ORI DAGAN,
ORI DAGAN, @JAZZINTORONTO BSMT 254 254 Lansdowne Ave. 416-801-6325 bsmt254.com @bsmt254toronto A cozy music venue with an underground vibe, BSMT 254 has a wide variety of shows, from jazz to hip-hop to DJ nights. Bluebird Bar, The 2072 Dundas St. W. 416-535-0777 bluebirdbarto.com @thebluebirdto A friendly spot for drinks and local beers, featuring live music every Thursday including jazz, folk, blues and country. Burdock 1184 Bloor St. W. 416-546-4033 burdockto.com @burdockbrewery A sleek music hall with exceptional sound and ambience, featuring a draft list of housemade brews. Cameron House, The 408 Queen St. W. 416-703-0811 thecameron.com @the.cameronhouse An intimate, bohemian bar with ceiling murals & nightly performances from local roots acts on 2 stages. Castro’s Lounge 2116 Queen St. E. 416-699-8272 castroslounge.com @castroslounge Featuring an ever-changing selection of specialty beers, Castro’s hosts a variety of local live music acts, including bluegrass, jazz, rockabilly, and alt-country. C’est What 67 Front St. E. 416-867-9499 cestwhat.com @cestwhatto A haven for those who appreciate real cask ale, draught beer from local Ontario breweries, and live music. Communist’s Daughter, The 1149 Dundas Street W. @thecommunistsdaughtertoronto Beloved intimate dive bar with live music on Saturday and Sunday afternoons MAINLY CLUBS Few spaces in the city are as community-oriented as The Tranzac - an art hub dedicated to artistry, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. One of the venue's spaces, the Southern Cross Lounge, is home to a variety of monthly residencies, enabling Toronto artists to explore curation, presentation and collaboration. Pictured here: bassist Jonathan Meyer and guitarists Roberto Rosenman (l.) and Chris Bezant (r.); Bezant currently hosts a Django Reinhart-inspired evening, the third Thursday of each month starting at 9:30pm. Admission is PWYC, and the music is priceless. Drom Taberna 458 Queen St. W. 647-748-2099 dromtaberna.com @dromtaberna A heartfelt homage to the lands that stretch from the Baltic to the Balkans to the Black Sea, with a wide variety of music 7 nights a week. Duke Live, The 1225 Queen Street East. 416-466-2624 theduketoronto.com @theduketoronto. com_ An assuming destination with casual pub fare with live music including a big band series on Sundays. Emmet Ray, The 924 College St. 416-792-4497 theemmetray.com @theemmetray A whisky bar with a great food menu, an everchanging draft list, and live jazz, funk, folk and more in the back room; live music 7 nights a week. Free Times Cafe, The 320 College St. 416-967-1078 freetimescafe.com @freetimescafeofficial Home of the world’s longest-running weekly Klezmer series, every Sunday afternoon with brunch. Function Bar + Kitchen 2291 Yonge St. 416-440-4007 functionbar.ca @functionbarto Friendly atmosphere with open mic Tuesdays & Sundays and mostly Soul and R&B on Fridays and Saturdays. Golden Pigeon Beer Hall, The 424 Parliament St. 416-392-1039 goldenpigeonbar.com @ goldenpigeonbeerhall A classic beer hall with sophisticated food offerings, Golden Pigeon features a weekly Tuesday jazz night, as well as other special events. Grossman’s Tavern 379 Spadina Ave. 416-977-7000 grossmanstavern.com @grossmanstavern One of the city’s longest-running live music venues, and Toronto’s self-described “Home of the Blues.” Handlebar 159 Augusta Ave. 647-748-7433 thehandlebar.ca @handlebar_to Ahip night spot with a variety of entertainment including open mic Tuesdays and a monthly jazz jam. Hirut Cafe and Restaurant 2050 Danforth Ave. 416-551-7560 hirutjazz.ca @hirutcafe A major destination for delicious and nutritious Ethiopian cuisine, with monthly jazz residencies and jam sessions. Hugh’s Room Live 296 Broadview Ave. 647-960-2593 hughsroomlive.com @hughsroomlive A dedicated listening room with an intimate performing space, great acoustics, and an attentive audience, Hugh’s Room recently made the move to their new permanent home on Broadview Avenue. Jazz Bistro, The 251 Victoria St. 416-363-5299 jazzbistro.ca @jazzbistroto In an historic location, Jazz Bistro features great food, a stellar wine list, and world-class jazz musicians in airy club environs. Jazz Lounge – See Old Mill, The Jazz Room, The Located in the Huether Hotel, 59 King St. N., Waterloo. 