 |
| Jamie Oliver will be joined by guiarist Steve Briggs along with Matt Coldwell, Galen Pelley & Mike Eckert starting at 10 pm. |
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Jamie Oliver, The Country Crooner w/ Steve Briggs & pals @ The Cameron House, Saturday
Remembering J Dilla on his birthday
 |
| Raising a glass to hip hop producer extraordinaire James Yancey aka J Dilla on his birthday with a interviews and more. |
R.I.P. Fred "Tonic" Smith of Television, Blondie, Fleshtones
 |
| Sadly, bassist Fred Smith – who played with Television, Blondie & The Fleshtones – has passed away at 77. He'll be greatly missed. |
LINKS
Stereogum Television bassist Fred Smith dead at 77
Before They Were Famous: Dave Van Ronk
 |
| NYC folk legend Dave Van Ronk cut "Skiffle In Stereo" with pals Sam & Ann Charters and Spivey's Len Kunstadt in 1958. |
Orange Blossom Jug Five
Dave Van Ronk - Guitar
Sam Charters - cornet and guitar
Len "Kazoo Papa" Kunstadt - kazoo
Russell Glynn - jug
Ann Danberg aka Ann Charters - washboard
Friday, February 6, 2026
Bob Marley "King of Reggae" Birthday Celebration @ Lee's Palace, Saturday
 |
| The Pressure Drop & Bless Up selectas will be spinning reggae gems on vinyl in Bob Marley's honour at Lee's Palace on Saturday. |
The 20th Anniversary of "King Of Reggae" Birthday Bash – Toronto’s longest-running Bob Marley birthday tribute takes place on Saturday, February 7th at Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor St. West), featuring Reggaddiction, Kairo McLean & Friendlyness, Pressure Drop & Bless Up selectas and more starting at 9 pm!
NuFunk Concerts proudly presents the city’s largest and longest-standing celebration of Bob Marley’s legacy. This iconic annual event showcases top-tier reggae talent while giving back to the community through food donations in support of the Parkdale Food Bank.
Join us at Lee’s Palace for an unforgettable night of live reggae. Enjoy a full set from the 10-piece powerhouse Reggaddiction, along with special surprise guests. The event also features exciting prize giveaways and a vibrant craft market. Tickets are $23.53 advance and available right here.
Hail up to Pressure Drop Selectors — DJs Guv’nor General and Chuck Boom. True legends of the Toronto reggae scene, from their early days at The Embassy in Kensington Market to their long-running annual Boxing Day Fundraiser. Over the years, they’ve shared stages with icons like Sister Nancy, Junior Cat, Stranger Cole, Carol Brown, Dub Connection Sound System, Jah Tubby’s, and Deadly Dragon Sound System featuring Screechy Dan.
No strangers to the Bob Marley Birthday Tribute, we’re blessed to welcome them back once again—spinning strictly 45s: roots reggae, rub-a-dub, dancehall, dub, rocksteady, and ska—fully powered by the 15,000-watt Bless Up Sound System.
Check out the event preview clip along with some vintage Bob Marley footage.
Canadian hip hop pioneers Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee, Muzion get stamps!
 |
| Believe it or not, Canada Post has just issued a new series of stamps celebrating Canuck MC's Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee & Muzion! |
Here's the scoop from Canada Post...
Our newest commemorative stamps pay tribute to three groundbreaking Canadian hip-hop artists Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee and Muzion. Each of these MCs pioneered a uniquely Canadian identity, with a sound influenced largely by musical styles and rhythms from Jamaica, Trinidad and Haiti.
Maestro Fresh Wes propelled Canadian hip-hop into the mainstream with groundbreaking hits that set new industry milestones.
Michie Mee combined rap with dancehall and reggae to create an iconic sound that captivated fans.
Montréal-based group Muzion layered French, English and Haitian Creole into their music, injecting the ever-evolving genre with a fresh new vibe.
Learn more about our Hip-hop in Canada stamps here and pick up a set of today right here.
