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T.O. Music Pix Newsletter #62: August 14/08
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In this issue:
1. A great African music weekend (Aug. 15-17)
2. Other upcoming event highlights
3. CIUT Live Broadcasts & Archived Podcasts



For all event info, check www.to-music.ca/events.htm for more details, artist and other links, etc. I've also started a separate page for ongoing events, classes, workshops etc. http://www.to-music.ca/ongoing.htm.

 

1. AN AFRICAN MUSIC WEEKEND (Aug. 15-17)
This is a huge weekend for African music fans. Your only problem will be deciding which performances to catch, and how to juggle the different events and sites. Below is a list of the African shows over the weekend:

a) Harbourfront Centre is having its annual, highly-popular "Hot and Spicy Food Festival". All events are free. A number of African music events are happening on Friday and Saturday.

  • Ultramangus: A 10-piece Afrobeat band that mixes a bit of “punk funk” with its sound. Fri, 8pm. Sirius Stage

  • Zai Idrissa Sissokho et Buntalo: a griot and kora player performing traditional Mandingo & Wolof music as well as more contemporary sounds. Fri. 9:30, Sirius Stage

  • Amara Kanté: Toronto-based djembe master from Ivory Coast. Fri., 11pm, Brigantine Room

  • Femi Abosede & Culture Force. Toronto's king of Afrobeat. Sat., 3:30pm, Sirius Stage

  • Zaki Ibrahim. South-African/Canadian rising singing star. Sat. 8pm, Sirius Stage

If you can't make it Friday, CIUT will be broadcasting the Ultramagnus and Zai Idrissa Sissokho concerts. 89.5 FM, or online at www.ciut.fm.

There is lots more going on at Harbourfront over the weekend, including a documentary film about the great Cuban musician, "Machito", and plenty of other great music (and food!) Check the Hot & Spicy page for details of all shows and events).

 

b) Toronto African Dance Festival, Yonge-Dundas Square
Begun in 2002, this is a 2-day, free festival. It's on Saturday and Sunday, 2:15-10pm at Yonge-Dundas Square. See http://www.africandancefestival.com for more information..

Saturday:
2.15 PM Thomas Muhtahdi and the World Drumers
3.00 PM Djenabou Maré
3.30 PM Caribbean Dance Theatre
4.00 PM Kemer Yousef with Jaivah aka Nouvel Exposé
6.00 PM Ijo Vudu Dance Company
7.00 PM Jaivah aka Nouvel Exposé featuring Rasselas
7.45 PM Caribbean Folk Performers
8.15 PM Shimita El Diego

Sunday:
2.15 PM Lizzie Mahashe
2.45 PM Bahli Tesfa
3.15 PM Odenigbo Cultural group (Masquerade Dance)
4.00 PM Canafric
5.30 PM Mulolo Plus
6.30 PM Femi Abosede & Culture Force
8.15 PM Jeff Kavanda

 

c) Michèzo International Festival at Hantlan's Point, Toronto Islands.

The 6th annual event, "Canada's only African island village! An intimate time, in fact, organizers note that "You are the festival". Performers, workshops, "Soccer on the Savannah", games, market, food and more. All free (a $2 charge for competitive prize events and the African drumming workshop). Organized by Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison and AMiBA-Michèzo

Performers include:
Jabali Africa (Kenya), Sirocco Mboloko (Congo) Justine Gogoua (Cote D'Ivoire), Djenabou (South Africa / Tanzania) Alex Alemayehu (Ethiopia), Halisi (Congo - Grenada), Moyo wa Africa (Afrika), First Nations dancers (Canada), Masaisai (Zimbabwe), rAiz'n summer artz (Canada), Kobe, Kokofele (CKLN 88.1 fm, Sounds of Africa) and more from the continent, Caribbean islands and S. America.

