Once more, the Women From Space Festival filled the International Women's Day weekend — and the spaces of 918 Bathurst — with sound, art, and a feeling of community. Mixing genres, but always focusing on creative striving, there was a lot of music to absorb over three nights. The festival's final night contained a trio of custom-curated combos, adding some see-it-here immediacy.
The night opened with this local-ish trio, mixing Emjay Wright's percussion and Anh Phung's flute with chiquitamagic's synth work. It was the latter that provided the connective tissue here — and a hint of a groove in bouncy basslines — while Wright added some slightly off-kilter clatter and Phung wove in flute filigrees.
A double-shot of synth meet-ups this week, with The AMBiENT PiNG's DRONE:KLUB at the Long & McQuade Clinic Hall on Thursday (April 11th) and the Frequency Freaks workshop at Array on Saturday (April 13th).
Andrew Downing's Hybrid Ensemble [performing a live film score to The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari] (D.O.G. Ensemble × Render File) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-04-09 (Tuesday). $pwyc
con:trust [contemporary music for two accordions, works by René Hirschfeld, Matt Simon, Joshua Nuñez, Jose Eduardo Muñoz, among others] / Array Space 2024-04-09 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Destroyer [solo] (Lightning Dust) / Horseshoe Tavern The Axis Club 2024-04-09 (Tuesday). $35.93, 19+. [FB event]
Josh Cole Presents (feat. Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Nick Fraser/John Oswald) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-09 (Tuesday) [FB event]
Brodie West presents (feat. Brodie West Quintet Quartet [Brodie West/Josh Cole/Tania Gill/Nick Fraser) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-10 (Wednesday – early)
Bernice (The Ruth Garbus Trio) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-04-10 (Wednesday). $24.34. [more info]
Never Was (feat. Patrick O'Reilly/Racha Moukalled/Adrian Russouw) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-10 (Wednesday)
The Music Gallery presents (feat. Arnold Dreyblatt's Orchestra of Excited Strings [Arnold Dreyblatt/Amahl Arulanandam/Laura C. Bates/Brandon Valdivia]) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-04-11 (Thursday). $27.88 advance, $22.20 MG members, all ages. [FB event]
METZ [in-store performance/new album celebration] / Sonic Boom 2024-04-12 (Friday – 6 p.m.). $free. [FB event]
Audiopollination: Spring Flowers and Love edition (feat. David Sait/Sonia Leung/Sable / yasmine/Victor/Marilyn / %%30%30/Clay/Mania / Jessica Houghton/Pursuit Grooves) / Array Space 2024-04-12 (Friday). $10 (cash or card), livestream available. [FB event]
Once more, the Women From Space Festival filled the International Women's Day weekend — and the spaces of 918 Bathurst — with sound, art, and a feeling of community. Mixing genres, but always focusing on creative striving, there was a lot of music to absorb over three nights.
Having caught Mali Obomsawin's quartet last fall, this set couldn't repeat the shock of discovering such a deftly-able unit, but definitely satisfied with the setlist moving deeper beyond the sounds on Sweet Tooth, incorporating the church of Albert Ayler as well as this recent soundtrack work from the documentary Sugarcane.
*Does anyone know the specific title to this piece? Please leave a comment!
Once more, the Women From Space Festival filled the International Women's Day weekend — and the spaces of 918 Bathurst — with sound, art, and a feeling of community. Mixing genres, but always focusing on creative striving, there was a lot of music to absorb over three nights.
This electroacoustic duo from Patricia Brennan (vibes) and Noel Brennan/DJ Arktureye (percussion) deployed some electronics to bend and melt their sounds, but never leaned on them to the exclusion of the groove.
*Thanks to Patricia for passing along the title to this one!
Once more, the Women From Space Festival filled the International Women's Day weekend — and the spaces of 918 Bathurst — with sound, art, and a feeling of community. Mixing genres, but always focusing on creative striving, there was a lot of music to absorb over three nights.
Harpist Grace Scheele showed off her range, featuring not only last year's landings EP (complete with some projected vintage NASA moon mission footage) but also this ambient piece that created a floating synthspace before the harp even drifted across the horizons.
*Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!
Andrew Downing's Hybrid Ensemble [performing a live film score to The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari] (D.O.G. Ensemble × Render File) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-04-09 (Tuesday). $pwyc
Josh Cole Presents (feat. Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Nick Fraser/John Oswald) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-09 (Tuesday) [FB event]
Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman / Tzevi Sherman / Marilyn Yogarajah & Co. / Nick Flanagan) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-14 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.) [FB event]
Wenderly Park [album release celebration!] (Friends of Wenderly Park feat. Marilyn Yogarajah/Bea Labikova/Allison Cameron/Mike Lynn/Jason Doell) / The Sun Room at 918 Bathurst 2024-04-23 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Happy Sundays (feat. Sunglaciers / Alex Fernz / Uh Huh) / The Baby G 2024-04-28 (Sunday). $free, 19+. [FB event]
Jon McKiel (Louie Short) / The Baby G 2024-04-29 (Monday). $29.98. [FB event]
Westelaken / Bar Orwell 2024-05-08 (Wednesday)
Etran de L'Aïr / Longboat Hall 2024-07-07 (Sunday). $30.52, 19+. [FB event]
Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!
Shows this week:
Small World Music Series & The Music Gallery present (feat. Nadah El Shazly & Sarah Pagé / Khôra / Honeypaw) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-04-02 (Tuesday). $15 advance, $20 door, $10 MG members, low income, arts workers. [FB event]
Track Could Bend #90 (feat. Voidfemmes & Erin Corbett / Allison Cameron & Stephen Parkinson) / Wenona Lodge 2024-04-02 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Holy Oak Family Singers present a tribute to Maher Shalal Hash Baz (feat. Holy Oak Family Singers / Xu Shaoyang [7" release]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-03 (Wednesday – early + late!). $pwyc. [more info]
Coward Patrol and More Noise Please present (feat. The Nausea / Compactor / Andrew Nolan / Death Kneel) / See-Scape 2024-04-04 (Thursday). $15. [FB event]
Tania Gill Presents: Music by Carla Bley (feat. Tania Gill/Doug Tielli/Michael Davidson/Rob Clutton) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-05 (Friday – early). $pwyc. [FB event]
Experimental Link (feat. Pouya Ehsaei Trio [Pouya Ehsaei/Sadio Sissokho/Peter Lutek]) / Small World Centre 2024-04-05 (Friday). $25.57. [FB event]
Liquid Architecture 6 ["solo, unamplified, intimate performances"] (feat. Michael Palumbo / Nirvana Sagar / Victor O / Ryan Kinney) / Mischief Makers 2024-04-06 (Saturday). $10 in advance/cash at the door, $12 card at the door. [FB event]
Sun Milk [f.k.a. decoration day] (Tryal) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-06 (Saturday) [more info]
Bandcamp corner:
It's Bandcamp Friday this week! Here's a couple things I'll be grabbing:
It happened this week...
...on April 1, 2011 at Gladstone Hotel (Melody Bar)
Nicholas Cooper, who performs as Piers Oolvai, has been presenting his work with effected clarinet for a little while now, but it feels like his continued honing in on his sound is pushing things to a higher level. Moving from Solace Shards to some newer "dream spheres", there was an admirable clarity of intention in the delivery of these pieces, with a more recently-added synth aiding in the transitions of this suite-like set.
You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:
[Track Could Bend returns to Wenona on Tuesday (April 2nd) with dual duo action from Voidfemmes & Erin Corbett plus Allison Cameron & Stephen Parkinson.]
*Does anyone know the titles to these? Please leave a comment!
Once more drawing from the fertile creative collective surrounding notaband, this set saw that group's Danny Alexander (contact mic, objects) and Kalina Nedelcheva (synth, beats) joined by vocalist Apple for some improvised dark grooves. Heading from sonic swampscapes to nightmare dub zones the sounds here let their basic ingredients speak for themselves.
You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:
[Track Could Bend returns to Wenona on Tuesday (April 2nd) with dual duo action from Voidfemmes & Erin Corbett plus Allison Cameron & Stephen Parkinson.]
