Recording: The Ryan Driver Quintet

Artist: The Ryan Driver Quintet

Song: Feeling Good [composed by Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse]

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

The Ryan Driver Quintet - Feeling Good

It's a fascinating phenomenon: Ryan Driver's longstanding standards quartet/sextet is a wonderful thing to behold, and a lot of that is owing to the near-telepathic bond that the members share as they explore the standards with languid intensity. But being embedded in the music community that they are, when the call goes out for reinforcements, there are some very special guests that can step into this very particular mindset. This pre-xmas night of the residence saw Driver and bassist Rob Clutton on stage, but they were joined by frequent guest Blake Howard (covering for Nick Fraser on drums) as well as Karen Ng (filling in on sax) and Thom Gill (on synth, filling in the spaces that might usually be taken up by vibes or guitar). Gill was (as always!) a delight here, sometimes choosing the most counterintuitive sounds that somehow fit into the tunes quite perfectly. The setlist took the usual amble through Ryan Driver's collection of "standards", moving from Donovan to Noël Coward, along with this Nina Simone sizzler.

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

[The next instalment of the residency (Friday, January 30th), is a special occasion, celebrating the release of Moon, an album recorded in live performance last year (and sure to be a vital document of of one of the city's great bands).]

Recording: Ballyk/Davis/Elrod/Hunt/Ng

Artist: Mark Ballyk/Brandon Davis/Kayla Elrod/Will Hunt/Karen Ng

Song: [1st set excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Karen Ng presents), December 23, 2025.

Mark Ballyk/Brandon Davis/Kayla Elrod/Will Hunt/Karen Ng - [1st set excerpt]

Some very cool improvisations with some Berlin-based guests, including Toronto expat percussionist Mark Ballyk. Brandon Davis (double bass), Will Hunt (keybs), and Karen Ng (sax) represented the local side, while it was Kayla Elrod who surprised the most. Her bespoke rig featured Freddy Krueger-esque "fingernails" each with a contact mic (and each with its own channel on the mixer from her spaghetti bundle of cables) that could be run over any surface, creating mostly-crinkly texture sounds. Carpet, walls, windows and Ballyk's drumkit were in in play for tapping and scratching. That didn't lead to indiscriminate noise, however, as there were some some excellent mellow passages over these two sets.

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

Monday Roundup #262

Community notes:

• Thanks to last week's Snowy Good Times, the screening of Luka Kuplowsky's Cluttertones documentary/performance film Memory of Light has been rescheduled to Wednesday January 28th. (Innis Town Hall, free)

• The deadline for the next round of applications for the Tranzac’s performance residency program has been extended to this Friday (January 23rd).

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Concert announcements:

Nick Fraser presents (feat. Nick Fraser's Special Topics [Nick Fraser/Kae Murphy/Max Stover/Josh Cole] / Kae Murphy [solo]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-27 (Tuesday) [more info]

Brandon Davis's Stations Quartet [Brandon Davis/Patrick O'Reilly/Luan Phung/Germaine Liu] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-01-28 (Wednesday) [more info]

Karen Ng presents (feat. Double Teams [Ryan Driver/Karen Ng/Aidan McConnell/Philippe Melanson) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-29 (Thursday)

All-Set! Presents (feat. Molehill) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-01-30 (Friday – early) [more info]

Exit Points #67 (feat. cheryl o/Annie Elgie/Shaunt Raffi/Casey Sokol/Michael Palumbo / W L C/Sonia Leung/Danielle Sum/Alexia Monize/Angelica Zavala) / Array Space 2026-01-30 (Friday). $22.89 advance, $28.27 general admission. [tickets + more info]

Axiomatic Heresy [Jonathan Kay/Nick Fraser/Alex Fournier with special guests Kayla Milmine/Andrew Kay/Reagan Mitchell] / The Emmet Ray 2026-02-01 (Sunday – 5 p.m.). $15. [more info]

Track Could Bend #113 (feat. OH GEE [Marilyn Yogarajah/Rob Campbell] / Ryan Kinney) / Wenona Lodge 2026-02-03 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Milkweed) / BSMT254 2026-03-31 (Tuesday). $24.94, 19+. [tickets + more info]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis) / 918 Bathurst 2026-05-02 (Saturday). $37.10. [tickets + more info]

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

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Shows this week:

Soundstreams Encounters: Transoceanic ["works from diasporic composers Corie Rose Soumah, Kotoka Suzuki, and Anthony Tan reimagine sound and light through science-fiction visions that decenter Eurocentric narratives of progress"] (feat. Soundstreams) / Hugh's Room 2026-01-19 (Monday). $free with reservation. [more info]

Partitions illimitées/Unlimited scores (feat. Heather Saumer/Michael Palumbo/Christopher Petersen) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-20 (Tuesday – early). $pwyc, suggested $10-$20. [more info]

