Malian guitar slinger Vieux Farka Touré carries on the family business of his legendary father at Koerner Hall with Melat Mengesha opening on Saturday.
Here's the scoop from Batuki Music Society...
Known worldwide for his electrifying live shows, Vieux Farka Touré’s virtuosic guitar work blends Malian blues, rock, and soul. Winner of Ethiopian Idol Melat Mengesha opens the show at 8 pm.
Often referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara,” Vieux Farka Touré is the son of legendary Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré, who died in 2006. His live performances are highly energized, and Vieux is known for dazzling crowds with his speed and dexterity on the guitar, as well as his palpable charisma and luminous smile, both of which captivate audiences despite any language barriers (though Vieux does speak eight languages!).
Hailing from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, now based in Toronto, Melat Mengesha’s music features contemporary, folk, and Ethio-jazz roots sounds. Two major influences in her artistic expression are the legendary Ethiopian singers Gigi (Ejigayehu Shibabaw) and Aster Aweke. A major turning point came in 2015, when Melat won the first season of Balageru (Ethiopian Idol). That breakthrough opened the door to a variety of showcases and performances, from intimate stages to large-scale concerts, allowing her to tour across her hometown and beyond.
After the concert, enjoy a beverage and more music at the Postlude Performance in the Leslie & Anna Dan Galleria.
Get tickets for Vieux Farka Touré with Melat Mengesha at Koerner Hall (273 Bloor St. West) on Saturday (October 3) at 8 pm via The Royal Conservatory site right here.
Check out "I'll Dream Alone," the title track off Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders' latest album out now! Catch 'em on tour in the EU!
Here's the scoop...
Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders — born out of the ashes of the legendary Lazy Cowgirls and led by a frontman whose name has stood for the raw heart of American underground music for decades — return with their ninth album, “I’ll Dream Alone.” It’s twelve tracks of loud guitars, road-worn storytelling, and the same fusion of snarling ’70s punk, country, blues, and classic rock that’s made the band a benchmark for authenticity in American rock’n’roll.
Pat Todd wrote or co-wrote the songs the way the Rankoutsiders always have — some road-tested on stage for years before finally being cut (“Ambition Street”), others built from scratch in the studio with the lyrics arriving last (“We’re Outta Time,” “The World It Don’t Need You,” and the title track “I’ll Dream Alone” itself). The album ranges from the Velvet Underground “Loaded”-style ballad “Mediocre Heart” to the uptempo soul-beat of “Beyond the County Line” and the 60’s-AM-radio update “The Last Of Me.” Guitarist Nick Alexander takes a rare turn on lead vocals for “It Ain’t All My Fault,” a song based on a true story, backed by Stephen Vigh, Kevin Keller and Pat Todd.
I'll Dream Alone is out today, Friday, October 2. Get it directly from Hound Gawd! Records right here. Available on standard black vinyl, CD and digital, plus a limited edition pressed on “Blood & Gunpowder” red vinyl. Also available digitally via Bandcamp right here. Catch 'em on tour in Europe during October and November.
Sez Elvis: "The original album, I don't think has ever sounded better than on this release." Out October 2. Get it right here.
Here's the scoop...
My Aim Is True (49th Anniversary Edition) – out Friday, October 2 – tells the origin story of how Declan MacManus became Elvis Costello. This expansive 5CD box set features 104 tracks, 52 of them unreleased songs, demos, outtakes, and live performances. The collection also includes a 72 page liner essay by Elvis Costello, with unseen photographs, handwritten lyrics from his notebooks, and diary entries from 1976 as he was making My Aim Is True. Watch the unboxing clip and a recent interview followed by the track listing below.
The story is told across 5 CDs
CD1: My Aim Is True (2026 Remaster): Remastered from the original 1977 analog master tapes
CD2: The Blue Print: Acoustic recordings and demos recorded before My Aim Is True
CD3: The Stranger In The House: How Declan MacManus became Elvis Costello in 28 songs
CD4: Becoming The Attractions: As they took charge of the My Aim Is True songs and then went mad
CD5: Covered In Clover: The first and last time Costello and Clover played My Aim Is True live in 2007
Tracklist:
CD1 My Aim Is True (2026 Remaster)
1. Welcome To The Working Week - 2026 Remaster / 2. Miracle Man - 2026 Remaster / 3. No Dancing - 2026 Remaster / 4. Blame It On Cain - 2026 Remaster / 5. Alison - 2026 Remaster / 6. Sneaky Feelings - 2026 Remaster / 7. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes - 2026 Remaster / 8. Less Than Zero - 2026 Remaster / 9. Mystery Dance - 2026 Remaster / 10. Pay It Back - 2026 Remaster / 11. I'm Not Angry - 2026 Remaster / 12. Waiting For The End Of The World - 2026 Remaster / 13. Watching The Detectives - Single Version
CD2: The Blue Print
1. I Turn Around - Hope & Anchor Studio / 2. Losing You - Hope & Anchor Studio / 3. Leverman - Hope & Anchor Studio / 4. Citizen Junction - Hope & Anchor Studio / 5. I Hear A Melody - Pathway Studios / 6. Poison Moon - Bedroom Recording / 7. Wave A White Flag - Bedroom Recording / 8. Mercury Wings - Ms. Dore’s Tape / 9. Jump Up - Hope & Anchor Studio / 10. No Star - Hope & Anchor Studio / 11. Walk On - Hope & Anchor Studio / 12. Radio Soul - Hope & Anchor Studio / 13. Clean Money - Hope & Anchor Studio / 14. Don’t Put A Levy On My Love - Hope & Anchor Studio / 15. Play It Safe - Hope & Anchor Studio / 16. Imagination (Is A Powerful Deceiver) - Hope & Anchor Studio / 17. I Can’t Turn It Off - Hope & Anchor Studio