Nicole Mitchell, renowned flutist, author, educator, composer, and this year's 2023-2024 John and Claudine Bailey Distinguished Visitor in Jazz, is presenting a masterclass Q&A with U of T Jazz students today (March 25th). This event is FREE and open to the general public. Space is limited and priority will be to currently enrolled Jazz students. The masterclass will take place at 4:00 pm in Upper Jazz at 90 Wellesley St. W.
Join Spectrum Sound Bath to "bathe, rest, and play in sound" at a free event on Wednesday (March 27th) in the Sactuary at the Trinity-St Paul's Centre.
Concert announcements:
Experimental Link (feat. Pouya Ehsaei Trio [Pouya Ehsaei/Sadio Sissokho/Peter Lutek]) / Small World Centre 2024-04-05 (Friday). $25.57. [FB event]
con:trust [contemporary music for two accordions, works by René Hirschfeld, Matt Simon, Joshua Nuñez, Jose Eduardo Muñoz, among others] / Array Space 2024-04-09 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Go: Organic Orchestra [Composed and Spontaneously Conducted by Adam Rudolph] (feat. Araz Salek/Aline Homzy/Jonathan Kay/Andrew Kay/Bea Labikova/Kayla Milmine/Majd Sukar/Heather Saumer/Patrick O'Reilly/Justin Gray/Derek Gray/Dhaivat Jani) / The Aga Khan Museum 2024-04-13 (Saturday). $40 (regular), $36 (friends), $30 (students and seniors), $20 (limited same-day rush seats). [more info]
Tranzac Fundraiser I (feat. Sandro Perri & Friends / Masahiro Takahashi / Anne Bourne) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-04-20 (Saturday). $20 in advance, $25 at the door. [FB event]
catl. (The Kewpie Dolls) / The Dakota Tavern 2024-04-20 (Saturday). $19.56, 19+. [FB event]
Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!
Shows this week:
Colin Fisher/Jeff Luciani/Diane Roblin/George Koller / The Emmet Ray 2024-03-25 (Monday – 6 p.m.). $10
Lipliners 4th Wednesday of the month residency (feat. Ronley Teper & The Lipliners) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-27 (Wednesday) [FB event]
CCMC [John Oswald/Paul Dutton/Al Mattes/Casey Sokol] / Array Space 2024-03-28 (Thursday). $free, livestream available
Escote (Ex Corpse / Liz Lima / Brian Fog) / Bar Orwell 2024-03-28 (Thursday). $15 / pwyc / notaflof. [FB event]
Karen Ng presents (feat. Karen Ng/Ted Crosby/Ben Dwyer) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-28 (Thursday)
Today Versions presents: 'Music From Five Mountain Station: An Earth Dancing Body Refuge Trip' (feat. Del Stephen / Key Cut / Newold Group) / Bar Orwell 2024-03-29 (Friday). $10 or pwyc. [FB event]
Exit Points #47 (feat. Zoë Alexis-Abrams/Youssef Bassit/Onophris/Bobby Gadda/Jury Tosh Kobayashi-Mackay / Xéynamay/Racha/Erik Flow/Measure/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups!) / Array Space 2024-03-29 (Friday). $20 at the door. cash/card/mobile. [FB event]
Colin Fisher/Jeff Luciani/Diane Roblin/George Koller / The Emmet Ray 2024-03-25 (Monday – 6 p.m.). $10
Today Versions presents: 'Music From Five Mountain Station: An Earth Dancing Body Refuge Trip' (feat. Del Stephen / Key Cut / Newold Group) / Bar Orwell 2024-03-29 (Friday). $10 or pwyc. [FB event]
Exit Points #47 (feat. Zoë Alexis-Abrams/Youssef Bassit/Onophris/Bobby Gadda/Jury Tosh Kobayashi-Mackay / Xéynamay/Racha/Erik Flow/Measure/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups!) / Array Space 2024-03-29 (Friday). $20 at the door. cash/card/mobile. [FB event]
Joyshape (Molehill [Pete Johnston/Jake Oelrichs/Mike Smith] / Heraclius Akimbo with Gabe Girard) / Bar Orwell 2024-03-31 (Sunday). $pwyc, suggested $10
Bernice (The Ruth Garbus Trio) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-04-10 (Wednesday). $24.34. [more info]
Audiopollination: Spring Flowers and Love edition (feat. David Sait/Sonia Leung/Sable / yasmine/Victor/Marilyn / %%30%30/Clay/Mania / Jessica Houghton/Pursuit Grooves) / Array Space 2024-04-12 (Friday). $10 (cash or card), livestream available. [FB event]
CLASS & The Oscillitarium Present: Green’n Out (feat. Hobby / Roy [Spoons For The World record release!] / Animatist / Biblical) / The Garrison 2024-04-20 (Saturday). $20, 19+. [FB event]
Welcome to Hipsville (feat. Ichi-Bons / The Kewpie Dolls / The Slow Drags / Fuzz Vultures / Thee Rogue Telstars) / Owl's Club 2024-05-11 (Saturday). $25. [FB event]
Opa Yallah / Burdock Music Hall 2024-05-18 (Saturday). $15. [FB event]
Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!
