\ TO EAST \

An ardently soulful human being in life as well as exhibiting those qualities in her art, as we described earlier this year, Folk-Pop songwriter Bri-Anne Swan has a deep, questing nature that comes through in not only her own compositions, but also in her selection of tunes by other artists that she occasionally performs as covers.

Although strong in her own religious convictions and coming from a different faith than the late Leonard Cohen, I have no hesitation in asserting, even though she’s never said this directly, that she is nevertheless drawn to the spiritual qualities in his music and to the passion which he always brought to searching for and finding both truth and love.

I’ve heard Swan’s take on his “Hallelujah” —both live and as a track on one of her albums.  And knowing also that this afternoon she’ll be performing a couple of sets of Cohen covers for a community festival in Leslieville, I am completely reassured that my perception is totally correct.

Anyone who knows Bri-anne won’t take issue with my characterization of her as an artist whose vision is infused by love of life, humanity and nature, and whose quest is to make the world a brighter, safer, more joyous place to be.  She started out singing in churches 15 years ago, and still does concerts for her faith-based community.  That same commitment to finding a higher path also comes through on all her own songs and albums, about which we’ve written previously.

Likely, as was I, affected profoundly by the recent passing of Cohen, an icon of honesty, integrity and —even if it’s adumbrated to some by the stark darkness of some of his words— courage and hope, Swan will, I have no doubt, pour out her own puissant inner self for this show.  Part of her charm is that she does everything fully in the moment, a true champion of commitment to being the very best person that she can be, and all that energy and passion has always been included in every of the many performance of hers I’ve seen.

There’s no cover for this show, which takes place in a room I’ve never heard of, Any Direct Flight, a “clothing and coffee” shop at 1382 Queen St. E. —which Google says is just east of Greenwood— from 2-5 pm as part of the Leslieville area’s “Wanderlust” community/business celebration event going on all day.

That little local neighourhood festival, btw, also includes another free live music performance which I can also highly recommend.   Enzo and the Surf Riders, about whose dynamic, captivating live instrumental Surf Rock experience I’ve told you a couple of times, most recently earlier this month, is simultaneously up the street a bit in Mercury Espresso Bar, 915 Queen St. E. a block west of Carlaw Avenue.  If you need to lift anchor from the weights and cargoes of everyday concerns in order to reflect on the wider, broader way of things, catching a wave with this exciting group, I’ve found, helps to do just that.

The currents of life keep cresting, troughing and rolling on, no matter what our personal concerns, cares, worries or woes, and we can do worse than to look for salvation from art that expresses deep inner longings and the timeless rhythms of existence in all its manifestations.  If you’re feeling at all spiritual today, a passionate peregrination to either or both of these shows might be just the way to explore and grow that dimension.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Sunday, November 20, 2021

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> tba for Jewish brunch buffet @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

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

3-5> Alaniaris @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

3:30-6:30> Dr. Nich & The Rollercoasters @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

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

4-8> open jam on theme of Dylan & The Band @ Hard Rock Café, 279 Yonge St., TO

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

4:30-7:30> Ilana Waldston @ The Local Gest, 424 Parliament St., TO ~Jazz

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

5> Monk’s Music @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

6-7:30> Arinea Hermans & Melanie Paiment @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jason Robert Brown songs; $10/pwyc

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

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

7-9:30> Tom Reynolds Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

7-9:30> Simone Morris Trio @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $15

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

7> Jack Marks and his Lost Wages @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Country/Rockabilly

7:30> Diane Roblin & guests @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8-12> Fresh Money ep release for Real Ones with guests Chris Castello; x Wavey; more @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $20

8> Ernesto Martinez @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8-12> Michael Coughlan @ Wolf Like Me, 834 Bloor St. W., TO ~Country/old-time

8> Blue Room 20^th anniversary celebration @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

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

8-9:30>Amelia Welcher & Moulan Bourke @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz/Pop/indie?; $10/pwyc

*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; no cover

8:30> Micro-Ritmia Ensemble; Taktus; Ben Grossman @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~original art-Folk; $15

9:30> Gregg Stafford Group Stomp @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~New Orleans style Jazz; $

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

10> Steve Ward presents @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

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

**10> Blues jam @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

416 – TORONTO EAST

11am-2pm> Dave Martin for Jazz brunch @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO East ~Jazz; no cover

2-5> Enzo and the Surf Riders for “Leslieville Wanderlust” @ Mercury Espresso Bar, 915 Queen St. E., TO East ~original & cover Surf Rock; no cover

2-5> Bri-anne Swan for “Leslieville Wanderlust” @ Any Direct Flight, 1382 Queen St. E., TO East ~Leonard Cohen covers; no cover

**2-5> Ryley Murray & Brendan Mitchell @ Morgan’s, 1282 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

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

4> The Wanted @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

*4:30-8:30> jam with William Miller & Friends @ Black Bear Pub, 1125 O’Connor Drive, TO East

5-8> Julie Long & Friends feat. The Soul Maitre D’s & more @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz/Pop covers & originals; no cover

7-11> Sam Taylor and the East End Love @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave, TO East ~original & cover Blues; no cover

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

9> Watch This Sound @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~vintage Jamaican music

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

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

5-9> Freedom Train @ 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

*7-11> open jam @ 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

3> Dirty Dishes @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~vintage Nashville Country fem trio; $15

3-5> Shoshana Telner @ Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Ave., TO West ~Pop/Classical piano; $20

*4-8> Blues/Rock jam with Cody @ The Cat, 3513 Dundas St. W., TO West

**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 duo

5-8 Rob Thaller & Joanna Reynolds Duo @ 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; no cover

6> Alex Lakusta/Josh Smiley @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~Jazz; pwyc

8:30> Joanna Chapman-Smith album release for Elon # The City of Stone @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~songwriter; $22.50

8:30> Dylan Menzie; Brad Fillatre; Camille Dlean @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~East Coast songwriter; $10

8:30> Ms. Lomax @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~Jazz; pwyc

9-1> Brian De Lima band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> Finished; Plasmalab; Tinnitustimulus; Protruders @ Smiling Buddha Stage 1, 961 College St., TO West ~indie

9> Her Majesty The King; By The Blood; KOZEN; Lights In The Valley @ Smiling Buddha Stage 2, 961 College St., TO West ~indie

9> Astrosurf @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Cowboy Surf Rock

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

519

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

7-11> Craig Cardiff @ Dstrct, 10 Wyndham St. N., Guelph ~$20

9> Campfire Session hosted by Mark Rodford & Greg Denton @ The Cornerstone, 1 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

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

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

10> Kazoo! #241; Tasseomancy; Ferne @ E-Bar, 41 Quebec St. Guelph ~indie; $10

705

3> Brian Haddelsey @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

5> Graham Scott Fleming ep release for ‘Young Wild and Free’ @ The Ranch, 56 Bayfield St., Barrie ~original Country; $20

6:30-9:30> Joe Huron Trio with guest tba @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood ~Jazz

905 EAST

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

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

9> Colin & Bruce @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Jazz

*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

*3-7> 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

2-6> Bay City Blues Band & guest Rick Taylor @ Bay City Music Hall, 50 Leander Drive, Hamilton ~Blues; $7

3> Ceilidh @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton ~Celtic song & dance

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

905 WEST

**2-6> Country matinee with host Colin Connors and guests The Renegade Riders @ 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

6:30-9> The Kids Are Allright youth jam @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville

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

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

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

*9-1> Kevin Reid & Derek Lathrop @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~$

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

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