226-476-1565 kwjazzroom.com @thejazzroom A welcoming music venue dedicated to the best in jazz music presentations, and home to the Grand River Jazz Society, which presents regular series throughout the year. Jean Darlene Piano Room, The 1203 Dundas Street West. jeandarlene.ca @jeandarlenepianoroom An intoxicating atmosphere, cool cocktails and great talent including “karaoke with a live band” on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays. Linsmore Tavern, The 1298 Danforth Ave. 416-466-5130 linsmoretavern.com @linsmoretavern An old-school tavern with rock, cover bands and a weekly Sunday blues night. Local, The 396 Roncesvalles Ave 416-535-6225 @thelocaltoronto Neighbourhood bar with pub fare, local beers and live music Lula Lounge 1585 Dundas St. W. 416-588-0307 lula.ca @lulalounge Toronto’s mecca for salsa, jazz, afro-Cuban, and world music, with Latin dance classes and excellent food and drinks. Manhattans Pizza Bistro & Music Club 951 Gordon St., Guelph 519-767-2440 manhattans.ca @manhattans_guelph An independently owned neighbourhood restaurant boasting a unique dining experience that features live music almost every night of the week. Mekan Toronto 817 Queen St. W. 647-901-6280 mekantoronto.com @mekantoronto A new Queen St. spot with an emphasis on lively music, good times, and Turkish culture, Mekan features world music, jazz, swing, and more. Monarch Tavern 12 Clinton St. 416-531-5833 themonarchtavern.com @monarchtavern With a café/cocktail bar on the main floor and a pub with microbrews upstairs, Monarch Tavern regularly hosts indie, rock, and other musical genres on its stage. Motel Bar 1235 Queen Street W. 416-399-4108 @motelparkdale Casual spot for drinks, laid back atmosphere and up-close live music My House in the Junction 2882 Dundas Street W. 416-604-4555 myhouseinthejunction.com @ myhouseinthejunction Unique bar, lounge, restaurant, event space and live music venue, including jazz every Friday. Noonan’s Pub 141 Danforth Ave. 416-778-1804 noonanspub.ca @noonansirishpub Traditional Irish pub with casual atmosphere and live music including swing, blues, rock and country. Old Mill, The 21 Old Mill Rd. 416-236-2641 oldmilltoronto.com @oldmilltoronto Jazz Lounge: An updated space in the Old Mill’s main dining room, the Jazz Lounge features an updated sound system, a new shareable menu, and listenable straight ahead jazz. Only Cafe, The 962 Danforth Ave. 416-463-3249 theonlycafe.com @theonlycafe A casual backroom of a friendly bar with a wide variety of music programmed including weekly jam sessions and young artist showcases.. Pamenar 307 Augusta Ave. cafepamenar.com @pamenar_km One of the city’s best third-wave coffee shops by day and bar by night, Pamenar hosts live music, DJs, comedy, and more. Pilot Tavern, The 22 Cumberland Ave. 416-923-5716 thepilot.ca @thepilot_to With over 75 years around Yonge and Bloor, the Pilot is a multi-level bar that hosts live jazz on Saturday afternoons. 34 | September 2024 thewholenote.com
