Ben Bootsma, Matthew Maaskant, Keith Stirling and Jonathan Weverink are the boys that form qr5. They’ve got a pop indie sound that’s really upbeat yet totally mellow. The band have solidified themselves as Toronto locals. They’ve played weekly shows at College Street Bar downtown. They also sold out the first week in dowtown Toronto’s Rotate This after being featured in their listening booth. qr5 also have a proclivity for charity, having played benefit shows for non-profit organisations such as the Cambodian Land Mine Relief Fund and Artists Against War. We’ll be keeping you updated about their upcoming shows and albums. Until then, you can buy their latest album Pharmakon here. The album costs $12 plus $2 for shipping.
Tag Archive for 'Toronto'
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The Break Down started back in September of 2007 when they first jammed at the Thornhill Village Festival near Toronto. In the beginning, the band consisted of drummer Jay Sussman, bassist Richard Itzkovtich and signers Jay Jones and Lilly Mason. A year and change later they were joined by Demitri Petsalakis and several shows after that Alan Zemaitis came along on keyboard. The Break Down usually perform around Toronto and we’ll be sure to update you about their upcoming shows.
Title: Femi Kuti
Location: Montreal, Toronto
Link out: Click here
Start Date: 2009-01-14
End Date: 2009-01-15
Femi Kuti accompanied his father’s musicians until 1986 when he went solo and began his own band. For the next 20 years, Femi developed an afrobeat with soul-jazz nuances that is entirely his own. He sang with Motown back in the early 90’s and then took a radical shift of musical stylings in 2001 when he joined forces with rappers Mos Def and Common for the album “Fight to Win.” Femi also has his own nightclub, the Shrine, located in Lagos, Nigeria. The Shrine is a political hot potato as well as a great place to hear cutting-edge African beats. You can check it all out in Femi’s DVD “Live at the Shrine” or hear him when he comes to Canada in January of 2009.
Title: Ben Wilson
Location: Tranzac, Toronto
Link out: Click here
Date: 2008-11-29
Ben Wilson is from Ottawa but he’s done a lot of traveling in his day. His album Staying Places, is dedicated to his travels. Written, recorded, produced and mixed by Wilson in his own basement studio, the artist demonstrates a motivated and independent attitude. Take the time to hear about his unique perspective on the places he’s been both physically and mentally. He’ll be playing the following venues:
11-24 – Peterborough, Ontario – The Spill
11-26 – London, Ontario – The Alex P. Keaton
11-27 – Kingston, Ontario – BarNone
11-29 – Toronto, Ontario – Tranzac
Title: Miguel Migs
Location: MOD Club, Toronto
Link out: Click here
Date: 2008-11-21
Miguel Migs has been in countless house compilations, not to mention his TV appearances like Six Feet Under, Sex in the City, and MTV’s Road Rules and Real World. His tracks fill nightclubs but his fan base are just as interested in chilling out with his albums too. “It’s music you can enjoy and listen to at home, in the club, or anywhere. Not necessarily just to rock the dance floor.” He’s been around the world playing his over 100 original productions and remixes. Check out what the hype is about at MOD Club in Toronto on Friday, November 21st.
[UPDATE: Maya is playing a live show on CBC radio 1 on DEC 5th. We'll keep you updated]
Maya is one of Toronto’s young and upcoming musical talents. Her music is a blend of Jazz/Soul/House and Classical, making for both relaxing tracks and club anthems. Mayism got her career started very early. At 15, she had traveled around the world as both a soloist and chamber player. In recent years, she’s been the lead vocals for a TCR favorite – King Sunshine. Now, she’s launching her solo career and we’re sure she’s going to be huge. Check out the following tracks and judge for yourself!
To here more, visit www.myspace.com/mayism
Title: ElastoCitizens
Location: The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto
Link out: Click here
Date: 2009-01-02
ElastoCitizens are purely about getting you to dance. Their grinding guitars, nasty girl-group dancing , feedback basslines, a heavy horn section and multiple singers make their concerts an electrifyingly original live music experience. Their MySpace is only showing 1 show and so I’m hoping it will be killer. If you’re in Toronto, see them play at The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern on January 2nd, 2009. Even if you’re still hung over from New Years, go see the show and use the booze-shakes to make your dancing skills all the better.
NuJazz festival starts tonight! The festival features such heavyweights as The Herbaliser Band and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. On top of that, you’ll be able to check out some great Canadian bands such as Souljazz Orchestra, King Sunshine, Grand Analog, Planet Earth and The National Parcs. We haven’t forgotten about the DJs either. Canadian and local DJs such as The Footprints DJ crew, John Kong, More or Les, Rollin’ Cash, DJ Numeric and more.
Click through for exact dates, listings, prices and online ticket purchasing
Brian Borcherdt (of Holy Fuck) is touring with Martha Wainwright to promote his new solo release ‘Coyotes’, released on October 7th thru Toronto-based label Hand Drawn Dracula.
Brian began playing music in rural Nova Scotia where he founded Canada’s first not-for-profit collaborative label, Dependent. After having left Novia Scotia and worked in film, he decided to go back to music, his true passion. After a few years with Canadian indie pioneers By Divine Right, Brian continued touring, playing with Holy Fuck and working on his solo career. Take the time to relax and be mellow with Brian Borcherdt at any of the below shows:
Nov 28 The Commodore Vancouver w/ Martha Wainwright
Nov 30 Grand Theatre Calgary w/ Martha Wainwright
Dec 01 Myer Horowitz Theatre Edmonton w/ Martha Wainwright
Dec 02 Broadway Theatre Saskatoon w/ Martha Wainwright
Dec 03 Pyramid Cabaret Winnipeg w/ Martha Wainwright
Dec 05 Gig Theatre Kitchener w/ Martha Wainwright
Dec 06 Danforth Music Hall Toronto w/ Martha Wainwright