Shows this week:
Mike DeiCont Trio + 1 [album release] [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty/Allison Philips] / The Rex 2024-03-17–18 (Sunday–Monday). $20. [FB event]
Surf & Turf [works by Fish Yu, Pascal le Boeuf, John Cage, Luke Blackmore, and Aurél Holló] (feat. U of T Percussion Ensemble) / Walter Hall 2024-03-18 (Monday). $free. [FB event]
No Octopus Dancing [Allison Cameron/Stephen Parkinson/Germaine Liu/Mark Zurawinski] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-18 (Monday). $pwyc
Gay Hollywood [Carmen Elle] / Three Dollar Bill 2024-03-19 (Tuesday). $15 or pwyc
Music hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Leap Year [Andrew Pacheco/Lowell Whitty/Karen Ng/Kae Murphy] / Whiskey Jacks [Dan Gooch/Jay Hay/Pete Johnston/Jake Oelrichs]) / Wenona Lodge 2024-03-19 (Tuesday)
Sebastian Bailey presents (feat. Sebastian Bailey/Nick Fraser/Marilyn Lerner/Rob Clutton) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-19 (Tuesday) [FB event]
CMC Presents (feat. DOG Ensemble, under the direction of Patrick O’Reilly) / Canadian Music Centre 2024-03-21 (Thursday). $15 Advance, $20 at the door; CMC Members and Arts Workers: $12 Advance, $15 at the door; Students. $10 anytime. [more info]
Makam Nights ["a shared space for makam learning and performing!"] (feat. Burak Ekmekci / Begum Boyancı) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2024-03-21 (Thursday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Ronley Teper & The Lipliners / Drom Taberna 2024-03-21 (Thursday)
Confluence Concerts presents Unsung: Music by some of Toronto's Finest Songwriters [curated by Andrew Downing] (feat. John Southworth/Justin Orok/Rebecca Campbell/Lydia Persaud/Patricia O’Callaghan/Teiya Kasahara/Maggie Keogh and more) / Heliconian Hall 2024-03-21–22 (Thursday–Friday). $25. [more info]
Siaka Diabaté x Raphael Weinroth-Browne / Array Space 2024-03-23 (Saturday). $22.63. [FB event]
Faster Presents: Juice?$#%* (feat. Happy Apple [Allison Cameron/Joe Strutt] / Brian Abbott & Ryan Kinney / Andrew Kay/Kayla Milmine/Bob Vespaziani / Liz Lima/Brodie West/Andrew Kay/Paul Newman [performing "Job's Anguish", a composition by Brian Abbott]) / Gerrard Art Space 2024-03-23 (Saturday). $pwyc, suggested donation $10. [FB event]
Ministry of Phonic Services presents: album release show (feat. Wilderness Adventure Ride [Owen Kurtz & %%30%30] / Germaine Liu & Mark Zurawinski) / Wenona Lodge 2024-03-24 (Sunday). $pwyc.