Stamp designers: Noël Nanton, Nadia Molinari | typotherapy
Stamp photographers:
Maestro Fresh Wes: Wellington Williams; background by Edward James Rissling
Michie Mee: Getty Images; background by Rick McGinnis (Rick McGinnis Photography)
Muzion: Brigitte Henry; background by Marie-Michèle Bouchard
One For The Weekend: Duke Of Iron
 |
| Check out the swingin' "Calypso Invasion" by Duke Of Iron (center) and his Calypso Troubadors on Apollo Records. |
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Sun Ra: Do The Impossible documentary airs on PBS, February 20
 |
| Christine Turner's new documentary "Sun Ra: Do The Impossible" screens as part of the American Masters series on PBS. |
Sun Ra: Do The Impossible
A kaleidoscopic portrait of the visionary jazz musician, composer, and poet known as Sun Ra and the musical, historical, and philosophical currents that shaped him.
Poet, philosopher, Egyptologist, bandleader. Jazz visionary Sun Ra was all of these—and more. With his ever-evolving band the Sun Ra Arkestra, he produced more than 200 albums, stretching the boundaries of free-form jazz while weaving ancient Egypt, interstellar metaphors, and scientific musings into a singular musical and spiritual vision of Afrofuturism that continues to reverberate across generations. Director Christine Turner takes us on an illuminating journey through the life of this multi-faceted artist, gracefully balancing recollections from the Arkestra’s still-devout band members and dancers with insightful interviews from music scholars, and unforgettable film and performance footage of Sun Ra himself. The result is a portrait—informative, inspiring, and mind-bending—of a man whose audacious vision, otherworldly imagination, and uncompromising artistry helped shape not only the sound of jazz, but the cultural landscape of the 20th century and beyond.
ABOUT SUN RA
Herman Poole Blount was born on May 22, 1914, in Birmingham, Alabama, and departed this earth on May 30, 1993, as Sun Ra. Along the way he became a conscientious objector, legally changed his name to Le Sony’r Ra, forged a vision of a Black Space Age future, created a big band that toured the world and continues to this day, wrote over 1000 jazz compositions, issued more than 200 self-produced records, pioneered the use of electronic keyboards,
and published volumes of broadsheets and poetry. Sun Ra reached back in time to ancient Egypt to claim civilization as Black and fused it with the dawn of the Space Age to assert Blackness as the very nature of the “omniverse. ” Compelling and strange, he claimed to have been “teleported” to Saturn, where he was told that the world would descend into chaos and that he must speak through music. Though his “Earth departure day” may have occurred more than three decades ago, his influence continues to grow with each successive generation.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Christine Turner is a filmmaker whose portraits of artists, activists, and everyday people capture the beauty and struggle of life. Previously, her short documentary, The Barber of Little Rock (The New Yorker), about a local barber’s fight for a just economy, was nominated for Best Short Documentary at the 2024 Academy Awards. Her film J’Nai Bridges: Unamplified, released in 2023, follows the titular opera singer as she takes the stage in “A Knee on the Neck,” a tribute to George Floyd (PBS/American Masters). Other notable work includes: Lynching Postcards: ‘Token of a Great Day’ (Paramount+), which was nominated for a Peabody and won an NAACP Image Award; Homegoings (PBS/POV), a critically-acclaimed portrait of a renowned Harlem funeral director; and the two artist profiles Betye Saar: Taking Care of Business (New York Times Op-Docs) and Paint & Pitchfork (The New Yorker). Learn more at christineturner.com.
Watch a red carpet interview with Sun Ra: Do The Impossible director Christine Turner at the Tribeca Film Festival followed by the documentary trailer.
Happy Birthday Ann Sexton!
 |
| Raising a glass to South Carolina-born soul diva Ann Sexton on her birthday with a couple of smokin' performances. |
Whaddya mean you don't know Munetaka Inoue and his Sharp Five
 |
| Check out drummer Munetaka Inoue and his Sharp Five crew ripping through a few of their faves Eleki-style. |
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Lori Yates with Derek Downham @ Friar's Music Museum, Thursday
 |
| If you're near Shopper's Drug Mart (283 Yonge) on Thursday at 12:30 pm, swing by for Lori's set with Derek on the 2nd floor. |
Midweek Mixdown: HonkyTonk Jukebox: Crackpot Country
Dallas DJ Bryan C takes some of his fave offbeat country 45s for a spin on his HonkyTonk Jukebox podcast.
Here's the scoop...
Straight outta Dallas, DJ Bryan C spins classic juke joint, outlaw and Texas country on vinyl 45s for his HonkyTonk Jukebox podcast in a bid to save country music seven inches at a time. For show #161, he takes a crooked path less travelled through the oddball terrain of what he calls "Crackpot Country" which includes Hank Penny singing about his love for Molasses, Lois Williams crooning about her obsession with a certain Hee-Haw cast member, Faron Young wacky exploration of Dingaka and much more.