Agnes [Bea Labikova/Mira Martin-Gray/Doug Tielli/Kevin Turcotte/Mark Zurawinski/Rob Clutton] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-20 (Tuesday) [more info]

CMC Presents: Imagined Spaces (feat. Dame Cook / Sergei Kofman) / Canadian Music Centre 2026-01-22 (Thursday). $15 Advance / $20 at the door (General Admission), $12 Advance / $15 at the door (CMC Members and Arts Workers), $10 (students). [more info]

Handcrafted Music (feat. David Benitez/Arie Verheul van de Ven/Yoshi Maclear Wall/Martin van de Ven) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2026-01-22 (Thursday) [more info]

Kurt Newman presents: Country Music for Cold Weather People (feat. Kurt Newman & Motel Time Again) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-22 (Thursday) [more info]

Tim Posgate Trio [Tim Posgate/Aline Homzy/Aidan McConnell] / The Rex 2026-01-23 (Friday – 5 p.m.). $pwyc. [FB event]

Experimental Link (feat. Sard / Raf Reza / Dastgâmachine) / BSMT 254 2026-01-23 (Friday). $22.60 (early bird)/$28.25 (1st release)/$33.90 (general admission), 19+. [FB event]

Diane Roblin's Life Force [Diane Roblin/George Koller/Tim Shia/Colleen Allen/John Johnson/Kevin Turcotte] / The Rex 2026-01-24 (Saturday – 5 p.m). $pwyc. [more info]

Winter's Delight: Musical Merriment with Good Company (feat. The Musicians of the Egg) / St. Thomas's Anglican Church 2026-01-24 (Saturday). $30 (General Admission), $20 (Students, Arts Worker), $10 Children. [FB event]

The Action Committee Orchestra [Maggie Keogh/Sara May/Maxwell Stover/Ben Rositsan/Keon Narinesingh/Max Donaldson/Regan Mowery] / Sellers & Newel 2025-01-24 (Saturday). $20 minimum donation. [FB event]

Liquid Architecture presents Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [live silent movie score] (feat. ARRC [Ambrose Pottie/Rod Campbell/Ryan Kinney/Colin James Gibson]) / St. Matthew’s Clubhouse 2026-01-24 (Saturday). $10 (cash or e-transfer). [FB event]

40 years on (feat. Queen Mab [Lori Freedman & Marilyn Lerner]) / Canadian Music Centre 2026-01-24 (Saturday). $22.63 advance/$20 door. [tickets + more info]

people | places | records Residency (feat. Cristina Lord / Nick Norton) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-24 (Saturday) [FB event]

Imaginary North and The AMBiENT PiNG present Ambient Afternoon (feat. Kilometre Club / Heart Map Ambient Ensemble / Daena Delam) / Society Clubhouse 2026-01-25 (Sunday – 2 p.m.). $10 at the door, NOTAFLOF. fully accessible and family friendly. [FB event]

Global Sunday (feat. Donné Roberts) / The Rex 2026-01-25 (Sunday – 2 p.m.). $pwyc. [more info]

University of Toronto New Music Festival: Simple Beginnings (feat. minMAX Electroacoustic Orchestra) / Walter Hall 2025-01-25 (Sunday). $free. [more info]

Sympathetic String Band & Friends (feat. Sympathetic String Band / Potions performing as The Sympathetic Wind Band) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-01-25 (Sunday – early) [more info]

Cacophony (feat. ro × cellsync / erin corbett × transient) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-25 (Sunday) [more info]

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It happened this week...

• ...on January 22, 2010 at The Garrison (Out of This Spark 3rd Anniversary Party).

OOTS Family Band (feat. Jenny Omnichord) - unknown

• ...on January 23, 2010 at The Music Gallery.

The Necks - excerpt from an improvisation (second set)

[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: Agnes

Artist: Agnes

Songs: Sjawm [excerpt] [composer: Rob Clutton] + [set 2 improvisation excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), December 16, 2025.

Agnes - Sjawm [excerpt]

Agnes - [set 2 improvisation excerpt]

I last saw this group in their proof-of-concept phase, before they had a name or a Tranzac residency. The formalized unit brings together Mark Zurawinski (percussion), Rob Clutton (double bass), Mira Martin-Gray (guitar, electronics), Kevin Turcotte (trumpet, flugelhorn), and Doug Tielli (trombone, saw) (as well as saxophonist Bea Labikova, absent on this night), exploring both members' compositions as well as abstract improvisational space. At times channeling the sounds of rustling detritus, with everyone scraping, twisting and boinging, the group moved through some wide-ranging dynamics, from quietly-brushed cymbals to organized horn-riffs, often held together by Rob Clutton's bass and Mira Martin-Gray's prepared guitar and electronic noise.