Drones Over Dufferin [improvised, ambient country music from David and Duncan MacKinnon] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-24 (Sunday). $pwyc. [more info]
Video hits:
Some beautiful footage in this restless travelogue accompanying Thin Edge's recording of Linda Catlin Smith's "Wanderer", from their recent collaborative Dark Flower album.
"THE AMBiENT PiNG invites you to participate in or experience DRONE:KLUB:41 - a live community drone event at the Long & McQuade Clinic Hall - 935 Bloor St. W. in Toronto from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday March 14th, 2024." "Droners, Friends and Audience are all welcome for this free indoor event, where we explore community sound-weaving."
Concert announcements:
Surf & Turf [works by Fish Yu, Pascal le Boeuf, John Cage, Luke Blackmore, and Aurél Holló] (feat. U of T Percussion Ensemble) / Walter Hall 2024-03-18 (Monday). $free. [FB event]
No Octopus Dancing [Allison Cameron/Stephen Parkinson/Germaine Liu/Mark Zurawinski] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-18 (Monday). $pwyc
Sebastian Bailey presents (feat. Sebastian Bailey/Nick Fraser/Marilyn Lerner/Rob Clutton) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-19 (Tuesday) [FB event]
Makam Nights ["a shared space for makam learning and performing!"] (feat. Burak Ekmekci / Begum Boyancı) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2024-03-21 (Thursday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Siaka Diabaté x Raphael Weinroth-Browne / Array Space 2024-03-23 (Saturday). $22.63. [FB event]
Beams [Requiem for a Planet album release show] (Pelican Movement / Zinnia) / The Garrison 2024-05-09 (Thursday). $18.86, 19+. [FB event]
Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!
Shows this week:
Florian Hoefner Trio [Florian Hoefner/Andrew Downing/Nick Fraser] / The Rex 2024-03-10–11 (Sunday–Monday). $20. [FB event]
Maria Chávez (Debashis Sinha) / The Music Gallery 2024-03-14 (Thursday). $10 MG members, $10-$20 pay what you can afford. [FB event]
Little Jim [Chris Pruden/Mack Longpre/Julian Anderson Bowes] / Hirtut Cafe 2024-03-14 (Thursday)
Comic Country for Communists (feat. The Sorry Brothers [Karsten Stryker/Chris Adriaanse/Kurt Newman] / Nick Flanagan) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-14 (Thursday)
Mark Hundevad & Mike Gennaro / Annette Studios 2024-03-15 (Friday). $10. [FB event]
TONE presents (feat. Horse Lords / Ka Baird / Bile Sister) / The Baby G 2024-03-15 (Friday). $22.24, 19+. [FB event]
Mike DeiCont Trio + 1 [album release] [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty/Allison Philips] / The Rex 2024-03-17–18 (Sunday–Monday). $20. [FB event]
With a repertoire that's been expanding since I've last seen Melissa Boraski performing, it was a treat to hear live arrangements of some newer songs, all the more so as they were presented in duo form with Roan Bateman (a.k.a. Sleepy Mosquito a.k.a.Dark Bird) on second guitar.
[Ayal Senior & Friends will be back in the Tranzac on Sunday (March 10th), with sounds from Ayal and Kurt Newman, Blake Howard, and Andrew Furlong plus Eye-Duh Kho, Jonathan Adjemian, and Nick Flanagan.]
It's pretty amazing to watch in real time when Ayal Senior starts playing a new piece that even guitarist Kurt Newman hasn't heard yet. Somehow, the arrangement falls into place immediately and the ending is nailed with precision.
[Ayal Senior & Friends will be back in the Tranzac on Sunday (March 10th), with sounds from Ayal and Kurt Newman, Blake Howard, and Andrew Furlong plus Eye-Duh Kho, Jonathan Adjemian, and Nick Flanagan.]
Just some casual solo magic from Colin Fisher, granulating sounds on guitar and switching over to sax.
[Ayal Senior & Friends will be back in the Tranzac on Sunday (March 10th), with sounds from Ayal and Kurt Newman, Blake Howard, and Andrew Furlong plus Eye-Duh Kho, Jonathan Adjemian, and Nick Flanagan.]