Poetry Jazz Café 1078 Queen St W. 416-599-5299 poetryjazzcafe.com @poetryjazzcafe A sexy, clubby space, Poetry hosts live jazz, hip-hop, and DJs nightly on Queen St. West. Redwood Theatre, The 1300 Gerrard Street East. 647-547-4410 theredwoodtheatre.com @ theredwoodtheatre A multi-disciplinary space for music, dance, circus, comedy, theatre and more. Reposado Bar & Lounge 136 Ossington Ave. 416-532-6474 reposadobar.com @reposadobar A chic, low-light bar with top-shelf tequila, Mexican tapas, and live music. Reservoir Lounge, The 52 Wellington St. E. 416-955-0887 reservoirlounge.com @reservoirlounge Toronto’s self-professed original swingjazz bar and restaurant, located in a historic speakeasy near St. Lawrence Market, with live music four nights a week. Rev, La 2848 Dundas St. W. 416-766-0746 larev.ca @la.rev.toronto La Rev offers their guests and authentic taste of comida casera (Mexican homestyle cooking), and a welcoming performance space featuring some of Toronto’s most talented musicians. Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar, The 194 Queen St. W. 416-598-2475 therex.ca @therextoronto With over 60 shows per month of Canadian and international groups, The Rex is Toronto’s longest-running jazz club, with full bar and kitchen menu. Sauce on Danforth 1376 Danforth Ave. 647-748-1376 sauceondanforth.com @sauceondanforth With Victorian lighting, cocktails, and an extensive tap and bottle list, Sauce on Danforth has live music Tuesday through Saturday (and sometimes Sunday). Smokeshow BBQ and Brew 744 Mt. Pleasant Rd 416-901-7469 smokeshowbbqandbrew.com @ smokeshowjohn A laid-back venue with an emphasis on barbecue and beer, Smokeshow hosts cover artists and original music Thursday through Sunday, with Bachata lessons on Tuesdays and Karaoke on Wednesdays. Tapestry 224 Augusta Ave. @tapestry_to In the space formerly occupied by Poetry, Tapestry features jazz, electronic music, soul, and more. Tranzac 292 Brunswick Ave. 416-923-8137 tranzac.org @tranzac292 A community arts venue dedicated to supporting, presenting, and promoting creative and cultural activity in Toronto, with live shows in multiple rooms every day of the week. UNDATED EVENTS & ETCETERAS LIVE REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES ● A New Quartet is an emerging Toronto area ensemble that rehearses traditional repertoire and writes new music. The quartet is currently seeking saxophone players and composers. For details please visit anewquartet.net . ● The Choralairs is a non-audition, adult choir that welcomes new members in September and January. Rehearsals are on Tuesday 6:45-8-45pm at Edithvale C.C. 131 Finch Ave. W, Toronto. Please contact Elaine at choralairs.delighted.720@silomails.com to RSVP. Check out our new website at www. Choralairs.com. ● Etobicoke Community Concert Band. Full rehearsals every Wednesday night at 7:30pm. 309 Horner Ave. Open to all who are looking for a great band to join. Text Rob Hunter at 416-878-1730. ● Harmony Singers of Etobicoke. The women of The Harmony Singers survived COVID and are regrouping for 2024! If you’d like to sing an exciting repertoire of pop, jazz, folk and light classics, the group will give you a warm welcome! Rehearsals start in January on Wednesday nights from 7:15 to 9:30 p.m. at Richview United Church in Etobicoke. Contact Conductor Harvey Patterson at: theharmonysingers@ca.com or call 416-239-5821. ● New Horizons Band of Toronto. All levels from beginners to advanced for brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. Weekly classes led by professional music teachers. Loaner instrument provided to each new registrant in the beginners’ program. Visit www.newhorizonsbandtoronto.ca. ● North Toronto Community Band. Openings for drums, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, French horns. Rehearsals held at Willowdale Presbyterian Church 38 Ellerslie Ave. (just north of Mel Lastman Square). Monday evenings 7:30-9:30 pm. Contact ntcband@ gmail.com. FREE LISTINGS listings@thewholenote.com A vacation for your dog! Barker Avenue Boarding in East York call or text 416-574-5250 ● Serenata Singers. Are you free Wednesday mornings? Join the Serenata Singers, a 55-voice adult SATB community choir, ranging in age from 55 to 97, under accomplished choral director Michael Morgan. Performances