Unlike previoussolo appearances at TCB, Tom Richards eschewed electronic experimentation in favour of some deep digging on trombone, his primary instrument. The theme was transformation — like catepillar to butterfly — and Naomi McCarroll-Butler (who would be playing in the subsequent set) assisted here in cocooning Richards in aluminum foil, all the better to add some buzzy, rattling resonances to the horn sounds.
You can check out the full set over on youtube:
[Track Could Bend will be back at Wenona on Tuesday (September 2nd) with sets from Brian Abbott and Allison Cameron.]
Naomi McCarroll-Butler convened this ensemble (alongside Mira Martin-Gray, Niamh Girling, and Fahmid Nibesh) for the express purpose of "dredging up their longest strings, their screamiest reeds and their gutteralest kazoo sounds from the depths of their transeggjwal gutz to deliver the heaviest blown-out transcendental drone set your ear holes have ever seen." And it was a total success. Rumours of recording sessions have been circulating; keep an ear out for possible further dispatches.
You can check out the full set over on youtube:
[Track Could Bend will be back at Wenona on Tuesday (September 2nd) with sets from Brian Abbott and Allison Cameron.]
Money House [Patrick O’Reilly/Alex Fournier/Stefan Hegerat] / The Emmet Ray 2024-09-02 (Tuesday). $12. [more info]
Holy Oak Family Singers presents: The Music of Ryuichi Sakamoto (feat. Thom Gill/Robin Dann/Carlyn Bezic/Tiffany Wu/Justin Orok/Luka Kuplowsky/Mira Martin-Gray/Josh Cole/Stefana Fratila/Respectfulchild/Joseph Shabason) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-09-03 (Wednesday – early) [more info]
George Koller/Kayla Milmine/Diane Roblin / The Emmet Ray 2025-09-04 (Thursday – 6:30 p.m.). $15. [more info]
Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip (feat. Wilderness Adventure Ride / Important Hair / Kahraba / Del Stephen Plays Cut Rock Canyon Poem and Other Works) / "ask for location" 2025-09-05 (Friday). $pwyc, outdoors. [more info]
Diane Roblin's Life Force [Diane Roblin/George Koller/Tim Shia/Colleen Allen/John Johnson/Kevin Turcotte] / The Pilot 2025-09-06 (Saturday – 2 p.m.) [FB event]
Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip (feat. Scrape Collective) / "ask for location" 2025-09-06 (Saturday – 2:30 p.m.). $pwyc, outdoors. [more info]
Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip (feat. Render File / Owen Kurtz & Callon Murphy) / "ask for location" 2025-09-07 (Sunday). $pwyc, outdoors. [more info]
Patrick Smith’s 30th Birthday Show! (feat. Patrick Smith/Mike Murley/Bob Brough/Chris Banks/Lowell Whitty) / The Emmet Ray 2025-09-08 (Monday). $10. [FB event]
Imaginary North presents: Ambient Afternoon (feat. anthéne / Gollden / Arie Verheul van de Ven / Siren) / Standard Time 2025-09-14 (Sunday – 4 p.m.). $10/PWYC. [more info]
Justin Karas (Geordie Gordon) / Burdock Music Hall 2025-09-18 (Thursday). $16.95 (advance)/$20 (door). [tickets + more info]
Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds (Harmony on Mars) / Monarch Tavern 2025-09-18 (Thursday). $27.96, 19+. [FB event]
Liquid Architecture (feat. Nathan Yell / Marlena Pellegrino / Del Stephen & the Picture Plane Preservation Group / Ryan Kinney) / St. Matthew’s Clubhouse 2025-09-20 (Saturday). $10 at the door (cash or e-transfer). [FB event]
Not Dead Yet presents (feat. One Leg One Eye) / BSMT254 2025-10-01 (Wednesday). $19.13, 19+. [tickets/more info]
Soundstreams presents: Arvo Pärt at 90 (feat. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir) / Yorkminster Park Baptist Chuch 2026-02-14 (Saturday). $33.25 to $89.75. [more info]
Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!
