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You are here: Home / Archives for Recreation / Concerts

Cat Stevens is finally back on the road after 30 years

November 15, 2009 by Chris

Cat Stevens is going back out on the road after 30 long years of obscurity! I wonder what kind of groups will be following him? Ah, I know that was a bad one! I just love the man’s songs.

Scottie, Myro is what we called him amongst other names, was the one who taught me some of his songs. They were simple to play but much more fun to listen to. I always thought that both of us would get a chance to see this legendary folk guitarist/song writer perform together. Myro if your reading this post, if I win the lottery we’re there brother!

Singer-songwriter Yusuf Islam, known as Cat Stevens in the 1970s, takes the stage in Dublin on Sunday, the first performance of his first full tour since 1976.

Born Steven Demetre Georgiou in London, the folk legend disappeared from the music scene after he converted to Islam in 1977 at the height of his popularity.

He began making sporadic stage appearances in recent years. In 2006, he recorded a new album, An Other Cup, following it with Roadsinger this year.

Now 61, Islam is going back on the road with his Guess I’ll Take My Time tour.

He told the Irish Times that he hopes his old fans will turn out for these concerts.

“A lot of people might have thought — because of the way that my image per se had changed throughout the media — that my actual persona would change as well. But, in fact, you never really stop being yourself, you know,” he said.

Islam opens in Dublin’s O2 Arena on Nov. 15. Then he’s at Birmingham’s NIA the following Monday, Nov. 23, Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Dec. 5 and London’s Royal Albert Hall on Dec. 8.

No dates have been confirmed for appearances in Canada, the U.S. or other countries. CBC News

Keep on Jammin’ Yusuf Islam




Filed Under: Concerts, Entertainment, Musicians, Playing Styles, Recreation Tagged With: 30 years off, Acoustic, cat stevens, folk, guitarist, strumming, Yusuf Islam

Winterfolk 2010

November 4, 2009 by Chris

Winterfolk is a blues/folk festival that is held in Toronto’s east end that runs from February 12 -15, 2010. It is held in The Danforth Ave area in a couple of locations. It will be held at five or more clubs at the corner of Danforth and Broadview in Toronto, all within close walking distance of the subway.

What is Winterfolk? Well check out the link and view the video below for more details!

Last year’s festival was a big hit in the neighbourhood.

The bands were fabulous and the venues owners were quite happy with the turnout. The price for admission is very realistic for the amount of entertainment value that you will get in return. Besides, what else are you going to do in the dead of winter anyway?

If your an band looking to maybe partake in this annual Festival, there will be a few audition locations around southern Ontario in which to try out. for more info check out this link!

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Concerts, Entertainment, Great Bands, Music, Musicians, Recreation, Toronto, Video Tagged With: 2010, A Better World, Black Swan, blues music, broadview ave., danforth ave, danforth bars, Dora Keogh, events, February 12 – 15, festival, folk music, Mambo Lounge, music-festival, The Association of Artists for A Better World, things to do, Toronto, toronto festival, toronto music festival 2010, Willow Restaurant

Morrissey’s health scare onstage

October 25, 2009 by Chris

Steven Patrick Morrissey, the 50 year old ex-lead singer from the Smiths, was rushed to a British hospital around 9pm last night in the middle of performing a show at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon.

The 1000 audience members were taking in the Smith’s 1983 classic tune This Charming Man when his medical episode took place. He reportedly fell onto the stage, unconscious and was gingerly carried off by the stage crew.

Some at the show said he was looking strained and wincing while performing. Morrissey, who just happens to be doing a world tour, has already canceled a number of events this year due to an “unspecified illness”.

He was taken off to the nearby Great Western Hospital and there is still no word yet on his condition.

God speed in his recovery.