Listen to HonkyTonk Jukebox show #161: Crackpot Country via Mixcloud right here.
Check out the complete tracklist below.
HonkyTonk Jukebox #161 – Crackpot Country
Hank Penny- I Like Molasses (RCA Victor)
Cal Smith - It Takes Me All Night Long (Kapp)
Lois Williams - I Fell In Love With A Feller On The Hee Haw Show ( Starday)
Faron Young - Dingaka (Mercury)
Ernest Tubb & Red Foley Dr Ketchum (Decca)
Jay Gardner - Big Mouth Woman (EIm)
Walt Wilder - I Love What's In My Arms (Homa)
Johnny Free - Lusty Lady (Pageboy)
Billy Gray & The Cowtowners - How Would She Look In A Kitchen (CMR)
Rudy Preston - Goat Ropers Need Love Too (Showman)
Jethro Burns - Dolly Parton's Sweet On Me (RCA)
Carl Dobkins Jr - Linda The Motel Maid (Chalet)
Tony Burris - White Lines And Dirty Minds (Tony Burris Music)
Kirk Hansard - Nudist Colony (Chart)
BJ Wright - JR (Soundwave)
JIm Furst - The Milkman's Get Your Wife (KDR)
Chuck Penny - Don't Forget To Feed The Cat (TIM)
Mark Grothier - Fore In The Morning (Stop)
Cal Cavendish - U-Haul Trailer (Westmount)
Chuck Wagon & The Wheels - The Gas Song (Let's Drop The Neutron) (Wagontracks)
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
JG Thirlwell releases the final Foetus studio album "Halt"
 |
| JG Thirlwell's last Foetus album HALT is out now on double vinyl, digipak CD and digital download. Get it on wax while you can. |
Here's the scoop...
The long awaited and highly acclaimed final Foetus album HALT is available NOW on double coloured vinyl, deluxe digipak CD and digital. Both physical versions are close to being sold out and are being repressed. The second pressing of the vinyl will come in a slightly different colour, Habernero Red blend for the first vinyl and Grey Matter blend for the second vinyl.
HALT has been variously hailed by Foetus followers as “JG’s best work”, “so freaking good”, “this album is PERFECT” and “a masterpiece”. You can order the album from JG's own Foetus site here or Bandcamp here.
What the media is saying...
“The end of the Foetus project has been on Thirlwell’s own terms – controlled, deliberate, and uncompromising to the last….It’s a reflection of Thirlwell as a writer, creator, composer, and also as a human being. From pre-boy to man – Foetus has left the building.” - Wesley Doyle, The Quietus
“Despite its overwhelmingly dark themes, the album is refreshing in its singular approach and an artist’s willingness to use his platform to explore humanity’s collective dysfunction.” - Mike, Avant Music News
Check out a couple of podcast interviews with JG Thirlwell, some performance footage along with "Succulence" off Halt.
Happy 70th Birthday Lee Ranaldo!
 |
| Celebrating 70th birthday of Sonic Youth co-founder Lee Ranaldo with a few old faves performed with his pals in Yo La Tengo. |
R.I.P. Stick Men With Ray Guns bassist Bobby Beeman
 |
| Sadly, bassist Bobby Beeman of Texas punk crew Stick Men With Ray Guns has passed away after a lengthy illness. |
Writes SMWRG mainman Clarke Blacker...
As many of you already know, Stick Men With Ray Guns bassist Bobby Beeman has passed away after a long illness. Although Bobby was the last to join the band, he instantly became an integral part of everything. I always trusted his judgement above my own in all things concerning the band. He was a terrific partner and I will miss him always. My thoughts go out to his family in this difficult time.
I feel broken knowing that he's not there, and won't ever be there again. I hope that Scott is aware of what has happened, but we haven't spoken in probably 25 years and he wanted to disassociate himself from the band. I've honored his wishes. If anyone out there can reach him, please let him know about Bobby. Despite the estrangement, I think that he might want to know.
Goodbye Bobby.
