ORKESTAR KRIMINAL “Imagine a 10-member gender-balanced band that sources material from the criminal underworld a century ago, performing songs in eight languages with quirky instrumentation and a punk attitude" - Edmonton Journal "They’re the frenetic, hyperbolic version of the wildest live show you don’t have the musical vocabulary to lie to your kids about catching. […]
Cosmic Homeostasis XXIII an afternoon of ambient interstellar electroacoustic drift vibes Sunday, March 31, 2024 / 5:00 p.m. (later-than-usual start!) / The Tranzac PWYC / all are welcome / help us listen to whispers from space You are invited to take in an afternoon of ambient interstellar electroacoustic drift vibes. Following the dictates of the […]
Devin Patten's the Afton Project returns to perform new original works as well as a couple selections from his most recent record. Paired with arrangements of a few beautiful songs from great singer songwriters like Gabriel Kahane, Allegra Krieger, Andy Shauf and local Toronto artists like Justin Orok, Adina Vlasov and Melissa Paju
Improvised music from some of the finest artists in the city led by guitarist Nilan Perera featuring Adrian Russouw (contrabasse), Rick Sacks (drum kit/percussion) and Marilyn Yogarajah (piano)
Egyptian vocalist & producer Nadah El Shazly returns to Toronto in duo with harpist Sarah Pagé. Supported by experimental electronic musician Khôra celebrating their LP release and Finno-Baltic neofolk duo Honeypaw. El Shazly (Land of Kush) mixes seeds of traditional Egyptian music with contemporary electronic & synthesized sounds. Playing with improvised forms she builds songs […]
The Holy Oak Family Singers present visiting artist Xu Shaoyang celebrating a new 7" release. HOFS will open the night with a tribute to Tori Kudo's ensemble Maher Shalal Hash Baz.
Ben E. Wood's Birthday Show with Mel Udell! Thursday April 4th, join us for a "groove-while-u-grieve" night of music from Mel Udell (@all.is.mel ) and Ben E. Wood (@weakoldbaby ) The "hi" button has been pressed down on the blender that contains all of the ingredients for a funny/sad music smoothie. "Hello!" we reply. "Happy […]
Tania Gill (piano), Doug Tielli (trombone and singing), Michael Davidson (vibraphone) and Rob Clutton (bass) will perform music by legendary composer, pianist and bandleader Carla Bley, who passed away October 17, 2023 at the age of 87. This performance will be a tribute to Carla, and will include pieces from her albums Tropic Appetites and […]
Join Portraitures and Joey O'Neil for an evening of indie jazz/folk music. Portraitures band will be comprised of Mags Gibson on vocals, Mark Scherzinger on Guitar, Teagan Larmand on bass, and Steph Duchesne on drums. It would be so lovely to see ya there.
Sun Milk (formerly known as decoration day) join Alex Samaras' Tryal for a night of surreal folk and beautiful songs.
Bassist Luke Vajsar plays original loop style bass music in styles of funk, jazz, psychedelic, lounge with percussive beats at Tranzac. Performance will be in a trio format featuring Andrew Vaisar and Avi Iyer on percussive beats.
Howard Gladstone Band are back at the Tranzac, this month with special guest singer/songwriter Lynn Harrison. Howard Gladstone performs his unique original folk/roots songs with flavours of blues/jazz/world and other sounds, accompanied by a great group: Tony Quarrington (guitars, vocal), Laura Fernandez (vocal, piano), Bob Cohen (bass) and Ambrose Pottie (drums). Themes range from reflections […]
Dave Clark Presents! showcases fantastic local artists who perform their original music. Each event is a surprise gift of sonic goodies for you to behold. See upcoming brilliance and veteran magic perform for your pleasure. Dave Clark Presents! Alli Sunshine & Dave Bidini. All three artists will perform solo sets of their original songs. Alli […]
Toronto Ravel Study is a monthly gathering of professional and amateur musicians and composers who come together to study great orchestral scores, just for the love of doing so. Now in it's 11th year, the Ravel study was begun in Los Angeles by composer Ron Jones (Family Guy, Star Trek Next Generation...) with the study […]
Two sets from 7-9pm, ft. 9/10 of a full D-DB, as we warm up/prepare for the LP/DL release of Pita Parka, Pt. I: Xam Egdub via Ansible Editions on Fri. May 3rd (stay tuned for news re: a Main Hall release party in mid-May!) Jay Anderson - Roland Handsonic (1st set) Josh Cole - electric […]
“Cole can be coolly lyrical, he can write a controlled “classical” counterpoint, he can drop in some funk, and he can also let the improvisers loose in the stratosphere.” - Popmatters.com “Cole plays an extremely strange, distorted solo" - Art Music Lounge Josh Cole presents... a two bass hit! Rob Clutton - double bass Josh […]
2X polaris nominated, Canada’s beloved experimental pop group BERNICE is the project of Robin Dann (voice, songs) with her longtime collaborators Thom Gill (keyboards), Philippe Melanson (e-percussion), Daniel Fortin (bass) and Felicity Williams (voice). For more than a decade, the band has made music which wanders into r&b, neo-soul, and free music, and coalesces through […]
Second generation minimalist composer Arnold Dreyblatt returns to Toronto for the first time in over 15 years for a collaboration with local musicians forming an Orchestra of Excited Strings. Dreyblatt (compositions, upright bass), will work with cellist Amahl Arulanandam (Thin Edge New Music Collective, VC2), violinist Laura C. Bates (Volur), and percussionist Brandon Valdivia (Mas […]
Illarra and Hikaya band will be on stage at The TRANZAC on April 12 at 7:30pm Be ready to listen to some Arabian music fusion from all around the Arabian peninsula (Saudi, Yemen, Kuwait, and Bahrain) reimagined and rearranged by Illarra and Peter Henry Holbrook who's a jazz pianist. Illarra will also share some originals […]
Musica Universalis Apr 12th southern cross lounge Sarah Peebles - sho/cracklebox Jay Hay - Bass Clarinet Colin Fisher - Guitar/effects
The Chris Langan Traditional Irish Music Weekend is an annual Toronto festival with concerts and workshops featuring some of the finest Irish music artists and teachers from around the world and our own great city. Saturday features workshops, sessions, a ceili and a gala concert.
