HOLY HOT POTATOES! HAVE WE GOT A LINE UP FOR YOU! Toronto's sexiest rock 'n rollers unite for a night of sweaty fun at Dina's Tavern on the site of the old Silver Dollar Room!
TORONTO ROCK N' ROLLER RATS - THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!
CATL are heading to Europe again this summer, and it just wouldn't feel right if we didn't have a hometown send-off that'll knock all of our socks off!
so we gathered the coolest bands in town...
Kewpie Dolls - Toronto's fierce all-girl foursome
Thee Terrible Threes - super group? or this cities worst garage punk unknowns??
THIS IS A SHOW NOT TO BE MISSED!
Check out a few clips of Catl in action (including some ancient footage shot at the old Silver Dollar) along with a performance by the Kewpie Dolls.
Catl on tour in Belgium, Germany and France 2026
June 26 - BIELEFELD, DE - @extrabluesbar
June 27 - OOSTKAMP, BE - @cowboyup_steakhouse Cowboy Up Music Revival #2 *FESTIVAL*
July 2 - BINIC, FR - @lechalandbinic
July 4 - OSMOY SAINT VALERY, FR - @temple.festival *FESTIVAL*
Deja Voodoo's Gerard Van Herk performs songs from his new Martian Kiss LP along with a few Deja Voodoo faves, a couple of 'em played by Dusky Thrush.
Here's the scoop from Deja Voodoo HQ...
Hey, if you can make it to the Toronto record launch this Saturday, here's the Deja Voodoo tunes we'll be doing (after a bunch of stuff from the new Martian Kiss album, and some surprise extras): Too Cool to Live, Coelacanth, If Mashed Potatoes, Big Scary Daddy, Things With You, 3 Men 1 Coffin, My Girlfriend, Cheese & Crackers, and Voodoo BBQ. And maybe Lonely Motel and Blast Off!
Schedule for Gerard Van Herk's "Martian Kiss" release party
8:30 pm – doors open
9:00 pm – Dusky Thrush (ex-House of Knives) plays Deja Voodoo
9:45 pm – CATL
10:45 pm – Gerard and Paddy
Get tickets for Gerard Van Herk's "Martian Kiss" release party with Catl and Dusky Thrush at the Horseshoe on Saturday (January 24) right here. Also, there will be Deja Voodoo t-shirts available for sale! All sizes in stock, assuming UPS shows up on time.
Check out a few clips of Gerard in action along with a couple of choice Deja Voodoo covers performed by Dusky Thrush below.
Apparently, the Dakota Tavern won't be returning as a live music venue. Who really needs another sports bar in Toronto?
Derek Downham remembers the Dakota Tavern
The death of The Dakota Tavern represents so much more than just the loss of a great live music venue.
This is where some of Toronto's greatest bands were born and nurtured.
This is where strangers met to dance and fall in love.
This is where for many years there was a mutual respect between band, audience and staff.
That's what made it so very special.
My emotional connection to The Dakota cannot be overstated.
I am honoured that I had the opportunity to be a part of it's heyday for 11+ years on Sundays with The Beauties and as part of so many other groups. I actually can't calculate how many shows I played there. Several hundreds, certainly.
Thank you to Jennifer Haslett, Maggie Ruhl & Shawn Thomas Creamer for giving myself and so many others the opportunity to play and build community at The Dakota.
While many of us have already moved on and mourned the loss years ago, I feel this needed to be said.
Thank you.
There will never be another scene like The Dakota on a Sunday when The Beauties played. The music, the abandon, the happiness...truly the greatest and longest running weekly gig I have ever seen or been a part of. It's where I met and played for my heroes like Stuart Copeland, Johnny Marr...Jason Momoa would pick me up like a rag doll. The nights with Kevin Drew and the Metric crew were nothing short of legendary. The Beauties got to play the Junofest Gala, signed to Six Shooter Records and played Zach Galafanakis' wedding because of these nights. This is all just the tip of the iceberg of what came out of these incredible shows.
Thank you to every one of you who came out and supported us and the venue.
I've lived a truly blessed musical life, and a huge part of that is because of The Dakota Tavern.
So Long, Dakota
There is no way
To draw the end of a line
There is no way to tell ending of time - it’s over
And in a way we are a victim of crime
Another way to paint a picture so fine, moreover
So Long Dakota, Carry On Dakota
We had a day
we had a decade or more
There wasn’t anybody keeping the score
It’s over
We saw the morning through a bottle of wine
We held each other
‘Til the end of the night spilled over
So Long Dakota, Carry On Dakota
- DD
Now, more than ever:
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LIVE MUSIC.
Without you, it ceases to exist.
For more info on the unfolding story about The Dakota Tavern, check out Lindsay Dunn's report for City News (below) and the Exclaim piece in the links section. Also, watch The Beauties performing "Fashion Blues" at The Dakota Tavern back in 2010 below followed by a performance by Colonel Tom Parker & The American Pour feat. Nichol Robertson on guitar and a 360' clip of Toronto's premiere blues duo Catl in action.
Toronto's mighty Catl plays their final show at Hamilton's Casbah as part of the Farewell Series starting Sunday from 2 pm till late.
