\ TO DOWNTOWN \

Yup, it’s cold out and while spending the day tucked away at home with a hot water bottle and a bottle filled with something you can drink might be a tempting option, if you’re sick of the cabin and feel like some human stimulation you can get some warm feelings from a couple of Roots-oriented multi-artist shows happening this afternoon downtown not too far from one another.

In the Annex area from 5-7 or so, Max Layton and Robert Priest stage the January edition of their monthly “More Songs & Poems” series at Tranzac Club on Brunswick Ave. along with a stellar backing band and special guest Allan Soberman.

Songwriter/poet Layton has a brand new album he’s beaming about and no doubt will perform some of the numbers from it backed by musical stylings of the house group that includes super-versatile and accomplished guitarist David Hines and digital accordion magician Ed Roth.  Soberman and Priest and the rest of the gang will pull their weight entertainment-wise for this event as well, which often ends up including dancing —always a good way to generate various kinds of heat!

There’s not usually a cover for shows in Southern Cross room in the club at 292 Brunswick Ave., but quite likely there’s a donations jar or some such method by which you can show your appreciation of the talent in addition to picking up one of Layton’s discs.

Directly following that affair, a few blocks away in the Free Times Café’s rear music room at 320 College St., there’s another of the venerable Roots hotbed’s “Best of The Open Stage” showcase nights taking place from 8 p.m. on.

Although I’m not familiar with the first three acts (Michael Gray’s Hidden Stash, Andrew Sharp and Luke Letourneau) I trust owner Judy Perly’s judgement enough to safely assume they are all songwriters with a level of accomplishment that should impress.  And I can definitely guarantee that you’ll find much to give you a toasty glow when the show’s final set, featuring songwriter and Folk covers artist Kirk Felix, takes the stage.

I’ve told you about the veteran singer and fingerstyle player before, but since then he’s been busy in the studio putting together a new album of originals to complement the 2016 cd reissue of his 1972 vinyl record “For My Friends”.

Some of the accompanists who’ve been working on the new project with him, namely acoustic lead guitarist Sean Peever, fiddle player Tom Gannon and handpan drum artist/percussionist Darlene Sacks (about whom I also wrote not too long ago) will also be on hand for this set, so it could be a nice little preview of what’s coming for the new release, expected this summer.

Cover for this one is just $6, which works out to $1.50 per act —a pretty good deal to fire up your inner furnace with good vibes on a frigid January day, I’d say.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Sunday, January 08, 2022

Listings are organized by area in which shows take place and listed chronologically within each area field.

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). Events preceded by question mark (?) usually take place but have not been confirmed. Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

Names of subscribers appear in bold, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger highlighted type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

ONLINE / ON AIR

*6, 7, 10 & 11am; 5 & 7 pm> “Sunday Morning Soul” with Johnny Max @ www.sundaymorningsoul.com ~Blues

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

11am-2pm> The Shpeelers for Jewish brunch buffet @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

*11am-2> The Mercenaries @ Drake One Fifty, 150 York St., TO ~retro Rock/Soul

noon-3> Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

noon-3> Mike Downes Trio @ Trinity Common, 303 Augusta Ave., TO ~Jazz brunch; $12

1> The Toronto Improvers Orchestra @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

3-5> Sue & Dwight with Dave Lang @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Folk

3:30-6:30> Club Django @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*4-7> Michael Brennan @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. TO ~East Coast Rock/Blues Roots

*4:30-8> New Orleans Connection All Stars & guests @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~New Orleans Jazz

5> “More Songs & Poems” with Robert Priest & Max Layton with guest Allan Soberman & house band featuring Ed Roth & David Hines @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~music & poetry

5-9> Robbie Lane & The Disciples @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~vintage Rock/R&B; $10

*6-9> open mic with Eddy Culjak @ Fox & Fiddle Wellesley, 27 Wellesley St., TO

6:30> TC Folkpunk; Noah Zacharin tba @ C’est What, 69 Front St. E., TO ~Roots songwriters; pwyc

