Special event; MFS Listening Station

Here's a unique offering that's worthy of a post of its own here. Thanks to the folks at Long Winter, I am presenting a listening station at this month's event at the Gladstone Hotel, which is also part of an extended Myseum exhibition entitled "Toronto's Musical Undergrounds" (a "multi-room visual tour of select moments in Toronto’s alt-music history: subcultures, milieu, and happenings from 1970s to the present").

There are some other really cool bits to check out, including installations by Alicia Nauta and Roxanne Ignatius, photos by Colin Medley, a room celebrating Will Munro and Vazaleen (get ready to dance to some Hidden Cameras!) and hip-hop history from The Masterplan Show's archive.

The listening station has seventy-five tapes on hand, showing off my archives in a "rough draft" format that isn't often seen here, with unedited warts-and-all recordings from 2009 to 2016. All the music at the listening station is from venues that no longer exist, giving a chance to reflect on shifting spaces and to wonder what's going to replace them in this ever-more-unaffordable city. There's also a visual element, designed to give sense of the size of the MFS archive.

You can see all of this as part of Friday night's Long Winter event, but if you'd like to soak it in with less attendant hullabaloo the exhibition is open for the next three days:

• Where: The Gladstone Hotel, 2nd Floor
• When: Thursday, January 4th to Saturday, January 6th, noon to 5 p.m. (plus during Long Winter)
• How much: Free! (And all-ages and open to the whole family!)

To further celebrate this special event, I'm holding a "listening station salon" on Saturday afternoon, 2 to 5 p.m. where we can hang out and chat about the archive and disappearing venues and whatever else. Plus, to complete the circle, there will be a live set from Allison Cameron, a recording of which will then become the latest part of the archive. And best of all, visitors will be invited to take one of the exhibit's tapes home with them! This is free/PWYC, all ages, family-friendly and all are invited. Facebook event is here.

Visual realization and installation facilitated by Hilary Martin. Very special thanks to The Dupe Shop.

Concert Listings Roundup #231

You can read more about why I'm doing listings here. Long story short: This curated and decidedly non-comprehensive list contains nothin' but shows that I am going to/would go to if I had more time.

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Gigs of the week:

Track Could Bend #34 (feat. Bachelard / LUKA / tendencyitis) / Belljar Café 2018-01-02 (Tuesday – PWYC!) [FB event]

Nite Comfort 52 (feat. Kat Estacio / Homura) / Handlebar 2018-01-07 (Sunday) [FB event]

There's something to be said for the one-off, unique concert event, but let's not underestimate the persistent charm of a well-curated series. I'll remain as modest as possible about my own monthly (though, seriously, really excellent lineup this month with a nice mix of electronic sounds and human voices), but hats off to Aaron Dawson and the Nite Comfort gang for creating a hospitable zone month after month. These are two shows that could really get your gig-going year off to a good start in a cozy, community-based space devoted to sonic discoveries.

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This week's noteworthy shows:

A Feast Of Basil (feat. Karen Ng/Mike Smith/D. Alex Meeks) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-01-02 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Freaky Boos Unite Tour (feat. NPNP / Hutchie [solo set by Aaron of Eschaton/Haolin Munk/HAVN Records] / Please [cello/electro improv set by Becky of SOURPUSSY/glassEYElashes] / Dohn Valley) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-01-03 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Long Winter 6.3 (feat. Matthew Progress / Tremayne / Max & Eyeda / Babygirl / Tashme / Luge / Kojo "Easy" Damptey) / The Gladstone Hotel 2018-01-05 (Friday – PWYC! all ages!) [FB event]

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Add these to your calendar:

Reminder: This post only contains this week's updates — the full listings can always be found over on the right-hand sidebar!

Sarah Greene / The Dakota Tavern 2018-01-09 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

Happy NY 2018 (feat. Allison Cameron/Kurt Newman/Stephen Parkinson) / Arraymusic 2018-01-11 (Thursday) [FB event]

Dimensions in Sound (feat. Slow Attack Ensemble / Ryan Carley's Ferra Fauna / LUCIEN) / ROUND 2018-01-12 (Friday) [FB event]

Buffalo MRI (Sandro Perri/Fleshtone Aura) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-01-13 (Saturday) [FB event]

Marker Starling [Anchors & Ampersands release party!] (Bunny) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2018-01-13 (Saturday) [FBevent]

Kamancello / Burdock Music Hall 2018-01-17 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Crystal Hibernations Number 3 (feat. Cares / UXVAE / Brother Tiger) / The Tranzac (Tiki Room) 2018-01-19 (Friday) [FB event]

Cindy Lee (Deliluh / Anamai) / Lula Lounge 2018-02-08 (Thursday) [FB event]

Burn Down the Capital presents (feat. Efrim Manuel Menuck [solo set from founding member of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Silver Mt. Zion] / KGD [Kevin Doria of Growing and Hiss Tracks]) / D D L 2018-02-10 (Saturday) [FB event]

2017 Gig List

Track Could Bend #22 (feat. New Positions / Melk / Clara Engel & Neil Wiernik)
Dundas Video 2017-01-03 (Tuesday)

Long Winter 5.2 (feat. Han Han / Jessica Moss / LA LUNA / The Magic / M.I. Blue / Queen Of Swords / WHIMM)
The Gladstone Hotel 2017-01-06 (Friday)

The Sadies (Punching Nuns)
The Garrison 2017-01-06 (Friday)

Pickles Aid (feat. Laura Barrett / Entire Cities / Young Doctors in Love / More or Les)
Junction City Music Hall 2017-01-12 (Thursday)

My Misshapen Ear
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-01-13 (Friday)

Marker Starling (Bunny)
Burdock Music Hall 2017-01-14 (Saturday)

Bellwether 4
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-01-18 (Wednesday)

The Cosmic Range (Off World)
The Great Hall 2017-01-19 (Thursday)