Imaginary North presents (feat. Drones Over Dufferin [Grievous Landscapes album release] / Kilometre Club / Rosy Glow) / Burdock Music Hall 2025-08-26 (Tuesday). $16.95 (advance)/$20 (door). [more info]
Maggie Keogh [Maggie Keogh/Dylan Burchell/Ryan Driver/Blake Howard] / The Emmet Ray 2025-08-26 (Tuesday). $15. [FB event]
Nick Fraser presents: Berlin Meets Toronto (feat. Anna Kaluza/Lina Allemano/Rob Clutton / Henrik Walsdorff/Nick Fraser) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-26 (Tuesday) [FB event]
The Pieces of the Self: Musical Meditations on Human Experience (feat. Shannon Hoff with Aidan McConnell/Chris Banks/Don Scott/Tania Gill) / Burdock Music Hall 2025-08-27 (Wednesday). $16.95. [FB event]
The Rural Alberta Advantage / CNE Bandshell 2025-08-28 (Thursday). $free with admission to The Ex, outdoors, all ages. [more info]
Kurt Newman & The New Them of Grass [Kurt Newman/Andrew Vainio/Nate Davis/Alex Wagstaff] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-28 (Thursday)
Intersection 2025: Day 1 (feat. Alex Raja Ven / Bilal Nasser) / Sonic Boom Records 2025-08-29 (Friday). $free, all-ages. [FB event]
The Ryan Driver Sextet [Ryan Driver/Martin Arnold/Rob Clutton/Michael Davidson/Blake Howard/Doug Tielli] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-29 (Friday) [FB event]
Intersection 2025: Day 2: All Day Music Marathon (feat. Arkose / Anthéne / Khôra / Bilal Nasser / Alex Raja Ven & Heart Map Ambient Ensemble / Temporal Waves / David and Sydney Dacks / Lavender Town) / Sankofa Square 2025-08-30 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $free, outside, all-ages. [FB event]
New ambient mix! New age daydreams and melting synthscapes for late-summer feelings. Sounds by Lyle Mays, Alpha Wave Movement + EWI, d york, awakened souls, Ian Dicke, Ian Hawgood, David Cordero, Brad Rose, Master Wilburn Burchette, and Cukor Bila Smert'.
It happened this week...
...on August 26, 2016 at Array Space (Invocation Residency Series).
Following some further outdoor excursions, Ministry of Phonic Services came inside for this afternoon of sonic explorations. The afternoon's main attraction was a demonstration of some recently-invented instruments from Guelph's Fron Reilly, including the fron2 ("a whirling ten-string bowed zither with a drum head resonator") and a large drone bass hurdy-gurdy. No mere novelties, both produced quite beautiful sounds, supported by some lovely double bass work (and nimble hurdy-gurdy fingering) from Stephen Vickery. Amazing things happening out at the sonic fron-tiers.
You can check out the full set over on youtube:
[Ministry of Phonic Services has just announced their second annual Back to School Field Trip, featuring "an entire month of strange sounds in strange spaces, all located outdoors. Join the festivities at the thirteen presentations taking place from September 5th to 27th, including four main shows with installations, collaborations with other local experimental presenters, and even some surprises."]
Following some further outdoor excursions, Ministry of Phonic Services came inside for this afternoon of sonic explorations. Percussionist Joyce To provided this new work, which mixed genial ingenuity with DIY/Dollarama tools. A hanging block of ice provided an irregularly metronomic background patter while beans, tubes, and gongs were deployed in various combinations.
You can check out the full set over on youtube:
[Ministry of Phonic Services has just announced their second annual Back to School Field Trip, featuring "an entire month of strange sounds in strange spaces, all located outdoors. Join the festivities at the thirteen presentations taking place from September 5th to 27th, including four main shows with installations, collaborations with other local experimental presenters, and even some surprises."]
Following some further outdoor excursions, Ministry of Phonic Services came inside for this afternoon of sonic explorations. Nilan Perera set the tone with some investigations for prepared guitar, bringing kitchen implements and other simple tools to coax complex sounds from his guitar.