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

[Agnes will be back at The Tranzac next Tuesday (January 20th).]

Recording: Beverly Glenn-Copeland with Elizabeth Copeland

Artist: Beverly Glenn-Copeland with Elizabeth Copeland

Song: In The Image

Recorded at East End United Church (Burn Down the Capital, Venus Fest and The Music Gallery present), December 13, 2025.

Beverly Glenn-Copeland with Elizabeth Copeland - In The Image

An interesting difference in vibes between this and the last time I saw Beverly Glenn-Copeland. At that show, there was a sense of re-discovery in the air — from audience and performer — as BGC spoke about realizing that the audience for his music that wasn't there when his celebrated albums were made had arrived a generation later; by now, in a packed church, there was a sense of an icon being celebrated. Looking frailer but still in excellent voice, this was a show about joy and celebration, the energy again being sent and received in both directions (indeed, the hall was left fully lit for the full set for the performers to see the audience with whom they were sharing space.)

This was a more stripped-back show, with musical accompaniment mostly limited to Alex Samaras' piano, voice and cheerleading. (Openers Topanga came out to add their voices, and to close things out, as heard here, a whole choir made their way on stage.) Moving beyond "the hits", Glenn-Copeland (along with Elizabeth Copeland, who added complementary vocals and shared some eco-poetry songs when Glenn-Copeland needed a mid-set break) brought out music from the breadth of their career, including the "lost years" they were crafting empathy-raising youth musical theatre shows. That could have made this feel like the corniest glee club meeting imaginable; instead it was fully rousing and affecting. Sometimes you just have to be direct with the cris de coeur.

Recording: Topanga

Artist: Topanga

Song: River Song

Recorded at East End United Church (Burn Down the Capital, Venus Fest and The Music Gallery present), December 13, 2025.

Topanga - River Song

Making their Toronto debut to a packed church, this St. John’s-based trio is a joint effort between singer-songwriters Katie Baggs, Carole Bestvater, and Valmy. Having met the evening's headliners at the Lawnya Vawnya festival, they were specially invited to join Beverly Glenn-Copeland and Elizabeth Copeland on a cross-country jaunt. As this song (an ecological musing sung from the river's point of view) makes clear, they're definitely sympathetic souls. Throughout the set of folk/country numbers, the trio traded off instruments and vocal leads but always found a path back to letting their voices join together in something more than the sum of the parts.

Recording: Kamra

Artist: Kamra

Song: Absolute Ardor

Recorded at East End United Church (Burn Down the Capital, Venus Fest and The Music Gallery present), December 13, 2025.

Kamra - Absolute Ardor

It's a joy to see an opening act that is clearly thrilled to be sharing a bill with their heroes as much as Kamra Abdul-Hakim, fronting their namesake band, was on this night. With shared concerns around emotional care and nurturing (as well as some poetically-declaimed vocals), there was a natural overlap. Backed by people|places|records' Andrew Noseworthy and some associated locals, this filled up the big church with some poignant resonances.

Monday Roundup #261

Community notes:

• Exciting movie night! Luka Kuplowsky will be presenting Memory of Light, his study of The Cluttertones, "part observational documentary and part experimental-concert film", on Thursday evening (January 15th) at Innis Town Hall.

• On Sunday, February 22nd, The Punk Talks Series presents an afternoon with Mickey Skin and Linda Lee (of Canada's first all-female punk band, the Curse), and Cleave Anderson (who has been the drummer of a number of early Toronto and Hamilton punk bands, including the Battered Wives, Viletones, and Forgotten Rebels). Moderated by Liz Worth (author of Treat Me Like Dirt: An Oral History of Punk in Toronto and Beyond), tickets are $10 ("includes refreshments", and a post-event sildscreening workshop).

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Concert announcements:

Agnes [Bea Labikova/Mira Martin-Gray/Doug Tielli/Kevin Turcotte/Mark Zurawinski/Rob Clutton] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-20 (Tuesday) [more info]

Experimental Link (feat. Sard / Raf Reza / Dastgâmachine) / BSMT 254 2026-01-23 (Friday). $22.60 (early bird)/$28.25 (1st release)/$33.90 (general admission), 19+. [FB event]

people | places | records Residency (feat. Cristina Lord / Nick Norton) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-24 (Saturday) [FB event]

Imaginary North and The Ambient PiNG present Ambient Afternoon (feat. Kilometre Club / Heart Map Ambient Ensemble / Daena Delam) / Society Clubhouse 2026-01-25 (Sunday – 2 p.m.). $10, all ages/family friendly [more info]

Discoveries Vol.8 with Musical Host Batuki Music (feat. Nii Osabu / Dipo / Sintayehu “Mimi” Zenebe & Abebe Fikade / David J. / Ruth Mathiang / Ṣẹwà) / Hugh's Room 2026-01-29 (Thursday). $21.82. [FB event]