Tone Deaf Culture Presents: Toronto Noise #4 (feat. Bit Reduction / Bachelard / Goth Girl x Lumi Kryzstal / Ero Guro / Post Natal Drip)
Belljar Café 2017-01-20 (Friday)

The New Flesh (feat. Sherri Hay/Nohista/Jeremy Bailey/Jenn Norton & Steph Yates/Robin Kobrynski/Tasman Richardson/Katie Switzer & Paul Moleiro)
The Music Gallery 2017-01-21 (Saturday)

Piano Party 8 (feat. Randy Gagne / Charlie Murray)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-01-25 (Wednesday)

Hooded Fang (Anamai / Deliluh)
The Silver Dollar Room 2017-01-27 (Friday)

Abductive Transduction: A Distributed Sound Performance (feat. Nidus)
Ratio 2017-01-28 (Saturday)

Ruins of Utopia (Fog Spirits / Error 144 / Inchoate)
Belljar Café 2017-01-28 (Saturday)

Cosmic Homeostasis II
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-01-29 (Sunday)

Lina Allemano Four (Titanium Riot)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-01-31 (Tuesday)

Long Winter 5.3 (feat. Ivy Mairi / FIN / Young Clancy / Devon Welsh / Off World / L CON / Germaphobes / Saidah Conrad)
The Theatre Centre 2017-02-04 (Saturday)

Nite Comfort 41 (feat. Tenderness / David Sharpe)
Handlebar 2017-02-05 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #23 (feat. Joe Byer / Upanishads / organballoon)
Dundas Video 2017-02-07 (Tuesday)

Brodie West/Nick Fraser
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-02-08 (Wednesday)

Music By & For Ken Aldcroft, III (feat. Heraclitus Akimbo / Dave Clark/Josh Cole/Colin Fisher/Jason Kenemy)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-02-08 (Wednesday)

A Night With Pleasence (feat. Alexander Moskos / ZONES / Doom Tickler)
The Music Gallery 2017-02-11 (Saturday)

SEVENTEEN: Wavelength Music Festival 17 (feat. TOPS / DIANA / Vallens / Chandra)
The Garrison 2017-02-17 (Friday)

SEVENTEEN: Wavelength Music Festival 17 – Exclaim! & Girls Rock Camp Toronto all ages matinee (feat. Peeling / WLMRT / Strands / Denim Roses)
Monarch Tavern 2017-02-18 (Saturday)

SEVENTEEN: Wavelength Music Festival 17 (feat. Julie Doiron & The Wrong Guys / Fake Palms / FET.NAT / WHOOP-Szo / Helena Deland)
The Garrison 2017-02-18 (Saturday)

SEVENTEEN: Wavelength Music Festival 17 – Drone Brunch (feat. North Atlantic Drift / Kat Estacio)
Gladstone Hotel – Melody Bar 2017-02-19 (Sunday)

SEVENTEEN: Wavelength Music Festival 17 (feat. Phèdre / Han Han with HATAW / Emay / Fin / Hush Pup)
The Garrison 2017-02-19 (Sunday)

Somewhere There Creative Music Festival (feat. David Dacks [lecture] / Nick Fraser New Quartet / Craig Dunsmuir & Dun-Dun Band / Body Double)
The Tranzac 2017-02-24 (Friday)

Somewhere There Creative Music Festival (feat. Amelia Ehrhardt / Lîla Ensemble / roundtable on movement & improvised music)
The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2017-02-25 (Saturday)

Somewhere There Creative Music Festival (feat. The Thing Is / Manticore with James Beardmore + Xuan Ye / Future Machines / Prince Nifty)
The Tranzac 2017-02-25 (Saturday)

Somewhere There Creative Music Festival (feat. Rhinoceros Saxophone Quartet)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-02-26 (Sunday)

Somewhere There Creative Music Festival (feat. Heidi Chan/Sarah Peebles / Rob Clutton/Michael Lynn / Diane Roblin/Michael Snow / James Bailey/Allison Cameron / The Mike Smith Company / Bristles Trio)
The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2017-02-26 (Sunday)

Century Palm (Vallens / MOON EYED)
Monarch Tavern 2017-03-02 (Thursday)

Soley Ensemble
Aga Khan Museum 2017-03-04 (Saturday)

Protruders (Eroders / Tranz Defonze)
The Dupe Shop 2017-03-05 (Sunday)

Wavelength 725: Music as Disruption (feat. LAL / panel discussion)
Gladstone Hotel (ballroom) 2017-03-05 (Sunday)

Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Baby Dee / IC/JC/VC / Transcombobulation)
Burdock Music Hall 2017-03-05 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #24 (feat. Christine Bougie / Someone's Memory / act tbh)
The Steady Café 2017-03-07 (Tuesday)

Not The Wind Not The Flag with Rob Clutton (Matias Rozenberg / Magali Meagher)
Burdock Music Hall 2017-03-09 (Thursday)

Somewhere There's Second Sunday Series (feat. Adolescence / Russell Matthews/Patrick O'Reilly/Andrew Downing/Harrison Vetro)
Array Space 2017-03-12 (Sunday)

Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Retired / Processor / Cutout Lover/ Luge)
The Baby G 2017-03-15 (Wednesday)

Composer's Toolbox (feat. Allison Cameron / Jonathan Adjemian/Nicholas Buligan/Matthew Fava)
Canadian Music Centre 2017-03-16 (Thursday)

The Toronto Improvisers Orchestra feat. Christine Duncan and The Element Choir
Array Space 2017-03-19 (Sunday)

Crosswires (feat. Baa / Good Conduct / Dave from Ghostlight)
The Baby G 2017-03-20 (Monday)

Long Winter 5.4 (feat. Deliluh / Leanne Simpson / Protruders / Doom Tickler / Bonnie Trash / Bunny / HEX / Midge)
Gladstone Hotel 2017-03-24 (Friday)