CASBAH FAREWELL SERIES (NIGHT ONE)
SUNDAY DECEMBER 29
The Casbah (306 King St. West, Hamilton)
A day/night of goodbyes, good vibes & good bands
Hamilton's venerable night spot The Casbah Lounge is ending it's 24-year run as music community hub in the heart of the Hammer with a Farewell Concert Series starting Sunday (December 29) with an all ages, all-day event in the Main Hall starting at 2 pm and running until 12 midnight featuring performances by Toronto's blues rockin' gruesome twosome Catl (6:30 pm - sharp!) along with Blind Mule, the Carrie Clark Trio, Chelsea Reynolds Band, Sarah Good & The Bads and GEOFF. The cover is $20 with all proceeds going to the bands. Tell a friend.
Check the Casbah site www.casbahlounge.ca for more info, upcoming events and merch. Check out Catl tearing through their whumpin' "Hold My Body Down" at the Casbah in 2018 and "Got A Thing For You" at This Ain't Hollywood way back in 2015. Watch Catl's version of "You Got The Silver" performed at the Casbah right here.
Don't miss The Gem's 40th Anniversary Christmas Party at Salto today starting at 4pm. Catl plays a covers set at 8 pm.
SURPRISE SUNDAY POP-UP SHOW
IN SUPPORT OF THE GEM BAR & GRILL
Salto Restaurant & Bar (1138 Davenport Rd) - across from where the Gem stood.
4pm until 2am. CATL plays at 8 pm. $20 admission (includes a beer and nachos).
Writes Catl's Sarah K.: "Heyo! CATL is gonna play some cover tunes around 8 pm tonight in support of our buddy Edualdo Angilletta. The Gem was damaged by fire about a year ago and sadly was unable to re-open. Eddie is auctioning off some of the memorabilia that adorned its hallowed halls. It was our favourite bar for nachos and camaraderie and we miss it dearly.
"The Gem was the first place that catl ever played live a looong time ago. Eddie has been a great supporter who even let us rehearse in the bar during the days when we didn't have a practice space. He also rode his motorcycle down to Detroit to see us one time.
"We're gonna warble through some covers tonight and hope to see some folks who felt the same love for Eddie, the staff and The Gem. A huge loss to the community what was once the greatest rock 'n' roll bar in the city."
Also there's a raffle for The Gem's famous jukebox and an auction of The Gem's memorabilia. For more info, visit the FB event page right here.
Don't miss Catl's annual getaway-from-the-city show at Toronto Island Marina's Upper Deck tonight at 8:30 pm to 11 pm. It's free and always a blast!
Sarah's tips on getting to Toronto Island Marina...
YES there is a dedicated boat. YOU DON'T HAVE TO use the REGULAR FERRY if you don't want to for any reason, or are worried about crowds.
Get yourselves to the foot of YORK ST., cross the street to the water-side, stay to the right hand side and look for sign's for the 'Toronto Island Marina' tender/small boat. mention to the driver that you're heading over to see CATL at the Marina and they will only charge you $5 (instead of $10).
Catl. kicks off a series of digital singles with updates of heavenly gems from The Louvin Brothers and Carter Family.
In advance of Catl's upcoming European tour, Toronto's favourite blues bashers are sharing a digital single of their Catl-ized versions of two country gospel tunes "Satan's Jeweled Crown" by the Louvin Brothers and "No Telephone In Heaven" popularized by the Carter Family. Have a listen to Catl's update of "Satan's Jeweled Crown" right hereand "No Telephone In Heaven" right here.
Before any nasty rumours start spreading, it should be made clear that Catl's dynamic duo of Jamie&Sarah didn't "get religion" during the pandemic. Although their time away from the stage did present the opportunity to listen to more vintage country and blues recordings which they found inspiring. And just as many of their favourite purveyors of "the devil's music" – namely Charley Patton, Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell, and Washington Phillips – also dabbled in the spiritual realm, Catl like to keep all the bases covered. In fact, they've previously recorded a version of Phillips' "Keys to The Kingdom" for their 2018 album Bide My Time Until I Die (available here) and they also did "He'll Make A Way" by Robert Johnson (the other one, documented by George Mitchell) for 2012's Soon This Will All Be Gone (get it here).
Explains Jamie: "During the Covid lockdown, Sarah and I were buying and listening to a lot of country music. I've always loved gospel music and how it's structured to 'uplift' people out of their troubles and embrace the 'spirit' (which can be interpreted differently from person to person). Also, how it balances with blues music.
"Since we haven't had a practice space in years, playing drums loudly was not an option. Sarah switched back to her original instrument, the organ, and we started working on a gospel/country set. A handful of songs were recorded over a three-day session during June of 2023 in the French countryside near Rennes, where our label Beast Records resides. More tracks were cut with Franck Thareault at his home studio called Fly House Records.
"Initially our plan was to make this a series of singles, with future releases would share the same theme. Not sure if we would ever play these songs live, but it's been a nice side distraction learning songs from the old country catalogue.