Keep on Jammin’


Filed Under: Concerts, Entertainment, Great Bands, Music, Video Tagged With: Great Western Hospital, Morrissey, morrissey collapses on stage, Music, musician, Oasis Leisure Centre, singer, Steven Patrick Morrissey, the Smiths, This Charming Man

Warming up for the Next Who Tour

October 12, 2009 by Chris

Roger Daltrey is starting to limber up his stage persona and vocal act for the up coming Who Tour. The warm up gig for Roger, it is called the Use It or Lose It tour, started off in Vancouver at the Commodore on Sunday Oct. 11th, 2009. The 1920s Art Deco building is where a lot of British band like to play because of it’s look and the vibe that the venue has.

He was playing with his American band which includes his longtime collaborator Simon Townshend. Yes his brother is none other then Pete! They played 17 tunes and then performed 2 more for an encore. The show lasted around 1 hour and 40 minutes in length.

I’ve read that a couple of patrons were not all that impressed with the quality of the music but come on, it’s just a warm up! An interesting side note from some people at the show said that he has some reservations about the sound calling it weird and having a echo worst then a stadium. Hum, you’d think that he would be use to that stadium sound after all those years playing gigs in those places.

During the show he pulled something that I do when I’m playing for friends … he forgot the words to a song, Days of Light, stopped the band and then started back up again! See Sue, Roger Daltrey does that too when he plays!

Keep on Jammin’ (and try not to forget the words 1/2 way through a song and then start over again!)

Filed Under: Concerts, Entertainment, Great Bands, Music, Musicians, Video Tagged With: American band, Roger Daltrey, Simon Townshend, the Commodore, Use It or Lose It tour

NUANCE Soundscape Sundays

October 4, 2009 by Chris

Hole shit it’s that time again kidz and I just about forgot! Tonight is NUANCE Soundscape Sundays!
It’s a celebration of everything progressive and art rock all in one location and at the fabulous price of $5 admission!

For more info. please go to the NUANCE Soundscape Sundays site for further info.! Hope to see ya there! Wilton, I hope to see ya …

Keep on Jammin’ Wilton and friends!!!

Filed Under: Concerts, Entertainment, Great Bands, Music, Musicians, Recreation, Toronto Bands Tagged With: art rick, art rock concerts, Concerts, festival, festivals, Progressive Rock, progressive rock concerts, things to do in toronto, toronto concerts, toronto festivals

Montreal’s Peace Love and Bongo Festival

October 4, 2009 by Chris

The name of this popular local tourist festival is known as Tam Tams. This event, that is held in Montreal’s Mont Royal Park, is a Sunday afternoon tradition that originated way back in the late 70’s or early 80’s, no one is quite sure.

It is a gathering of people who just want to hang out and have a good time playing music on hand held drums (Tam tam’s or Bongo’s).

My cousin’s husband just came back from Montreal this past weekend and told me of this great event that he just witnessed. To be honest with you, it sounds like freakin’ blast!

Imagine people hanging out playing music with that communal living feel to the gathering. Very young, old and anything in between sharing a peaceful afternoon or should I say vibe.

Tam Tams Montreal: A Mont Royal Tradition
Urban lore has it Montreal’s Tam Tams, named after the French word for hand drums like the bongo or djembe, started in the 80s, maybe late 70s, it depends on the source. According to writer Susan Krashinsky, it began with an African drumming workshop. For a change of pace, students convened in Jeanne-Mance Park on Mont Royal, beside the angel statue. Eventually, non-drummers joined in, dancing along with the ever changing beats until it became Tam Tams, Montreal’s Sunday tradition in the park. By 1994, the city of Montreal took charge of maintenance, security and marketplace permits.

Has anyone out there been to this gathering of the minds?

Keep on Jammin’ (or in this case Tam, Taming!)

Filed Under: Canadian, Concerts, Culture, Entertainment, Recreation, Video Tagged With: african, african drumming, angel statue, attractions, bongo, bongo festival, djembe, drum, drumming, drumming workshop, hand drums, Jeanne-Mance park, mont royal, mont royal park, montreal, montreal festival, Peace, quebec, quebec festival, sunday tradition, tam tam, tam tam festival

The Danforth Music Hall is 90 years young

August 31, 2009 by Chris

The Danforth Music Hall in Toronto has just celebrated it’s 90th year of operations in my neighbourhood. It’s one of those great buildings that you drive by every day, but are not aware of it’s importance to the area. It’s seen it’s ups and downs over the years and now it’s time to place it in it’s proper place in history!