You can check out the full set over on youtube:
[Ministry of Phonic Services has just announced their second annual Back to School Field Trip, featuring "an entire month of strange sounds in strange spaces, all located outdoors. Join the festivities at the thirteen presentations taking place from September 5th to 27th, including four main shows with installations, collaborations with other local experimental presenters, and even some surprises."]
The Pieces of the Self: Musical Meditations on Human Experience (feat. Shannon Hoff with Aidan McConnell/Chris Banks/Don Scott/Tania Gill) / Burdock Music Hall 2025-08-27 (Wednesday). $16.95. [FB event]
Intersection 2025: Day 1 (feat. Alex Raja Ven / Bilal Nasser) / Sonic Boom Records 2025-08-29 (Friday). $free, all-ages. [FB event]
Exit Points #63 (feat. Michael Askill/Stone He/Diane Roblin/Greta Kelly/Michael Palumbo / Elaine Lau/Scott McGregor-Moore/WHAIA Sonic Weaver/Corinna Bonshek/Sonia Leung) / Array Space 2024-08-29 (Friday). $23.08/$28.08. [tickets/more info]
Intersection 2025: Day 2: All Day Music Marathon (feat. Arkose / Anthéne / Khôra / Bilal Nasser / Alex Raja Ven & Heart Map Ambient Ensemble / Temporal Waves / David and Sydney Dacks / Lavender Town) / Sankofa Square 2025-08-30 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $free, outside, all-ages. [FB event]
Dun-Dun Band [Pita Parka, Pt. II: Nim Egduf record release show] (Thom Gill) / Collective Arts 2025-09-27 (Saturday). $25. [FB event]
Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!
Shows this week:
Eli Wallace/Kyle Motl/Nick Neuberg (Karen Ng/Chris Banks/Kevin Romain) / The Emmet Ray 2025-08-18 (Monday). $15. [FB event]
The New Symphony Orchestra and Render File Present: A Short Hike and Mosa Lina (feat. Zack Goldstein/Josh Sparks/ Patrick O’Reilly/Arie Verheul Van de Ven/Connor Crone/Louis Pino) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-18 (Monday). $pwyc ($15 recommended). [more info]
Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat Mustafa Rafiq / Sara Constant/Marilyn Yogayrajah/bUdi) / Wenona Lodge 2025-08-19 (Tuesday)
Another triumphant night from the forces-for-good at Ministry of Phonic Services, finding an off-the-grid spot under the busiest multi-span bridge crossing in North America[citation needed] for an evening of noisy sounds. This pair celebrated the release of their joint Outside album — "a series of 'location specific' meetings" — in the style in which it was conceived and executed with this outdoor lurch.
You can check out this full set over on youtube:
[Keep an eye out for more info coming soon on MPS' all-outdoor "Back to School" September festival!]
Another triumphant night from the forces-for-good at Ministry of Phonic Services, finding an off-the-grid spot under the busiest multi-span bridge crossing in North America[citation needed] for an evening of noisy sounds. A rare local sighting from these Hamilton/Brantford jazz apes mixed some free-range saxophone with guitar/fx/tapes for some realtime cut-up collage action.
You can check out this full set over on youtube:
[Keep an eye out for more info coming soon on MPS' all-outdoor "Back to School" September festival!]
Another triumphant night from the forces-for-good at Ministry of Phonic Services, finding an off-the-grid spot under the busiest multi-span bridge crossing in North America[citation needed] for an evening of noisy sounds. This first-time joint set from a pair of local noiseniks involved chains, sheet metal, a crowbar, contact mics, synths and so on, creating a crunchy industrial zone.
You can check out this full set over on youtube:
[Keep an eye out for more info coming soon on MPS' all-outdoor "Back to School" September festival!]
Another triumphant night from the forces-for-good at Ministry of Phonic Services, finding an off-the-grid spot under the busiest multi-span bridge crossing in North America[citation needed] for an evening of noisy sounds. Under the gigantic infrastructure and tall trees, battle milk gate-crashed the night with some garbled noise and lurching chaos.
You can check out this full set over on youtube:
[Keep an eye out for more info coming soon on MPS' all-outdoor "Back to School" September festival!]