The Ryan Driver Sextet [Moon CD release] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-30 (Friday) [FB event]

The Cross Sea [album release] (Praises / Isla Craig / Catholic Wilt) / The Baby G 2026-02-20 (Friday). $21.53, 19+. [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. Ben Green / Gruve Collective / Ross Edmonds / LoHeadroom / Caspar Project / Antibes / fame diet / Inchoate / Extinction On Schedule / Giant Floating Head) / Handlebar 2026-01-12 (Monday) [more info]

Mike DeiCont Trio [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-01-12 (Monday) [more info]

mdbm [Michael White/Maggie Keogh/Don Rooke/Blake Howard] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-14 (Wednesday) [more info]

Labyrinth Ontario presents Makam Nights (feat. Alejandro Franco Briones & Mehrdad Jafari Raad) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2026-01-15 (Thursday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Mehdi Rostami / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-16 (Friday – early) [more info]

Long Winter 14.3 (feat. liz uninvited [album release] / Kai Samuels / bridge of sand. / 999ADJ) / It's OK* Studios 2026-01-16 (Friday). $PWYC ($20 advance tickets skip the line). [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents BPM (Big Percussion Meeting) (feat. Aiyun Huang / David Schotzko / Germaine Liu / Joe Sorbara / Mark Zurawinski / Mira Martin-Gray) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-01-16 (Friday). $pwyc

A Soulful Wintry Evening With Kurdish Kamāncha (feat. Shahriyar Jamshidi) / Burdock Music Hall 2026-01-17 (Saturday). $22.60 advance/$30 door. [FB event]

Our Full Selves (feat. ROSINX) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-17 (Saturday) [more info]

ur audio visual presents (feat. Heraclitus Akimbo [concert and lecture celebrating the release of I know what I have experienced and I know what it has meant to me, an album of music for solo lap steel guitar] / Charter of the Forest [Isla Craig/Karsten Stryker/Kurt Newman/Pete Johnston/Blake Howard]) / The Sun Room @ 918 Bathurst 2026-01-18 (Sunday – 4 p.m.). $pwyc. [FB event]

Sonomadic Improv Presents: Singing with Freedom (Ayelet Rose Gottlieb [workshop] / K2 [Jonathan Kay & Kayla Milmine] / "Open Jam") / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2026-01-18 (Sunday). $PWYC, snacks included. [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ...on January 13, 2019 at Array Space (Somewhere There Presents: Paul Newman at 55).

Paul Newman & Brian Abbott - Toad Cricket Lear [part 1]

• ...on January 16, 2019 at Burdock Music Hall.

Cluttertones - Leeways Part 4 + 5

• ...on January 17, 2019 at The Canadian Music Centre (Riparian Acoustics/CMC Presents).

Alex Samaras - Everybody Says Don't

[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: mdbm

Artist: mdbm

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), December 10, 2025.

mdbm - unknown

Presenting the sort of experimental, drifting take on folk that you would have once heard at the Holy Oak, this quartet is working out their sounds in the course of a Tranzac residency. Featuring Michael White (trumpet), Maggie Keogh (vocals), Don Rooke (guitar, lap steel) and Blake Howard (percussion), the group moved from abstract, soundtrack-y pieces to more song-like forms (as heard here).

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

[mdbm will be back in the Southern Cross on Wednesday (January 14th).]

Recording: Clutton/Cole/O'Reilly/Howard

Artist: Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Patrick O'Reilly/Blake Howard

Songs: [set 1 excerpt] + This is what happens inside a room [edited excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Brodie West presents), December 10, 2025.

Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Patrick O'Reilly/Blake Howard - [set 1 excerpt]

Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Patrick O'Reilly/Blake Howard - This is what happens inside a room [edited excerpt]

Slated as an evening with Brodie West's Double Basses Quintet, the last-minute absence of the host shifted the terrain somewhat. Without West's saxophone (and the compositions for the group he's been working up), this turned into a chance for the remaining musicians to expand their zones a bit and improvise. There were still two double basses, giving Rob Clutton and Josh Cole a chance to work off each other, and some extra space for Patrick O'Reilly to explore the textures generated by his guitar and pedals. There was also one other substitution, as Blake Howard was sitting in for Nick Fraser and adding his genial chaos to the proceedings. The longer excerpt here contains an impromptu monologue from Howard, giving a darkly-comedic franework for the musicians to work around. (Or it's possible that Howard has indeed been trapped in the Southern Cross for the past forty million years and needs our assistance.)

Recording: Bitchin Bajas

Artist: Bitchin Bajas

Song: Keiji Dreams

Recorded at Monarch Tavern, December 7, 2025.

