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.)
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.
Opening up an afternoon of investigations into folk music, this was a real all-star group, bringing together Isla Craig (voice), Karsten Stryker (acoustic guitar), Kurt Newman (low-volume electric guitar), Pete Johnston (bass), and Blake Howard (percussion). The musical approach was a jammy take on folk-rock, though more Fairport Convention (whose Liege & Lief was a primary touchstone) than Grateful Dead — though also with some bluegrass flourishes. The material also hewed towards "traditional songs of the British Isles", though in some cases the traditions reached back to more recent rolling minstrels such as those heard here.
You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:
A classic sort of album-release celebration, Vic Cheong launched the fab new A Rock Unsteady by bigging everything up — dramatic stage lighting and magnificent shoulder pads included — as well as bringing along many of the friends who helped make the album. Cheong's skills as a vocal arranger were in evidence (as heard on the first selection here) with astounding interweavings coming from Isla Craig, Robin Dann, and Felicity Williams, and there was room as well for some guest performances from saxophonist Brodie West as well as Jennifer Castle, who hung out in the shadows at the edge of the stage to embellish "Something Human".
Track Could Bend will be having its tenth anniversary in April — although given how time got weird for a while there and the series took fourteen months off, it seems like a slightly ambiguous mark for celebration. This big round number, however, felt like the right opportunity to mark a special occasion. In the beforetimes, TCB marked its anniversaries with special events, gathering the folks who had played over the previous year and drawing names from a hat to construct some spontaneous new combos. I had the notion to scale that up and duly invited back everyone who had ever played the series — over three hundred performers! — for an afternoon and evening of fun.
As fate would have it, the long-planned-for day came with a monumental snowstorm, so the inability to get around kept some folks at home. And yet, this event still saw twenty-one performers take the stage, duly selected from the hat and sorted into seven trios. As is often the case, these instant bands made some gorgeous sounds, showing off the ability of TCB's community to adapt, co-operate and thrive. A fun time was had by many — a fitting launch to the next ten years.
The day lead off with this vocals-forward trio, Isla Craig (MFS#4, 18) singing and Michelangelo Iaffaldano (MFS#45, 84) grumbling over some percussive textures from Fahmid Nibesh (MFS#67, 78, 79).
You can check out the full set over on youtube:
[Track Could Bend will be back at Wenona Lodge, its usual home, on April 1st in a special co-presentation with Ministry of Phonic Services presenting sets from Mira Martin-Gray & Sierra Weston and Wilderness Adventure Ride.]
Isla Craig has presented her music in a variety of configurations and with a revolving cast of collaborators, but by her own account, this was her first proper acoustic set, playing a guitar built by her luthier father. Playing in a trio format, she was joined here by Alex Lukashevsky (acoustic guit) and Matthew Coldwell (double bass) and dipped her toe in several eras of her songbook. The setlist zoomed outward from from her first album (one can compare the acoustic approach to the malleable, loping grooves of "Marbles" to a slightly more rockin' arrangement) to a more recent tribute to collaborator Jen Castle — all presented with a pleasing rolling gentleness, like a stroll through rural hillsides. Perfect sounds for a room full of adults, kids and babies on a winter afternoon.
You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:
Sometimes, when a Big Event beckons, you just have to seize the initiative and throw the party that you want to be a part of. Hence this little shindig, with a pretty fabulous lineup of local luminaries and a room full of well-wishers — what more could you ask for?
Isla Craig started off the night with a group of frequent collaborators (Mike Smith, bass; Phil Melanson, drums; Ted Crosby, sax; Vic Cheong, backing vox) that moved quickly from simmering grooves to full-on rocking out — the secret ingredient here was Alex Lukashevsky on guitar, and what a treat it was to see him in rock action mode. (The Jennifer Castle cover was also a treat!)
You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:
Although there have been some airings-out of the new Echo's Reach material, this definitely felt like a special occasion, with a full band (Mike Smith, bass; Ian Daniel Kehoe, drums; Ted Crosby, sax) as well as vocal support from Vic Cheong and Ivy Mairi. (Plus frequent collaborator Jonathan Adjemian guesting on piano on the set's last track presented here.) In a nod to her roots, there was also a pause in the middle for a folky excursion, with Andrew Patten adding some acoustic guitar.