Faster Presents: Spring Sounds (feat. Heraclitus Akimbo / Brian Abbott & Lorne Shapiro / Deenzi)
Gerrard Art Space 2017-03-25 (Saturday)

Track Could Bend #25: Second Anniversary All-Star Spectacular! (feat. Neil Wiernik/Patrick O'Reilly/Jesse Levine/Mike Smith / Allison Cameron/Aaron Corbett/Brian Abbott/Christine Bougie / Fae Sirois/Michael Lynn/Del Stephen/someone's memory / Laura Swankey/Andrew Furlong/Kayla Milmine / Chris Adriaanse/Bryan W. Bray/Alexei Orechin/Karen Ng)
The Steady Café 2017-04-04 (Tuesday)

Emergents III (feat. Castle If / Laura Swankey & Patrick O'Reilly)
The Music Gallery 2017-04-07 (Friday)

Audiopollination #53.1 (feat. Abigail Trotsky/Chris Trotter/Owen Lyons / UsK/Dominique Banoun/Alan Bloor / William Davison/Mark Gane/Ambrose Pottie/Eugene Martynec / Alaniaris)
Array Space 2017-04-08 (Saturday)

Channel no.3.2 (feat. HEXZUUL / Roarke Menzies / Xuan Ye / Inchoate)
The Steady Café 2017-04-09 (Sunday)

Michael Keith
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-12 (Wednesday)

Music By & For Ken Aldcroft, V (feat. Heather Saumer & Doug Tielli / Jonathan Adjemian/Andrew Furlong/Jay Hay/Joe Sorbara)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-12 (Wednesday)

Colin Fisher & Victor Cirone (CARES/Babel / Ollis Oien)
Saving Gigi 2017-04-13 (Thursday)

Jonathan Adjemian (IC/JC/VC)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-14 (Friday)

The Music Gallery's Departures Series (feat. Peter Evans Ensemble / Sam Weinberg/Chris Welcome/Ben Bennett / Not The Wind, Not The Flag)
Array Space 2017-04-16 (Sunday)

Crosswires (feat. Eiyn Sof / Fanshaw / Liz Hysen)
The Baby G 2017-04-17 (Monday)

Soundstreams' Salon 21: CeramiX (feat. Tomasz Krakowiak/Joe Sorbara/Mark Zurawinski)
Gardiner Museum 2017-04-21 (Friday)

You've Changed Records 8th Anniversary Celebration (feat. Partner / Daniel Romano / Richard Laviolette / Shotgun Jimmie / Misha Bower)
Longboat Hall 2017-04-22 (Saturday)

Nailbiter (Cares / New Tendencies / Johan Seaton)
The Steady Café 2017-04-23 (Sunday)

Audiopollination #53.2 (feat. Allison Cameron/Kristel Jax/Heraclitus Akimbo / Brian Abbott/Heidi Chan/Laura Swankey/Heraclitus Akimbo / Ambrose Pottie/Andrew Furlong/Karen Ng/Heraclitus Akimbo / Ryan Kinney/Paul Newman/Heraclitus Akimbo)
Array Space 2017-04-25 (Tuesday)

Piano Party! (feat. Bob Wiseman / Marcel Aucoin)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-26 (Wednesday)

Smellwether4
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-26 (Wednesday)

Live in the Stacks (feat. Tasseomancy / Castle If)
Toronto Public Library – Yorkville Branch 2017-04-29 (Saturday)

Cosmic Homeostasis III
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-04-30 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #26 (feat. Sandro Perri/Allison Cameron/Josh Cole / Allison Cameron & William Davison / Moth Ash)
The Steady Café 2017-05-02 (Tuesday)

The Music Gallery presents: Emergents IV (feat. Stereoscope Duo / Harp Society)
Burdock Music Hall 2017-05-05 (Friday)

SHHHH, Vol. 2 (feat. Carl Didur / Bodies That Matter / Deenzi / Manticore)
Toronto Public Library – Parkdale Branch (Basement Auditorium) 2017-05-06 (Saturday)

Feast In The East: 6 Year Anniversary (feat. Phèdre / ZONES / Fly or Die / Tenderness / Fake Humans)
Jam Factory 2017-05-06 (Saturday)

Mas Aya (Baque De Bamba / Obuxum)
Burdock Music Hall 2017-05-12 (Friday)

Sacred Lamp
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-05-14 (Sunday)

Anamai (Chrysanthemum White Alder / Pissbowelking)
Smiling Buddha 2017-05-14 (Sunday)

CMC Presents (feat. Avec le soleil sortant de sa bouche / The Mike Smith Company)
The Drake Underground 2017-05-20 (Saturday)

Optical Sounds Records Presents (feat. The Disraelis / Prince Ness)
The Baby G 2017-05-20 (Saturday)

Keys, Wind and Strings Festival: Premieres VI (feat. Thin Edge New Music Collective with Olivia Steimel and Solomiya Moroz)
Array Space 2017-05-25 (Thursday)

Rheostatics (Ford Pier)
The Horseshoe Tavern 2017-05-26 (Friday)

Music in the Barns (Dana Lyn & Kyle Sanna)
The Great Hall 2017-06-28 (Sunday)

Decreation (feat. ¼ Tonne / Processor / Craig Dunsmuir)
Ratio 2017-06-03 (Saturday)

Decreation (feat. Alan Licht & Michael Snow / Not The Wind, Not The Flag / Zoë / Heraclitus Akimbo with Paul Newman)
Ratio 2017-06-04 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #27 (feat. Diane Roblin & Katie Jensen / Processor / Steve Sladkowski & Joe Sorbara)
The Steady Café 2017-06-06 (Tuesday)

Decreation (feat. Chik White / Slow Attack Ensemble / Fleshtone Aura / APA)
Ratio 2017-06-10 (Saturday)