Hey gang, spring is here & that can only mean Ayal Senior & Friends Residency returns to the Tranzac in April with Edition #4 in '24. As always, I am humbled, honoured & psyched to be duo-ing w/ the great Kurt Newman, who just dropped the phenomenal new LP, Cagey Doves, which you must grip! […]
Reception for DIORAMA DRAMAS: Playfully Exploring Big Issues. Join photo artist Martha Davis as she presents five photographs of her mixed media dioramas, in larger than life format! Davis uses a playful and lighthearted touch as she explores such challenging issues as Climate change, Technology overload, Animal welfare, and the Childcare crisis. This mini-show is […]
Chris Birkett ‘s birthday party and concert with Brian Morgan and special guests at the Tranzac, Southern Cross Room on April 14th from 7:30 to 9:30pm. Come and celebrate the 50th anniversary of his 21st birthday. Chris and Brian will be playing some of their original songs as well as several favourite covers. All are […]
The "It's too late!" Late Show Masquerade Cabaret Presents: Grandma's First Drag Show Featuring: THE UNIVERSAL THEORY OF A**HOLES An ageless, genderless visualization of cognition and psychological abuseabuse Accompanied by: CODEPENDENT KARAOKE Karaoke sign-up / Reserve tickets at Ticketleap Mask-making station and fake-name generators will be available at the costume / craft pre-party. Performers agree […]
Duo Cichorium is making People Soup! Each month, a new and interesting “soup” will be made depending on the “ingredients” (ie, the artists) participating! They will begin their residency at the Tranzac with LOUD MINESTRONE. They will be joined by Trevor Flemings, Hillary Jean Young, and Nolan Hildebrand.
An evening with singer-songwriters Annabelle Chvostek and Mike Evin. Annabelle and Mike will each be playing solo sets and sitting in with each other. Annabelle is a Juno-nominated singer-songwriter, composer and producer whose musical achievements span across multiple genres. She has composed music for dance and film, co-written songs with Bruce Cockburn, and toured the […]
Get ready for an evening of musical storytelling, spell-casting and adventure, as Elena Spanu & Xefira share original fiddle tunes and find common ground in their compositional journeys. Join us for a foot-stomping, genre-twisting good time!
Arts organizations across the city face challenging times, and the Tranzac is not immune. Join us in sustaining and enhancing the Tranzac and the impact we make across so many artistic communities. We begin our fundraising efforts with a concert on April 20th at 8pm, featuring Sandro Perri & Friends, Masahiro Takahashi, and Anne Bourne. […]
Sarah Belle Reid & Ryan Gaston with Michael Palumbo & Adam Tindale Saturday, April 20 5:00PM Tranzac 292 Brunswick Ave. Toronto PWYCA $10, $15, $20 P Sarah Belle Reid is a performer-composer who plays trumpet, modular synthesizer, and an ever-growing collection of handcrafted electronic instruments. Her unique musical voice explores the intersections between contemporary classical […]
Using a variety of vintage guitars, acoustic steel guitars, resonator, mandocello and more, Don Rooke and Kevin Breit will perform selections from their latest recording, Bloom. “Truly a beautiful album— the compositions, the playing, and the recording quality are stunning. What I love the most is how it captures the musical intimacy between these musicians. […]
Cachada is the sound of modern Salvadoran cumbia; a handpicked selection of pan-Latin musicians from Toronto's Latin, jazz, and urban music scenes. The group performs a repertoire of strictly original music that fuses hip hop, reggae, and Latin jazz into their traditional cumbia sound; creating one of the most fun and interesting Latin dance bands […]
Artsy Fartsy Comic Con is a comic book and comic creator focused event. Comic books, graphic novels, kids books, original art and more will be in focus and presented by the mainstream and indie talents who created them. Come to the Tranzac and find some new and exciting books to read and enjoy.
