Toronto Blues Society | » Loose Blues News

Loose Blues News

Published August 30, 2012 in Loose Blues News, News

Guitar Winner: Congratulations to Fred Faenza, winner of the Great Guitar Giveaway. Fred will take home a beautiful Epiphone acoustic guitar from Long & McQuade. Thanks to all who participated in the draw. All proceeds go to help finance the TBS ongoing programmes.

catl doc: The Toronto International Film Festival is presenting a documentary on local alt-punk-blues band catl. ‘A Band Called Catl’ is a short, gritty and intimate exclusive pass into the quirky introverted minds behind a Toronto west-end Rhythm and Blues party-band, as seen through the eyes of Director Jonathan Lawley. Lawley’s view gives us a retro feel with a throwback to old 16mm look which embodies the band’s artistry as we peel off layers of the band’s process through intimate interviews, kitchen jam sessions, and live performances.
The film premiers Thursday September 6th 2012, 7:45pm at the Toronto Underground Cinema, 186 Spadina Rd., north of Queen. Check out the trailer at https://vimeo.com/47968493

Fundraiser for Jamaica: Robin Banks is teaming up with Canadian Reggae Artist Fredlocks Asher and hosting “Band Aid for Negril,” a Reggae and Blues fundraising event (essentially an all star jam session) at Monarch’s Pub in the Delta Chelsea Hotel, Tuesday September 11th from 7 to 11 pm. Proceeds will go to the Rotary Club of Negril’s “Get Kids To School” Bus Program and St. Anthony’s Soup Kitchen in Negril, Jamaica, both who are doing great work in the community to get kids to school every day and to feed those who otherwise go without sustenance.
Featured performers will include Robin Banks, Fredlocks Asher, Bucky Burger, Garry Lowe, Mitch Lewis, Howard Moore, Richard Isax Howse, Charlie Bobus, Toney “Wild” T Springer, Terry Wilkins, Eric St-Laurent, Cyborg, Progress, Otis Gayle, Terence Lewis, Richard Whiteman, Contributions of any amount can be made from anywhere by anyone at any time. Folks who are not in the Toronto area and cannot attend can contribute online here: http://www.kapipal.com/bandaidnegril

Last Stop for theTrane : The Jazz community is mourning the closing of the Trane on Bathurst Street after nine years. The club presented mostly jazz but many great blues shows happened on that stage, most recently Son Roberts’ regular gigs and a popular jam/open stage hosted by Noah Zacharin. Owner Frank Francis said, “After some consideration, we have decided not to enter into a new lease agreement with the landlord…However, we would like to point out that this does not mean the end of the business, it is rather an opportunity for us to take a well deserved break and assess things differently…We simply need a moment to recalibrate our systems for a stronger and healthier future.”

Blues Campfire re-lit: The Record Vault, a new record store at 2156 Queen St East in the Beaches, will be hosting a Blues Campfire on Thursday, September 20th from 7-11pm. Brian Blain on bass and Malcolm Gould on drums provide a rhythm section for guest musicians. Brian’s Blues Campfire is a jam session/song-circle/guitar-pull that is open to pros and amateurs alike, as long as they keep it simple and bluesy. Following a successful one-year run at the now-defunct Highway 61 BBQ, the Blues Campfire moved to the Gladstone Hotel’s Melody Bar and will be going “on the road” when Brian brings it to the Moonshine Cafe in Oakville on Friday, September 7. All musicians welcome!

Folk Alliance in Toronto: The largest annual gathering of folk and roots musicians and presenters comes to Canada every five years and next year it will be at Toronto’s Delta Chelsea Hotel February 20-24, 2013. The International Folk Alliance conference is an annual event that draws together music industry professionals from throughout the world to share ideas, network, and celebrate traditional music and dance. Held over five days, the Conference will have Canadian Music Industry Legend Bernie Finkelstein as their keynote speaker. There will be over 1750 registered attendees with a significant blues component. More info at www.folk.org

Joe Yanuziello Benefit: When friends learned about Joe Yanuziello’s accident involving a razor-sharp power jointer on his right hand, it was unanimously agreed that they would band together to create a benefit concert to help Joe get back on his feet. The 12th Fret and Hugh’s Room hosted the event and if you weren’t able to attend and wish to donate, go to www.kapipal.com/165d80f27c8a4ed2a1dc4ccc8632c87a

Roots Radio: Canadian Roots Radio – an internet station dedicated to play Folk, Blues and Roots music – is scheduled to launch Nov 1. You’ll be able to hear them streaming on CanadianRootsRadio.ca and on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CanadianRootsRadio. You can follow their progress with daily on canadianrootsradio.ca. Broadcaster Jim Priebe, has taken the initiative and writes “For a techno-geek like myself, getting a music stream on the ‘net is a very simple procedure. The reasons why CRR isn’t launching until Nov 1 lie elsewhere. The business plan is complete and I’ve got a good roadmap for the next year. To get started I need to raise $20,000 and so an indiegogo campaign has been launched. $15 will go a long way to making CRR happen, and you’ll even get a nice perk that only a radio station can provide!” More details at http://igg.me/p/192134?a=953758. Musicians wishing to submit CDs can e-mail Jim at [email protected] or call 647-992-8294 for instructions.