There are more teachings from Nilan Perera forthcoming, with a four-week course entitled "Prepared Guitar: Theory, Practice, Improvisation" being offered at Array Space on Thursdays from March 21 to April 11. The course is free (donations accepted) and space is limited. "In this 4-week course, you’ll have a hands-on experience discovering how to prepare your guitar, and will explore various techniques of prepared guitar performance, method, and improvisation." All information is here.
Concert announcements:
Ladyfinger [Diane Roblin/Kayla Milmine with special guest Mark Zurawinski] / The Emmet Ray 2024-03-13 (Wednesday – 6:00 p.m.) [FB event]
Mike DeiCont Trio + 1 [album release] [Mike DeiCont/Eric West/Leland Whitty/Allison Philips] / The Rex 2024-03-17–18 (Sunday–Monday). $20. [FB event]
Music hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Leap Year [Andrew Pacheco/Lowell Whitty/Karen Ng/Kae Murphy]) / Wenona Lodge 2024-03-19 (Tuesday)
Confluence Concerts presents Unsung: Music by some of Toronto's Finest Songwriters [curated by Andrew Downing] (feat. John Southworth/Justin Orok/Rebecca Campbell/Lydia Persaud/Patricia O’Callaghan/Teiya Kasahara/Maggie Keogh and more) / Heliconian Hall 2024-03-21–22 (Thursday–Friday). $25. [more info]
Karen Ng presents (feat. Karen Ng/Ted Crosby/Ben Dwyer) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-28 (Thursday)
Equinox and Solstice Residency (feat. Ghostlight) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2024-03-06 (Wednesday). $10 suggested. [FB event]
Michael Palumbo’s Friends #3: A Free-Improvisation Joint (feat. Zerone Duo [Deniz Tafaghodi/Farbod Maeen] / Doris Du/Isaiah Farabaksh/Jamie Thompson/Matthew Golem/Michael Palumbo) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-06 (Wednesday). $pwyc
Otterville [Andrew Downing/Michael Davidson/Nick Fraser/Tara Davidson/Paul Mathew/Christine Bougie] / The Rex 2024-03-06–09 (Wednesday–Saturday) [FB event]
Women From Space Festival: Night 1 (feat. Bloop / Morgan-Paige / BIG BANG! plays Björk) / 918 Bathurst 2024-03-08 (Friday). $15 advance, $20 at the door; early-bird passes $30, regular passes $38. [FB event]
Audiopollination (feat. Uuxe/Collette Andrea/Nirvana Sagar / Connor Crone/ Bicyclops/ Raymond Carruthers / Bill Gilliam/Andrew Finlay Stewart/Émilie Fortin / Jenna Geen/Abby Silvera/Mickle32) / Array Space 2024-03-08 (Friday). $10 or PWYC. [FB event]
Musica Universalis (feat. Conventional Weapons [Colin Fisher/Tristan Tims] /Cetacea) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-08 (Friday). $10 suggested donation
Women From Space Festival: Night 2 (feat. Grace Scheele / MOCH / Mali Obomsawin) / 918 Bathurst 2024-03-09 (Saturday). $15 advance, $20 at the door; early-bird passes $30, regular passes $38. [FB event]
Wildflower (Andre Ethier & Joseph Shabason) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-09 (Saturday). $pwyc. [more info]
John Millard's Hope Street [John Millard/Rob Clutton/Chris Pruden] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-10 (Sunday – 5 p.m.) [FB event]
Women From Space Festival: Night 3 (feat. Anh Phung/chiquitamagic/Emjay Wright / Val Jeanty & Nickeshia Garrick / Matana Roberts/Germaine Liu/Nicole Rampersaud) / 918 Bathurst 2024-03-10 (Sunday). $15 advance, $20 at the door; early-bird passes $30, regular passes $38. [FB event]
Avalon Tassonyi & The Rock Stars [Thom Gill/Eliza Niemi/Jason Bhattacharya] [Sprigs & Brush release celebration] (Isla Craig) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-03-10 (Sunday) [more info]
Florian Hoefner Trio [Florian Hoefner/Andrew Downing/Nick Fraser] / The Rex 2024-03-10–11 (Sunday–Monday). $20. [FB event]
It happened this week...
