For those who love summer & music, we are about to hit the best time of year. The number of events is overcoming my ability to catch up, but I have now added a number of updates of shows, especially those over the next 2-3 weeks. There's so much going on that who can think past that?

1. ONLINE MUSIC:
First, a few notes about some music online, a couple of the items only available temporarily:

• Masaisai: June 26, Gladstone Hotel Ballroom
  The group, playing Congolese music, is more fully known as Masaisai Afro-Zim Mbira, Dance and Chimurenga, and are highly recommended. I've seen them perform once, at a show in the Gladstone's Melody Bar in February on the same night as the Miriam Makeba Tribute in the Ballroom. When I walked in, an hour or so into their set, the room was alive with sound, energy and dance, from the stage and the floor. (Meaning the audience, because members of the band also hit the dance floor). Reports say they have become even tighter since then. 10 bucks. Come out, feel better. You won't regret it. Check them out here: http://www.myspace.com/masaisai
   
• Toronto City Roots Festival, June 26-28. Hugh's Room & Distillery District
  Featuring Swamperalla, Métis Fiddler Quartet, The Good Lovelies, Donné Roberts, Jaffa Road, Mr Something Something and much more. Free Sat & Sun.

And then, to fill your days in the next couple of weeks..

• June 30: What a challenge!...
  Jane Bunnett & Embracing Voices. Kicking off Canada Day eve with a free noon-hour Jazz Festival show at Nathan Phillips Square, she'll be joined by the Cuban acapella group Desandann whom I've been singing the praises of recently. They will be leaving Canada soon for shows in the UK.
  
  African Guitar Summit: The first show in a few years in town of the Juno-winning African supergroup at the Lula. (And congratulations to Mighty Popo on the birth of his son recently in Rwanda)
  
  Don Byron & Michael Occhipinti Quartet at the Rex
  
  Madeleine Peyroux at the Music Hall
  
  Mose Allison at the Fleck Theatre, Harbourfront
  
   
• July 1: Canada Day
  Harbourfront has a jammed, all-free day, including Faduma Nkrumah, Kemer Yousef, Uighar dances and a lot more. Check the lineup here.
  
  Chucho Valdes: the great Cuban pianist does 2 Jazz Festival shows in the Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront
  
   
• July 2: Global Rhythms 20th anniversary
  Ken Stowar launched this world music show on CIUT FM in April, 1989. It's hard to picture music in Toronto without the show or without Ken's years of effort to promote music and musicians from around the globe -- and those who brought their their rhythms to Toronto and Canada.
  
  This is a celebration, heavy on Afrobeat & soul with live music (Femi Abosede & Positive Force, Babalao Stereo Club and Los Caballeros del Son) and DJ. Only $5!
   
• July 3-5: Harbourfront is the place to be:
  Friday: Latin sounds including an appearance by Rodriguez, the Detroit singer who has become a star in South Africa. See some of the story here, and on Saturday, see the first-ever screening of a trailer for a documentary about Rodriguez to be released in 2010.
  
  Saturday: THE African concert of the year: King Sunny Adé & Femi Kuti. Free.
  
  Sunday: The first Canadian performance by Umalali, the Garifuna Women's Project. This should be another highlight of the summer.
  
   
• Down the road:
  Jul. 10: Vieux Farka Touré returns to town
  Jul. 11: Steve Earle in a solo, acoustic tribute to his mentor, the late Townes Van Zandt
  Jul. 11-12: Afrofest, two days, three stages of free music, headed by Malian star Oumou Sangaré. See www.musicafrica.org for more info
  Jul. 12: Toots & the Maytals
  Jul. 17: Los de Abajo. "Punk Salsa" is one term used to describe this unique Mexican band, kicking off a Mexican-themed weekend at Harbourfront, which includes Lucha Libre - Mexican free wrestling
  Jul. 17-18: Anacona: The 16-piece all women Cuban orchestra, "Las Mulatissimas del Sabor", originally formed in 1932 made their Canadian début earlier this month at the Art of Jazz festival. They should really be able to stir things up in the confines of the Lula
  Jul. 21: Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women. A great night of Americana music at Hugh's Room

John Leeson
www.to-music.ca