Bitchin Bajas - Keiji Dreams

This Chicago trio returned to town promoting the recent Inland See album, and indeed tackled all four of its pieces in their set. With the stage heaped with gear like a mad scientist's analog synth laboratory, the group let the music do the talking, eschewing banter (and, by and large, stage lighting) as they moved from more meditative soundscapes to some Switched On groovers.

Recording: Fortunato Durutti Marinetti

Artist: Fortunato Durutti Marinetti

Song: The Movie of Your Life

Recorded at Monarch Tavern, December 7, 2025.

Fortunato Durutti Marinetti - The Movie of Your Life

Given a largely attentive crowd while opening things up for touring headliners Bitchin Bajas, Daniel Colussi brought a contained set that leaned more on his lyrics and inflections than sonic propulsion. Backed only by Brandon Gibson-DeGroote on violin, Colussi let the words and images rush out, essaying some tunes from his last couple albums.

[Fortunato Durutti Marinetti will be back at the Monarch, opening for Fuses this Saturday (January 10th).]

Monday Roundup #260

Community notes:

• The Tranzac "is inviting artists, groups, curators, ensembles and organizations to apply to our performance residency for April - September 2026." Details are here and I note there's a Zoom info session later today. Deadline to apply is January 16th.

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Concert announcements:

Mike DeiCont Trio [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-01-12 (Monday) [more info]

mdbm [Michael White/Maggie Keogh/Don Rooke/Blake Howard] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-14 (Wednesday) [more info]

Mehdi Rostami / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-01-16 (Friday – early) [more info]

Long Winter 14.3 (feat. liz uninvited [album release] / Kai Samuels / bridge of sand. / 999ADJ) / It's OK* Studios 2026-01-16 (Friday). $PWYC ($20 advance tickets skip the line). [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents BPM (Big Percussion Meeting) (feat. Aiyun Huang / David Schotzko / Germaine Liu / Joe Sorbara / Mark Zurawinski / Mira Martin-Gray) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-01-16 (Friday). $pwyc

University of Toronto New Music Festival: Simple Beginnings (feat. minMAX Electroacoustic Orchestra) / Walter Hall 2025-01-25 (Sunday). $free. [more info]

University of Toronto New Music Festival (feat. DOG Ensemble and Jazz Faculty) / Walter Hall 2025-02-01 (Sunday – 2:00 p.m.). $free. [more info]

University of Toronto New Music Festival: Vis a Vis [music of Vivian Fung and Morton Feldman] (feat. U of T Percussion Ensemble) / Walter Hall 2025-02-02 (Monday). $free. [more info]

Ellwood Epps/Nick Fraser/Rob Clutton/Jonny Luke / Sellers & Newel 2025-02-18 (Wednesday). $25 minimum donation. [more info]

Aline Homzy's Manouche Trio [Aline Homzy/Jonathan Meyer/Julien Bradley-Combs] / Sellers & Newel 2025-02-27 (Friday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Caylie Staples & Matt Brubeck / Sellers & Newel 2025-03-10 (Tuesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Thursdays at Noon (feat. Eve Egoyan) / Walter Hall 2026-03-12 (Thursday – noon). $free. [more info]

Ladyfinger [Diane Roblin & Kayla Milmine] / Sellers & Newel 2025-03-14 (Saturday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Rob Clutton & Josh Cole / Sellers & Newel 2025-03-25 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

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

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Shows this week:

The Cluttertones [Rob Clutton/Lina Allemano/Tim Posgate/Ryan Driver] / Sellers & Newel 2025-01-06 (Tuesday). $20 minimum donation. [FB event]

Track Could Bend #112 (feat. Duo BEAK [Bea Labikova & Kayla Milmine] / Vividness Trio / Wenona Lodge 2026-01-06 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Peripheral Vision (Patrick O'Reilly/Brodie West) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-01-06 (Tuesday) [more info]

The Next Set (feat. Ruby Roussain/Aidan McConnell/Michael Davidson/Dan Fortin) / The Emmet Ray 2026-01-07 (Wednesday – 6:30 p.m.). $12. [FB event]

Titanium Riot [Lina Allemano/Ryan Driver/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-07 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Southern Balkans co-labs on Saxophone Concert #4: Greek Music Trio (feat. Dimitra Kahrimanidis/Ariane Morin/Naghmeh Farahmand) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-01-08 (Thursday) [more info]

Marcus Celia & Band (Justin Orok) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-09 (Friday – early). $pwyc. [more info]

Audiopollination (feat. Matt Collins / Julie Lassonde / Blake Howard / the not michael lynns) / Array Space 2026-01-09 (Friday). $notaflof. [more info]

Musica Universalis (feat. C'est la fête) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-09 (Friday) [more info]

Fuses (Roy / Fortunato Durutti Marinetti) / Monarch Tavern 2026-01-10 (Saturday). $17.50, 19+. [tickets + more info]

Cool New Instruments Night! #7 (feat. Brian Su / Naomi Sky / Brian Abbott / Benjamin Lappalainen / Dann Toliver / Michael Palumbo) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-10 (Saturday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Senior & Newman / Aaron Knight / Charter of the Forest / Nick Flanagan / OOP) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-01-11 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.) [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ...on January 6, 2017 at The Gladstone Hotel's Ballroom (Long Winter 5.2).