Originally this great gal on the Danforth was called the Allen Theatre Chain. Back in the day they referred to it as a grand “photo-play palace.” The Theatre chain was owed by Julie and John J. Allen.

This grand venue was home to both Vaudeville and theatrical acts as well as silent movies, which were accompanied by live piano. It has a single screen, holds multiple types of events, has 1800 seats and has been use in many movie scenes. To name just a few of the feature films shot there were Chicago, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, (Studio) 54, Bulletproof Monk and some scenes of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Their first theatre was in Brantford Ontario. In 1920 Julie and John J. Allen returned to Brantford and bought the now Sanderson Centre. After remodeling and redecorating it was opened on February 2, 1920 as the Allen Theatre.

Then the location changed hands in about 1929 and was called Century Theatre. They kept the inside and outside look of the building pretty much as the original.

Some of the past acts that performed at the historic Danforth Theatre & Concert Hall in the 80s and 90s were The Police, Bruce Cockburn, James Brown, Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, Tom Waits, Barenaked Ladies, The Tea Party and Blue Rodeo just to name a few.

I’ve only witnessed two events there, Amos Lee and Rick Wakeman. Both shows were great, the sound was beautiful, the hall itself was majestic and the seats were GREAT!

So here is to the old Danforth Music Hall and many more years to come!

Keep on jammin’

Filed Under: Canadian, Concerts, Culture, Entertainment, History, Music, Musicians, Recreation, Rock History, Toronto Tagged With: Allen theatre, allens, amos lee, bands, Barenaked Ladies, Blue Rodeo, Brantford, brantford theatre, Bruce Cockburn, Bullet proof monk, Chicago, concert hall, Danforth Music Hall, Duran, film scenes, historic building, how to lose a guy in 10 days, James Brown, julie and john allen, movies, music hall, Musicians, my big fat greek wedding, old theatres, ontario heritage act, Pat Benatar, photo-play palace, Rick Wakeman, Studio 54, The Police, The Tea Party, Tom Waits, toronto vintage theatres, vintage theatres

A Tribute to Neil Young

August 19, 2009 by Chris

There was a tribute show celebrating the musical life of Neil Young that was tied into this years Luminato 2009 Festival in Toronto. The line up was fabulous and tickets were gone in no time at all! Man, I wish I was one of those lucky one!

Relive a milestone in Canadian music history.

On January 19, 1971, Canada’s legendary singer-songwriter Neil Young gave a solo concert at Toronto’s Massey Hall. Audiences there heard for the first time several of the iconic songs that would later appear on his albums, including his best-selling LP Harvest – yet the live concert recording itself wasn’t released until 2007.

I was so pissed that I didn’t get any that I put the show out of my mind. Then today I came across this site, with complete audio of the show! It was just out of the blue that I found it and i just wanted to share it with all those Neil Young fans out there. Even the lucky bastards that went to the show!

“There is in Young so much talent and so much quiet charm that he’s bound to stick around for a long time, maturing and writing and rewarding his audiences.” Jack Batten, Globe and Mail, Massey Hall concert review, January 20, 1971.

Listening to Colin James do Heart of Gold was great! He did it in a reggae format, very different. Steve Page, ex-Bare Naked Ladies front man, did his first public appearance at the tribute, since his arrest in Buffalo. He performed Journey through the Past. Sister Euclid did a cool version of Helpless. As a matter of fact, I was in downtown Toronto when we attempted to break the record for most guitarist in an ensemble playing that very song! They called it “The Great Canadian Tune!”.

So check it out, you might just find some neat new versions of an out classic there.

