

Mirapolis - The Striga

[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: Toronto Improvisers Orchestra

Artist: Toronto Improvisers Orchestra

Song: Word Building

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), July 12, 2026.

Toronto Improvisers Orchestra - Word Building

There was the usual range of approaches in this TIO session — conducted pieces, freely-played pieces, three-bar loops, approximations of jazz. And also, from noted lexophile Del Stephen, a couple word-game pieces, including this one, which starts off like a round of free improv Password.

Recording: Wilderness Adventure Ride

Artist: Wilderness Adventure Ride

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #118), July 7, 2026.

Wilderness Adventure Ride - [excerpt]

With the evening short a performer, a last-minute invitation to round out the proceedings was accepted by this pair of representatives from the Ministry of Phonic Services, who brought a short set of percussive electroacoustic noise. Moving from a crinkled-up plastic water bottle to other bricabrac, Colin Cudmore's sunds were being squeezed and processed by Owen Kurtz's Kaoss Pad magick and other electronic interventions.

You can check out the full set over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on September 1st (before the long weekend!) with sets from Dave Grenon's Indistinctive Gait w/ Ayesha Lye and Caution Wet Floor Signs.]

Recording: Mike Gennaro

Artist: Mike Gennaro

Song: [2nd piece]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #118), July 7, 2026.

Mike Gennaro - [2nd piece]

Originally slated as a reprise of a shredtastic duo alongside Doug Tielli, circumstances modified this to a Mike Genarro solo set. Which was a loss and a small sadness, but also opened a window to a rare oportunity to hear Gennaro in solo mode. Unsurprisingly energetic, the highlight was the more restrained part heard here, with some swell resonances from small cymbals, bowls, and metal discs buzzing against each other.

You can check out the full set over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on September 1st (before the long weekend!) with sets from Dave Grenon's Indistinctive Gait w/ Ayesha Lye and Caution Wet Floor Signs.]

Recording: Ubersuck

Artist: Ubersuck

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #118), July 7, 2026.

Ubersuck - unknown

With her Dorky & Best project, inventive percussionist/composer Germaine Liu has been turning her eye towards songcraft; this duo, alongside soprano saxophonist Kayla Milmine is on a parallel pop path. Expressing a shared love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the pair presented a set of mostly original material, with songs about the show's characters as well as some memorable moments.

You can check out the full set over on youtube:

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

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on September 1st (before the long weekend!) with sets from Dave Grenon's Indistinctive Gait w/ Ayesha Lye and Caution Wet Floor Signs.]

Monday Roundup #291

Concert announcements:

Free Improvisation Thursdays (feat. Brent Tanemura/Tania Gill/Lauchlin Wood/Aidan Miller) / Water to Wine 2026-08-20 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]

Masahiro Takahashi presents Chanoyu (feat. Masahiro Takahashi / Trustfall / Nick Storring) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-21 (Friday). [more info]

Partitions illimitées / Unlimited Scores (feat. Julie Lassonde/Sonia Leung/Sully Malaeb Proulx/Marilyn Yogarajah) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-23 (Sunday – 12:30 p.m.). $pwyc (sugg. $10-$20). [more info]

The AMBiENT PiNG & Imaginary North present: 27 Years of Ambient Love! (feat. Cheryl O / Nanotopia / Jim Field) / Handlebar 2026-08-24 (Monday). $PWYC. [more info]

Joni Void ["two sets of improvised electronics and sample-based soundscapes, merging into an exclusive collaborative finale between both acts"] (Liz Hysen) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-30 (Sunday – noon). [more info]

Cosmic Homeostasis XXXIII / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-30 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.). $pwyc, all-ages + family-friendly. [FB event]

Track Could Bend #120 (feat. Dave Grenon's Indistinctive Gait w/ Ayesha Lye / Caution Wet Floor Signs) / Wenona Lodge 2026-09-01 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Otto Benson / Potions) / Monarch Tavern 2026-09-08 (Tuesday). $27.82, 19+. [tickets + more info]

Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Picastro [Double on Time album release] / Bernice / Granny Smith) / Gloves Up Boxing Gym 2026-09-26 (Saturday). $28.27, all ages. [FB event]