will include a “Winter Cabaret” on November 30, 2024, and two annual spring concerts on May 8 & 9, 2025 along with other performances during the year at seniors’ residences. Meets at Scarborough Bluffs United Church, 3739 Kingston Rd, every Wednesday from 10:30am to 12:30pm. www. serenatasingers.ca or call Charlotte at 416- 449-4053! Come join us! ● String Orchestra TO is a new string orchestra in Toronto for amateur intermediate and advanced string players. No auditions. Our season runs from Sep 11, 2024 to May 28, 2025. Wed rehearsals: 7:15-9:15 pm at St. Barnabas Church, 361 Danforth Ave.. Visit www.sites.google.com/view/stringorchestrato/home or email us at StringOrchestraTO@gmail.com. ● Strings Attached Orchestra, North York. All string players (especially viola, cello, bass) are welcome. Mondays 7 to 9 p.m. from Sep to Jun. Email us first at info.stringsattached@gmail.com to receive music and other details or visit our website at www. stringsattachedorchestra.com for more information. ● Toronto Shape Note Singers. Sacred Harp Singing. Shape note selections from the Sacred Harp tunebook.Singing is participatory, not a performance. No experience necessary. All are welcome and there are books to borrow. Monthly on the third Wednesday from Feb 21 to Dec 8, 2024. Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave. 647-838-8764. Pay what you can. Aug 21, Sep 18, Oct 16, Nov 20 & Dec 18. ● Aug 26 7:00: Array/ECCG Gamelan. Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan Monthly Meetup. Array Space, 155 Walnut Ave. 416- 532-3019. Free. DO YOU DRIVE? Do you love The WholeNote? Share the love and earn a little money! Join our circulation team, and deliver 6 times a year. Currently seeking circulation associates for the GTA. Interested? Contact: circulation@thewholenote.com ONGOING EVENTS ● Trinity College, University of Toronto. Evensong. Traditional Anglican choral music. Trinity College Chapel Choir; Thomas Bell, director of music; Peter Bayer, organ scholar. Trinity College Chapel, University of Toronto, 6 Hoskin Ave. 416-978-2522 or Trinity College. Free. Evensong is sung every Wednesday at 5:15pm in the beautiful Trinity College chapel during term time. ● Encore Symphonic Concert Band. Monthly Concert Band Concert. The first Thursday of every month at 11am. 35-piece concert band performing band concert music, pop tunes, jazz standards (2 singers) and the occasional march. Trinity Presbyterian Church York Mills, 2737 Bayview Ave. www.encoreband.ca. . ONLINE EVENTS ● Arts@Home. A vibrant hub connecting Torontonians to arts and culture. Designed to strengthen personal and societal resilience through the arts. www.artsathome.ca. ● North Toronto Community Band. Openings for clarinet, trumpet, trombone, tuba and auxiliary percussion. Rehearsals held at Willowdale Presbyterian Church 38 Ellerslie Ave. (just north of Mel Lastman Square). Monday evenings 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Contact ntcband@gmail.com. ● Recollectiv. For anyone living with cognitive challenges from Alzheimer’s, dementia, traumatic brain injury, stroke or PTSD. The group meets weekly to rediscover the joy of making music. Community members and music students are welcome to this fun, rewarding and inter-generational experience. Sessions take place from 2 to 3pm (with sound checks and socializing at 1:30pm). No summer sessions after Jun 22. Weekly sessions resume on Sep 7. Please contact recollectiv@gmail.com for more information. BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS Economical and visible! Promote your services & products to our musically engaged readers, in print and on-line. BOOKING DEADLINE: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13 classad@thewholenote.com 15% off your 1st clean If you can read this, thank a music teacher. MosePianoForAll.com thewholenote.com September 2024 | 35