TONE Festival (feat. Tatsuya Nakatani [solo] / Tatsuya Nakatani/Mika Posen/Danielle Fernandes / Brodie West & Joe Sorbara)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-06-14 (Wednesday)

The Music Gallery Departures Series: TONE Festival (feat. DKV / Icepick / Invisible Out)
Burdock Music Hall 2017-06-15 (Thursday)

A Quiet Night (feat. Bachelard / New Tendencies / Heraclitus Akimbo)
Handlebar 2017-06-18 (Sunday)

TONE Festival (feat. Perch Hen Brock & Rain / Marilyn Lerner & Nicole Rampersaud)
Array Space 2017-06-20 (Tuesday)

TONE Festival (feat. Hailu Mergia / Fake Humans)
Jam Factory 2017-06-21 (Wednesday)

TONE Festival (feat. Arrington De Dionyso & Pierre-Luc Simon / FET.NAT / Sook-Yin Lee & Adam Litovitz / Brian Ruryk / Arrington De Dionyso & John Oswald)
Ratio 2017-06-24 (Saturday)

Monday Penance (feat. Corpusse / Skin)
Smiling Buddha 2017-06-26 (Monday)

TONE Festival (feat. Ted Reichman / Anne Bourne & Matt Rogalsky)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-06-29 (Thursday)

Nite Comfort 46 (feat. N A V I / ~peace : will austin)
Handlebar 2017-07-02 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #28 (feat. Blue Light / Sound of the Mountain / Body of Waste)
The Steady Café 2017-07-04 (Tuesday)

Feast In The East 63 (feat. The Cosmic Range / LAL / Saxsyndrum)
Prairie Drive Park 2017-07-08 (Saturday)

Rooted, Somewhere There, and Mechanical Forest Sound present (feat. Harrison Argatoff / The Imaginary Percussion Ensemble / Kat Estacio)
Array Space 2017-07-09 (Sunday)

Eclec~Tic~Toc Fest, Vol. 1 – Night 1 (feat. James Bailey / Money House / Lorne Shapiro/Brian Abbott / Body of Waste / Darling Cora/Lorne Shapiro / Bit Reduction / Mkl32 / The Bim Prongs / Ben Grossman/Cheryl O/Barry Prophet / Faster)
Gerrard Art Space 2017-07-14 (Friday)

Eclec~Tic~Toc Fest, Vol. 1 – Night 2 (feat. No One Receiving Duo / Irrevery / Fake Flesh / Members of Retired / Hidden Hierarchies / Valarie Kuhene / Moth Ash / Knurl / Damon Loren Baker / {AN} EeL)
Gerrard Art Space 2017-07-15 (Saturday)

Seven Sonorous Scintillators (feat. Xuan Ye / Brigitte Bardon't / Zoë Alexis-Abrams & Johnny Spence / Heraclitus Akimbo & Jason Doell)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-07-16 (Sunday)

Rebecca Hennessy's FOG Brass Band
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-07-16 (Sunday)

Batuki Music Society, Wavelength Music Series and Music Africa present (feat. Mbongwana Star)
The Great Hall 2017-07-19 (Wednesday)

Northern Passages Festival (feat. Cris Derksen/Jesse Baird/Nimkii Osawamick)
Harbourfront Centre – Concert Stage 2017-07-21 (Friday)

Over The Edge (feat. Allison Cameron/Nicole Rampersaud/Joe Sorbara / Glen Hall/Allison Cameron/ Bill Gilliam/Nicole Rampersaud / Bill Gilliam/Glen Hall/Joe Sorbara)
Array Space 2017-07-23 (Sunday)

Somewhere There + MFS present (feat. Kenton Smith / Nows / Dux)
The Steady Café 2017-07-24 (Monday)

Paper Laced with Gold: the musical in concert (feat. Stevie Jackson/Drew Smith/Lisa Bozikovic/Paul Mathew/Maggie MacDonald/Jo Snyder/Bojana Stancic/John Power)
Imperial Pub 2017-07-26 (Wednesday)

FAREWellwether4 feat. Nick Fraser (Andrew Furlong [solo])
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-07-26 (Wednesday)

Deliluh (HUT / Praises)
Home Baking Co. 2017-07-27 (Thursday)

Cosmic Homeostasis IV (feat. Ronnie Blake/Rob Cruickshank/Kayla Milmine/Paul Newman/Nilan Perera/Ted Phillips/Abigail Trotsky/Chris Trotter/Del Stephen/Joe Strutt/Laura Swankey)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-07-30 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #29 (feat. Invisible Out / Tom Richards / BABEL)
The Steady Café 2017-08-01 (Tuesday)

Nite Comfort 47 (feat. Hybrid Frequency / Stargoon)
Handlebar 2017-08-06 (Sunday)

Native North America Gathering (feat. Duke Redbird / John Angaiak / Ernest Monias / Lawrence Martin/Vern Cheechoo/Lloyd Cheechoo / Eric Landry / Leland Bell / Willy Mitchell / Willie Thrasher and Linda Saddleback)
Trinity-St. Paul's 2017-08-08 (Tuesday)

Brodie West/Reg Schwager/Marilyn Lerner/Evan Cartwright
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-08-09 (Wednesday)

Music by & for Ken Aldcroft VIII (feat. Allison Cameron & Glen Hall / Andrew Furlong/Andrew Kay/Joe Sorbara)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-08-09 (Wednesday)

The Allison Cameron Band
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-08-16 (Wednesday)

Nick Fraser/Bryan Qu/Alex Fournier
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-08-16 (Wednesday)

Feminist Art Museum presents: Pauline Oliveros' "To Valerie Solanas and Marilyn Monroe in Recognition of Their Desperation" (feat. Christopher Willes / Anne Bourne / Allison Cameron / Ame Henderson / Anni Spadafora / Ellen Furey / Evan Webber / Germaine Liu / Ishan Dave)
Gardiner Museum 2017-08-17 (Thursday)

