What's on in the 'Shwa - March 20 to 26

By Will McGuirk

Happy to welcome home this week my old pal Rory Taillion. Rory is opening for Billy Raffoul at the Biltmore Theatre Thursday, March 23, along with local sound sensation Haddix. Rory is based now in Ottawa, and he is back on the road after the shutdowns. He is a classically trained rock ‘n roller who counts Tom Waits and Dan Mangan among his influences. And, of course, his parents, too, for naming him Rory after the greatest guitarist of them all, the Irishman Rory Gallagher, and with that over your head, you’ve no choice but to be great.

Read more at the Oshawa Tourism blog here ->

An interview with John Lunman, director of 'WROL', open Mar 24 at DSP

By Joe Szek

Professional and community theatres have been returning and continue to move forward with a passion. With an abundance of the art form here in Durham and Toronto, why should audiences make their way to the Durham Shoestring Performers and see WROL?

John describes it as a ‘fun’ play with interesting characters but there’s more to it:

“WROL is a bit of an adventure story, but it’s also about what we’re doing to our own kids. With all the doom scrolling that’s going on, how does one go on in a world where tomorrow might or could be the end? Are we giving our children hope or are we sending an alternative message?”

Read more here at Our Theatre Voice ->

What's on in the 'Shwa - March 13 to 19

By Will McGuirk

Ah, the week of the Spring Equinox when thoughts turn towards the sunny days and the greening of the earth or is that St. Patrick’s Day I am thinking of? Nevertheless, lots to look forward to as evenings lengthen and the earth breaks free of its crusty coat of ice and salt.

Deserves a song, a big song, perhaps a song of the Earth, Gustave Mahler’s ‘Das Lied von der Erde.’ which will be part of the Ontario Philharmonic’s presentation Saturday, March 18, at the Regent Theatre. Internationally acclaimed tenor Mexican-born César Delgado and British-Canadian baritone Alexander Dobson‍ will feature.

Read more at the Oshawa Tourism blog here ->

Rock n' Roll History at the Atria in Oshawa

By Will McGuirk

For decades through the ups and downs of the Downtown, The Atria Bar and Grill has been a stalwart of Oshawa’s music scene. For over 40 years, the Atria has been the go-to home for punk, metal, and alternative acts and for locals looking to get a start on their big dreams.

“We focus on any type of music, we have a stage, and if you want to perform, we're here for you,” says Dino Iezzi, son of original owner Art, who worked his way up in the family business first as a dishwasher, then a cook, then a bartender, and now owner/promoter.

Read more at Oshawa Tourism blog here ->

A Big Time at the Wee Pub in Oshawa

By Will McGuirk

It's the city’s best-kept secret, but ah, well, it’s out now. On the southeast corner of Wilson and Olive, 361 Wilson Road South, to be exact, is the small-of-foot, but big-of-heart, Wee Pub. It is a Britishy - Irishy style public house with a bar along one side of the L-shaped room and, round the corner at the back end, a small stage. Tellies are present for sports viewing but are on mute. There is a wee bit of piped-in music, but this bar, like the best Britishy - Irishy bars, is built for conversation.

Read more at the Oshawa Tourism blog here ->