Join us for an evening of three singer-songwriters who share a common practice in writing songs that deal with matters of the heart. Sarah Jerrom is an accomplished vocalist, pianist, composer, and arranger specializing in jazz and creative music, taking her inspiration from lyric-driven melodies, genre-defying instrumentation and experimental soundscapes. Sarah’s expressive singing, playing and […]
Silver Pools is the project of Canadian poet, singer-songwriter, & multi-instrumentalist Todd Macdonald (The Winks, Norvaiza). Rubbing sounds together to make a flame, Macdonald’s songs reach into glittering caves of sadness and under the blankets of hope.
Shab-e She’r (Poetry Night), Canada’s most diverse & brave poetry reading + open mic series, celebrates its 100th event during the poetry month Featured poets: Rasiqra Revulva & Andy Lee + Open Mic for poetry in any language Host: Bänoo Zan Time: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Place: Living Room, Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto, […]
Joe Strutt is celebrating his 50th birthday in style, with live performances from Eucalyptus, Isla Craig + band, and Colin Fisher. All are welcome to hang out / celebrate. PWYC at the door (suggested $15, notaflof). no presents / just presence
Marilyn Lerner-piano and Matt Brubeck-cello, in dialogue, compositions and improvisations. Join us for an evening of sublimity.
Come on out for a warm up of the 2024 Tottenham Bluegrass Festival that will be held June 21-23 2024. The Barrel Boys and Denis LePage and HighBank will be on stage to give you a taste of what's in store at this year's festival. We'll be drawing for a pair of weekend tickets to […]
Molehill returns to the Tranzac to deliver our monthly slice of improvised minimalist dub music. This leap year edition will feature a trio set by Molehill lifers Jake Oelrichs (drums), Pete Johnston (electric stringed instrument), and Mike Smith (bass and electronics).
The TORONTO DOWNTOWN RECORD SHOW is back!! Saturday April 27th. We’ll have the city’s best independent record dealers, offering up vinyl from their collections. Each and every show we have things you just don’t see everyday, so there’s always something fresh for sale.
Isabel & the Uncommons are back this 4th Saturday and we are excited to have Logan W. McNeil joining the Uncommons on mandolin and special guest singer/songwriter Lynn Harrison! Long time Tranzac host of the Bridge, Lynn Harrison is a very well seasoned and accomplished singer songwriter who released her 7th album "Treasure," in 2023. […]
William, Keon and Colin are going to play a set of piano trio, then Max Stover will join the trio for the second set.
The Starfires return to the Tranzac with their unique blend of folk, jazz and world music. With their eclectic collection of master improvising musicians they will combine meditative exploration classic folk tunes with funky versions of jazz tunes and original compositions, including old favourites and new tunes from their forthcoming release.
Dan and his quintet return to the Tranzac to perform a new book of original music to prepare for the upcoming recording of their next album. The group features Dan's longtime trio of Alex Fournier on Double Bass and Nick Fraser on drums along with Patrick Smith and Naomi McCarroll-Butler bringing a tetrad of woodwind […]
Each instalment of Solitary Shrew features two performances led by women and gender non-conforming artists spanning an array of genres and artistic disciplines. This month features Dame Cook (ambient hauntological experiments) & Tumbling / Arrival (performance drawing)!
1st set: EPHEMERA (Pierre-Yves Martel modular synthesizer, harmonium) Between January and March 2024, Pierre-Yves Martel dedicated himself to composing and recording a 60-minute track each week, resulting in the creation of the 10-hour album Ephemera. By combining field and archival recordings with modular synthesis and acoustic instruments, this project served as an experiment in sonic […]
For this month's Holy Oak Family Singers residency, we are joined by the beloved BC singer-songwriter Veda Hille! The night will feature original songs from Veda, and covers by the HOFS crew, all centered around the theme of Plants & Animals.
The Blue Sky Group is an original, melodic, and engaging jazz group that will entertain and inspire. It is composed of five diverse and experienced Toronto musicians performing original music. Fresh from the recording studio earlier last summer in 2023. We are happy to share our music in the spring of 2024! Featuring: Ernie Tollar […]
The Tania Gill Quartet on this night will include Brodie West (alto saxophone and clarinet), Rob Clutton (bass), Nico Dann (drums) and Tania Gill (piano and compositions). Original instrumental music "displaying lyricism and angularity in equal measure" (Winnipeg Free Press)..."which cleverly and completely effortlessly balances between modern jazz and the more unpredictable avant-garde. The music […]
JAAM E JAM is the first in a series of world folk music community events, a jam session exploring various SWANA folk music traditions, and where folks can exchange their knowledge. Attendees are encouraged to bring an instrument or voice, for night of song, dance, and poetry.
Heavy On The Willie return to Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge Saturday, May 4 at 10 pm with an opening set by Sarah Greene. Originating in interpreting the songs of Willie Nelson, Heavy on the Willie is nowadays heavy on the songs of Paul Kolinski, which are songs of longing and connection, played with soul and […]
The Tranzac event calendar is updated regularly. Some events (such as private rehearsals, parties, and tentative events that are being contracted) are not displayed in the calendar. As such the calendar is not a comprehensive representation of venue availability. If you do not see your event in the calendar, please review our Event Promotion & Style Guide
This calendar was established in May 2023. To view an archived calendar with basic event information, please click here.