Camp Wavelength (feat. Jessy Lanza / DATU / Os Tropies / Loji)
The Garrison 2017-08-18 (Friday)

Camp Wavelength (feat. Un Blonde / Haviah Mighty / Witch Prophet / Germaphobes / Exit Someone / Tomi Swick)
Sherbourne Common 2017-08-19 (Saturday)

Camp Wavelength (feat. Dilly Dally / Rich Aucoin / Duchess Says / Ice Cream)
Longboat Hall 2017-08-19 (Saturday)

Camp Wavelength (feat. She-Devils / Zuze / SlowPitchSound / Dan Misha Goldman / Best Fern / L CON)
Sherbourne Common 2017-08-20 (Sunday)

Camp Wavelength (feat. Deerhoof / The Luyas / Emilie & Ogden)
Longboat Hall 2017-08-20 (Sunday)

Audiopollination #54 (feat. Minibeast / Insect Factory / Sandy Ewen)
Array Space 2017-08-21 (Monday)

Colin Fisher & Jonathan Adjemian (Khôra)
Pamenar Café 2017-08-24 (Thursday)

Quiet Bedrooms presents: Launch Show (feat. Heraclitus Akimbo / YlangYlang)
940 Variety 2017-08-27 (Sunday)

A Quiet Little Village [Paul Newman/Kayla Milmine/Tomasz Krakowiak] (Heraclitus Akimbo & Matthew Fava)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-08-27 (Sunday)

Intersection Day 1: Music Gallery Departures Series (feat. Thin Edge New Music Collective / Mick Barr / Droid)
Jam Factory 2017-08-31 (Thursday)

Intersection Day 2 (feat. Evyind Kang/Jessika Kenney/Andrew Timar/Pedram Khavarzamini/Araz Salek / Völur)
Jam Factory 2017-09-01 (Friday)

Intersection Day 3 (feat. Dialectica Sax Quartet / The Visit / Jason Doell & Xuan Ye / Northumbria / Kristina Guison / Carl Didur / Meridian / Contact Contemporary Music / Conventional Weapons / Wolf Eyes + MV Carbon)
Yonge-Dundas Square 2017-09-02 (Saturday)

Intersection Day 4: Plant Music (feat. Castle If / Nick Storring / JFM / Laura Swankey)
Allan Gardens 2017-09-04 (Monday)

Track Could Bend #30 (MAMALIA / Lash Pandiculations / jiggy jiggy jiggy)
The Steady Café 2017-09-05 (Tuesday)

Julie & The Wrong Guys (Casper Skulls / Dead Broke / Brenda)
The Horseshoe Tavern 2017-09-07 (Thursday)

Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Chris Corsano / Friends & Neighbors / Retired)
Double Double Land 2017-09-08 (Friday)

Labyrinth Ontario Launch / Fundraiser (feat. Bassam Bishara with Pedram Khavarzamini / Meden Glas / The Iranian Modal Music Ensemble of Toronto)
918 Bathurst 2017-09-15 (Friday)

Peggy Lee Octet
Array Space 2017-09-16 (Saturday)

Mixed Input Festival – Night 2 (feat. James Schidlowsky / Cares/Vallée/Coderre / Wolfcow/Anna Mayberry)
The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2017-09-17 (Sunday)

Quatuor Bozzini
Canadian Music Centre 2017-09-20 (Wednesday)

The Pineapple
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-09-20 (Wednesday)

ANAMAI (YlangYlang / Xuan Ye + David Jones)
The Baby G 2017-09-21 (Thursday)

Opus:Testing presents Tower & Helm (feat. Roy Lee)
parkette in front of Metropolitan United Church 2017-09-22 (Friday)

Feast In The East 64 (feat. Petra Glynt / Zacht Automaat / Fet.Nat / Joanne Pollock)
Matt Durant Studio 2017-09-23 (Saturday)

Experimental Music! (feat. Brian Ruryk / Justin Haynes/Blake Howard/Sara Torrrie/Dan Fortin / Justin Orok & Heraclitus Akimbo)
Belljar Café 2017-09-29 (Friday)

Venus Fest (feat. Emel Mathlouthi / Grouper / Madame Gandhi / Weaves / DIANA / Lido Pimienta / Phèdre / Ice Cream / Witch Prophet / Queen Of Swords / The Highest Order / HEX)
Artscape Daniels Spectrum 2017-09-30 (Saturday)

Quiet Bedrooms presents: QB3 (feat. Allison Cameron / Sea Beau / Happy Baby)
The Dupe Shop 2017-10-01 (Sunday)

Track Could Bend #31 (feat. Nur Michael Keith / New Tendencies & Priya Thomas / iderdown + abigail trotsky)
The Steady Café 2017-10-03 (Tuesday)

Jock Tears (Protruders / Tough Age)
The Dupe Shop 2017-10-07 (Saturday)

X Avant XII (feat. Man Forever / Germaine Liu + Ensemble / Luyos MC)
918 Bathurst 2017-10-11 (Wednesday)

X Avant XII: RPM Live 007 (feat. Elisa Harkins / Laura Ortman / Mourning Coup)
918 Bathurst 2017-10-12 (Thursday)

X Avant XII (feat. INTÉRRO feat. Kaie Kellough, Tanya Evanson, Jason Sharp, Kevin Lo / E-Saggila)
918 Bathurst 2017-10-13 (Friday)

Pleasence Records Presents: Cassette Store Day 2017 & The Dupe Shop Anniversary (feat. Moon Eyed / Father Christmas / Owen Nolan)
The Dupe Shop 2017-10-14 (Saturday)

X Avant XII: curated by LAL and Babely Shades (feat. Avrha / Bizzarh / Drawing With Knives)
The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2017-10-14 (Saturday)

X Avant XII: James Tenney: Resistance
918 Bathurst 2017-10-15 (Sunday)

Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Bill Nace/Twig Harper / Not The Wind, Not The Flag / Dandy Dusted)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-10-16 (Monday)

Riparian Acoustics and Burn Down the Capital present (feat. Hans Joachim Roedelius / Xambuca / Joseph Shabason / Kat Estacio)
Monarch Tavern 2017-10-17 (Tuesday)

Bill Gilliam/Kayla Milmine/Ambrose Pottie
Array Space 2017-10-18 (Wednesday)

Context, NA (Stargoon)
Somewhere Else 2017-10-20 (Friday)

Petra Glynt (New Chance / Bobbypin)
The Baby G 2017-10-25 (Wednesday)

Aurochs
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-10-27 (Friday)

U.S. Girls (Hexagon)
The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2017-10-27 (Friday)

Cosmic Homeostasis V
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-10-29 (Sunday)

Audiopollination Halloween Special (feat. The Cereal Killers/Lilly and The Jellybean Machine / The Birth of Troubling Forms / Bea Labikova/Raphael Roter)
Array Space 2017-10-31 (Tuesday)

Odonis Odonis (Beliefs)
The Garrison 2017-11-03 (Friday)

Nite Comfort 50 (feat. MURR / Kalte)
Handlebar 2017-11-05 (Sunday – PWYC!)

Track Could Bend #32 (feat. Kat Estacio & Beard Closet / Sandy Ewen / Will Austin & Brandon Lim)
Belljar Café 2017-11-07 (Tuesday)

Musicworks Magazine presents O P E N : an evening of sound interactions (feat. Sandy Ewen with Brandon Valdivia / Pursuit Grooves with Mas Aya / Cheryl Duvall)
918 Bathurst 2017-11-08 (Wednesday)

The Andrew Downing Ensemble
Canadian Music Centre 2017-11-09 (Thursday)

Women In Music Canada presents Fundraiser Show For Mexico & Puerto Rico (feat. KASHKA / Rapport / Regina Gently / LOLAA)
Monarch Tavern 2017-11-09 (Thursday)

416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival (feat. Unknown Guitar Quartet / Kayla Milmine / Sisa Suchankova/Lenka Novosedlikova/Bea Labikova/Raphael Roter/Rick Sacks)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-11-11 (Saturday)

Ayal Senior (Kurt Newman's Nashville Minimalism Unit)
The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-11-12 (Sunday)

TRYAL (Monsters Inc. / anna)
Burdock Music Hall 2017-11-12 (Sunday)

Eric Landry
Burdock Music Hall 2017-11-15 (Wednesday)

EMA (The Blow / Petra Glynt)
The Garrison 2017-11-15 (Wednesday)

Moonwood (Stargoon / Eiyn Sof)
The Dupe Shop 2017-11-19 (Sunday)

Spirit Of The Inner Child: Spontaneous Group Explorations (feat. David Parker/Del Stephen/Erik Kinsella/Heraclitus Akimbo/Paul Newman/Mkl32/Jeff Sinibaldi)
Array Space 2017-11-22 (Wednesday)

Track Could Bend #33 (feat. Justin Haynes/John Oswald/Mani Mazinani / Bea Labikova / Brian Abbott)
Belljar Café 2017-12-05 (Tuesday)

60 plus 20: Celebrating Dan Burke (feat. The Highest Order / Comet Control / Hooded Fang / Moscow Apartment)
Lee's Palace 2017-12-08 (Friday)

Long Winter 6.2 (feat. Tess Roby / Absolutely Free / Witch Prophet / Petra Glynt / The Cosmic Range / Kurt Marble / YlangYlang / LolaBunz / Moneyphone)
Polish Combatants' Hall SPK 2017-12-09 (Saturday)

Bitchin Bajas (ZONES / SlowPitchSound)
Smiling Buddha 2017-12-12 (Tuesday)

The Cluttertones (John Millard / Germaine Liu)
Burdock Music Hall 2017-12-13 (Wednesday)

If:Iff - works for chamber orchestra and electronics (feat. The GGS New Music Ensemble)
Temerty Theatre 2017-12-14 (Thursday)

Wavelength Holiday Party (feat. Rapport / Most People)
The Garrison (front room) 2017-12-14 (Thursday)

Venus Fest Winter Solstice Celebration (feat. Jennifer Castle / Aisha Sasha John / Ora Cogan)
The Garrison 2017-12-21 (Thursday)

Longform reviews of these shows are not currently likely. Recordings from many of these can be found if you dig through the tag cloud.

Recording: Haynes-Oswald-Mazinani

Artist: Justin Haynes/John Oswald/Mani Mazinani

Song: [excerpt from first piece]

Recorded at Belljar Café (Track Could Bend #33), December 5, 2017.

Justin Haynes/John Oswald/Mani Mazinani - [excerpt from first piece]

After an anticipated duo set with Brian Ruryk had to be postponed (look for it in March!) Justin Haynes made some lemonade by putting together this noteworthy trio. With John Oswald's sax and Mani Mazinani's Octave Cat synth, Haynes (with keys and guitar on hand) took things on an unexpected post-apocalyptic trip to Funkytown, throwing some janky beats on a cassette into the mix and cranking up the volume for a mutoid dance party.

[Track Could Bend is back at The Belljar on Tuesday (January 2nd) in an especially-tantalizing night mixing Bachelard's modular synths, LUKA's poetic examinations and tendencyitis' no-input mixer feedback sounds. What a superb way to start your concert-going year for 2018!]

Recording: Bea Labikova

Artist: Bea Labikova - [first piece]

Song: [first piece]

Recorded at Belljar Café (Track Could Bend #33), December 5, 2017.

