Mechanical Forest Sound: May 2026

Monday, May 18, 2026

Monday Roundup #279

Community notes:

Save the date — a celebration of life for Jeff Burke will be held at The Tranzac, 2 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 12th. You can probably keep an eye out here for further details.

Concert announcements:

Solitary Shrew Presents (feat. Catherine Crescent / Tania Gill/Aline Homzy/Brittany Pitt/Mira Riselli/Joe Sorbara) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-05-26 (Tuesday – early). $pwyc ($10 suggested). [more info]

Bitstance [William Brent/David Cecchetto/Colin Clark/Adam Tindale] / Array Space 2026-05-26 (Tuesday). $free, all ages

Nick Fraser presents (feat. Nick Fraser's Special Topics / Max Stover [solo]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-05-26 (Tuesday). [more info]

More Noise Please! presents: Static//Dissonance//Rhythm//Eruption (feat. Fatboi Sharif & Icky Reels / Andrew Nolan / Escote / Gorf / 999ADJ) / BSMT 254 2025-05-28 (Thursday). $20. [tickets + more info]

Karen Ng presents (feat. Felix Henkelhausen/Nick Fraser/Karen Ng/Chris Pruden/Brodie West) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-05-28 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]

Exit Points #72 (feat. Hivemaker/Altar Egoic/Doorgirlvibe/Michael Palumbo / Shwaas/Judy Luo/Jonelle Sills/Zack Goldstein/Colin James Gibson) / Array Space 2025-05-29 (Friday). $17.52 (early bird)/$22.89 (advance)/$28.27 (general). [more info]

Transmit Presents at Do West Fest (feat. RroachH / The Get Alongs / Shilpa Ray / Mother Tongues) / outside The Garrison 2026-06-05 (Friday). $free, outdoors, all ages. [FB event]

Transmit Presents at Do West Fest (feat. Keegan Powell & The Jetpacks / Camille Leon / SAP / Silks / Boutique Feelings / Lavender Town / Ian Blurton's Future Now / Bonnie Trash / Phèdre / Holy Fuck) / outside The Garrison 2026-06-06 (Saturday). $free, outdoors, all ages. [FB event]

Gilliam/Milmine/Pottie Trio (Margaret Maria [solo] / Marbyllia [Margaret Maria & Bill Gilliam]) / Kensington Sound 2026-06-06 (Saturday). $25/PWYC

Transmit Presents at Do West Fest (feat. A Horse Named Friday / ROY / Hobby / Blunt Chunks / Ronley Teper & The Lipliners / Kiwi Jr.) / outside The Garrison 2026-06-07 (Sunday). $free, outdoors, all ages. [FB event]

The Fiver Trois / Dina's Tavern 2025-07-24 (Friday)

Drea Lake (Prince Enoki [Scott Peterson/Jocelyn Barth/Rob Piltch/Brandon Valdivia]) / Burdock Music Hall 2025-06-15 (Monday). $28.25 (early bird)/$39.55 (general admission). [tickets + more info]

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

Shows this week:

Jazz Rat Monday (feat. Patrick Smith/Rebecca Hennessy/Max Simpson/Trevor Falls) / Dina's Tavern 2026-05-18 (Monday). $pwyc. [more info]

May Tuesdays Residency (feat. Velour Underground) / The Baby G 2026-05-19 (Tuesday). $free, 19+. [FB event]

Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Duo Cichorium [Louis Pino & Jaz Tsui] / Kieran Adams/Caleb Clawson/Karen Ng/Raf Wilcot) / Wenona Lodge 2025-05-19 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [more info]

Playscape Emporium: Paint, Play ["The audience will witness the creation of various painted works, following the story of a painting as told by the brush."] (feat. Duo Cichorium / Constant Yen / Rowan Campbell / Charlee Wielgoz/Fahmid Nibesh/Joe Strutt/Mira Martin-Gray) / Array Space 2026-05-21 (Thursday). $25.00 (or Pay What You Want); livestream: $12.00 (or Pay What You Want). [more info]

