FREEMAN DRE
6.00
Freeman Dre hails from the once gritty but quickly-gentrifying neighborhood of Parkdale. It’s a place where junkies, winos and new immigrants exist in the shadow spaces between condo towers and artists’ lofts. Even as gentrification pushes them out, these wayward characters find a home in Freeman Dre’s songs. The tunes are direct, memorable, wildly romantic, and informed by the North American folk-rock tradition as much as his Irish and Polish roots. They invoke hug-your-neighbour singalongs, foot stomping dance parties, and more than a few tears. Like a late night shot of whiskey, Freemans Dre’s music hits you straight in the gut and then fills your head with the foolish idea that, with enough love, anything is possible.
MYK FREEDMAN HEAVY METAL KLEZMER
8.30
Myk Freedman's Klezmer Club play ecstatic Klezmer music. The band members have deep experience playing in the tradition, but in this band they are drawn to the experience in the moment and will take things to different places. Guitarist Myk Freedman has been active in New York City and Massachussetts for over a decade since he left Toronto, performing with musicians including John Zorn, Elliot Sharp, William Parker and more. Pianist Tania Gill (Tania Gill Quartet, The Titillators, Brodie West Quintet), bassist Victor Bateman (Murray McLachlan, Another Country, Vektor and many more) and clarinetist Peter Lutek (virtuoso who's played with everyone) are all also alumna of the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band. Drummer Dave Clark is in the Rheostatics, was the drummer on Gord Downie's solo albums and leads the Woodshed Orchestra among many other wonderful things.
15$ cover after 10pm, with all proceeds going directly to the musicians performing.
DONNÉ ROBERTS
11.30
Singer-songwriter/guitarist Donné Roberts was born in Madagascar. Now based in Toronto, Canada. He’s earned a matchless reputation for his compositions, strong catchy melodic lines that makes his audience sing along with him during live performances, strong message on the lyrics, also the excitement and the high energy and professionalism of his live shows.
Donné Roberts is a passionate performer. When he hits the stage, he carries with him an energy that immediately exhilarates the crowd even if they've never heard his music before. Donné performs mainly in Malagasy mother tongue from his birthplace of Madagascar. Yet this never proves to be a barrier to the audience, providing living proof that music truly does transcend languages.
Donné came to wider recognition in Canada after he released his albums “Rhythm Was Born”, “Internation” and the most recent release “OYA” was released in October 2021. Also got recognitions for his contribution as one of the members of the African Guitar Summit project, which won a JUNO Award in 2005 and was nominated for another one in 2007 and also as a former original member of Okavango the African Orchestra that won a JUNO Award while he was a member in 2017. Also known as one of the African musicians in Toronto who’s been invited to collaborate and co-write songs with various Canadian musicians such as the Sultans Of Strings, Amanda Martinez and more.
FRAMBOISE
2.30
Details on their way