Bea Labikova - [first piece]

It's always exciting when artists can use Track Could Bend as a platform to explore different techniques or musical approaches, so I was overjoyed to see saxophonist Bea Labikova exploring some new terrain. Seated on a cushion on the floor, Labikova was surrounded by pedals and electronics, treating and expanding her acoustic sound into another dimension. With some deep reverb patches, the sounds from her sax and fujara coalesced into lingering clouds, with vocalisations from a throat-mic adding another element. After setting the scene with this haunting effort (sounding like a ghost wandering on a grey, foggy beach), the fujara's sonic zone crept into something that sounded like an 80's private press New Age tape (a sound now recognized in 2017 to be quite awesome) while the final piece explored some Alvin Lucier-like repetitions.

[Track Could Bend is back at The Belljar on Tuesday (January 2nd) in an especially-tantalizing night mixing Bachelard's modular synths, LUKA's poetic examinations and tendencyitis' no-input mixer feedback sounds. What a superb way to start your concert-going year for 2018!]

Recording: Brian Abbott

Artist: Brian Abbott

Song: Bahadur's Carousel [excerpt]

Recorded at Belljar Café (Track Could Bend #33), December 5, 2017.

Brian Abbott - Bahadur's Carousel [excerpt]

Given that Brian Abbott's work as half of FASTER has been drifting from carnival-esque dioramas to more rigourous works, it's no surprise his other efforts as a composer have been following a similar trajectory, still encompassing lots of notes and multi-genre milkshake-mixer explosions but adding more microtonal offshoots and other complications. For this set, he brought a large-sized one-page score that contained a bingo-card like grid of cells, giving him a framework for hairpin-turn tonal changes. There were also some borrowed tanpura/harmonium drone boxes in there as well.

[Track Could Bend is back at The Belljar on Tuesday (January 2nd) in an especially-tantalizing night mixing Bachelard's modular synths, LUKA's poetic examinations and tendencyitis' no-input mixer feedback sounds. What a superb way to start your concert-going year for 2018!]

Recording: Spirit Of The Inner Child

Artist: Spirit Of The Inner Child mini-ensembles

Songs: [excerpts from four sets]

Recorded at Array Space (Spirit Of The Inner Child: Spontaneous Group Explorations), November 22, 2017.

Del Stephen/Paul Newman/Jeff Sinibaldi/David Parker - [excerpt]

Erik Kinsella/Del Stephen/Paul Newman/Heraclitus Akimbo - [excerpt]

Erik Kinsella/Del Stephen/Paul Newman/Heraclitus Akimbo - [excerpt]

Erik Kinsella, Mkl32 & Jeff Sinibaldi - [excerpt]

Conceived as a bit of a musical side-trip while Del Stephen and David Parker (a.k.a. Slow Man Tofu) were on a mini-tour together, this co-presentation with Audiopollination brought the pair in contact with five other players (Heraclitus Akimbo, Jeff Sinibaldi, Erik Kinsella, Mkl32, and Paul Newman) for a night of sonic explorations. Names were drawn from a hat to construct the lineups and each player took part in two sets with a different trio or quartet. The participants seemed to prefer drifting sonic fields to any melodic jousting, and alongside the basses, sax and drumkit there were plenty of knobs to be twisted, radios to be adjusted and buzzes to be buzzed.

You also can catch video of the whole night over on youtube:

Recording: Moonwood

Artist: Moonwood

Song: [last section]

Recorded at The Dupe Shop (Arachnidiscs Dual Release Show), November 19, 2017.

Moonwood - [last section]

What better place than The Dupe Shop to celebrate a couple new tapes emerging into the world? They say it takes a village to raise a child; more obscurely, they also say that it takes a bass player to adjust a toddler's headphones so they're not overwhelmed by sounds while slung on a keyboard player's back. After taking some time off for parental leave, this was Moonwood's first show back, with their newest associate in tow, adding an astounding and delightful layer of new complications to their live performance, including a mid-set slowdown when the drumkit looked like a very appealing thing to play with. In the end, things didn't go entirely to plan, but that made it a much more unique and endearing experience. Rock the daycare!

Recording: Eiyn Sof

Artist: Eiyn Sof

Songs: Bogland + unknown^*

Recorded at The Dupe Shop (Arachnidiscs Dual Release Show), November 19, 2017.

Eiyn Sof - Bogland

Eiyn Sof - unknown

What better place than The Dupe Shop to celebrate a couple new tapes emerging into the world? Giving a much-needed contrast between a couple flavours of kosmische noodling, Melissa Boraski brought a set of freak folk tunes from her freshly-reissued-on-cassette Meadow Thrum. It was a pleasingly-casual environment for the whole family, giving the whole thing the feel of a jam out on Boraski's back porch (which, if her lyrics are to be believed, overlooks a magical pond next to an enchanted hidden valley).

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

Recording: Stargoon

Artist: Stargoon

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at The Dupe Shop (Arachnidiscs Dual Release Show), November 19, 2017.

Stargoon - [excerpt]

What better place than The Dupe Shop to celebrate a couple new tapes emerging into the world? Launching the afternoon with a celebration of its first physical release, Stargoon was showing off the more expansive sound that has developed since its recording, with additional audio complications from Matthew Fava (SuperCollider and AUMI software plus manipulated human voice) joining mainstays Luca Capone (drums) and Joe Strutt (synth/pedals) and producer/permanent guest bassist Jakob Rehlinger. The recording here's a little over-saturated, but this seemed to cook nicely.

Photo by Andrika De Lanerolle.

Recording: The Blow

Artist: The Blow

Song: Get Up

Recorded at The Garrison, November 15, 2017.

The Blow - Get Up

Last time I saw The Blow in action, it was a full-on dance party with Khaela Maricich shimmying on stage while Melissa Dyne controlled the tracks semi-hidden on a platform behind the crowd. This time, celebrating the relase of their Brand New Abyss album, they were face-to-face, and their closeness and eye contact was central to a show that investigated the transfer of energy between performer and performer — and performer and audience. This science experiment/slideshow unfolded as a sort of series of considerations on the lesbian continuum in the form of a lecture on modular synthesis. But for all of the conceptual art elements, it was still a joyfully groovy experience (on Maricich's birthday, no less!) concluding with this astoundingly-quotable anthem.