Labyrinth Ontario presents Makam Nights (feat. Atom Wang) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2026-05-21 (Thursday). $pwyc ($10 suggested). [FB event]

By Divine Right (Casper Skulls / The Will Powers) / Dina's Tavern 2026-05-22 (Friday)

Picastro (Lives Like Skyscrapers / Jordaan Mason) / Annette Studios 2026-05-22 (Friday). $28.25. [more info]

Isla Craig (Colin Fisher / Wenderly Park) / Le Monde 2026-05-22 (Friday). $15/PWYC (cash/card). [FB event]

Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Cole Pulice / SpeariNg [Karen Ng & Charles Spearin] / Grace Scheele) / Collective Arts 2026-05-23 (Saturday). $22.89, 19+. [FB event]

Doug Tielli/Aline Homzy/Michael Davidson/Brandon Davis / Sellers & Newel 2026-05-23 (Saturday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

Parade [Stefan Hegerat/Chris Pruden/Patrick O’Reilly/Laura Swankey] (Joyshape) / Burdock Music Hall 2026-05-23 (Saturday). $16.95. [more info]

Imaginary North and The AMBiENT PiNG present: Ambient Afternoon (feat. Piers Oolvai / Astrolope / Tewksbury / Dorraa and Lazy Summer Dogs) / Society Clubhouse 2026-05-24 (Sunday – 2 p.m.). $11.95 (advance)/$15 (door). [more info]

Sympathetic String Band & Friends (feat. Sympathetic String Band / Blue Moss / Jack Pine) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-05-24 (Sunday – early). $pwyc. [more info]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Ben Rempel & Justin Gunter / Not the Wind, Not the Flag / Doug Tielli & Mike Gennaro) / Bickford Park 2026-05-24 (Sunday). $pwyc, all ages, outdoors. [more info]

In memoriam Cris Derksen

Shocking and devastating news this weekend to hear of Cris Derksen's passing. I got to see Cris regularly for a spell when she was skipping between worlds and establishing herself both as a player and composer. Often seen with an infectious grin and a cheerful vibe, it was a big deal for me to have Cris come play Track Could Bend in its early days. Having moved onto bigger stages and more ambitious compositions, it's a huge loss to see this talent taken from us. Here's some sounds from the archives, with Cris playing in support of others as well as her own material:

...on March 7, 2014 at The Great Hall (Long Winter – Year 2, Volume 5).

Fiver - Gone Alone

...on December 4, 2014 at The Music Gallery (Emergents I).

Cris Derksen - 21

...on January 5, 2016 at Dundas Video (Track Could Bend #10).

Cris Derksen - War Cry [Movement I]

...on March 24, 2017 at The Gladstone Hotel's Ballroom (Long Winter 5.4).

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson - How to Steal a Canoe

...on July 21, 2017 at Harbourfront Centre – Concert Stage (Northern Passages Festival).

Cris Derksen - What Did You Do Boy?

[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.]

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Recording: Sympathetic String Band

Artist: Sympathetic String Band

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Sympathetic String Band & Friends), April 26, 2026.

Sympathetic String Band - [excerpt]

Although I caught some earlier evolutions of this ensemble, I had missed 'em as they transitioned into a Tranzac residency, gathering likeminded friends to dig deep into tunings and other esoteric string-related inquiries. This night saw them inviting Gayle Young to join in for some theory-talk and sonic exploration, though the group, in quartet form this time out, also took this journey on their own.

[It looks like The Sympathetic String Band are bumped from their regular timeslot this month, but they will be back in the Southern Cross on June 28th.]

Recording: Gayle Young

Artist: Gayle Young

Songs: [solo piece] + Stick Fire (with Sympathetic String Band)

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Sympathetic String Band & Friends), April 26, 2026.

Gayle Young - [solo piece]

Gayle Young & Sympathetic String Band - Stick Fire

A fascinating meeting of the minds at The Tranzac, with the Sympathetic String Band invting composer/performer/theorist/inventor Gayle Young out for a session, bringing her 25 string amaranth (played with bows, mallets and more) — "the music theory machine" as she referred to it. After giving an introductory overview of the instrument, she played the first piece here, accompanied by a field recording. And then, after an improvisation by the Sympathetic String Band, everyone joined together for a closing exploration of another of her pieces.

