By Will McGuirk
Ichi-Bons at the Dakota Tavern Friday Aug 5 2022. Tickets here
Gigs This Week: The Drifts, Kicksie, Nerima at the Horseshoe Tavern
By Will McGuirk
The Drifts, Kicksie, Nerima at the Horseshoe Tavern Saturday Aug 6. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Fleet Foxes at Massey Hall
By Will McGuirk
Fleet Foxes at Massey Hall Saturday Aug 6, Sunday Aug 7 2022. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: the Manvils, Excuses Excuses at the Horseshoe Tavern
By Will McGuirk
The Manvils, with special guests 2022 OMAs nominees Excuses Excuses at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Friday July 22 2022. Tickets here.
Hillside Festival 2022 Artwork by C.M. Duffy
Gigs This Week: Hillside in Guelph Friday July 22 thru Sunday July 24
By Will McGuirk
Where do we even begin, except to begin I guess at the beginning which for me is Hillside. Everything I have learnt about sustainable community building I have learned at Hillside; from the Shwaltz thru to the Vault to Kops shows. Hillside is the most worldly of the local fests. It just gets it so right. Hillside is on an island in a lake in a conservation area. Like all island based folk the community has learned growth is not outwards but inwards. Thats its key and its glory. For the past two years we have had to look a lot closer to home for what we need. And even though restrictions are for the most part lifted its still not such a bad idea to stay within your community. For many reasons I consider Guelph to be part of my circle so I will be making the trip and looking forward to connecting again with like-minded folks for a few days. Gonna be lovely lovely lovely.
Interestingly this year the organisers have gone with a strong line-up of mostly single performers; singer/songwriters who have the impact of a band but a smaller footprint. Alison and Dan Mangan are on Friday; Aoife O’Donovan, Bahamas, Cadence Weapon, Kinnie Starr, Shane Koyczan and the Short Story Long, and Tami Neilson perform on the Saturday and Sunday has Danny Michel, Donovan Woods, and Le Ren. Our pal Tania Joy is also making her Hillside debut. Whoot!
There are of course bands including Cancon supergroup the Anyway Gang, Cobourg punks Cleopatrick, Ombiigizi, Habibi, I the Mountain (Oshawa represent!) and Texas King.
Gigs This Week: River and Sky in Field, Thursday Jul 21 - Sunday July 24
By Will McGuirk
So happy to see River & Sky up again after the Covid cancelations. I’ve been lucky enough to have been invited to the very intimate gathering in Field, just north of Sturgeon Falls in north Ontario, for many years, long enough for it to now become a family affair.
And I do love it. The setting on the bow of a river is just about perfect. Add in a natural beach and perfect becomes paradise among the pines.
The music belies the setting however as adventurous booking has seen Altin Gun, Antibalas, and Mdou Moctor all perform, as well as Metz, and the Sadies.
This year has another great line-up; Austra, Dilly Dally, Pink Mountaintops, OMBIGIIZI, Frankie and the Witch, Wine Lips, Casper Skulls, summersets, Yves Jarvis, and our pals in Beams.
Camping, trailers, RVs are accommodated and children under 14 are free with family, like you can’t just drop them and bug off for four days, just saying :)
Unfortunately my three fave fests are all on the same weekend in 2022 so its a tough pick but I will be passing on R&S this year but if you can make it you most definitely should, it really is the most wonderful balm. Thank you R&S, see you next year, fingers and toes crossed.
Source: Springtide Music Festival
Gigs This Week: Springtide Music Fest in Uxbridge runs July 21, 22, 23
By Will McGuirk
At the core of Springtide, a music festival which runs July 21 to 23 in the Township of Uxbridge, is a community; an arts and music community which, with this annual festival, celebrates first and foremost its local voices using intimate, locally owned venues throughout the downtown. Restaurants, pubs, parks, sidewalks, the Music Hall, and even a bookstore, will host events at this family-friendly festival.
Springtide Music Festival will welcome Bedouin Soundclash after a ten-year hiatus. The Indie rock reggae outfit are on the road again, creating new tunes and making a stop at the opening celebrations at Uxbridge Music Hall on Thursday, July 21, along with two-time Juno award nominee, Julian Taylor, and two-time Oshawa Music Award winner, Tania Joy.
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Mike Boguski, Jean-Michel Blais, Zoon, Zada, She and Him, Rachel Bobbitt, Dawes, Whitehorse, and Sorry,
By Will McGuirk
“There is something alluring to me about checking the power of ego and tribalism, and as an artist, that is what I’m most inspired to do.” - Mike Boguski
“At the antipodes of the exploded, orchestral and luminous album that aubades represents exists its antagonism: sérénades” - Jean-Michel Blais
“I wanted to write about what it's like to be an immigrant…and for me – coming from Ethiopia – that meant excessive TSA checks, accustoming to new cultures, and travelling,” - ZADA
“Watch and See is a song about attempting to connect through moments of dissociation. Trying to use bits of phrases, visual landmarks & physical sensations to bring myself back to the present moment.” - Rachel Bobbitt
At the Drake Hotel. Toronto Aug 9 2022
at the Hayloft, Picton, ON, August 5 2022
Gigs This Week: OMA5 Troubadour Series at the Biltmore Theatre
By Will McGuirk
The Troubadour Series comes to an end with Week 6: The OMAs Nominees Night
Featuring 2022 Oshawa Music Award Nominees in the "Best Emerging Artist" category: Anthony Brown, Cameron Tania and Delon Om as well as past OMA Winner Nathan Carr with the Nathan Carr Band.
Gigs This Week: Zaftig at the Biltmore Theatre
By Will McGuirk
2020 OMA Emerging artist Zaftig at the Biltmore Theatre Friday July 15 2022. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Susan O'Neill at the Dakota Tavern
By Will McGuirk
Susan O'Neill at the Dakota Tavern Thursday July 14 2022. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Teenage Bottlerocket at the Horseshoe Tavern
By Will McGuirk
Teenage Bottlerocket at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Saturday July 16 2022. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Beach House at Massey Hall
By Will McGuirk
Beach House at Massey Hall Friday July 16 2022. Tickets here.