Scott B, Alun Piggins, Darryl Gould @ Lola, Friday

You can catch ace song craftsmen Scott Bradshaw, Alun Piggins & Darryl Gould tonight at Lola in Kensington Market at 8 pm.

Edgar Breau & The Drifter Ensemble, Jean Caffeine, Mike Trebilcock @ Lola, Saturday

Edgar Breau (w/ Kevin Christoff and Drifter pals) along with Jean Caffeine & Mike Trebilcock hit Lola (40 Kensington) at 8 pm.

Simply Saucer's Edgar Breau launches "Acadian Drifter" @ Lola, Saturday

Hamilton singer/songwriter deluxe Edgar Breau draws on his Acadian roots for his show at  Lola in Kensington Market at 8 pm. 

Here's the scoop on Acadian Drifter...

Edgar Breau, the legendary Hamilton based artist and founder of internationally acclaimed psych/proto punk cult band, Simply Saucer returns with Acadian Drifter. Edgar Breau's music has always lived at the crossroads of tradition and rebellion, blending poetic lyricism with genre - defying instrumentation. His work resists easy categorization, drawing from folk, punk, rock and experimental influences to create something uniquely his own, often involving figures who exist on the fringes - outlaws, dreamers, hustlers and the people drawn to them. Edgar recorded Acadian Drifter in Montreal and in Hamilton with an ensemble cast of superb musicians including Canadian award winning musicians, guitarist Bill Dillon (Robbie Robertson, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan) and keyboardist Michael Fonfara (Lou Reed) and was mastered by Detroit's legendary Jim Diamond. 

The album's lead single, "Cornpone the King of Jive" blends the swagger of southern fried garage rock with Breau's sharp literary influences, creating a high energy, darkly humorous reflection on populist leaders, folk heroes and the morally ambiguous figures who capture the public fascination. This return to a grittier, more electric sound reconnects Breau with the raw energy that has long defined his music. As Shindig columnist Johnnie Johnstone neatly summed up, "He creates a glorious cornucopia of Pop and Folk tunes, effortlessly amalgamating Fahey- esque picking, raga influenced pyschedelia, CSN style West Coast harmonizing and avant garde guitar experiments with fluid Cosmic Country and pastoral Anglo Pop." 

Get a copy of Edgar Breau's new album Acadian Drifter via Bandcamp right here. Catch him live in Toronto's Kensington Market tonight at Lola (40 Kensington) where he'll be performing both a solo set and with his phenomenal band (Kevin Christoff, Aaron Knight, Clint Rice), featuring songs from  "Acadian Drifter," plus older tunes from his solo catalogue and Simply Saucer. 

Happy Birthday Zbigniew Namyslowski!

Cheers to saxophonist/bandleader  Zbigniew Namyslowski on his 77th! Here's his stellar 1964 quartet set Lola.