Monday, February 2, 2026
Remembering saxophone great Sonny Stitt on his birthday
 |
| Raising a glass to Sonny Stitt – born Edward Hammond Boatner Jr. in Boston – with a few stellar performances. |
Ottawa's Atlantis Jazz Ensemble preview "Mystic Suite" album with "Damocles"
 |
| Pierre Chrétien and his Atlantis Jazz Ensemble return with Mystic Suite, another amazing spiritual jazz gem out February 27th. |
ATLANTIS JAZZ ENSEMBLE – MYSTIC SUITE
As you might expect, this "Mystic Suite", inspired by Hades’ supernatural realm, is perhaps the most intense, unusual and sublime of the three albums. It channels the energy of the spiritual jazz offered back in the 1970s by labels such as Strata-East, Tribe and Black Jazz, mixed with the urgency presented by the best of today’s jazz underground, fiercely struggling and searching for meaning within this era of global tumult. This is a meaningful record, driven by human connection, the kind that is only possible when like-minded musicians interact face-to-face within the same room.
The set flows as smoothly as the mythical River Styx. The Fender Rhodes electric piano starts things off slowly by churning an ominous brew during the intro to “Damocles”, before the full band drops a dark Elvin Jones-style mambo, set in a menacing Phrygian mode. The Coltranian vibes continue on the spiritually-charged “Spirits Unseen”, a fast-paced jazz waltz exploring the possibilities of polymodality, before settling into the softer contemplative sonorities of “Persephone”. Side A closes off with the sinuous bossa-tinged “As the River Flows”, before Side B picks things up again with the otherworldly harmonies of “Elysian Fields”. The 12/8 polyrhythms of “Asphodel Meadows” and the highlife jazz of “Gates of the Sun” bring in percussion-heavy Afro sounds into the mix, before things wind down with the horn-drenched melancholy soul-jazz of “Broken Dreams”.
It’s also worth mentioning that the core quintet of the Atlantis Jazz Ensemble is joined here by brilliant tenor saxophonist Petr Cancura, an alum of bassist Cecil McBee’s group, relocated to Canada after a long stint in New York City, as well as versatile percussionist Marielle Rivard, best known for her work as member of the Souljazz Orchestra. Engineer and co-producer Jason Jaknunas recorded the album live off-the-floor at his Metropolitan Studios location, subsequently mastering it to his beloved 1965 Studer Revox G36 all-tube 2-track tape machine. Cover artwork is based on a late 19th century water-colour sketch by Norwegian artist and explorer Fridtjof Nansen.
"Mystic Suite" is the Atlantis Jazz Ensemble’s 3rd album and is released by Marlow Records in vinyl LP, CD, and digital formats on February 27th 2026. LP format was meticulously cut, plated and pressed in Canada at Precision Record Pressing's state-of-the-art facility. Vinyl copies of Mystic Suite will be available at The Record Centre (1099 Wellington St., Ottawa) after the February 27th release date.
Personnel:
Ed Lister - trumpet, flugelhorn
Zakari Frantz - alto saxophone, percussion
Pierre Chrétien - electric piano, percussion
Chris Pond - bass
Mike Essoudry - drums
with:
Petr Cancura - tenor saxophone, percussion
Marielle Rivard - percussion
Sunday, February 1, 2026
R.I.P. Billy Bass Nelson, 1951-2026
 |
| Sadly, founding Funkadelic bassist "Billy Bass" Nelson has passed away days after his 75th birthday. Billy played on many more recordings than you know. |
Session bassist Bob Babbitt shared his memories of Billy Bass...
Story Time: Billy Nelson recruited Eddie Hazel to join the Parliaments rhythm section on August of 1967. About a month later they picked up Tiki Fulwood at the Uptown in Philly. A few months after that those three decided to become their own group Funkadelic. But a year later they all left Detroit. Tiki went to work for Tyrone Davis. Eddie & Billy tried a thing called Sparky & the Pimpadelics (with Brad Innis & Herb Sparkman) that didn't work-out. Billy went to work for Bill Doggett. And Eddie went back to Detroit to put a live "Funkadelic" band together while studio musicians (Babbitt, Monette, Coffey, Hunter, Van Dyke & Andrew Smith) played on the the sessions for 6 of the albums 7 tracks (Music for My Mother was already done). Tracks like What is Soul & Mommy What's a Funkadelic were jams Billy & Eddie put together in rehearsals during the summer of '68. GC took the entire writing credit for both!