It seems like yesterday and forever ago that folks last gathered to celebrate an album release by Isla Craig in The Tranzac's big room. That made it felt like an event, one where old circles intersect — with faces you might've once seen at a Healing Power party, or on a beach on the Island. May the spirit be with you.
A perfect night out on the equinox, Karen Ng turned her Tranzac residency slot over to a pair of singer-songwriters who were both exploring some autumnal renewal. Playing her first band show since the beforetimes, Isla Craig brought some of the players who back her on the forthcoming Echo's Reach, including continental drifter Mike Smith on bass and Ted Crosby on sax as well as Ian Daniel Kehoe on drums. Given that gap in presenting new music, it was no surpise to even hear a couple newer-than-the-album songs in the set, which closed with this piano meditation for a lost companion.
In the absence of concert listings, my regular Monday dispatches have fallen off. After bringing some life to the blog with the "bumping into" series, I figure I should get back in the groove. I'm guessing that this will be a bit like what used to get shoved into the end of the post when I was doing listings — some bandcamp suggestions, nods to a few livestreams, and sundry community notes (email me if you have anything that needs broadcast in the latter category!). Plus maybe a look back through the MFS archives.
Community notes:
Just by coincidence, both of the venues of the recordings that I picked for this week's archive picks had popped up in my feeds recently, so I'll pass word along in case you hadn't heard:
Bad news first, it sounds like the Jam Factory is no more following the sale of the building at 2 Matilda. Something of a destination venue (especially as the hub of the Feast in the East series), the space was hot as hell in summer and didn't always have great sound, but it was a tremendous place to run into people, making any show there a social event. It will be missed.
Meanwhile, better news from The Tranzac, which reports that much-needed upgrades and state-of-good repair work has been taking place during the shutdown. Increased sound isolation between the Main Hall and Southern Cross will be welcomed by users of both rooms, and a new set of front doors will welcome patrons when it reopens. (That means it remains a good time to take out or renew your membership!)
Livestream nation:
Dan Tapper, a recent addition to Arraymusic's tech team, has been programming a series of "micro-concerts" in a new series called "Interstitial Space". Tonight sees a couple solo pieces from cellist Amahl Arulanandam (known for his work in VC2 and his frequent appearances with the Thin Edge ensemble) in a free stream debuting at 8 tonight (June 21st).
It happened this week...
...on June 21, 2017 at Jam Factory (TONE Festival – Show #5)
[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.]
Bandcamp corner:
Just by chance, I've encountered Roan Bateman doing more abstract/ambient-noodly stuff, so it was quite exciting to listen to his pop sensibility moved to the foreground. Brushing against several shades of neo-psychedelia, my brained flashed on a few 80's synth-pop hits not too long after the music pressed the "See Emily Play" button in my mind.
Bumping Into... is a series of mini-chats with a variety of peeps that you might run into in some of our local music communities. (There's a bit of an intro and my thoughts behind the series here.)
How are you? Where are you?
Some days good, grounded, clear and focused, others a weeping pile of human at the mercy the unknown. This has been a time of surrender. Palms open and up. I am but a hop, skip and a jump from the Don Valley / watershed, which has been a saving grace and potent reminder that nature finds its way and space amidst constriction. I've also really come into deep relationship with my wooden floor boards. Like, where did YOU come from?!...and thank you for holding me.
What have you been up to since March or so?
I work a full time job and a part time job and each of those I have maintained throughout the COVID era. So I've been working a lot. Grateful for this stability and also pretty tired. I feel a bit like a self cleaning oven. Walking a whole heap and man am I grateful to live next to a WILD LIFE corridor.
I like making lil low fi audio video collages, and made this one at the beginning of the COVID era. I think it's the best thing I've ever done, truth be told!
Have you found any new ways to do old things? How are you feeling about the shifts in how music is being made/shared/listened to?
My newest way of an old thing is a coffee hack I learned from some online surfers: brewing coffee with flax & coconut oil, spoonful of peanut butter and a touch of honey. Deeply nourishing. Also, Wim Hof method. Deep breathing and cold water submersion. Some of the best medicine I've ever encountered. Also in that vein, luckily in between the lockdown times, I've received Ilan Lev Method treatments from my good friend Sahara Morimoto. Working with movement and the potential spaces, no matter how slight they may be.
I miss playing with a band more than anything. I think about it, dream about it often.
