Songs We Write; Covers We Love

Wednesday 22 May, 10pm, FREE/pwyc

Featuring music by Robin Dann (of Bernice)

Michelle Willis

Thom Gill

Charles James

Mackenzie Longpre

The Slocan Ramblers & The Boxcar Boys

Tranzac Main Hall, Friday 17 May, 7;30pm.  $12 advance/$15 door

Tickets available at theboxcarboys.ca

The Boxcar Boys:

“21st-century eclectics, mixing Roma, roots and plain-old rambunctious whimsy… [The Boxcar Boys] are guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step.”-John Terauds, Toronto Star

The Slocan Ramblers:

“The Slocan Ramblers put on one of the most vibrant shows of acoustic music I’ve seen in some time. It’s rare for Canadians (especially young Canadians) to play this music with such authority, passion and yet ability for experimentation. Chops galore, and a handsome bunch of fellas”  -Tom Power, host of CBC’s Deep Roots, and Radio 2 Morning

Riverrun

Thursday 25 April, 10pm, FREE/pwyc

Riverrun is a quartet made up of some of Toronto’s strongest musical personalities. Their sound has been described as “electro-chamber-jazz” and “minimalist-avant-garde-pop”. Cinematic, delving and disciplined, Riverrun cuts across stylistic boundaries and goes deep into the moment.

Tom Richards, leader, composer and keyboardist, has played with Engine, The Hidden Cameras, Dan Mangan, Spoon, and The Wooden Sky, among many others. In this project, he brings his cross-genre compositional style to the forefront – navigating through diverse worlds of sound using a combination of nimble technique and envelope-pushing electronics.

Peter Lutek, clarinet, has been a pillar of the contemporary music scene in Toronto for decades. A virtuosic multi-instrumentalist, Peter tends to make his own rules: In Riverrun he plays a Turkish clarinet which allows him to split the octave into 48 parts. His sound is transformed electronically through homemade computer hardware and software.

Scott Peterson, bass and vocals, is the mystic of the group. While exploring the Peruvian jungle, he spontaneously learned to throat-sing in the traditional Tuvan style. He tunes his bass in fifths and employs a wide palette of electronic signal-processing which he controls with his feet.

Jake Oelrichs, drums and xylophone, is one of the most sought-after drummers in Ontario. Anyone who has ever seen Jake play with Run With The Kittens or Muskox has had their understanding of the drums changed forever. His deep sense of groove underpins every moment of Riverrun’s sonic exploration.

NAGs Players Present: I’ll Be Back Before Midnight

May 2 – 11: shows Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings, 8pm.

Tickets $12 – $20, available at www.nagsplayers.com

A couple from the city rents an old farmhouse in the country. Their dream of quiet becomes a nightmare when they find out about a murder in the house and the vengeful ghost that is reported to stalk the night. Laugh-out-loud funny and scream-out-loud scary.

Vendredi 12 Avril et Vendredi 19 Avril, 19h.  $15

Les Productions Nemesis et Les Improbables s’associent pour joindre le théâtre à l’improvisation dans :

Effeuilletage

Dépouillement de courts textes de théâtre écrits par des dramaturges francophones de Toronto et mis en vie par des improvisateurs aguerris.

Inspiré de The National Theater of the World’s “The Script Tease Project”, les quatre comédiens recevront les textes dans une enveloppe scellée sur scène pour la première fois. Ils en feront la lecture, puis improviseront la pièce pour une trentaine de minutes. Deux pièces d’auteurs différents seront présentées durant la soirée.

Sonia D’Amico, Mathieu St-Laurent, Thomas Gallezot, Guillaume Touzel-Bond vous transporteront dans leur imaginaire pour votre plus grand plaisir.

Une primeur dans le milieu théâtral francophone!

En deuxième partie, les Improbables vous présenteront un Royal Rumble. Un championnat d’impro durant lequel les improvisateurs s’affronteront dans des duels infernaux.

Une vingtaine de joueurs se disputeront l’unique titre de vainqueur, décerné par le public.

Et dans un troisième temps, vous êtes invités à rester des nôtres pour faire la fête et danser sur les rythmes de notre désormais célèbre DJFab!

Une soirée qui se promet haute en émotions!

Soyez du rendez-vous!  Entrée 15$

THE BRIAN PICKELL BAND

Pulled together by the magnetic, globe-trotting compositions of Brian Pickell (presented with the “Tradition Bearer Award” at the 2012 Goderich Celtic Roots Festival) and a love of traditional music, the group is both stunningly musical and energizing.