Project Nowhere × Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Horse Lords / Common Earth Mineral / Stefana Fratila) / The Garrison 2026-10-01 (Thursday). $32.31, 19+. [FB event]

Thiante: Spiritual Senegal (feat. Ibrahima Diop / Seydina Ndiaye / Talla Kane) / Trinity-St. Paul's Centre 2026-10-17 (Saturday). $25 (advanced)/$30 (doors), all ages. [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Weird Nightmare [Hoopla record release shows]) / Osler Records 2025-11-18&19 (Wednesday & Thursday). $24.94, 19+. [tickets + more info]

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. Ibrahim / Jades James / Ben Green / Chin Beats / gaussian_acid / Todd MacDonald / A/K/C / Inchoate / Jonah Gryfe / Phurniture / Broken Pink Umbrella / Big Steve / mylesofdude / Gruve Collective) / Handlebar 2026-08-10 (Monday) [more info]

Harry Vetro and Friends [Harrison Argatoff/Jay Yoo/Jack Johnston/Harry Vetro] / The Emmet Ray 2026-08-10 (Monday). $20. [more info]

new works for improvising musicians (feat. Josh Cole/Lina Allemano/Jaron Freeman-Fox/Nick Storring/Owen Kurtz) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-10 (Monday). $10/notaflof

Rondo Projects (feat. Ehsan Sadigh & Dhaivat Jani) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-11 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [more info]

Kiwi Jr. / Sonic Boom Records 2026-08-12 (Wednesday – 6 p.m.). $free, all-ages. [FB event]

Brodie West presents (feat. Brodie West Double Basses Quintet [Brodie West/Patrick O'Reiily/Nick Fraser/Josh Cole/Rob Clutton]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-12 (Wednesday – early). $pwyc

Joyshape (Mira Martin-Gray) / Houndstooth 2025-08-12 (Wednesday). $15/PWYC

Never Was [Brandon Davis/Bea Labikova/Racha Moukalled/Patrick O'Reilly/Adrian Russouw/Joe Sorbara] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-12 (Wednesday). [more info]

YEARN ["a powerful one-hour work for solo piano by Dutch composer Lieke van der Voort"] (feat. Cheryl Duvall) / Canadian Music Centre 2026-08-13 (Thursday). $20 General Admission, $15 Arts Workers

Free Improvisation Thursdays (feat. Brent Tanemura/Lauchlin Wood/Mason Wallington/Nick Fraser) / Water to Wine 2025-08-13 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]

Kurt Newman presents (feat. The Binoculars) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-13 (Thursday). $pwyc

Constellating (feat. Mas Aya & Khôra) / Capsules Artist Resources 2026-08-14 (Friday). $11.98. [tickets + more info]

Shaaane (Battle Milk / Sound Effects / Dame Cook) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2025-08-14 (Friday). $10, 19+. [more info]

Diane Roblin’s Life Force [Diane Roblin/George Koller/Tim Shia/John Johnson/Alex Dean/John MacLeod] / The Rex 2026-08-15 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $pwyc. [more info]

Re:Stacks (feat. Stacks) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-15 (Saturday). [FB event]

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Bandcamp corner:

• A mere twenty years (!) after the release of T.O. freak-folk masterpiece Half-Eaten Guitar, it was a bit of a surprise to see the sudden appearance of a new Wyrd Visions album. On my first quick investigation, I note that at least some of the material was stuff that was being played live a decade ago, but the timeless infinite depths of a Wyrd Visions jam are welcome in any year/for every ear.

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It happened this week...

• ...on August 12, 2016 at Pia Bouman School for Ballet (SummerWorks: Sound Circuitz).

Special Costello - Late Night

• ...on August 13, 2016 at Pia Bouman School for Ballet (SummerWorks: High Blood).

DATU x HATAW - World Gong Crazy

• ...on August 13, 2016 at Burdock Music Hall.

Eric Chenaux - Skullsplitter

• ...on August 14, 2016 at Array Space (Somewhere There's Second Sunday Series).

Ali Berkok + Diane Roblin - [third piece]

[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.]