Recording: EMA

Artist: EMA

Songs: I Wanna Destroy + Fire Water Air LSD

Recorded at The Garrison, November 15, 2017.

EMA - I Wanna Destroy

EMA - Fire Water Air LSD

I missed her coming through with her last album, so it'd been a long stretch back to when I'd last seen Erika Michelle Anderson in action. Touring as a three-piece backed by a drummer and violinist/synth/bassist her dark meditations still flat-out rocked with feedback-drenched postpunk when called for, but also descended into more moody and electronic atmospherics. Fuelled by escapism from the terror of guns and misogyny in her homeland, the nihilistic songs from this year's Exile In The Outer Ring fit right in with the her past work as the set flipped back and forth between present and past — and closed out by reaching all the way back to a couple numbers from her previous project Gowns.

Concert Listings Roundup #230

You can read more about why I'm doing listings here. Long story short: This curated and decidedly non-comprehensive list contains nothin' but shows that I am going to/would go to if I had more time.

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Gig of the week:

Parkdale Food Drive (feat. Teenanger / Prom Nite / Lee Paradise) / The Baby G 2017-12-29 (Friday) [FB event]

Well, it ain't the busiest concert week of the year, but there's still some cool options out there, even accounting for a panoply of choices on New Year's Eve. Friday would be a good night to go hang out at The Tranzac if you're feeling mellow, but if you're in a bit more of a rockin' mood, then be sure to hit up this new wave night for a worthy cause — don't forget for non-perishable food item!

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This week's noteworthy shows:

Daniel Nebiat (Tiruedel Zenebe) / Habesha Sports Bar 2017-12-22–2017-12-25 (Friday–Monday) [more info]

Zacht Automaat / D D L 2017-12-28 (Thursday – PWYC!) [FB event]

The Ryan Driver Quintet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2017-12-29 (Friday) [FB event]

The Sadies (Jon Langford) / The Horseshoe Tavern 2017-12-31 (Sunday) [more info]

catl. (The Cool Hands) / Dakota Tavern 2017-12-31 (Sunday) [more info]

Tranzac New Year's Eve (feat. Ice Cream / Phèdre / Houndstooth / Lauren Barnett / Zoo Owl / The Brodie West Quintet) / The Tranzac 2017-12-31 (Sunday) [FB event]

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Add these to your calendar:

Reminder: This post only contains this week's updates — the full listings can always be found over on the right-hand sidebar!

Soap (Cellphone / Slurry) / Owl's Club (basement) 2018-01-11 (Thursday) [FB event]

Tania Gill Quartet [Tania Gill/Lina Allemano/Nico Dann/Rob Clutton] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2018-01-12 (Friday – early!) [FB event]

Moves [Spencer Cole/Zach Bines/Joe Organ] (Side Hustle / Evan Cartwright) / Burdock Music Hall 2018-01-12 (Friday) [FB event]

WLMRT (Deathsticks / Camp Girls / Tourist) / Euro Sports Bar 2018-01-13 (Saturday) [FB event]

Venus Fest (feat. Luna Li / ggpeach / Nezzy) / The Baby G 2018-01-18 (Thursday) [FB event]

Westelaken [LP release!] (Slurry / HEX) / Monarch Tavern 2018-01-20 (Saturday) [FB event]

Piano Fest (feat. Darren Creech / Thompson Egbo-Egbo) / Burdock Music Hall 2018-01-23 (Tuesday – early!) [FB event]

Piano Fest (feat. Kritty Uranowski / Ryland Dineen) / Burdock Music Hall 2018-01-29 (Monday) [FB event]

Casper Skulls [Mercy Works exhibition & release show!] (Vallens / smut) / Super Wonder Gallery 2018-02-10 (Saturday) [FB event]

Recording: Eric Landry

Artist: Eric Landry

Songs: unknown^* + The Better Future's Aligning + Wolf Run

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall, November 15, 2017.

Eric Landry - unknown

Eric Landry - The Better Future's Aligning

Eric Landry - Wolf Run

August's Native North America Gathering was one of the musical highlights of the year, and within that stunning night, one of the biggest eye-openers was seeing Eric Landry play at (and after!) the show. Being based out of Sudbury, Landry is closer to T.O than many of the other artists who played that night, so it made sense to bring him back for a show of his own. In an early slot at The Burdock, Landry had a lot more time on stage than he got back in August, but crowd and performer were still eager to hear more.

With a unique guitar style that incorporates the sound of the sacred drum, Landry's lyrics were both apocalyptic and optimistic, drawing from his connection to the land and the forces conspiring to destroy it. With only a single (released in 1985!) to his name, Landry has a lifetime of music and stories to draw from, and the first of the night's two sets was a storyteller's travelogue of sorts, going back to some of his earliest works and tracing the inspirations and Spirit that contributed to his musical vision (and visions). The second set focused more on songs that are going to be on forthcoming debut album, so there'll hopefully be a good reason to bring him back to town soon.

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

Recording: TRYAL

Artist: TRYAL

Song: Come On

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall, November 12, 2017.

TRYAL - Come On

One of the city's best "pure" vocalists, Alex Samaras is known for his work in jazz interpretation and pop dabblings, but instead of being stuck in any boxes, his TRYAL project seems to be a way for him to approach songcraft without any preconceptions or genre limitations. Emerging first in album form, this semi-private show (packing the room full with friends and kindhearted well-wishers) was meant to extend that onto the stage. The ensemble was an all-star band that overlapped with the crew that had recorded the tracks and included Johnny Spence (keyb), Josh Cole (bass), Evan Cartwright (percussion) and Christine Bougie (guitar). Interestingly, it didn't include any of the amazing singers who shared the vocal space on the album with Samaras, but that leaves something to anticipate for the next time.