I did get to sing with Victoria Cheong and Jennifer Castle for Jennifer's solstice show (online!) and it was so moving. I processed a lot the days following because it was so affecting to sing in close proximity, with those two who I care about very much. I also sang with a small version of the Kith n Kin choir, outdoors, in masks which was fun and also a bit like scream singing into the void (a mask really makes it difficult to hear or blend with others). This is, traditionally, a time of year we all get to sing together and it has become such an important part of my holiday season. So happy we could find a way to maintain the thread.
I've attended some live stream shows that have really lifted my heart and I know there is potential there, for sure. In moderation. I feel in the hands of artists, we could develop some beautiful immersive scapes to inspire and connect. But I also get techno-drained and just need to tune out as well, so I understand both sides.
Any works of art that have been a light for you in these times? Anything that's just been a good diversion?
No coward soul is mine No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere I see Heaven's glories shine And Faith shines equal arming me from Fear
There is no room for Death Nor atom that his might could render void Since thou art Being and Breath And what thou art may never be destroyed.
-Emily Bronte, as sung in "Hays Creek" (from the shape note tradition)
Tori Amos' audiobook, Resistance: A Songwriter's Story of Hope, Change and Courage - read by Tori herself. Incredibly inspiring and wise.
Brandy's B7
Nico's Chelsea Girl
How are you feeling about 2021?
I've been out walking, I don't do too much talking these days :)
Anything else we'd chat about if we bumped into each other?
Just to have time in company, perhaps outside the Tranzac show, would be so lovely. I think your presence across these years, and this very platform you are using to connect musicians to each other in this weird time, is a testament to your incredible capacity to show up and make people feel seen. Bless you Joe.
Celebrating the release of The Gratitude Principle, Doc Dunn and The Cosmic Range filled the stage at the Big G with the usual large complement (including Mike Smith providing all the basslines this time 'round on Moog rather than four-string). Moving from spiritual planetarium drift to full-on wah-wah soul funk, the night ended in a familiar place, with a cover that used to show up quite frequently in Isla Craig's solo repertoire.
A slightly-belated night to celebrate the release of Doc Dunn's Lightbourn album turned out to be a twofer, with the additional appearance of its follow-up Some Horses Run on the merch table. These "solo" albums (as distinguished from the collective grooves he heads with the Cosmic Range) found their songs fleshed out with an all-star band that included Simone T-B on drums, Grasshopper on percussion, James Matthew VII (formerly Blind Matty) on guitar, Andrew Scott on bass, Jonathan Adjemian on keybs as well as special guest backing vocalists Isla Craig and Meg Remy on a few numbers.
That exploded the sometimes-introspective vibe of the recorded versions into a cranked-up push-it-to-the-back-of-the-stadium wall of wailing guitars and pulsing funk, making these versions feel like they'd belong up on the merch table in a gatefold cover double-live album — the kind with just a couple stretched-out songs per side. There's even a tip of the hat here to peer and inspiration Jennifer Castle on a version of "Crying Shame" that tears with such momentum Dunn was pushing hard to keep up with the flow of the lyrical river.
[Doc Dunn and a smaller group of friends will be bringing some joy to the Mechanical Forest Sound 10th Anniversary celebration at The Baby G on Saturday, March 2nd.]
Another interesting day in Yonge-Dundas Square for Intersection, once again excellently curated by Burn Down the Capital's Tad Michalak. Mixing in some abrasive sounds with lots of accessible experimentation, there was a pleasing range of mostly-local talent spread out through the square, animated between sets by the whispersounds of Tina Pearson's installation piece. Capping things off was another bigglyup ensemble, breaking out something like a greatest-grooves set. Convener and head kowboy Doc Dunn was off to the side on organ, while a casual observer might have concluded that sax player Andy Haas — performing with joyful verve centre-stage — was the leader here. Fun stuff and a perfect way to end the day's takeover of that strange ad-bathed concrete space next to the centre of the city's shopping vortex. There is always culture seeping out through the cracks.
After the fanfare of launching her new album, this casual excursion felt somewhat atavistic — and that feeling was heightened when the trio (Craig on vox and guitar plus Colin Fisher on sax and Josh Cole on bass) launched the set with this trip back to her first album. Songcraft was less the focus here than settling into an unrushed, simmering groove, stretching out the songs with sax solos and some ace e-bow work. This sits well as an alternate pathway into Craig's songbook from her current band format and would be well-suited for further excursions on the back porch or lakeside dock of your choice.
