Category Archives: Events

Concerts and other musical events: upcoming and notes/photos/videos of just-past shows.

Achilla Orru: Tribute in Globe & Mail & UPDATE re: April 7 event

  March 18, 2013 - 9:28 pm | , ,
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A wonderful tribute to the late Achilla Orru (see post below) in the March 19 Globe & Mail‘s “Lives Lived“. Written by his friend & fellow Ugandan-Canadian Opiyo Oloya, who is also known by all African music supporters in the Toronto area. Many harried Toronto subway commuters likely never knew his name, where he came from, his mother tongue, or his deepest love. To them, Achilla Orru Apaa-Idomo was the blind black man with the sweet voice who played music on the funny-looking instrument in the station. Tribute/Fundraiser, April 7 A tribute to, and fundraiser for his wife and children will … Continue reading →

New events added

  March 7, 2013 - 10:18 pm | ,
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A few new events have been added to the Events calendar, including Apr. 7: Tribute to, and fundraiser for the late Achilla Orru (and his family) Mar. 14: Kae Sun May 25: Bonga & Don Nikas bring Angolan music to The Opera House Some more Small World Music Asian Music Series events More to come. Femi Kuti in town July 3. And don’t forget Oliver Mtukudzi on April 6!

Radio: It still matters… it’s still important. Step up!

  October 20, 2012 - 12:24 am | , ,
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Radio?? How…. 20th century! Well… maybe, but radio is not only important for providing [fill in: information, news, music, social connections, etc., etc. …], it’s now scientifically established that radio makes you feel better!  (Thanks to Mediazoic for the Twitter tip!) You’ll actually feel better than if you spend your time surfing the Net. And it’s also a great social experience. But, it is also, as always, an immediate source of that information/news/music mentioned above. And, if your interests, tastes, viewpoints on those areas, are not well-served (I hope not!) by “mainstream radio”, if Internet streams and radio stations provide little, if any, information about … Continue reading →

Sleepwalk Guitar Festival: A weekend of guitar greats and legends

  October 19, 2012 - 11:18 pm | , ,
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You won’t be able to sleepwalk through this guitar extravaganza. The 2nd annual Sleepwalk Guitar Festival at The Great Hall on the weekend of Nov. 2-4, sponsored by Six Shooter Records and curated by Luke Doucet will be filled with guitar stars and legends: in concert, in workshops and in interview sessions. The festival website with schedules, ticket info and more is here. The Six Shooter Facebook page has more information, and a raft of videos of some of the performers. Some more about a couple of the artists is below. James Burton Many years ago, whenever I read anything … Continue reading →

Upcoming events

  October 13, 2012 - 12:20 am |
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A few to watch for. See www.to-music.ca/events for details on these, and many other concerts and shows. Sat. Oct. 13: Reception for José Ortega’s art exhibit opening at IndexG Sun. Oct. 14: Royal Drummers of Burundi (2 shows) Markham Theatre Thu. Oct. 17: Be Good Tanyas at Great Hall Fri. Oct. 18: Béla Fleck & Marcus Roberts Trio at Koerner Hall Sat. Oct. 20-21: Iris Dement (she’s just released her first album of new songs in 16 years) at Hugh’s Room. Both shows standing room only.  Listen to a recent NPR profile. Sat. Oct. 20-21: Uma Nota Festival of Tropical Expressions: … Continue reading →

Sherry Ryan at The Dakota: Oct. 6 / Ticket, CD giveaway

  October 4, 2012 - 10:50 pm | , ,
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NOTE:  I have a pair of tickets to her Saturday show & a CD to give away to the first to contact me. Email info@to-music.ca This site tends to focus mostly on “world”, and especially African music, but I do periodically report on other music, notably some country/American artists. This Saturday, Newfoundland singer Sherry Ryan performs at the Dakota Tavern as part of her CD Release of Sister of Mine. I wasn’t familiar with her music until now, but having listened to the CD, and some of her earlier music, I’ve been really impressed with her sound, her singing and … Continue reading →

Back online, Event updates & Concert for Wangari Maathai

  September 24, 2012 - 10:40 pm | ,
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After a lengthier-than-anticipated absence, I’ve begun updating event listings again. See www.events.to-music.ca for details on the shows noted below and others. More updates will be coming. Between my trips to north & south Africa this summer, preparing photo/video/journal reports, and then a PC and hard drive that died as soon as I returned, there hasn’t been any time for any significant updates here.  There are more listings now, including: Grammy winning Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sep. 26 at Hugh’s Room The last week of the Small World Music Festival, running through Sep. 30 A notable pairing of Brownman & Jason Wilson, in the … Continue reading →

Odds and Ends… July notes

  July 26, 2012 - 8:43 pm | , ,
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Trying to catch up on things happening musically. A few items that caught my eye (or ear): Hugh’s Room Fall Sale This is the last week to save money on some of Hugh’s shows September through November by Jul 31, and get coupons for $10 (3 shows), $20 (4 shows), or $30 (5 shows). Some of these are close to selling out already. www.hughsroom.com Free online course: “Listening to World Music” Really.. from the University of Pennsylvania. A seven week course, involving 5-7 hours per week, it started July 23. Details and enrollment here:https://www.coursera.org/course/worldmusic African music, African food While much … Continue reading →

Harbourfront’s “Classical IV” weekend featuring Masters of Mali with Sidi Touré

  July 25, 2012 - 11:19 pm | ,
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I’ve often found this themed weekend (in the past, appropriately titled “What is Classical”) one of Harbourfront’s most interesting each year, as it poses that musical question. One of my favourite Harbourfront concerts in recent years was Orchestra Piazza Vittorio performing their unique take on Mozart’s Magic Flute. This year’s “Classical IV: Strings” focuses on a wide variety of stringed instruments, and, Harbourfront suggests, asks questions such as: What is modern classical music? Why are some folk melodies and pop tunes called classics? And who gets to call them that? Can sonorous instruments from different cultures talk to each other? … Continue reading →

Event updates delayed for Libyan election

  July 4, 2012 - 5:27 pm | ,
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I sent the note below in a newsletter on Monday (July 2). This note is being posted from Tripoli. (Note: that updates on my Libya blog www.libyatoronto.com (or Libyan twitter account, @libyatoronto may be a bit limited until after election day, July 7) Apologies for the lack of updates (website, events or newsletter) lately. It’s not for lack of music… just lack of time. In the midst of other activities, I learned less than two weeks that my wife and I will be going to Libya as part of a team of election observers — the only team from Canada. … Continue reading →