"If we get an album's worth of material covered we're gonna consider a physical release, but for now we're sharing the first two songs, "Satan's Jeweled Crown" by the Louvin Brothers and "No Telephone in Heaven" by The Carter Family."
Check out Catl's versions of "Satan's Jeweled Crown" and "No Telephone in Heaven" on Bandcamp (right here) or via your streaming platform of choice.
You can catch Catl. on their European barnstorming tour of Finland, France Germany and Belgium this June (see dates following the clips). Those interested can check out the Louvin Brothers' 1958 recording of "Satan's Jeweled Crown" and the Carter Family's 1929 recording of "No Telephone In Heaven" back-to-back with Catl's versions below.
Don't miss the jukejoint rock 'n' roll throwdown over at the Dakota Tavern with Catl and the Kewpie Dolls starting at 10 pm.
Catl & The Kewpie Dolls
with DJ Hideki
The Dakota Tavern (249 Ossington at Dundas)
$15 advance, $20 door.
Get ready for an intimate night of stripped down, juke-joint blues and rock n roll with Toronto’s top blues rockin' duo Catl, who will make sure you drink and sweat 'til you can’t drink and sweat no more! Catl are briefly back in town after a successful trip down to Mississippi. This will likely be Catl's only Toronto show before heading off to Europe for a tour through the month of June – so you won't want to miss it! Opening for Catl will be Toronto’s newest all-female garage whumpers, The Kewpie Dolls.
DJ Hideki will be spinning rockin' 45s all night long. Tickets are going fast so grab some while you can right here. Check out some recent clips of Catl down in Mississippi along with an early show by the Kewpie Dolls.
Toronto's bone-rattlin' blues-rock duo deluxe Catl. liven up the ROM's DinoNite Friday (Aug 25) at 7:30pm. Grab yer tix quick!
Here's the scoop...
ROM After Dark is the popular monthly adult (19+) event series that features curated music, visual arts, performances, and distinctive food and drink.
Go Jurassic with RAD: DinoNite—a rip-roaring party packed with costumed performers, live music, and loads of dinosaurs, from real-life fossils to giant inflatables. Plus, each visitor gets a free drink ticket (issued to ticket holder upon building entry. Please drink responsibly) and access to all our exhibitions, including T. rex: The Ultimate Predator.
Tickets are on sale July 18th (Patrons/Members) and July 19th (General Public). Get 'em here.
Visitors will be asked for valid photo government ID upon arrival. Digital copies will not be permitted.
Tickets must be purchased in advance and are not available at the door.
Experiences
Inflatables and Animatronics: Walk into the Museum through the gaping maw of a dinosaur where you’ll see roaming animatronic and inflatable dinosaurs, and balloon sculptures
Fossils: Get hands-on with millions-year-old fossils from our collections
T. rex Puzzle: Complete a 3D puzzle almost as intimidating as the predator itself
Freestyle Socials: Play a hilarious talk show-style game in which you jump in and debate questions
Caricatures: Get a dinosaur-themed portrait drawn by world-renowned caricaturist, Pat James
Performances
Catl.: Part punk, part blues, this Toronto duo is pure ramshackle swagger. Check their Bandcamp site.
Kiwi Jr.: Praised by Pitchfork for their “neon-tinted, futurist power-pop,” this SubPop-signed quartet makes rolling synth lines, dreamy distortion, and atmospheric vocals. Read all about Kiwi Jr.'s third album Chopper right here.
The Moth Project: A multimedia show from Grammy-nominated musician Peter Kiesewalter that weaves music, pictures, and words into an awe-inspiring performance
Soul Decision Comedy: This Canadian Comedy Award-winning duo will perform a set of dino-themed sketch comedy
DJ Grump: This multi-disciplinary DJ combines island rhythms with club anthems. Listen to a selection of Grump's mixes right here.
Plus, enjoy vintage dinosaur films, a live set from DJ Martina Bosede, dino-shaped Squish candies, and much, much more!
Check out clips of Catl., Kiwi Jr., and The Moth Project below.
Toronto blues rockin' duo CATL. will be joined by their harp honkin' pal Pete Ross for Jamie's birthday blowout on Saturday.
Here's the scoop from CATL. HQ...
AINT' NO PARTY LIKE A TORONTO ISLAND PARTY!
Come hang with us at the Toronto Island Marina for some summer fun!!
Down some bevvies and eat some yummy food at the excellent Upper Deck bar/restaurant!
Enjoy TWO SETS by CATL. and some of the best scenic views of our city skyline!
Best of all, it's FREE to attend, and open to the public. TELL ALL THE PEOPLE.
Simply hop on the Toronto Island Marina tender (that's a boat for all you landlubbers our there) at the foot on York St., make sure to mention to the driver that you're heading over to see CATL and they will charge you $5 (instead of $10). For a full tender schedule check out www.torontoislandmarina.com
Music starts at 8:30pm and goes to about 11pm. Come on over early and hang out with your good buddies, CATL. Oh, and give Jamie a hug – it's his FREAKIN' BDAY!
Check out Catl getting sweaty at the Upper Deck back in 2017 and in Berlin, Germany below and watch another performance at the Delta Blues Alley Café in Clarksdale, MS right here.