The release of Isla Craig's The Becoming (on vinyl from Pleasence Records) felt like a worthy occasion for celebration. Perhaps because I'd been watching these songs emerge forseveralyearsnow it felt especially joyful to witness this culmination and this beginning. Soulful excursions with slick, languid grooves, the tunes were delivered with a stageful of friends and close collaborators, including her band with Evan Cartwright (drums), Bram Gielen (bass) and Johnny Spence (synth) augmented by Jonathan Adjemian (synth) and Vic Cheong (backing vox) throughout. There were also guest turns from Colin Fisher on sax plus a duet with Martha Farquhar-McDonnell — the latter on a Steeleye Span-inspired number linking folksongs of the bygone forest emerald green with the folksongs of the city we're in today.
[Isla Craig will be performing at the second annual Venus Fest, on Saturday, September 22nd at The Opera House alongside Bully, Partner and Vallens.]
A return to Prairie Drive Park after last year'sinitialexcursion had another excellent lineup and even better weather. Free food for all gave locals and musical tourists a chance to mingle together and it was a real treat to hear music echoing through the well-used park. Essential city-building work from Toronto Arts Foundation's Arts in the Parks initiative — hopefully this will continue every summer.
The full Cosmic Range complement were out in force, with Matt "Doc" Dunn joined by Isla Craig (vox, percussion), Andy Haas (sax, electronics), Max "Slim Twig" Turnbull (guit), Jonathan Adjemian (synth), Mike Smith (bass), Jay Anderson (drums), Brandon Valdivia (percussion) and Derek and Iggy Madison (percussion). The set was given over to a sprawling new piece called "The Shark", which moved hungrily between mellow groove-simmers and teeth-baring rockouts.
A Good Friday party to celebrate the release of Jonathan Adjemian's new piano album was a worthy cause to reconvene this vocal trio. Drawing the curtains and casting the room into darkness, Vic Cheong, Jennifer Castle and Isla Craig let their voices intertwine alongside the rustle of breath-sounds and quietly-hazy pedal-derived static-bursts.
It's always a treat when this trio gather together to combine their voices. Crouching and sitting on the floor, there was no fancy stagecraft here, just a simple alchemy casting a spell over the room. Originally convened as a "vocal yoga" exercise, there was a bit more of an emotional journey in this set, floating through some turbulent, dark currents before seeing dawn's first glimmers of sunrise on the horizon.
IC/JC/VC will be playing at Jonathan Adjemian's Adequacies album release party, this Friday (April 14th) in the early slot at The Tranzac.]
This was my first time out to The Great Hall since their long-in-the-works refurbishment was completed. Not only was it a treat to experience the new, spacious bathrooms, but the main space was also opened up with the removal of the large lighting rig that was suspended from the sides of the balconies. There was a new PA as well, and this was a good night for it, rendering the eight-piece band with clarity.
Flanking the stage there were keyboards left and right (for Matt "Doc" Dunn and Jonathan Adjemian, respectively), two percussion stations at the back (for Brandon Valdivia and Kieran Adams), Mike Smith (bass) and Isla Craig (vox) over on the right and lots of room in the middle for Max "Slim Twig" Turnbull (guit) and Andy Haas (saxophone). Alternating between funky blasts and pastoral drifts (and here's one of each for comparison's sake) the set tapped into the Sun Ra-dappled bliss that was captured so well on the New Latitudes album. The night's purpose was, in fact, a slightly-belated launch celebration for the disc. Rather wonderfully executed, it's a real celebration whenever this entire crew can get together.
Founded as a blog about one curmudgeon's love affair with the em dash, Mechanical Forest Sound has grown to become a community-based archive of local musical culture. Assuming that "independent music" isn't just boys with guitars and "culture" isn't just some sort of pageant, MFS is an investigation of a wide range of artists, reflecting on concerts as shared experiences, acts of citizenship and a chance to get down — fuzzy photographs and clear-sounding original live recordings a specialty.
Current manifestations of this project include Track Could Bend, a monthly concert series featuring "improvised music and weird rock offshoots", presented in a casual environment.