Neil Young just Keeps on Jammin’

Filed Under: Canadian, Concerts, Culture, Musical influences, Musicians, Recreation, Toronto, Toronto Bands Tagged With: live at massey hall, Luminato 2009 Festival, neil young, neil young live at massey hall, tribute show, tribute show to neil young

The band Peeler is coming to Toronto Aug. 21-22/09

August 10, 2009 by Chris

I first ran into Craig when he was doing a solo gig way back in Oct. 2007 at the Arlington Hotel’s Capron’s Cavern, in Paris Ontario. The occasion was a good friends 50th birthday party. Some how my buddies wife got a hold of him and he played there that night for the event. I brought along my guitar and they wanted me to play a couple of songs, so why not get up and play!

Anyway, playing that night Craig and I did a few tunes together and it was just the perfect little gig! We both connected flawlessly and it was brilliant. I know Craig, I’m still trying to get that night’s video that was taken!
In all honesty Craig, I was drawn to your Vox Tonelab LE system! I did a couple of small set’s throughout the night to give the man a break.

This modern rocker’s bio is neat to read! His style is straight forward and he doesn’t disappoint! To get a good idea of his musical format, his interview at the NOW lounge is a nice example of the guitarist background and where he is going.

So I just want to bring Peeler into your musical experience for those unlucky ones who have not been exposed to playing. So come on out to see this guys show at Casey’s, 123 Front St W, in Toronto Aug. 21-22 to see what I mean! I know I’ll be there! I’ll be the guy with the oversize BIC lighter waving in the air.

Keep on Jammin’ Peeler!

Filed Under: Concerts, Entertainment, Great Bands, Music, Playing Styles, Recreation Tagged With: august 21 2009, august 22 2009, casey's 123 front street west toronto, concert, Concerts, Craig_Peeler, NOW, Peeler, peeler.ca, things to do in toronto

The Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival was a blast!

July 26, 2009 by Chris

My wife and I went to the 21st Annual Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival and we just fell in love with this event! Imagine, 2 km of closed street with 50, yes you read that correctly, 50 bands playing on street! They were at just about every other corner. Each band that night played 3 sets from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. They all staggered their performances so as not to drown out each other.

It really was a magical night! We quickly found some parking, walked along the boardwalk and got to the beginning of the street fest faster then I thought we would.

We were first greeted by the sounds of a jazz fusion band with this fabulous violinist graciously blasting out solo with all he had! Then came the smell of the Beaches Festival, the FOOD! Note: if you plan to attend next years event, GO HUNGRY. Too many types of food to mention in this post.

The atmosphere was really electrifying. The relaxing buzz, that seemed to be coming from everywhere, was quite family friendly. Kidz, dogs and everything in between where out there last night. There weren’t all that many people walking around at first, but that certainly changed 2 hours later.

The styles were very diverse. We first witnessed a fusion band, then a Dixie land band, followed by Salsa/flamenco guitar players, a BIG BAND (all were really tight) then a blues band. The organizers were trying to highlight Big Band’s, Swing, Dixieland, Smooth, Post-Bop, Afro-Cuban, Fusion, Funk, R&B and Soul sounds. Wow, is to put it lightly.

This video captures the sounds of this band correctly. The Visual well …

At the end of the night the band we both found the most intriguing was a band called Project Phoenix. We were so impressed that we bought one of their CD’s titled Milestone. Go and listen to the song called “Jump for it” on their site. It was the last song they played last night and it was purely brilliant!

So if you love any of the styles that the Beaches Jazz Festival provides us at their event, then this is a must see for next year! See ya then!

Beaches Jazz Festival, Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Concerts, Culture, Entertainment, Great Bands, Playing Styles, Recreation, Toronto, Toronto Bands Tagged With: Afro_Cuban_bands, beaches, Big_Band's, Dixie_land_Bands, Fusion_Bands, music_festival, Post_Bop_bands, Project_Phoenix, Project_Phoenix_bands, R&B_bands, Smooth_bands, Soul_bands, Swing, The_Beach, Toronto, Toronto_bands, Toronto_Beaches, Toronto_Beaches_Jazz_Festival, Toronto_Beaches_Jazz_Festival_2009, toronto_festivals, toronto_music_festival

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