...on March 5, 2016 at Array Space (All-Set! Triple Album Launch).
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.
Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!
Jazz Rat Mondays (feat. Patrick Smith/Anthony D'Allesandro/Max Simpson/Ernesto Cervini) / Dina's Tavern 2026-07-27 (Monday). $pwyc
Colin Fisher/George Koller/Jeff Luciani/Diane Roblin / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-07-27 (Monday). [FB event]
Solitary Shrew Presents: A fundraiser for Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction (feat. Ever Since We Met / Public Library) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-07-28 (Tuesday – early). $20/pwyc. [more info]
Agnes [live studio recording!] [Rob Clutton/Bea Labikova/Mira Martin-Gray/Doug Tielli/Kevin Turcotte/Mark Zurawinski] / Annette Studios 2026-07-28 (Tuesday). $20 or pwyc
Zevon (Blunderspublik / Dorky & Best [Germaine Liu feat. Karen Ng/Heather Saumer/Mark Zurawinski]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-07-29 (Wednesday – early). $pwyc. [more info]
Madeleine Ertel/Dan Fortin/Juliuss Jahn/Nick Fraser / The Emmet Ray 2025-07-29 (Wednesday)
Kathryn Merriam with Bea Labikova/Raphael Roter/Heather Saumer) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-07-29 (Wednesday). [more info]
Summer Music in the Garden ["a program of 16th and 17th century music"] (feat. Arparla and Elixir Baroque Ensemble) / Toronto Music Garden 2025-07-30 (Thursday). $free, outdoors, all ages + family-friendly. [more info]
Ghost Quartet [Brent Tanemura/Brodie West/Reg Schwager] / Water to Wine 2025-07-30 (Thursday). $pwyc, 19+. [more info]
lightsweetcrude presents: An Evening of Visual Music (feat. David Sait / Del Stephen / Jason Steidman) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-07-30 (Thursday). $pwyc. [more info]
Ian Sinclair Quartet [Ian Sinclair/Harley Card/Mark Godfrey/Nick Fraser with special guest Alex Samaras] / The Emmet Ray 2026-07-30 (Thursday). $15. [more info]
Body Help [Colin Fisher/Josh Cole/Kieran Adams with special guest Hugh Marsh] / Dina's Tavern 2026-07-30 (Thursday). $10. [more info]
Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Stephen Parkinson/Allison Cameron/Karen Ng / Owen Kurtz & Callon Murphy) / United Unlimited 2026-07-30 (Thursday). $pwyc
Patrick Smith Quartet [Patrick Smith/Jen Lo/Julian Anderson Bowes/Angelica Zavala] / The Rex 2026-07-31 (Friday – 5 p.m.). $pwyc. [more info]
The Ryan Driver Sextet With Thom Gill As Ryan Driver [Thom Gill/Martin Arnold/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser/Brodie West/Michael Davidson] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-07-31 (Friday). [more info]
The Passport Sessions (feat. K2 [Kayla Milmine & Jonathan Kay] / Imaginary Lines Quartet [Walter Gershon/Joe Sorbara/Jonathan Kay/Brandon Davis) / Gerrard Art Space 2026-08-01 (Saturday). $20/pwyc (snacks included). [FB event]
C'est la fête [album release show!with special guests special guests Bill Bisset, Karen Ng and Mark Hundevad] / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-08-01 (Saturday). $25/pwyw. [more info]
Dave Clark presents (feat. Eiyn Sof / Jessica Spurrell) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-02 (Sunday – early). [more info]
Adjacent Spheres (feat. Michael Davidson/Angelica Zavala/Michael Herring/Miles Cakebread-Kraus) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-02 (Sunday). [more info]
Justin Orok presents (feat. Simone Hope with Anna Atkinson/Tiffany Wu/Audrey Mae/Ryan Dugre/Justin Orok) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-04 (Tuesday – early). [more info]
Blank Hellscape (CUTE / not a band / Greydini) / Osler Records 2026-08-04 (Tuesday). $15.37, all ages. [tickets + more info]