The 2025 Musicworks Electronic Music Composition Contest is open! This annual juried contest spotlights new musical talent from around the world, offering cash prizes and opportunities to be heard and published. Also of note, while it costs $30 to enter, that fee includes a one-year Musicworks subscription, making this a good deal that'll keep you informed about creative music happenings, often with some stories about (or by!) folks covered on this blog. Contest closes October 31, 2025, and prize details, eligibility, rules and so forth can be found here.
Concert announcements:
Eli Wallace/Kyle Motl/Nick Neuberg (Karen Ng/Chris Banks/Kevin Romain) / The Emmet Ray 2025-08-18 (Monday). $15. [FB event]
The New Symphony Orchestra and Render File Present: A Short Hike and Mosa Lina (feat. Zack Goldstein/Josh Sparks/ Patrick O’Reilly/Arie Verheul Van de Ven/Connor Crone/Louis Pino) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-18 (Monday). $pwyc ($15 recommended). [more info]
Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat Mustafa Rafiq / Sara Constant/Marilyn Yogayrajah/bUdi) / Wenona Lodge 2025-08-19 (Tuesday)
Sub-Sessions #11 (feat. Wizards of Osgoode / Star Brides / Jacob Barber Band / Aniqa Dear) / BSMT 254 2025-08-13 (Wednesday). $PWYC/$15 recommended. [FB event]
Never Was [Brandon Davis/Bea Labikova/Adrian Russouw/Joe Sorbara] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-13 (Wednesday)
Our Way to Fall [Del Stephen/Liz Lima/Joe Strutt] (Sarah Greene Trio) / 918 Bathurst (The Sun Room) 2025-08-14 (Thursday). $15 or pwyc, all-ages. [FB event]
Spheres of Southworth (feat. John Southworth & The South Seas) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-15 (Friday – early) [more info]
Labyrinth Ontario presents Modal Music in the Parks (feat. Iranian Music Trio [Soheil Sadeghi/Sasan Salaseli/Mehrdad Jafari Raad]) / R.V. Burgess Park 2025-08-16 (Saturday – 12:30 p.m.). $free, outdoors, all-ages + family-friendly. [FB event]
Labyrinth Ontario presents Modal Music in the Parks (feat. Gaitan Quartet [Ben Grossman/Chris Aston/Brenna MacCrimmon/Nick Ouroumov]) / R.V. Burgess Park 2025-08-16 (Saturday – 2:30 p.m.). $free, outdoors, all-ages + family-friendly. [FB event]
Carlton Park Concerts (feat. SwöwS / Ben Gunning / Carmen Elle / Jonathan Kirby) / Carlton Park 2025-08-16 (Saturday – 4 p.m.). $pwyc, outdoors, family-friendly. [more info]
Summer Music in the Garden: What Is Time For? (feat. Tara Kannangara & Chris Pruden) / Toronto Music Garden 2025-08-17 (Sunday – 4 p.m.). $free, outdoors. [FB event]
Stars / CNE Bandshell 2025-08-17 (Sunday). $free with admission to The Ex, outdoors, all ages. [more info]
Nick Fraser presents: Berlin Meets Toronto (feat. Anna Kaluza/Lina Allemano/Rob Clutton / Henrik Walsdorff/Nick Fraser) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-26 (Tuesday) [FB event]
Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!