HanHan - Tawa

• ...on January 7, 2017 at The Garrison.

The Sadies - God Bless The Infidels

[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: Michael Palumbo

Artist: Michael Palumbo

Song: Vincent (Starry Starry Night) [Don McLean cover]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #111), December 2, 2025.

Michael Palumbo - Vincent (Starry Starry Night)

"Experimental music" is not a genre but rather a state of mind. For modular wizard and electroacoustician Michael Palumbo, improvisation and collaboration are core elements of his practice — so to become vulnerable with just songs and voice, a mic and a guitar were a step into different territory, the sort of experiment that generates productive nervousness. His repertoire in this set ranged from a couple traditional numbers and hewed towards folky material, but did pull in an eclectic set of influences including Chad VanGaalen and Thom Yorke.

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

[Track Could Bend returns to Wenona on Tuesday (January 6th) with sets from Duo BEAK (Bea Labikova and Kayla Milmine) and Vividness Trio (Laura Gillis, Lorne Shapiro, Hildegard von Bingo). A sweet way to start the year if you've been resolving to get out to more shows!]

Recording: Sarah and Rob

Artist: Sarah and Rob

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #111), December 2, 2025.

Sarah and Rob - [excerpt]

A rare duo appearance from Sarah Peebles (shō, monotron, cracklebox) and Rob Cruickshank (electronics, circular saw blade) provided some sinusoidal vibrational therapy, served up with homemade cookies. The latter were apparently not prepared on the cookie sheet hung from a frame like a gong and serving as a DIY resonator and part of Peebles' sonic arsenal.

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

[Track Could Bend returns to Wenona on Tuesday (January 6th) with sets from Duo BEAK (Bea Labikova and Kayla Milmine) and Vividness Trio (Laura Gillis, Lorne Shapiro, Hildegard von Bingo). A sweet way to start the year if you've been resolving to get out to more shows!]

Recording: Cosmic Homeostasis XXX

Artist: Cosmic Homeostasis XXX

Song: A Gracious Limestone [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), November 30, 2025.

Cosmic Homeostasis XXX - A Gracious Limestone [excerpt]

Joining together at the Tranzac for the thirtieth time, this session marked the end of a productive year for the C.H. collective, meeting inside and outdoors to create come drones and community vibes. Keep an eye out in 2026 for a new "studio" album and more gatherings.

The homeostasis crew on this occasion included:

• Chris Trotter - radio, pedals, namer-of-things
• Dan Friedman - virtual line hum, flute
• Del Stephen - keyboard synthesizer & keys
• Fahmid Nibesh - contact mic/amp/guitar/pedals/metals
• Heraclitus Akimbo - chimes, Roland S-1, pedals
• Ian McPhedran - guitar
• James Bailey - cümbüş, rattle
• Jim Davis - fretless bass gtr
• Jonny Luke - cornet + fx
• Mira Martin-Gray - synthesizer/resonator
• Niamh Girling - tanpura
• Paul Newman - tenor saxophone
• Rob Cruickshank - synth/pedals
• Scott M2 - Roland S-1
• Sterling McPhedran - banjo-ukulele

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

And, as always, you hear the whole session over on bandcamp:

2025 Gig List

Track Could Bend #99 (feat. Lostworldsounds / future proof) / Wenona Lodge 2025-01-07 (Tuesday)

Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman / Michelle Breslin / David Sait / Nick Flanagan) 2025-01-12 (Sunday)

Isla Craig (A L M A) / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-02-02 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #101 (feat. Kayla Milmine/Bob Vespaziani/Michael Lynn / Colin Fisher) / Wenona Lodge 2025-02-04 (Tuesday)

Track Could Bend #100 (feat. Isla Craig/Fahmid Nibesh/Michelangelo / Del Stephen/Danny Sheehan/Phil Hamilton / Ian McPhedran/James Bailey/Tom Richards / Raphael Roter/Sara Constant/Bill Gilliam / Bea Labikova/Mira Martin-Gray/Heather Saumer / Sarah Peebles/Kat Estacio/Danny Alexander / Luka Kuplowsky/Karen Ng/William Davison) / 918 Bathurst 2025-02-16 (Sunday)