CD3: The Stranger In The House
1. Radio Sweetheart - My Aim Is True Outtake / 2. Cheap Reward - Bedroom Recording / 3. Mystery Dance - Bedroom Recording / 4. Stranger In The House - My Aim Is True Outtake / 5. Running Out Of Angels - Hope & Anchor Studio / 6. Just Like A Jukebox - Hope & Anchor Studio / 7. I Don’t Want To Go Home - Pathway Studios / 8. Blame It On Cain - Bedroom Recording / 9. Blue Minute - Ms. Dore’s Tape / 10. Pay It Back - Bedroom Recording / 11. Exiles Road - Flip City - Hope & Anchor Studio / 12. Knockin' On Heaven’s Door - Flip City - Hope & Anchor Studio / 13. Sweet Revival - Flip City - Hope & Anchor Studio / 14. Pay It Back - Flip City - Hope & Anchor Studio / 15. Imagination (Is A Powerful Deceiver) - Flip City - Hope & Anchor Studio / 16. Living In Paradise - Hope & Anchor Studio / 17. Welcome To The Working Week - Pathway Studios / 18. Miracle Man - Bedroom Recording / 19. Miracle Man - Pathway Studios / 20. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes - Ms. Dore’s Tape / 21. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes - Pathway Studios / 22. Waiting For The End Of The World - Pathway Studios / 23. Living In Paradise - My Aim Is True Outtake / 24. Call On Me - Pathway Studios / 25. Watching The Detectives - Pathway Studios Trio Version / 26. No Action - Pathway Studios Trio / Version / 27. Poison Moon - Ms. Dore’s Tape / 28. Stranger In The House - Ms. Dore’s Tape
CD4: Becoming The Attractions
1. Alison - What’s On Granada Reports / 2. Introduction By Dave Robinson - Live, The Nashville Room / 3. Mystery Dance - Live, The Nashville Room / 4. Pay It Back - Soundcheck, The Nashville Room / 5. Radio Sweetheart - Soundcheck, The Nashville Room / 6. Sneaky Feelings - Soundcheck, The Nashville Room / 7. Crawling To The U.S.A. - Soundcheck, The Nashville Room / 8. Lip Service - Pathway Studios / 9. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes- with Introduction Top Of The Pops / 10. Interview No. 1 - Good Afternoon with Mavis Nicholson / 11. Watching The Detectives - Good Afternoon Broadcast / 12. Interview No. 2 - Good Afternoon with Mavis Nicholson / 13. Hoover Factory - Good Afternoon / rehearsal / 14. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - Live Stiffs, University of East Anglia, Norwich, U.K. / 15. Whole Wide World - Live Stiffs, University Of Leicester, Leicester, U.K. / 16. KSAN Intro - Old Waldorf, San Francisco, CA / 17. Pump It Up - Old Waldorf, San Francisco, CA / 18. Lip Service - Unknown Field Recording / 19. Mystery Dance - Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA / 20. Blame It On Cain - Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA / 21. Less Than Zero (Dallas Version) - Warner Theater, Washington D.C. / 22. Waiting For The End Of The World - The Agora Ballroom, Cleveland, OH / 23. Miracle Man - Warner Theater, Washington D.C. / 24. Watching The Detectives - Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA / 25. I’m Not Angry - Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
CD5: Covered In Clover
Welcome To The Working Week (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Miracle Man (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / No Dancing (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Intro to Blame It On Cain (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Blame It On Cain (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Alison (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Intro To Sneaky Feelings (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Sneaky Feelings (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Intro To Red Shoes (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Less Than Zero (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Mystery Dance (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Pay It Back (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / I'm Not Angry (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Waiting For The End Of The World / Gloria (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Watching The Detectives (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Mr. Moon (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Intro To The Love Trilogy (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Love Has No Pride (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / Love Is Gone (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007) / (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (Live - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - November 8, 2007)
Don Cherry is joined by Collin Walcott and Leon Thomas for the Sunrise 2LP release recorded live in Michigan back in 1977.
Here's the scoop from WeWantSounds...
Wewantsounds is proud to present the first official release of a legendary 1977 concert capturing Don Cherry, Collin Walcott, and Leon Thomas in their only documented performance together. Recorded live on March 5, 1977, at Pease Auditorium in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the performance featured the three musicians playing an immersive, hypnotic set, joined for part of the evening by the rest of Oregon.
Long circulating among a few Don Cherry fans, the full concert is now available as a deluxe, remastered 2-LP gatefold set featuring Moki Cherry artwork and new liner notes by Jason Weiss in conversation with James Quinlan, the concert's producer—licensed by the Don Cherry Estate and producer James Quinlan.
Pre-order a copy via Bandcamp right here. Check out some audio clips following the track listing below.
Don Cherry, Collin Walcott, Leon Thomas – Sunrise
1. Sunrise 23.11
2. Doussn’ Gouni Fly pt. 1 16.38
3. Doussn’ Gouni Fly pt. 2 12.19
4. Eastern Flute Song 6.14
5. Holy River 20.05
Personnel
Don Cherry: Pocket Trumpet, Doussn’Gouni, Flute, Percussion, Voice