10am - 1pm  Soccer on the Savannah
 1pm - 3pm: Games & Workshops
 2pm - 7pm: Performances
 7pm - 8pm: "Africa Djelly" jam session

Details, including location at http://www.michezofestival.com or http://www.myspace.com/michezo

 

d) Trane Studio
An intimate club on Bathurst, north of Bloor this weekend features:

  • Friday night: Nya Soleil. Cameroonian singer and guitarist who performed here in the 2007 Afrofest and Bana Y'Afrique festivals

  • Saturday night: Nya will be back, this time guesting with Waleed Abdulhamid & The African Ensemble. Waleed of course is the well-known, multi-instrumental Sudanese artist here in town who performs with his own groups and numerous other musicians.

    See http://tranestudio.com for more info.

 

e) Senegalese Party with Tamsir Seck

Tamsir is a Senegalese drummer and dancer. He was formerly a member of the Senegalese National Ballet, and is well-known here both for his own performances and also with several other groups including Adam Solomon & Tikisa, Katenen Dioubaté & The Snow Griots and others. The photo here is of him last summer jamming with the great kora player, Toumani Diabat (click for larger image). It's Tamsir's hands and drums in my website logo.

Saturday night he will host a traditional Senegalese party with plenty of music, drumming, dance, food and more. Starting at 10pm. 25 Cecil Street (one block south of College, east of Spadina). $20.

 

f) CNE

"The Ex" opens on Friday, and you can catch African (and other) music there too. This weekend features:

  • Ijo Vudu Dance Ensemble: Fri, 1:30pm (and again, Monday at 8pm)

  • Habeeba Hobeika Egyption Dance Ensemble. Sat., 8pm (and again Tuesday at 5pm)

Numerous others at the "International Stage" over the Ex's run.  See: http://www.theex.com/whatson.php?menu=01:09:03 for details.  (And see http://www.theex.com/whatson.php?menu=01:09:07 for info on some blues performances).

 

2. OTHER EVENTS:

a) A few other highlights upcoming include:

  • A great weekend at -- and around -- the Lula Lounge:
    Friday night: Aline Morales, the leader of Maracatu Nunca Antes brings a great mix of Brazillian forro, afro-samba, soul and reggae.
    Saturday is Salsa Dance Party with Cafe Cubano
    Sunday, Dundas St. will be turned into a Brazilian dance party with the Dundas West's "Samba on Dundas". 1-5pm.
     

  • Harbourfront's Hot & Spicy Festival this weekend as noted above, is jam-packed with great music and food. All free.

  • Bajofondo at the Mod Club, Aug. 17. Small World Music brings this hot "electro-tango" group to town. This should be a great show. See www.smallworldmusic.com

  • Country Joe McDonald at Hugh's Room, Aug. 18. Catch his famous "Fish Cheer" in all its glory at Woodstock on YouTube.

  • Ainiké with Richard Underhill, Aug. 22 at the Trane. West African malinke music/percussion.

  • AfriVillage Festival, Aug. 23-24 on Bloor, from Ossington to Crawford. The 2nd annual event. See http://afrivillagefest.com/ for info.

  • Mamaya Festival, Aug. 28 at the Distillery District. Local griot Katenen "Cheka" Dioubaté puts on her third Mamaya event - a Guinean tradition. Free. See http://www.mamayatoronto.com/
     

b) Ijo Vudu Dance & Drum Camp, Sep. 19-21

3 days, 2 nights & 10 workshops. Instructors include Mohammed Sani-Abu (photo... click for large image) and Mohammed Diaby.  See http://www.ijovududance.com for more information.

 

 

3. CIUT: Broadcasts & Podcasts

Besides this Friday's Harboufront concerts (above), the station will be doing live broadcasts of the Eaglewood Folk Festival, Sat. Aug. 23, 1-11pm and the Shelter Valley Folk Festival, Fri. Aug. 29, 3pm-midnight.

As well, most shows are now available for a week as podcasts. Go to the Schedule page, and click on the show you're interested in. It may take up to a day to archive a show. (Note: I've found the podcast didn't work with Firefox; but it may require a plugin).

See http://ciut.fm


 

John Leeson
www.to-music.ca