Music Hosted by Karen Ng: A fundraiser show for Earlobe (feat. Holger Schrool & Mark Zurawinski / Many People) / Wenona Lodge 2024-02-18 (Tuesday)

Patrick O'Reilly presents: Carded! (feat. Patrick O'Reilly/Samuel Little/amiel ang/Samuel Laramee/Omar Yazaw/Leah Reavster/%%30%30/Annie Elgie) / Walter Hall 2025-02-24 (Monday)

Track Could Bend #102 (feat. M.D.N.R. / Del Stephen's Totoloto)

Women From Space Festival 2025 (feat. Erin Poole & Rosina Kazi/Chantelle Mostacho & shn shn / Yuniya Edi Kwon / Azumi OE/Eukademix​​) / 918 Bathurst 2025-03-08 (Saturday)

Women From Space Festival 2025 (feat. Mingjia Chen + Linnea Sablosky / Arushi Jain / Myra Melford's Fire and Water Trio) / 918 Bathurst 2025-03-09 (Sunday)

Nolan Hildebrand’s DMA Recital (feat. Colin Fisher/Roan Ma/Patrick O'Reilly/Chris Weins/Veronica Zupanic/Hirad Moradi/Louis Pino/Nikki Huang/Hoi-Tong Keung/Bevis NG/Jasmine Tsui/Thomas Li) / Walter Hall 2025-03-11 (Tuesday)

Cosmic Homeostasis XXVII / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-23 (Sunday)

Clue Note presents (feat. Rob Clutton/Bea Labikova/Doug Tielli/Kevin Turcotte/Mark Zurawinski) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-25 (Tuesday)

Nick Fraser presents (feat. Nick Fraser's Special Topics) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-03-25 (Tuesday)

The Music Gallery presents (feat. Turntable Trio [Maria Chavez/Evicshen/Mariam Rezaei] / Kristina Guison) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-03-31 (Monday)

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

Ambient soundscapes for babies to adults (feat. LordAUK / A L M A / Jessica Deutsch) / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-04-06 (Sunday)

Kurt Newman presents: Newman Guitars (feat. Kurt Newman / Harris Newman) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-10 (Thursday)

SaltChunkJerry (Man Made Hill / Greydini / Shaaane) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-04-12 (Saturday)

Stranger Still / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-04-13 (Sunday)

Labyrinth Ensemble with Âriâ Mohâfez / Aga Khan Museum 2025-05-03 (Saturday)

Track Could Bend #104 (feat. Caleb Klager / Hex-A-Decimal / Allemano/Driver/Klager) / Wenona Lodge 2025-05-06 (Tuesday)

Audiopollination (feat. Pierre Mongeon/Michael Palumbo/Diane Roblin / mkl32 / Mira Martin-Gray / Holger Schoorl & Mark Zurawinski) / Array Space 2025-05-09 (Friday)

The Music Gallery presents What Is: heart(break) – Rebound (feat. Sarah Hennies & Tristan-Kasten Krause / Imaginary Percussion Ensemble) / East End United Church (Gymnasium) 2025-05-16 (Friday)

Not The Wind, Not the Flag / Le Monde 2025-05-17 (Saturday)

an action committee / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-05-18 (Sunday)

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

TONE presents (feat. Eric Chenaux Trio / Cici Arthur) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-05-23 (Friday)

Ben Mike & The Beatles (Carolina Lopez) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-05-25 (Sunday)

Heraclitus Akimbo / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-05-29 (Thursday)

Prepare the Ground – Night 2 (feat. Raphael Weinroth-Browne / Jay Jayle / Ora Cogan & Ester Thunander / Oldest Sea) / 918 Bathurst 2025-05-31 (Saturday)

Prepare the Ground – Night 3 (feat. Harvestman / John Wiese / Lana Del Rabies / The Rita) / 918 Bathurst 2025-06-01 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #105 (feat. Determinist? / Aliyah Aziz) / Wenona Lodge 2025-06-03 (Tuesday)

NO HAY BANDA (HxH) / The Music Gallery 2025-06-05 (Thursday)

Open Tuning Festival (feat. Cosmic Homeostasis) / Karma Co-op's parking lot 2025-06-07 (Saturday)

Prince Nifty & Colin Fisher / Le Monde 2025-06-07 (Saturday)

Araz Salek & Friends / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-06-08 (Sunday)

Audiopollination (feat. David Sait/James Bailey/Eunoia Jean Close / cheryl o/Neil Wiernik/Del Stephen / Heraclitus Akimbo/Laura Swankey/Judy Zhu / Mickle32 & Rod Campbell) / Array Space 2025-06-13 (Friday)

New Chance (Bile Sister) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-06-14 (Saturday)

South by South East International Festival (feat. Yani Borrell) / Harbourfront Centre (Concert Stage) 2025-06-28 (Saturday)