At one point I wrote full-on concert reviews, and for longer I thought I would catch up and write about shows in the past. But these days, because of, y'know, life, do not expect much in the way of full show reviews — but live recordings with blurbs will be posted as quickly after the fact as is feasible.
You can also check out full sets uploaded to the Live Music Archive. [not currently active]
N.B.: All recordings should be available & playable. If you come across any broken links, invisible or non-functioning players, etc, please leave a comment and I will tend to it ASAP.
ALSO N.B.: I'm perpetually on the lookout for a new place to stash my MP3's online. If you know of any place that allows a couple gigs of stuff to be openly linked to for streaming, drop me a line!
All MP3's on this blog are audience recordings shared as a reminder of the excitement of seeing live music. If you are an artist who doesn't want their music shared in this way, please contact me and I shall remove it forthwith.
An eve (songs of ours played with this beautiful band) [songs by Ryan Driver & Maggie Keogh] (feat. Ryan Driver [solo] /Maggie Keogh/Max Donaldson/Jaron Freeman-Fox/Harry Bartlett/Maxwell Stover/Blake Howard) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-10-20 (Tuesday – early). $pwyc. [more info]
Intersection Music & Arts presents ["an evening-length multidisciplinary production"] (feat. Les Gents Qui Partent / Andrew Noseworthy) / Canadian Music Centre 2026-10-20 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [more info + RSVP]
Music Hosted by Karen Ng ["five alto saxophonists ... play a 30 minute piece of multiphonics by German improviser and composer Frank Gratkowski"] (feat. Patrick O'Reilly [solo] / Bea Labikova/Nicola Miller/Karen Ng/Ben Rositsan/Brodie West) / Wenona Lodge 2026-10-20 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [more info]
Dan Pitt & Harry Bartlett / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-10-20 (Tuesday). [more info]
Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Sweet Lips / Bag) / United Unlimited 2026-10-21 (Wednesday). $15 or pwyc, all ages. [more info]
Altered States Artist Showcase (feat. Dave Clark/Paul Kolinski/Mike Milligan) / Water to Wine 2026-10-21 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [more info]
ESP Free Jazz Thursdays (feat. Brent Tanemura/Lauchlin Wood/Rob Clutton/Aidan Miller) / Water to Wine 2026-10-22 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]
Dorky&Best with Meghan Cheng (feat. Germaine Liu duos with Aniqa, Brian, Leslie, Raphael, Tilman and Tina / Dorkestra + Live Visuals [Germaine Liu/Bea/Claire/Heather/John/Mark/Matthew/Meghan/Mira/Rob) / Array Space 2026-10-23 (Friday). $PWYC (suggested $5-$25), no one turned away for lack of funds. [FB event]
Experimental Link Series: Strings of Iran (feat. Hossein Behroozinia/Mehdi Rostami/Pooyan Ranaei/Bamdad Fotouhi) / Trinity Presbyterian Church 2026-10-24 (Saturday). $43.63. [tickets + more info]
Zoo Owl (Steve Shiffman & The Land of No / Aedon Bears) / Handlebar 2026-10-24 (Saturday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Salon d’exposition (feat. Afraaz Adam Alnoor Mulji & Ali Rajan) / Array Space 2026-10-25 (Sunday – 2 p.m.) [more info]
Imaginary North and The AMBiENT PING present Ambient Afternoon (feat. Bay Mud / A.V.E. / dreamSTATE) / Society Clubhouse 2026-10-25 (Sunday – 2 p.m.). $12.67 (advance), $15 (door), all-ages and family-friendly. [tickets + more info]
Nick Fraser presents (feat. Mira Martin-Gray [solo]) / Nick Fraser's Special Topics) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-10-27 (Tuesday)
The Music Gallery & Burn Down The Capital present (feat. Lea Bertucci & Norbert Rodenkirchen / Slow Attack Ensemble) / Church of the Holy Trinity 2026-10-28 (Wednesday) [tickets + more info]
More Noise Please! presents: Blood and Black Lace (feat. Rich Oddie / Pravik / Babies R Stupid / Sarin / Blood Visions From The Blood God / Tender Prey) / BSMT254 2026-10-28 (Wednesday). $22.63, all ages. [tickets + more info]