7> “Best of The Open Stage” showcase with Michael Gray’s Hidden Stash; Andrew Sharp; Luke Letourneau; Kirk Felix with Tom Gannon, Darlene Sacks & Sean Peever @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~songwriters; $6

*7-1> Freefall Sundays open stage (2 songs each -signup @ 7 or pre-sign online) @ The Supermarket, 268 Augusta St., TO

7-9:30> Jake Koffman Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

7-9:30> tba @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $

*7-10> Brooke Blackburn @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues/Jazz/R&B

7> Title Fight; Give; Westpoint @ Velvet Underground, 508 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $20

7:30> Guh! @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> The Doublecuts @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~alt-Country

*8> jam/open mic with backline & host band Meg and the Scene @ The Antler Room, 146 Front St. W., TO

*8> open mic with Kyle @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO

*8-12> The Honour Roll with REMY trio @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W. ~freestyle Hip Hop; 0$

8-10> Marlon Chaplin @ Trinity Common, 303 Augusta Ave., TO

9:30> Marika Galea Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Boston Jazz; $

*10> Horshack feat. Chris Caddell @ Orbit Room, 580 College St., TO ~Bluesy contemporary & classic Rock

10> The Lina Allemano Four @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

10> New Grease Revival @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

**10> Blues jam with Bill Hedefine & guests @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

10:30> Fire Rules; Dead Walls; Prince of Toronto @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W., TO ~Rock; 0$

416 – TORONTO EAST

11am-2pm> Evan Desaulnier for Jazz brunch @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO East ~Jazz; 0$

**2-5> Lynn MacDonald with Davis Restivo & Bill McBirnie @ Morgan’s, 1282 Danforth Ave., TO East ~soft Jazz

*3-6> open mic with Nicola Vaughan @ Hirut, 2050 Danforth Ave., TO East

4> Fraser & Daley @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~rootsy Blues

*4:30-8:30> jam with Black Bear Jam Stars featuring William A. Miller @ Black Bear Pub, 1125 O’Connor Drive, TO East

5-7> Cadre @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Roots-Rock; 0$

7-11> John Findlay Band @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave, TO East ~R&B/Blues

*9-1> jam with the Stir It Up Band featuring David Macmichael @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

*10am-2> tba for Bluegrass Brunch @ New Town Billiards, 2878 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke ~Bluegrass

4-8> BG Rhythm Section featuring Gary Kendall + guests Danny B & Kevin Higgins @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Blues/R&B

5-9> Lost Patients @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke ~Pop Rock

*10-2> jam with Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

*6-10> jam with Ron McLeod & Supernatural @ Tara Inn, 2365 Kingston Rd., Scarborough

*7-11> open jam with host Billy Zee @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough

8-12> acoustic jam with hosts Tommy Rocker & John Robbie @ Al Mac’s, 2459 Kingston Rd., Scarborough

416 – TORONTO WEST

**11-2> live Jazz brunch @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W., TO West

*noon-3> Julian Fauth & Ken Yoshioka @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

* noon-3> The Cosmotones @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Bluegrass

**5-8> John Borra & Sam Ferrara w. guest @ The Communist’s Daughter, 1149 Dundas St. W. TO West ~Country

5-8> Chris Coole & Ivan Rosenberg @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~old-time Country Roots

5-8 Fifth Element @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

*5:30-9:30> Jay Douglas & Chris Butcher @ The Emerson, 1279 Bloor St. W., TO West ~Reggae; 0$

6> Monk’s Music @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~Jazz; pwyc

6:30> Slackline Reading Series @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~spoken word; pwyc

7> Countermeasure; The Harvard Krokodiles @ 3030 Dundas West, 3030 Dundas St. W., TO West ~a cappella Jazz/Pop; $20

7> “Another Bloody Folk Club” with four Brit-Folk bands @ Yellow Griffin Pub, 2202 Bloor St. W., TO West ~pwyc

8> Steven Clarke @ Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Ave., TO West ~solo piano; $20/pwyc

8:30> Dog Leg Dilemma album release @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~progressive Jazz; pwyc