Track Could Bend #119: An Evening of Graphic Scores co-presented with Public Library (feat. Public Library [Mira Riselli/Elisabeth Dorion/Liz Anthonisen/Pat O'Reilly/Jackson Welchner/Robert Diack] and very special guests) / Wenona Lodge 2026-08-04 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]
Peripheral Vision (The Adjacence [Karen Ng/Lina Allemano/Nick Fraser plus special guest Brodie West]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-04 (Tuesday). [more info]
Holy Oak Family Singers present (feat. Madeleine Ertel/Michael Davidson/Thom Gill / Alex Samaras [solo] / Nate Renner [solo] / Fan Wu & Friends) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-05 (Wednesday – early). [more info]
Free Improvisation Thursdays (feat. Brent Tanemura/Max Stover/Andrew Frost/Nick Fraser) / Water to Wine 2026-08-06 (Thursday). $PWYC. [more info]
More Noise Please x Coward Patrol present: A Fundraiser for Severe Exposure (feat. Secrétaire Particulière / Fossils / Twin Mask / Iradiated Sac / Harmpit / Miracle Blade) / BSMT254 2026-08-06 (Thursday). $17.31. [tickets + more info]
Analogues of May (Westelaken / Moriah Bailey) / Dina's Tavern 2026-08-06 (Thursday). $15. [more info]
Batuki Music presents: Habari Africa Festival (feat. Sounds of the Maghreb [Maryem Tollar/Hassan El Hadi/Fethi Nadjem/Naghmeh Farahmand] / Lorraine Klaasen / Indanga Dance / Rhythm Section) / Harbourfront Centre 2026-08-07 (Friday). $free, outdoors, all ages + family-friendly. [more info]
Humbucker Music Residency (feat. Humbucker Music [Nick Storring/Mira Martin-Gray/Colin Cudmore/Jason Doell] / Sandy Ewen) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-07 (Friday) [FB event]
Oval Window Records: Dual Album Release Celebration (feat. Steve Sladkowski & Joe Sorbara / NOPE [Richard Marsella & Joe Sorbara] / The Lollipop People) / The Rex 2026-08-07 (Friday – 11 p.m.)
Batuki Music presents: Habari Africa Festival (feat. Aron Nitunga / Girma Woldemichael feat. Melat Mengesha / Boblée Cirque Danse / Jonathan Nvita / ILAM / ZahraMoves / Keïla) / Harbourfront Centre 2026-08-08 (Saturday). $free, outdoors, all ages + family-friendly. [more info]
Link Music Lab: A/V Lab (feat. Dastgâmachine / Farbod Maeen / Ester Shiner / Sina Shoaie / Amir Parsa + Parallel / Ali Phi / Oyl) / 75 Pelham Av. 2025-08-08 (Saturday). $22.10/$27.65. [FB event]
Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior & Kurt Newman / Nick Flanagan / Del Stephen / Jessie Ecklerlin / Harold's Snack Shack) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2026-08-09 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.). [FB event]
Batuki Music presents: Habari Africa Festival (feat. Toronto Burundi Drummers / Boblée Danse Cirque / Soul, Folk & Sun feat. Kunle, Ṣẹwà, Dipo / Zale Seck) / Harbourfront Centre 2026-08-09 (Sunday). $free, outdoors, all ages + family-friendly. [more info]
Summer Music in the Garden (feat. Tara Kannangara and Chris Pruden) / Toronto Music Garden 2025-08-09 (Sunday). $free, outdoors, all ages + family-friendly. [more info]
Kiwi Jr. / Sonic Boom Records 2026-08-12 (Wednesday – 6 p.m.). $free, all-ages. [FB event]
Diane Roblin’s Life Force [Diane Roblin/George Koller/Tim Shia/John Johnson/Alex Dean/John MacLeod] / The Rex 2026-08-15 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $pwyc. [more info]
Summer Music in the Garden: Persian Psychedelia (feat. Neda Mohamadpour with Chris Pruden/Caleb Klager/Mack Longpre) / Toronto Music Garden 2025-08-20 (Thursday). $free, outdoors, all ages + family-friendly. [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)
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