International Songwriting Competition: The ISC Deadline is fast approaching on September 20. ISC has doubled the amount of merchandise for this year’s Grand Prize winner – to more than $40,000 in prizes – plus $25,000 in cash (US). You can win a custom Lowden acoustic guitar, a Marshall full stack amp, a studio package from Solid State Logic, a duplicator from Discmakers, and much more! Amateur and professional songwriters are welcome to enter. ISC accepts entries by mail or online (platforms include ISC, Sonicbids, ReverbNation, Broadjam, Myspace, and Facebook). Entering ISC is now easier than ever, because if you enter via Facebook, ISC will go to your Facebook band or artist page to listen to your songs (so you don’t even need to send your songs!) To enter on Facebook, go to www.Facebook.com/InternationalSongwritingCompetition and click the “Enter Now!” button. Many previous winners have gone on to great success and garnered record deals, publishing deals, licensing deals, and even Grammys! ISC’s newest success story are past ISC winners Gotye and Kimbra whose song “Somebody That I Used To Know” recently charted at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for an amazing eight weeks in a row!

Ex-Meteor Rising: Former Meteors founding member, singer multi-instrumentalist Rene Huard is back playing in the Niagara area. After a number of years in the TV industry as the host of CTV’s Antique Hunter Rene is back playing and song writing working on new material for a future release.
As a member of The Meteors Rene shared the stage opening for such industry stalwart’s as Taj Mahal, Long John Baldry, John Hammond Jr. , James Cotton and Downchild. The influence on Rene’s music is evident in a mixed blend of rock, blues, roots, gospel and soul that Rene refers to as, “musical gumbo”.
Performing around the Niagara Region … from Fort Erie to Welland, Niagara Falls to St. Catharines Rene’s one man show mixes songs from his musical influences … people like Bob Dylan, John Hiatt, Eric Clapton to original numbers. Rene’s music can be heard at http://www.reverbnation.com/renehuard .

Kelly Jay in The Hammer: Crowbar keyboard player/front man Kelly Jay stopped by Hamilton recently, visiting from his home in Calgary, for a few gigs including a fundraiser at the Leander Boat Club in memory of Kelly’s wife Tami Jean Fordham who passed away suddenly on July 27, 2012.
During his stay Kelly played in and around his beloved old stomping grounds in Hamilton hooking up with a cast of Hamilton talent like Ian Thomas, Ray Harrison (Cameo Blues Band), Trickbag and members of Crowbar, John ‘Ghetto’ Gibbard, Sonnie Bernardi and Roly Greenway.
Last October Kelly Jay and bass player Roly Greenway were presented with a SOCAN Classics Award for their song ‘Oh What a Feeling’ reaching one hundred thousand airplays on domestic radio. Earlier in the year ‘Oh What a Feeling’ was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Blues at The Duck: After the summer layoff, before the start of the regular Saturday afternoon Fall and Winter gig … St. Catharines blues digs The Golden Pheasant aka The Duck opens its doors September 1, 2012 from 2:30 to 6:30 for an end of the summer blues bash. House band The Mighty Duck Blues Band (Gary Kendall, Dave Curry, Jim Casson and Canada Dave Torosian) is playing host for the second time during the summer season, the first with Jerome Godboo, this time the band is joined by special guest Oakville’s own Mike Branton.
The Golden Pheasant aka The Duck is a Niagara Blues institution … operating almost continually since it was built in 1921. Located a 244 Ontario St. in St. Catharines … The Duck runs it’s Saturday afternoon blues show from September to approximately May every year, with a guest musician each week sitting in with the band.
The regular Saturday afternoon schedule resumes at The Duck on September 29th with special guest Steve Strongman. Mike Branton can be seen playing every Saturday at the Southside Cottage Grill in Oakville.

Moonshine Cafe: Oakville blues and roots haunt The Moonshine Cafe has a hosted a number of well known acts over the years including: Garrett Mason & Keith Hallette, Danny Brooks, Michael Pickett, Fraser-Daley and The Kings. But for every name act that’s graced the Moonshine’s stage … a greater number of unknown unsigned acts have been given the opportunity to do their thing in front of a live audience.
Owners John and Jane have made it their mandate to encourage and promote young artists with open mic nights, jam sessions, open stage, songwriter’s stage as well as improve theatre comedy jams. The Moonshine is an intimate setting with great sound and atmosphere with a capacity of 60. There’s no TV’s … no pool tables … it’s all about the music.
Coming in this month are east coast blues buddies Garrett Mason & Keith Hallett on September 1st , Brian Blain’s Blues Campfire jam on September 7, Bill Bourne on September 8th, Irene Torres and the Sugar Devils on September 14 and Jimmy Bowskill on September 20
The Moonshine Cafe is located at 137 Kerr St. Oakville, Ontario; hours of operation are Monday – Thursday 4pm to 2am, Friday and Saturday 2pm to 2am. The Moonshine Cafe is located at 137 Kerr St. Oakville, Ontario; hours of operation are Monday – Thursday 4pm to 2am, Friday and Saturday 2pm to 2am. More information on upcoming shows and booking gigs can be found at. www.themoonshinecafe.com

Steve Marriner Solo: Monkey Junk lead and harmonica wiz Steve Marriner is branching out into some non-Monkey Junk gigs in and around his home town Ottawa. Every Tuesday from 9pm – 12 for the months of August and September Steve is playing Irene’s Pub joined by the Brothers Chaffey … Matthew and Curtis. The band calls themselves the B-Sides. Irene’s Pub is located 885 Bank St. Ottawa.

– Christopher Darton, Brian Blain

Donate Join TBS Volunteer

©2024 Toronto Blues Society. Design by Janine Stoll Media.
TBS logo and WBR artwork by Barbara Klunder


The Toronto Blues Society acknowledges the annual support of the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and the Department of Canadian Heritage, and project support from FACTOR< and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s Private Broadcasters, The Canada Council for the Arts, the SOCAN Foundation, SOCAN, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.