9-1> Steve Farrugia Quartet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> The Barrel Boys @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Bluegrass

*10> The Mercenaries @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~retro Rock/Soul; $10

10:30> Luke Vajsar @ Motel Bar, 1235 Queen St. W., TO West ~Jazz

519

*3-7> acoustic open mic with Scott Rhodes @ The Pick and Shovel, 30 Water St., Cambridge

3-5> Gary Diggins & Jeff Bird @ The Common Café, Wilson St., Guelph

4> jam with Mike McDonald, Leo Valvassori & guest Brian (Blayin) Bomberry @ The Boathouse, 97 Jubilee Drive, Kitchener

*9-1> jam @ Ivy Arms Pub, 201 Main Street East, Milton

*10-2> open mic with Nathan Coles @ Jimmy Jazz, 52 Macdonnell St., Guelph

705

3> Bluegrass Menagerie feat. Mathew Fines @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

8-12> Peace Sand Rest; Whitney Paget; Talking In Our Sleep; Scott Somerville @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St., W., Peterborough ~original Roots/Pop

905 EAST

*3-6> Chris Stapley & Earl Johnson @ Ridges Pub, 776 Liverpool Rd., Pickering ~acoustic Blues/Rock

*3:30-7:30> Jon McCann & JD Bass host jam @ West Shore, 893 Bayly Ave., Pickering

4> Doug Dale @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

6-10> open jam with Juggernaut @ The Edge Lounge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax

*7> Gibran & Matt “Smokey” Wildfong @ Harwood Blues, 7 Harwood Ave., Ajax ~Blues

*8:30-12:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Pearson Pub, 101 Mary St. W. Whitby

*10> Another Round @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

905 NORTH

**1-3> Joe & Frank with guest performer @ Lake Simcoe Arms, 21089 Dalton Rd., Jackson’s Point ~Jazz

*1:30-4:30> Blaine Burnie, Mark Thackway & friends @ Coach House Pub, 3 Felcher Boulevard, Stouffville ~acoustic Roots

3-4:30> York Region String Quartet @ Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St., Richmond Hill ~new & Classical music; $22

*3-7> open stage with Kevin Ker @ The Earl Of Whitchurch, 6204 Main St., Stouffville

*3-7> Daniel Davies Band hosts jam @ C.J. Barley’s, 213 The Queensway South, Keswick

*4-8> open mic with backline & keys @ Yogi’s Bar, 1285 Elgin Mills Rd. E., Richmond Hill

*5:30-9:30> open jam with host band Faces For Radio & guest @ Crown and Anchor Pub, 389 Main St. N., Brampton

*6-9:30> The Andy Earle Trio @ Big Daddy’s Newmarket, 446 Davis Drive, Newmarket ~Blues

*8> acoustic open mic with Kat Vhonda @ Wild Wing North Newmarket, 340 Eagle Street, Newmarket

905 SOUTH

*3> Brother Tom hosts kitchen party jam @ Rebel’s Rock, 537 King St. E., Hamilton

7> DirtFight; Idiot Brother; Smile Case @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~indie; $

*7:30-11:30> open jam hosted by Troy Harmer & The Persuaders @ The Brown Barrel, 1515 Upper Ottawa St., Hamilton

905 WEST

**2-6> Country matinee with host Colin Connors and guest tba @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington ~Country

*3-6> Chris Partland @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga ~Pop Rock

3-8> Salsa band @ The Franklin House, 263 Queen St. S., Streetsville ~Latin

*4-7> Glenn Groves @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington ~Country

*4:30-8> Chuck Jackson’s All Stars @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues

**5:30-8:30> The Stew @ Mulligan’s, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~R&B/Rock

**7-11> The Nomads @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

*8> open mic night with house band featuring Mike Shotton, Tim & Dave Johns @ Black Swan Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

*9-1> Nolan Hubbard @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~$

*10:30> Adam Cooke & The Adams Family @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington

-Copyright © 2017 by Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon,ca. All Rights Reserved