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In an effort to ward off the autumn chill we are holding a Brandy Tasting on Wednesday October 22. You will be able to compare Cognac, Armagnac, and Calvados. What is the difference between these styles? Is Remy any different than Hennesey? All will be revealed to those who participate. As always this tasting is a purely educational experience, any visceral pleasure is merely an incidental side effect. Advance tickets are now available. Karen Kosowski | Sara Kamin | Rob Szabo | Only Forward | Scott B Sympathy | Quill & Tolhurst | Electric Meat | Andrea Florian | Beautiful Senseless Those with day jobs may be reluctant to check out a show during the week. Not to fear, here at nia the doors open promptly, shows start within fifteen minutes of their advertised time, and most weekday shows wrap up by midnight. Enjoy! Singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Karen Kosowski has three independent commercial releases distributed across Canada that showcase her gritty honest songwriting and vivid music-making. Her latest release Optimist Party is a catchy new collection of hard-hitting songs featuring Kosowski on vocals, guitar, and bass accompanied by a stellar collection of some of Canada's most in-demand instrumentalists. Advance tickets are available for her show on Wednesday October 8 with Shannon Weir. Sara Kamin has been compared to notable female artists like Jann Arden and India.Arie with an emphasis on staying in the moment, Kamin's live show is direct, in your face and powerful with a "...big soulful voice…commands attention" (Kurt Swinghammer). Advance tickets are available for her show with The 68's and Afie Jurvanen on Thursday October 9. Rob Szabo is at the musical core of local Toronto rockers Placticine and has put in time with Groove Daddys and currently hot on the promo trail for his debut solo effort. Szabo's live show is both cutting and melodic. A combination of power pop and edgey guitars over which his voice carries with musical clarity and pure pop prowess. Truly cool. Undeniably catchy. Never cliche. Advance tickets are available for his show with Nine Mile and Ben Rollo & Mike Todd on Saturday October 11. Brainchild of outside-the-lines songwriter Dave Martel, Montreal's alt acrobatic pop outfit Only Forward deploy all that's good in old fashioned early new-wave and post punk pop. Over the top on the vocal side of things, guitarist/singer Martel leads the band through impressively succinct and edgy tunes while taking the audience on a ride with all over the place melodic charm. Only Forward is joined by Emily Weedon and Wax Mannequin on Thursday October 16. Advance tickets are available. Local twang hero Scott B (Sympathy) drops in for an evening of cool roots rock. The highly respected veteran Toronto songwriter is joined by Jack Breakfast whose music is stripped down to the point of being nearly naked, like a black and white photo of a deserted highway. Sounds to soothe and tantalise those fond of the maudlin and vaguely country. Advance tickets are available for this show which also showcases Elliot Brood on Saturday October 18. Their new CD, So Rudely Interrupted, (True North Records), bears all the trademarks of their unique past collaborations – evocative lyrics, powerful vocals, ringing guitars, and masterful flourishes of dobro, lap steel and mandolin. They will be joined in the CD release concert at nia by Canadian music legend Garth Hudson (accordion), and an all-star band including Mitchell Lewis (guitars), Dennis Pinhorn (bass), Bucky Berger (drums) and Anne Lindsay (fiddle). Advance tickets are available for this Thursday October 23 show.
Electric Meat is the name of a band that is busy extending the fine tradition of The Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews, Phish et al as they delve into their vast catalogue of jammy rock. Advance tickets are available for Electric Meat's next show with Andrew Peters on Friday October 24. "What a nice find here in Canada's Andrea Florian, with her self described eclectic folk that should find a home in the collection of any Tori Amos or Jewel fan." - cdreviews.com Advance tickets are available for Florian's Saturday October 25 show with Graham. If writing about music is like dancing about architecture. Beautiful Senseless lies somewhere between a pirouette and a flying buttress. They straddle the fine line between can rock Rheostatic influences and an all together rootsy vibe that is a welcome flavour in the mix. Beautiful Senseless are appearing with Kim Jarrett and Joel Parkes as part of a Mariposa Presents on Wednesday October 29. Advance tickets are available. |
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