The band combines the talents of Shane Cook, (presented with the “Young Tradition Award” at the 2012 Goderich Celtic Roots Festival) multiple winner of the Canadian and Grand Masters Fiddle Contests and the American Grand National; revered Ottawa multi-instrumentalist James Stephens on fiddle, mandolin, bass and viola; and Pat O’Gorman, an admired mainstay of the Canadian music scene, on flute, whistles and pipes. Julie Schryer is widely considered to be one of the finest piano accompanists in Canada, and Brian is an accomplished composer, guitarist, and banjo and mandolin player. Together, they are a musical force of nature.

Brian’s compositions are now being played and recorded widely: Deaf Shepherd (Scotland), Tony McManus, arguably the greatest guitarist in Celtic music (Scotland), Liz Doherty (Ireland), The Halali Fiddle Band (USA), Oliver Schroer (Canada), Nicholas Williams (Canada), Pierre Schryer (Canada) and numerous others. They are clearly fresh sounding, yet very friendly to old-time and traditional music. The material ranges from driving and raucous, to warm and lyrical. Although all the players possess impressive individual skills, this effort is very much about the great joy of playing together.

Brian Pickell and his band are at the vanguard of a new living tradition of Celtic music. Brian’s original melodies have been instantly embraced by musicians both on the concert stage and in the kitchen. These tunes now rest easily with the traditional favourites on both sides of the ocean.

-Ian Bell, Director Marine Heritage Festival

Classical Revolution Presents: Club Symphony

Tranzac Main Hall

Monday 8 April, 9pm, FREE

UPDATE: We’re excited to announce that world-renowned Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman will be performing with Club Symphony tonight.

The Symphony is coming to the Tranzac!

Classical Revolution Toronto brings concert hall performance to the bar, free of charge. James Gaffigan, principal conductor of the Luzern Symphony Orchestra, will conduct an impromptu orchestra comprised of Toronto’s most phenomenal young, professional talent — and, yes, entrance is free.

Read-throughs of Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 and Schubert’s Symphony No.5 will be performed at the Tranzac, an Annex bar typically headlining rock and pop acts. The show, and the Tranzac’s bar, will be open to any Torontonians interested in experiencing classical music in a non-traditional venue.

This is an exceptional opportunity for music-lovers, particularly those on a tight budget.

Classical Revolution Toronto is proud to provide Toronto with exceptional chamber music in alternative venues. Director Edwin Huizinga, violinist, is a founding member of the international parent network, begun in San Francisco in 2006. Classical Revolution has been featured in The New York Times, The Economist, the San Francisco Chronicle, and other leading media publications.

The Music of Kyp Harness

Wednesday 27 March, 10pm.  FREE/pwyc

A Variety of Toronto Artists will tackle the tunes of Toronto singer-songwriter (and great friend of the Tranzac) Kyp Harness.  Artists include Bob Wiseman, David Picco, Dale Morningstar, Laura Repo, Blair Harvey, Ben Veneer, Sarah Greene, John Borra, Jerry Leger, Shelby Lamb, Magali Meagher, Mike Clark, Michelle Rumball — and Kyp himself, too!

Listen to Kyp’s latest albums online:

Can a poor man get a Fair Trial

The Wrong Way

Francophonie-en-Fête présente:

Un spectacle intime de Cindy Doire avec comme invitée spéciale Tricia Foster.

23 Mar, 20h-23h. $10

Renseignements:  www.francophonie-en-fete.com ou jacques.charette@francophonie-en-fete.com

Native de Timmins, Cindy Doire a une voix riche et unique, qui invente les mélodies les plus oniriques et émouvantes et charme tout en douceur.  Son folk aux inflexions de jazz évoque les anciens cabarets feutrés, les lumières tamisées et la nostalgie des confidences chuchotées.  Naturelle, authentique et guitare à la main, l’artiste chante les notes de son quotidien, la poésie des intérieurs humains et la beauté du moment présent.

Sunday 10 March, 7:30pm, FREE/pwyc

Come witness this special meeting between Toronto trumpet mastermind David Buchbinder and Zebrina. David is well known for his band The Flying Bulgars, as well as his more recent Tzadik recording project Odessa/Havana.

Check out more Zebrina at zebrina.org