Altered States Artist Showcase (feat. Diana Piruzevska & Christobal Lavanchy) / Water to Wine 2026-10-28 (Wednesday). $pwyc. [more info]
Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Trevor Dunn/Karen Ng/Nick Fraser / Colin Fisher/Will Hunt/Jack Johnston/Cal Adam) / Standard Time 2026-10-29 (Thursday). $28.27, all ages. [FB event]
ESP Free Jazz Thursdays (feat. Brent Tanemura/Kae Murphy/Brodie West/Tania Gill/Germaine Liu) / Water to Wine 2026-10-29 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]
lightsweetcrude presents: An Evening of Visual Music (feat. Rob Clutton / Michael Kaler) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-10-29 (Thursday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Halloween Spooktacular (feat. catl.) / The Bell & The Beacon 2026-10-31 (Saturday). $31.59, 19+. [tickets + more info]
Kieran Daly/Dan Fortin/Philippe Melanson / The Rex 2026-10-31 (Saturday – 11 p.m.). $pwyc. [more info]
Not Dead Yet's Day of the Dead (feat. Slash Need / Head Crack / The Mall) / 131 McCormack Street 2026-11-01 (Sunday). $26.11, 19+. [tickets + 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]
The King's Grief ["present[ing] Judith Weir’s micro-opera King Harald’s Saga, punctuating Weir's tragic narrative with the music of Thomas Adès, Oliver Knussen, Thierry Tidrow, Mary Dering, John Dowland, and casting the works as incidental music within a larger drama."] (feat. The Happenstancers) / Redeemer Lutheran Church 2026-11-06&07 (Friday&Saturday). $38.95 (general admission), $12.19 (student). [tickets + more info]
Labyrinth Ensemble with Canan Sezgin Geylan and Yahya Geylan / Aga Khan Museum 2026-11-07 (Saturday). $50 (regular), $45 (friends of Aga Khan Museum), $37.50 (students and seniors). [more info]
Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Weird Nightmare [Hoopla record release shows]) / Osler Records 2026-11-18&19 (Wednesday & Thursday). $24.94, 19+. [tickets + more info]
Mike DeiCont & Dan Fortin / Sellers and Newel 2026-11-25 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Marilyn Lerner & Matt Brubeck / Sellers and Newel 2026-11-26 (Thursday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Mira Martin-Gray Band (G. Mark Weston) / Annette Studios 2026-11-26 (Thursday). $pwyc.
Small World Music's Ishq Festival: An Evening of Qawwali and Khayaal (feat. The Saami Brothers) / Toronto Pavillion 2026-11-27 (Friday). $55.30 + up. [tickets + more info]
Fiver with the Fiver Trois / Dina's Tavern 2026-11-28 (Saturday). $21.97, 19+. [tickets + 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]
A duo double-bill (feat. BLOOP [Lina Allemano & Mike Smith] / Karen Ng & Rob Clutton) / Sellers & Newel 2026-12-06 (Sunday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]
Freesound preents: Music for String and Reeds (feat. Aysel Taghi-Zada/Matthew Antal/Amahl Arulanandam/Matti Pulkki) / Array Space 2027-05-21 (Friday). $27.96 (general admission), $17.31 (student/seniors/arts worker). [tickets + more info]
Musica Universalis (feat. C'est la fête Large Ensemble) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-05-08 (Friday)
Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman / JOYSHAPE / Ryan Dugre / Nick Flanagan) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-05-10 (Sunday)
Cosmic Homeostasis XXXII / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2026-05-17 (Sunday)]
Playscape Emporium: Paint, Play (feat. Duo Cichorium/Constant Yen/ Rowan Campbell/Charlee Wielgoz/Fahmid Nibesh/Joe Strutt/Mira Martin-Gray) / Array Space 2026-05-21 (Thursday)
Wenderly Park (Colin Fisher / Isla Craig) / Le Monde 2026-05-22 (Friday)
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)
Life Drawing (feat. Cosmic Homeostasis) / Riverdale Park 2026-05-31 (Sunday)
Prepare the Ground Festival (feat. William Basinski) / Trinity-St. Paul's Centre 2026-05-31 (Sunday)