Monday, May 11, 2026

Monday Roundup #278

Community notes:

So, in the realm of cool shit coming up, Don Pyle is celebrating the launch of his "memoirish new book" Rough Description: Love Letters and Ghost Stories from a Life in Music, with an event at Standard Time on Thursday, May 28th. Expect a slideshow/reading by Pyle, followed by a conversation moderated by Damian Rogers. Plus fabulous guest readers Chris Colohan, Kirby, Jason McBride, and Tabatha Southey — and, quite astoundingly, special guest DJ's Georgia Hubley and Ira Kaplan from Yo La Tengo.

Concert announcements:

May Tuesdays Residency (feat. Velour Underground) / The Baby G 2026-05-19 (Tuesday). $free, 19+. [FB event]

Labyrinth Ontario presents Makam Nights (feat. Atom Wang) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2026-05-21 (Thursday). $pwyc ($10 suggested). [FB event]

Isla Craig (Colin Fisher / Wenderly Park) / Le Monde 2026-05-22 (Friday). $15/PWYC (cash/card). [FB event]

May Tuesdays Residency (feat. Velour Underground) / The Baby G 2026-05-26 (Tuesday). $free, 19+. [FB event]

INSTITUT 004 (feat. Luka Kuplowsky & Band [The Grass Grows, Antonych Grows album release celebration!] / Evan J. Cartwright / Noriko Yamamoto) / St. Volodymyr Institute 2026-05-28 (Thursday). $27.96. [more info]

Venus Fest + More Noise Please present: Drone Day (feat. Auto Feeder / Esssena / fossa séu / Grief Debt / Mira Martin-Gray / Shemona / three6marilyn / Xodkaar) / It's Ok* Studios 2025-05-30 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). #11.64/$16.97/$22.29, all ages. [tickets + more info]

Track Could Bend #117 (feat. saucering [Tilman Lewis/Nilan Perera/Laura Swankey] / Colin Fisher/William Hunt/Jack Johnson/Cal Adam) / Wenona Lodge 2025-06-02 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Humbucker Music Residency (feat. Humbucker Music [Nick Storring/Jason Doell/Colin Cudmore/Mira Martin-Gray] / Rob Clutton) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-06-05 (Friday). $pwyc

Project Nowhere presents (feat. Sook-Yin Lee [72RHR album release!] / bridge of sand / Kali Horse / Salon Perfomance [Karen Ng/Lee Suksi/Stevie Manning/Bee Solomon]) / The Baby G 2026-06-26 (Friday). $30.55, 19+. [FB event]

Humbucker Music Residency (feat. Humbucker Music [Nick Storring/Jason Doell/Colin Cudmore/Mira Martin-Gray] / Allison Cameron & Scott Thomson [Platanus album release show!]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-07-03 (Friday). $pwyc

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

Shows this week:

Jazz Rat Monday (feat. Patrick Smith/Nancy Walker/Eric West/Mark Godfrey) / Dina's Tavern 2026-05-11 (Monday). $pwyc. [more info]

Toronto Electronic Music Open Mic (feat. Gruve Collective / Alex! / mylesofdude / Steve Lucas / Greg Judelman / Smoking That Live Sound / Ben Green / driftnote /Caspar Project / Broken Pink Umbrella / Tyrek / A/K/C) / Handlebar 2025-05-11 (Monday) [more info]

New Works for Improvising Musicians (feat. Nick Fraser's Special Topics [Nick Fraser/Josh Cole/Max Stover/Kae Murphy]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-05-11 (Monday)

May Tuesdays Residency (feat. Velour Underground) / The Baby G 2026-05-12 (Tuesday). $free, 19+. [FB event]

Brodie West presents (feat. Drumheller [Nick Fraser/Rob Clutton/Brodie West/Eric Chenaux/Doug Tielli]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-05-13 (Wednesday – early)