Studio musicians were used because there was NO band at the time, not because they couldn't play. Anyhow, when Eddie Hazel returned to Detroit in early '69 he brought Tawl Ross with him from Plainfield to play bass. They picked up Mickey Atkins (organ) and drummer Zachary Frazier (or Slater) from the 20 Grand Lounge house band. But the band never really clicked like before. GC begged Billy to come back and sort out the band as the album was being completed. Billy took bass, Tawl moved over to rhythm, Tiki agreed to come back and Billy recruited Bernie Worrell from Plainfield. Billy, Eddie, Tiki, Tawl & Bernie became the band. Those are the five pictured on the back of the first album even though they played on little of it. Frazier-Slater was free to go join McKinley Jackson's Politicians where he was the drummer on a number of H-D-H & Motown sessions through the mid-70's. I've never heard any more about Mickey Atkins.
Funkadelic stayed intact for about two years recording Free Your Mind & Maggot Brain as well as Parliament's Osmium album & their singles Red Hot Mama & Breakdown for Invictus (uncredited until a few years back), they were also recorded on most of the sessions for Ruth Copeland's two Invictus albums, although others did participate. Again uncredited until just a couple of years ago. Its often claimed that the Parliaments sang on Free Your Mind & Maggot Brain but Funkadelic did their own lead vocals. In the fall of '71 it ended, period! Tawl left the group, Tiki Left the group. Billy & Eddie quit to go work for Motown. Eddie was there for about seven years, Billy over 10. Funkadelic's '72 follow-up "America Eats its Young" was in part recorded from rehearsal tapes by the made original band.
 |
| Billy Bass & George Clinton with Chairmen Of The Board |
Yet, so many think that the only thing they played on was A Song for You. Of course who'd believe they're on Love Machine, Eddie Kendricks, Smokey Robinson, Rose Banks, Jackson 5ive, Willie Hutch, etc. Same thing at Invictus after the earlier studio guys went either east or west. Guys like Billy, Eddie, Bernie & Donald Baldwin stepped-in and played on a lot of sessions recorded for Invictus during '73 & '74 including the Chairman of the Board's Skin I'm In LP which features the hit Finder's Keepers. Again, no credit. I spoke to Billy about 10 days ago, and the bruh is still working and struggling. We have a very good mutual friend who was present at many of the sessions that Billy played on including just about all of the Commodores sessions. (professionally speaking) I've been asked to look into a few "financial" matters and I KNOW EXACTLY how much Billy has made from residuals & Royalties for all his contributions to P-Funk, Invictus & Motown.
So I got nothing but empathy for Bob Babbitt & so many other musicians who've added so much to the enjoyment of our lives because, other than a band salary while on tour and the session fees they were paid 25-30-35 years ago MOST of these players NEVER got paid anything else. And they don't have the face or name recognition to trade-on, like singers or vocal groups. They only have their resume's, which appear to be a "pack of lies" on the surface because there's no credit to be found hardly anywhere.
Kire Paputts' film "Junkie Run" screens at the Paradise Theatre, Feb 15
 |
| Junkie Run is the most Hamilton film you'll ever see. Check out the Toronto premiere at the Paradise Theatre on February 15th presented by Gary Topp. |
Here's the scoop from Gary Topp...
"When I first met Kire in 2006, he was at Ryerson. He sent me his film ONLY I KNOW. I recognized his dad (Chris of the Viletones) in it. I recognized Kire as a fierce independent filmmaker. I introduced him to Colin Brunton and they made The Last Pogo Jumps Again together. Kire continues to prove me right.
"Come see his newest and fifth feature, perfect on a chilly Lord’s Day afternoon. There’s a bar, good popcorn and a live musical interlude in the lobby by one of the stars (Wayne Larabee, the East-End Sensation) before the screening." – Gary Topp
"About half the roles in Junkie Run were written for specific people. Many of these actors I’ve worked with in the past. For some, it’s our first collaboration. I’ve spent years building a roster of characters. Consisting of friends, family, and muses. And I’m constantly adding to my Rolodex. Always looking for new talent. The idea of building a community is very much inspired by John Waters." - Junkie Run director Kire Pauputts
Don't miss the Toronto premiere screening of Junkie Run at the Paradise Theatre on Sunday, February 15th at 3 pm. Advance tickets are $19.01 (Price also includes a Q&A with the director) and are already 50% sold. Get 'em while they last right here. Watch the trailer followed by a Toronto Mike'd interview with Kire Paputts below.
B-Side Wins Again: Mickey Kalis & The Bakersfield Blues Band
 |
| Check out the rockin' "Got No Time" by Ohio's Mickey Kalis.... "2:10 To Yuma" on the flip ain't too bad either! |