Track Could Bend #117 (feat. saucering / Colin Fisher/William Hunt/Jack Johnson/Cal Adam) / Wenona Lodge 2025-06-02 (Tuesday)
Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior/Nathan Yell/Marilyn Yogarajah / David Sait / Nick Flanagan / Nathan Yell) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-06-14 (Sunday)
Andre Ethier (Cows in Rain / Eliza Niemi) / Dina's Tavern 2026-07-05 (Sunday)
Track Could Bend #118 (feat. Ubersuck / Mike Gennaro / Wilderness Adventure Ride) / Wenona Lodge 2026-07-07 (Tuesday)
Toronto Improvisers Orchestra / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-07-12 (Sunday)
Ayal Senior and Friends (feat. Country Phasers / Meggie Remy / Nick Flanagan / Heraclitus Akimbo) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-07-12 (Sunday)
Rebecca Hennessy's Singer-Songwriter Circle (feat. Rebecca Hennessy/Michael Herring/Felicity Williams/Patrick O'Reilly) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-07-19 (Sunday)
The Fiver Trois (Isla & The Sorry Brothers) / Dina's Tavern 2025-07-24 (Friday)
Jennifer Castle (Potions) / The Garrison 2025-07-25 (Saturday)
Heraclitus Akimbo (Hoover Party / Del Stephen / Hex-A-Decimal × Leucrocuta) / The Sun Room at 918 Bathurst 2025-07-26 (Sunday)
Kathryn Merriam with Bea Labikova/Raphael Roter/Heather Saumer / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-07-29 (Wednesday)
The Ryan Driver Sextet With Thom Gill As Ryan Driver / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-07-31 (Friday)
Track Could Bend #119: An Evening of Graphic Scores co-presented with Public Library (feat. Public Library with Roa Lee and Alison Melville) / Wenona Lodge 2026-08-04 (Tuesday)
Humbucker Music Residency (feat. Humbucker Music / Sandy Ewen) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-07 (Friday)
new works for improvising musicians (feat. Josh Cole/Lina Allemano/John Oswald/Nick Storring/Owen Kurtz) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-10 (Monday)
Track Could Bend #120 (feat. Dave Grenon's Indistinctive Gait w/ Ayesha Lye / Caution Wet Floor Signs) / Wenona Lodge 2026-09-01 (Tuesday)
Equinox and Solstice Residency (feat. Ghostlight) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-09-05 (Saturday)
Ministry of Phonic Services presents: Back to School Field Trip: Dome (feat. Brandon Auger / Ben Grossman / Fahmid Nibesh) / CNE Bandshell 2026-09-17 (Thursday)
Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip: Otherwise (feat Heraclitus Akimbo / qeTTe fossa & Mateos Labbé-Phelan) / Bickford Park 2026-09-22 (Tuesday)
Ministry of Phonic Services presents Back to School Field Trip: UFO (feat. Gayle Young & Reinhard Reitzenstein / SlowPitchSound / Fleshtone Aura & Sandro Perri / tête à tête à tête) / Oculus Pavilion 2026-09-25 (Friday)
Imaginary North and The AMBiENT PiNG present Ambient Afternoon (feat. Jessica Deutsch / Little Jim / R Grunwald) / Society Clubhouse 2026-09-27 (Sunday)
Track Could Bend #121 (feat. Shawn Will / Benny Liquid / Debacle Rebuttal) / Wenona Lodge 2026-10-06 (Tuesday)
Musica Universalis (feat. Not the Wind, Not the Flag) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-10-09 (Friday)
Ur Audio-Visual label showcase: Sean Travis Ramsay Memorial (feat. Heraclitus Akimbo / Percy Bangs / The Blue Funz) / 918 Bathurst – Sanctuary 2026-10-11 (Sunday)
Idée Fixe Records 15 (feat. Potions / Roy / Kyla Marlena / Alex Lukashevsky / Isla Craig / Joseph Shabason with Thom Gill / Cormac Culkeen with Michael Cloud Duguay / Bry Webb / Jennifer Castle) / St. Stephen-in-the-Fields 2026-10-13 (Tuesday)
Jay Anderson & Matt McLaren’s 25-year Renewal of Musical Vows (feat. Jay & Matt's All-Star Band with Friends and Guests / Steamboat / Saffron Sect) / Ted's Collision 2026-10-15 (Thursday)
X Avant XXI: Memory Mannnnn, Night 3: Ancient Circuitry (feat. Mani Mazinani's Solar Organ Ensemble / For The Youth: Reilluminated) / First Unitarian Church 2026-10-16 (Friday)
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