LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Toystock VI & Banned), Plus Rotopsy Updates!!

I know I said that this month's YouTube Channel Profile was coming next, but when compiling it, another SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT hit my Facebook notifications, so we're postponing our feature post one last time to tomorrow morning. It is coming next, I just don't want to let these new shows go uncovered! To fill things out, we have another new show for next month with a huge lineup, and some news from a local metal project, so here's what you should know!

Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rock trio Banned will return to The Northern Pines Lounge at the Kewadin Shores Casino in St. Ignace for concerts TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! Profuse apologies for the short notice, these shows were only announced via their Facebook event page this afternoon, with Banned even noting on their Facebook page that this was a "last minute booking". For what it's worth, Kewadin's entertainment page does not list any Northern Pines Lounge bookings until December, so it's not clear if they're specifically replacing anyone that may have dropped out. Continuing their recent string of Kewadin Casino concerts, TONIGHT & TOMORROW'S shows will be their first since rocking Sault Michigan three weeks ago, and their first in St. Ignace in over a month. Also, while they didn't acknowledge Halloween in their postings, Kewadin branches will be holding costume contests tomorrow, so click here for details on that!

Assuming the last minute announcement was out of their control, it's great to see Banned fill in on short notice, so look for their hard rocking covers TONIGHT & TOMORROW at 9:00 PM with no cover charge and 21+ age limits. Visit the above links for more details, and here's Banned live!



Next up, here's a Sault Ontario show with lots of advance notice, as the lineup has been released for the sixth annual Toystock charity concert at The Northern Grand Gardens on Sunday, November 26th! As revealed by promoters Maxx Entertainment on the Facebook event page earlier today, this year's installment of the Christmas Cheer fundraiser event will once again see 10 bands in 10 hours, though this year's features more returning bands than usual, with five bands returning from last year's Toystock lineup, and just three making their festival debut next month. The band order presented on this poster is subject to change, but top billed there are local country cover quartet Bone Yard in their record fifth Toystock appearance, while their blues rock sister band Mojo will also hit the Toystock stage as just the third band to play the event three times, and they'll feature guest singer Annette Bouchard during their set. Three more bands will return from last year's Toystock, including classic/hard rock cover quartet The 3 Day Millionaires, 1960s-themed classic rock veterans The Peace Vibe, and unidentified Case's Music students.

Toystock VI will also welcome back blues/country veterans The Algo Rhythms from 2015's installment, while pop rock cover quartet Cherry Crush (performers from the inaugural Toystock in 2012) will finally return to this event five years later, and it's great to see Taryn and company back at it! The three new bands on this year's lineup include classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck (though predecessors Mourning Wood played Toystock twice in the mid-2010s), blues rock singer/guitarist Paul Dellavedova & his solo band, and "Jeff & Jeff", a presumed country duo that will feature local radio DJ Jeff McNiece. Solid lineup, and more familiar than ever for regular attendees! As usual, Toystock is a fundraiser event for Christmas Cheer, with all admission fees being via donations in canned goods, toys, or money, which is an excellent cause for the holidays! The Stuff-A Bus will also be on site, as will Santa and Mrs. Claus, so bring the kids!

Expect more prize draws, food and drinks from the Grand Gardens, and more on November 26th, and as usual for Toystock, this is absolutely ALL AGES with a 12:00 PM start time, and one band every hour until 10:00 PM. Things are shaping up well for another year of seasonal entertainment at Toystock VI next month, and with loads of talented musicians (including some hard rock via Soundcheck and the Millionaires), fans won't want to miss out on their familiar covers! See the above links for more details, and stay tuned for continued updates as they roll in!

Finally for today, here's the latest from local goregrind duo Rotopsy, who (much like sister project C.T.W.) have been relatively quiet in 2017, but new activity is being teased on their Facebook page! In August, the band teased that jam sessions were coming after they "found some drum tracks", later teasing on Tuesday that "the wait is over", curiously sharing a picture of an epsom salt bag when posting that. Their long-hinted at EP "A Worthless Collection of Aggressive Noises" will apparently be released "soon", but in the interim, a new video of theirs was put onto Facebook on Wednesday, featuring an apparently now-short haired Tyler Gibson jamming a bass track. The Blood Shed Productions camp has been oddly inactive for most of the year, so it's great to see Tyler and crew back in action at last, and hopefully a live return isn't far off either, so check out Rotopsy's new video below!



That's definitely all for today, but stay tuned for this month's YouTube Channel Profile finally next! Thanks everyone!