As part of my 2017 resolutions (after many years of "attempting") I am going to "break" into the open mic scene and have been researching some of the events around town.
Due to its size, Toronto is a hub of musical activity with different sized venues (intimate to Air Canada Centre), all types of music represented, many bands calling Toronto as a base, recording facilities, etc. On the amateur and working professional side are communities of individuals who enjoy grabbing the stage with just a voice and a guitar and sharing their more personal original material or belting out some well known, sing along cover tunes.
I was surprised by the commitment of the hosts, in some cases being there weekly for years, and the availability of a house guitar, rather than bringing your own (in minus 20....that's a huge bonus!).
The first week in January as I began to compile the various events of each week night and attend them, was very quiet - not only due to the weather, I'm sure, but who (or who's liver) wants to go to a bar on a "school night" and start drinking after a wild New Year's Eve. Anyway, by week two, everything had picked up.
ALWAYS CALL ahead, as many of the online open mic websites, although appearing quite recent and updated, are not (Fox and Firkin Danforth - of which, one website advertised a free recording off the board of your performance)
Dora Keogh - Monday nights affair with two talented hosts who warm up the small crowd of mainly performers. The night I attended, most seemed to have some past recording or performing experience (they were really good!). A narrow bar in the Danforth/Broadview area, the venue has a great sized stage in the back corner, with most of the entire bar's light focused on....you guessed it, the stage. The Guinness seemed to be the popular choice among many of the performers and onlookers at this Irish pub, where the bartenders were from....Ireland.
Amsterdam Bicycle Club - Better known as the closed off section of the Esplanade location of the Old Spaghetti Factory. Close to Union if you have to travel with your guitar. The event was advertised at 9PM signup (930PM start), did not really commence until closer to 10pm. The Amsterdam is a cozy, smaller, darker venue with a welcoming, larger stage and good stage lighting. Some of the regulars will hop on the drums, bass, bongos to help accompany you.
The Old Nick - Essentially performers are playing in the front window along Danforth, so you will have onlookers...at your back. In the summer the windows can open, so you will be playing for the masses that stroll by as well as in the bar. A friendly host, Kyle, has been hosting for two years now (and is a drummer primarily, but you would not believe it based on his guitar playing and singing!).
The Cavern - Honestly, I have yet to attend. It sounds like an interesting venue, for the fact if you a performer is downtown working late during the week, you could pop in and sing a couple of numbers from the repertoire. More to report on that one later.
The Grover - Strangely held on Friday nights (versus during earlier in the week where the nights are quieter). As such, you are going to have an audience here. Lacking a stage, there is an area by the main window that is set up with microphone, amplifier, chair, house guitar and a PA. The host was almost too good as an opening act, with a great smooth voice that should have been on American or Canadian Idol. The food choices looked good and would be happy to eat there in the near future.
This is not an exhaustive list, and I will be adding more as they come across my radar and have checked them out. Happy playing!
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