Cosmic Homeostasis XXVIII / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-06-29 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #106 (feat. Cudmore/Perera Duo / Ariadna Ortega / Grace Scheele) / Wenona Lodge 2025-07-01 (Tuesday)

Rock Plaza Central (Neil Haverty) / The Baby G 2025-07-03 (Thursday)

Ayal Senior and Friends (feat. anthéne / Del Stephen / Nick Flanagan) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-07-13

Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Brian Ruryk & %%30%30 / Fossils / Xodkaar × Auto Feeder / Battle Milk) / under Hogg's Hollow Bridge 2025-07-19 (Saturday)

Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Fron Reilly & Stephen Vickery / Joyce To / Nilan Perera) / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-07-27 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #107 (feat. Poached Roses / Tom Richards) / Wenona Lodge 2024-08-05 (Tuesday)

Mechanical Forest Sound presents (feat. The Davison Auger / Wenderly Park / Murmur) / 918 Bathurst (The Sun Room) 2025-08-06 (Wednesday)

Within (Heraclitus Akimbo & Marilyn Yogarajah) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-09 (Saturday – early)

About this, It Was Not Yet Written (feat. Myk Freedman/Dave Clark/Ronley Teper) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-09 (Saturday)

Our Way to Fall (Sarah Greene Preservation Society Trio) / 918 Bathurst (The Sun Room) 2025-08-14 (Thursday)

Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Mustafa Rafiq/ Sara Constant/Marilyn Yogarajah/Karen Ng/Lenny) / Wenona Lodge 2025-08-19 (Tuesday)

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)

Cosmic Homeostasis XXIX / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-08-31 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #108 (feat. Brian Abbott / Allison Cameron) / Wenona Lodge 2025-09-02 (Tuesday)

Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip (feat. Cosmic Homeostasis) / Vale of Avoca 2025-09-14 (Sunday)

Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip (feat. Double Trio / Charles Spearin) / CNE Bandshell 2025-09-23 (Tuesday)

Karen Ng presents (feat. Trapezoid) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-09-25 (Thursday)

Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip: Closing Show (feat. Christine Duncan and The Element Choir / Future Proof / Woolworm, Ontario / SSSY) / Oculus Pavilion 2025-09-27 (Saturday)

The Ryan Driver Sextet / Array Space 2025-10-04 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #109 (feat. BLACK GALAXIE / O'Reilly/Strutt/Pitt / Brandon Auger & Deniz Tafaghodi) / Wenona Lodge 2024-10-07 (Tuesday)

CONTXT by Trane presents: Weather Report Tribute Night (feat. Isaiah Collier/Rich Brown/Chris Pruden/Mark Kelso/Juan Carlos Medrano) / 918 Bathurst 2025-10-11 (Saturday)

Karen Ng Presents (feat. Aidan McConnell/Karen Ng/Adrian Russouw) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-10-14 (Tuesday)

Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. qeTTe fossa / Jaap Blonk / T.D. / Jaap Blonk & Mike Gennaro) / The Jama 2025-10-18 (Saturday)

Track Could Bend #110 (feat. anthéne / Fossils) / Wenona Lodge 2025-11-04 (Tuesday)

Hank the Kid (P.S. I Love You / SAP) / Dina's Tavern 2025-11-23 (Sunday)

Cosmic Homeostasis XXX / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-11-30 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #111 (feat. Sarah and Rob / Michael Palumbo) / Wenona Lodge 2025-12-02 (Tuesday)

Bitchin Bajas (Fortunato Durutti Marinetti) / Monarch Tavern 2025-12-07 (Sunday)

Brodie West presents (feat. Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Patrick O'Reilly/Blake Howard) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-12-10 (Wednesday)

mdbm / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-12-10 (Wednesday)

Burn Down the Capital, Venus Fest and The Music Gallery present (feat. Beverly Glenn-Copeland with special guest Elizabeth Copeland / Kamra / Topanga Trio) / East End United Church 2025-12-13 (Saturday)

Agnes / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-12-16 (Tuesday)

coexisDance #112 (feat. Pulga Muchochoma/Waleed Abdulhamid/Nidhi Baadkar/Xicada/Tyler J Sloan/Amiel Ang/Steph Chua) / Trinity-St. Paul's Centre (Gymnasium) 2025-12-19 (Friday)

Karen Ng presents (feat. Mark Ballyk/Brandon Davis/Kayla Elrod/Will Hunt/Karen Ng) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-12-23 (Tuesday)

The Ryan Driver Quintet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-12-23 (Tuesday)

Lipliners Residency (feat. Ronley Teper & The Lipliners) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-12-30 (Tuesday)

Nick Fraser Presents (feat. Nick Fraser/Josh Cole/Brodie West) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-12-30 (Tuesday)