Shows this week:
Lina Allemano Standards Quartet [Lina Allemano/Michael Davidson/Andrew Downing/Nick Fraser] / The Rex 2025-08-03&04 (Sunday & Monday) [more info]
Justin Orok Presents (feat. Adina V with Aline Homzy/Michael Eckert/Anise Russow/Else Langhans/Thomas Hainbuch/Justin Orok) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-05 (Tuesday – early) [more info]
Mark Thackway/Andy Yue/Chris Cawthray/Michael Kaler / The Emmet Ray 2025-08-05 (Tuesday). $12. [FB event]
Track Could Bend #107 (feat. Poached Roses [Naomi McCarroll-Butler/styrofoamNosebleedPrincess/Mira Martin-Gray] / Tom Richards) / Wenona Lodge 2024-08-05 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Lina Allemano Four [Lina Allemano/Brodie West/Andrew Downing/Nick Fraser] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-05 (Tuesday) [FB event]
Holy Oak Family Singers present (feat. Luka Kuplowsky with Felicity Williams, Alex Lukashevsky, Steven Noronha, Ben Rositsan & Aidan McConnell / Maggie Keogh with Dylan Burchell, Ryan Driver & Guests) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-06 (Wednesday – early) [more info]
Mechanical Forest Sound presents (feat. The Davison Auger / Wenderly Park / Murmur) / 918 Bathurst (The Sun Room) 2025-08-06 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [FB event]
More Noise Please! presents: An Evening of Electronic Collapse (feat. Brandon Auger / Allinesik / Boy / Mosfet / Yi Yi Yi) / Junction Underground 2025-08-07 (Thursday). $15/pwyc. [FB event]
Batuki Music Society presents: Habari Africa Festival (feat. Fethi Nadjem / Boubé / Stage in the Park / Okavango African Orchestra with guests Lorraine Klaasen, Pape Ndiaye, Kaabi Kouyaté, Dally Dominic and Mario Posella) / Harbourfront Centre 2025-08-08 (Friday). $free, outdoors, all-ages + family-friendly. [FB event]
Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Nadja [20th anniversary celebration] / Völur [Breathless Spirit album release]) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-08-08 (Friday). $28.27 (advance)/$30 (door). [FB event]
Batuki Music Society presents: Habari Africa Festival (feat. Sewà / Musical Traditions of the Mandinka and Jolof Empires [Sadio Sissokho/Pape Ndiaye/Mabinty Sylla/Boblée Danse Cirque] / Nii Osabu / Sintayehu 'Mimi' Zenebe & Daniel Nebiat / Fredy Massamba) / Harbourfront Centre 2025-08-09 (Saturday). $free, outdoors, all-ages + family-friendly. [FB event]
coexisJAM [self-curated dance/music performances under a full moon on the beach] / Ward's Island Beach 2024-08-09 (Saturday). [more info]
Within (Heraclitus Akimbo) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-09 (Saturday – early) [more info]
About this, It Was Not Yet Written (feat. Myk Freedman/Dave Clark/Ronley Teper) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-09 (Saturday) [more info]
Toronto Improvisers Orchestra / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-10 (Sunday – noon) [more info]
Avi C. Engel / Spadina Museum 2025-08-10 (Sunday – 1:30 p.m.). $free, outdoors, all-ages + family-friendly
Batuki Music Society presents: Habari Africa Festival (feat. Mbira Soul / SAHAD) / Harbourfront Centre 2025-08-10 (Sunday). $free, outdoors, all-ages + family-friendly. [FB event]
With Ayal Senior off being "big in Japan", it fell to yours truly as guest host to present some sounds for the afternoon. Things were being improvised right from the start when the Tranzac's a/c hit some bumps, sending the day's Southern Cross programming into the Main Hall — and further refinements were required when weather/car troubles necessitated a last-minute fill-in. Fortunately Del Stephen was available — with memories of his piano residency in my head, I proposed a haul-no-gear setup for just piano and pieces of paper. That worked out entirely well in a truly experimental set with songs, poems, old magazine articles and an impromptu recreation of an unknown band's found setlist.
You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:
[Ayal Senior & Friends will be back (and Ayal will be back!) at The Tranzac on the afternoon of Sunday, August 10th, offering sets from Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman, Greydini, Nick Flanagan, and the mysterious Azorean Hoods.]
*Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!
With Ayal Senior off being "big in Japan", it fell to yours truly as guest host to present some sounds for the afternoon. Things were being improvised right from the start when the Tranzac's a/c hit some bumps, sending the day's Southern Cross programming into the Main Hall. That provided guitarist Brad Deschamps with a larger, cevern-like space to unfurl some explorations in a rare live outing from his prolific anthéne guise. "Stately drift" was the main vibe here, and all excellently executed. (The pieces he performed have been given a "studio" treatment on a recent bandcamp release.)
You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:
[Ayal Senior & Friends will be back (and Ayal will be back!) at The Tranzac on the afternoon of Sunday, August 10th, offering sets from Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman, Greydini, Nick Flanagan, and the mysterious Azorean Hoods.]
