Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul premieres at Hot Docs Theatre Dec. 4th

Trailblazing Toronto soul great Jay Douglas tells his story in Play It Loud! screening at Hot Docs Theatre on December 4th & 7th.

Here's the scoop...

It’s official! PLAY IT LOUD! How Toronto Got Soul is having its WORLD PREMIERE at the Hot Docs Theatre, 506 Bloor St W., on December 4th at 6:30 p.m. (now sold out), with a second screening on December 7th at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets for the December 7th show are available right here: https://hotdocs.ca/whats-on/films/ds-play-it-loud

Play it Loud! – How Toronto Got Soul is a feature documentary that tells the little known story of how Jamaican music became a critical and unlikely part of Canadian culture. The film reveals a social and cultural migration that made Canada a mecca for Jamaican music, recognized around the world, but little heralded at home. We tell This story is told through the life, music, struggles and triumphs of beloved Jamaican Canadian singer Jay Douglas. Born as Clive Pinnock, in rural Jamaica to a single mother, Douglas began performing professionally at 17 and has never stopped. Today, nearly sixty 60 years later, he’s more popular than ever.

Douglas’ life mirrors the emergence of Jamaican popular music, both in its birthplace, and his adopted country. He’s a witness and participant to the birth of ska and reggae, the Jamaican diaspora in the UK and Canada, and the emergence of a uniquely Canadian Black music culture. Through Jay’s personal story, the film will tell an important and largely unknown tale of cultural transformation.

The Wednesday, December 4 screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Graeme Mathieson, musician Jay Douglas and producer Andrew Munger. The Saturday, December 7 screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Graeme Mathieson and Everton "Pablo" Paul, featured in the film. Both sessions will be moderated by Heather Haynes, Hot Docs' Director of Programming. Watch the trailer below. 

Find out more about the film and upcoming screenings at: https://www.playitlouddoc.com/

Toronto soul great Jay Douglas @ Old Mill Jazz Lounge, Friday

Jay Douglas – featured in the new Play It Loud! documentary – performs two sets at the Old Mill on Friday at 8 pm sharp. 

The new documentary Play It Loud! screens at the Hot Docs Cinema on Dec 4th and 7th. Get tickets here.

T.O. hip hop doc Make Some Noise screens @ Revue Cinema, Saturday

Make Some Noise, Andrew Munger's 1994 film about Toronto's underground hip hop scene feat. Da Grassroots, Ghetto Concept, Thrust and others screens Saturday.

The Black Nerds present Make Some Noise

"In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Make Some Noise, The Black Nerds invite audiences to explore the dynamic and often overlooked landscape of Toronto’s 1990s underground hip-hop scene. This documentary, directed by Andrew Munger and presented in its original 16mm format, serves as a critical document of an era that profoundly shaped the broader hip-hop movement while remaining largely unrecognized in mainstream narratives.

"Make Some Noise features a remarkable lineup of early appearances by influential artists, including Da Grassroots, Ghetto Concept, Thrust, a young Mos Def, Dan-E-O, Wio-K, Farley Flex, and Motion.

"Set against the backdrop of Toronto's diverse neighborhoods—Rexdale, Bloorcourt, Scarborough—and the once-vibrant CKLN, Ryerson University’s (currently Toronto Metropolitan University) community radio station, this film illuminates the cultural roots of a hip-hop scene that has been a hidden gem in the fabric of music history. Despite its obscure nature and limited exposure on college radio, this underground movement played a pivotal role in shaping the global hip-hop narrative.

"The screening of Make Some Noise not only celebrates the rich history of Toronto’s hip-hop culture but also serves as a reminder of the importance of documentation in preserving these vital stories. Without the dedication of Andrew Munger and his commitment to capturing the essence of this scene as it was emerging, much of this narrative might have been lost to time.

"Accompanying the screening, a talkback session with director Andrew Munger and DJ X (Adrian King) will provide deeper insights into the film's lasting impact and the vibrant cultural movement it represents.

"We invite you to join us on November 16 for this special screening, where we will honour the contributions of Toronto's underground hip-hop artists and engage with the nostalgic echoes of a transformative era in music history." - Faduma Gure

Make Some Noise screens at the Revue Cinema on Saturday, November 16 at 6:30 pm with director Andrew Munger and DJ X in attendance for a talk back session. Get tickets right here. 

Watch the trailer below followed by a clip of one of the film's highlights, a freestyle by a 20 year-old Mos Def (who was then still known as Dante Smith working with his siblings Casey "Ces" Smith and Dennard "DCQ" Smith in Urban Thermo Dynamics at the time) on CKLN's Power Move show hosted by DJ X and Thrust.

Watch 90s T.O. hip hop doc Make Some Noise