Monday Roundup #265

Concert announcements:

Labyrinth Ontario presents Makam Nights (feat. Behnoosh Behnamnia / Naghmeh Farahmand) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2025-02-19 (Thursday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Cooked Raw Presents (feat. Context NA / Understanding) / Dina's Tavern 2025-02-19 (Thursday). $20. [more info]

Mehdi Rostami / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-02-20 (Friday – early) [more info]

BPM (Big Percussion Meeting) (feat. Amiel Ang / Em Wright / Greg Harrison / Joyce To / Mitch Lohmeier / Rumi Jeraj) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-02-20 (Friday) [more info]

JS Presents! Ep. 66 (feat. Alex Samaras / Jessica Stuart/JESSA) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-02-21 (Saturday – 5 p.m.) [FB event]

Rapallo (Marker Starling [full band]) / Dina's Tavern 2025-02-21 (Saturday). $20. [more info]

Our Full Selves (feat. ROSINX) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-02-21 (Saturday) [more info]

Imaginary North and The AMBiENT PiNG present Ambient Afternoon (feat. anthéne / moonwatch.er / Daena Delam / Sparkling Water) / Society Clubhouse 2025-02-22 (Sunday – 2 p.m.). $10, NOTAFLOF, fully accessible and family friendly. [FB event]

Cooked Raw Presents (feat. Triples [EP release!] / Poolblood / Amelia Maxwell) / Dina's Tavern 2025-02-26 (Thursday). $20. [more info]

Nash the Slash Rises Again! + Concert ["...a one night only event featuring the theatrical premiere of Nash the Slash Rises Again!, an in-person Q&A with the filmmakers and collaborators, plus a live musical performance with special guests!"] (feat. Ian Blurton/Christine Duncan/Rebecca Hennessy/Rob Higgins/Friendly Rich Marsella/Andrew Noseworthy/Frank Pahl/Eiyn Sof with house band: Kevin Breit/Dave Clark/Rebecca Hennessy/Michael Herring/Elena Kapeleris) / Hot Docs Cinema 2026-03-13 (Friday). $20 (general)/$15 (members). [FB event]

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

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Shows this week:

Soundstreams Encounters: Arvo Pärt at 90 (feat. Erika Raum/Oskar Daniel-Raum/Xin Wang) / Hugh's Room 2026-02-09 (Monday). $free with reservation. [more info]

Mike DeiCont Trio [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-02-09 (Monday) [more info]

Brodie West presents (feat. Brodie West's Double Double Basses Quintet [Patrick O'Reilly/Josh Cole/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser/Brodie West]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-02-11 (Wednesday – early) [more info]

mdbm [Michael White/Maggie Keogh/Don Rooke/Blake Howard] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-02-11 (Wednesday) [more info]

Max Donaldson [solo piano record launch] / Sellers & Newel 2025-02-13 (Friday). $15 minimum donation. [FB event]

Audiopollination (feat. Liam Alduous/Plastic Heart Surgery x lovesick/erin gray / Jamie Eriksen/Janel Jones/Nyda & Lief / Ryan Kinney/Travis John/Bri Clarke) / Arrayspace 2026-02-13 (Friday). $pwyc, notaflof. [FB event]

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]

PIX FILM presents: Sound and Visuals (feat. Fabian Lanzmaier/Madi Piller / Allison Cameron) / PIX FILM 2026-02-14 (Saturday). $free with ticket. [FB event]

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Video hits:

• This looks like a fun little encounter:

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It happened this week...

• ...on February 10, 2015 at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge).

Aurochs - [set 1, first piece]

• ...on February 10, 2015 at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge).

bedroom - [excerpt 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.]

Recording: bedroom

Artist: bedroom

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), December 8, 2015.

bedroom - [excerpt 1]

bedroom - [excerpt 2]

This improvised somnambulant ambient/electroacoustic project from Matthew Pencer (laptop), Michael Davidson (vibraphone) and Josh Cole (mono synth/laptop) remains fairly singular — atmospheric and relaxing but with occasional rough-edged sound-snags. A bit like drifting off to sleep and right into an occasionally disconcerting dream that bumps you just barely back into awakeness. I got my mics in close to Davidson's vibes for this one, and the recording is particularly immersive, so it's worth sharing a couple extended excerpts here. Plus, some visual abstractions!

[bedroom will be back in action on the second Tuesday of next month — that'd be January 12th — in the Southern Cross.]

Recording: bedroom superband

Artist: bedroom superband

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), September 8, 2015

bedroom superband - [excerpt 1]

bedroom superband - [excerpt 2]

This avant-chillout project from Matthew Pencer (laptop), Michael Davidson (vibraphone) and Josh Cole (mono synth/laptop) is still making quiet noises in the dark, but this time out they had some help, with guests Daniel Pencer (saxophone), Isla Craig (vox) and Thom Gill (synth) justifying the immodest modifier to the band's name. Though a half-dozen deep, this was still quiet and un-busy music, layer upon layer of electronic whirring with little sax licks at the edges and Craig's wordless lullabying.

[bedroom (possibly in smaller numbers) will be back in action on the second Tuesday of next month — that'd be October 13 — in the Southern Cross.]

Recording: bedroom

Artist: bedroom

Songs: [three excerpts]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), February 10, 2015.

bedroom - [excerpt 1]

bedroom - [excerpt 2]

bedroom - [excerpt 3]

Although this gig offered the possibility of a "make out corner" in the darkened Southern Cross, this bedroom was more equipped for drifting off into hazy dreamlands. A newish joint enterprise between Matthew Pencer (laptop), Michael Davidson (vibraphone) and Josh Cole (mono synth/laptop) dedicated to extended improvisatory mood-setting, this set Davidson's gently-cascading vibes against the subtle samples, clicks and hums from the two laptopists, occasionally shifting the soundfield with a hit of keyboard's "random" button. But even with those interventions, the mood was largely soothing and tranquil — this is the sort of band for whom it's probably not an insult to say their music may put you to sleep.