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. One Leg One Eye / Efrim Menuck) / St. Stephen-In-The-Fields 2025-05-13 (Wednesday). $26.67, all-ages. [FB event]

Never Was [Brandon Davis/Bea Labikova/Patrick O’Reilly/Joe Sorbara] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-05-13 (Wednesday)

TONE Presents (feat. Eric Chenaux & Ryan Driver / Rafael Toral / Masahiro Takahashi & Brodie West) / Standard Time 2025-05-14 (Thursday). $33.64 advance/$35 door, all-ages. [FB event]

Night Owls (feat. Bob Wiseman / Lily Frost) / Hugh's Room 2026-05-14 (Thursday). $42.85 (General Admission), $27.27 (Student / Arts Worker / Underemployed). [FB event]

AMRITA [debut album release!] [Anita Katakkar & Kayla Milmine with special guests: Jonathan Kay & Zaynab Wilson] (Zaynab Wilson) / Array Space 2025-05-14 (Thursday). $30 [includes a copy of the new CD and a drink]. [FB event]

Pedro Oliveira (Ariel Orah / Earth Punks) / Terrarium 2025-05-14 (Thursday). $15/pwyc. [more info]

Mifune Moods presents [live improvised scoring of The Hobbit (1977)] / Bampot House 2026-05-14 (Thursday). $donation. [more info]

Today Versions presents (feat. Ghost Variables [Gary Barwin/Chris Palmer/David Lee/Mike Hansen/Connor Bennett] / Del Stephen's Furtherances [Owen Kurtz/Paul Newman/Jeff Sinibaldi/Jamie Eriksen/Del Stephen] / Woolworm, Ontario) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2026-05-15 (Friday). $10-$15 sliding scale

Masahiro Takahashi presents Chanoyu (feat. Masahiro Takahashi / Matthew Bailey/Karen Ng/Ted Crosby) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-05-15 (Friday) [more info]

Diane Roblin’s Life Force [Diane Roblin/George Koller/Kevin Turcotte/John Johnson/Colleen Allen/TIm Shia] / The Rex 2025-05-16 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). [more info]

Animatist [Shapeshifter Album Release Party] (Miserable Weekend / Paper Hats) / The Baby G 2025-05-16 (Saturday). $20.01, 19+. [FB event]

Garden of Forking Paths VIII (feat. Triio) / Allan Gardens 2026-05-16 (Saturday). $30. [more info]

Re:Stacks (feat. Stacks) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-05-16 (Saturday). $pwyc. [more info]

Cosmic Homeostasis XXXII / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2026-05-17 (Sunday – noon). $pwyc. [FB event]

The Dan Pitt Trio [Dan Pitt/Alex Fournier/Nick Fraser] / Sellers & Newel 2026-05-17 (Sunday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]

In the mix:

A new ambient mix, drone and drone-adjacent music, based around two versions of a James Tenney piece, plus plus sounds from Open Union (playing Paolo Griffin), Ondelunghe, and Nick Dourado, James Goddard, Mustafa Rafiq, Jairus Sharif.

It happened this week...

...on May 12, 2012 at Mercer Union.

Fiver - Dayton

...on May 14, 2012 at The Tranzac (Main Hall).

Sandro Perri - Futureactive Kid (Parts 1 + 2)

[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.]

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Recording: Homzy/Storring/Oswald/Kurtz/Cole

Artist: Aline Homzy/Nick Storring/John Oswald/Owen Kurtz/Josh Cole

Song: [1st set excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Josh Cole presents: new works for improvising musicians), March 14, 2026.

Aline Homzy/Nick Storring/John Oswald/Owen Kurtz/Josh Cole - [1st set excerpt]

The current cycle of Josh Cole's Tranzac residency is entitled "new works for improvising musicians", and this first outing was a variation on the "trio plus strings" format, keeping string players Nick Storring (cello) and Aline Homzy (violin) as well as saxophonist John Oswald, while adding Owen Kurtz's electronic manipulations in the wildcard slot. (He was definitely showing off his skills in using his Kaoss Pad as an instrument in this encounter.) With the strings sawing and tapping, the players have done this together enough to have a strong sense of when evryone else was about to flip from chaotic rambling to imploding drones, leading to some really satisfying dynamics.

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

[New works for improvising musicians is back at The Tranzac tomorrow (Monday, May 11th), presenting Nick Fraser’s Special Topics.]

Saturday, May 9, 2026

Recording: The Clearing

Artist: The Clearing

Song: [excerpt, in two parts]

Recorded at Annette Studios (Sonomadic Improv presents), April 12, 2026.

The Clearing - [excerpt, part 1]

The Clearing - [excerpt, part 2]

Sonomadic Music is an initiative from Kayla Milmine and Jonathan Kay to support artists and audiences with chances for joyful, focused listening. Their live series has had several shows in Annette Studios, which allows for some pro-level documentation. This group was originally conceived as a vehicle for Sam Newsome to perform with some local improvisers, but has evolved into its own standalone unit for thoise acolytes. Like Newsome, Kayle Milmine is a deep student of the soprano sax, which is a featured instrument here, for both herself and Jonathan Kay. The latter also deployed the baritone as well as some flute; Milmine continued her explorations of the sopranino sax, while both also shared a selection of bells, shells and other percussive implements. Providing a structure to the whole thing was Marilyn Lerner on piano and Nick Fraser on drumkit.

[You can keep an eye out for further Sonomadic Improv events at their instagram — and hear some past sessions over on bandcamp.]

Recording: Happy Apple

Artist: Happy Apple

Song: [excerpt, in two parts]

Recorded at Annette Studios (Sonomadic Improv presents), April 12, 2026.

Happy Apple - [excerpt, part 1]

Happy Apple - [excerpt, part 2]

[You can keep an eye out for further Sonomadic Improv events at their instagram — and hear some past sessions over on bandcamp. Joe Strutt will be performing as part of the ensemble at Duo Cichorium's Playscape Emporium (Paint, Play), alongside Charlee Wielgoz, Fahmid Nibesh, and Mira Martin-Gray.]

photo by Heidi Chan.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Recording: Ben Mike & Owen Kurtz

Artist: Ben Mike & Owen Kurtz

Song: [last section]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #115), April 7, 2026.

Ben Mike & Owen Kurtz - [last section]

The origins of this set reach back a year to TCB #103, which was co-presented with the Ministry of Phonic Services, and where Owen Kurtz was originally slated to perform before having to reschedule. The fullness of time has allowed this presentation of a first-ever performance from this pair of friends, with keyboardist Ben Mike abutting Kurtz's electronics. A bit like listening to Debussy while sending a fax, the pair evoked a saturated soundworld with strange hums, buzzings, and tapes alongside the pianistic sounds.

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

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona tonight (Tuesday, May 5th) with sets from the rest (Joe Sorbara & Jonathan Kay), Wobbly + John Oswald, and Red Trillium. Ben Mike will be convening an appearance of his must-see large ensemble The Beatles at Dina's Tavern on Thursday, May 14th. Owen Kurtz will be performing as a member of Del Stephen's Furtherances (alongside Ghost Variables and Woolworm, Ontario) in the Tranzac's Living Room on Friday, May 15th.]

Recording: Brian Abbott & Paul Newman

Artist: Brian Abbott & Paul Newman

Song: [2nd piece]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #115), April 7, 2026.

Brian Abbott & Paul Newman - [2nd piece]

Feeling some alienation from their instruments and their compositions, a year or so ago longtime friends Brian Abbott (guitar) and Paul Newman (soprano sax) decided to go back to first principles and began meeting weekly to improvise together. This set showed off the shared space they have been able to reclaim, finding new ways to reach expansion and resonation from their point(s) of origin.

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

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona tonight (Tuesday, May 5th) with sets from the rest (Joe Sorbara & Jonathan Kay), Wobbly + John Oswald, and Red Trillium. Paul Newman will be performing as a member of Del Stephen's Furtherances (alongside Ghost Variables and Woolworm, Ontario) in the Tranzac's Living Room on Friday, May 15th.]

Monday, May 4, 2026

Monday Roundup #277