LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Rhythm And Brews & Tym Morrison), Plus NLFB Meltdown Updates!!

Here's a rarity for the SMS in the pandemic era: TWO posts in one day! I really wasn't planning on rushing anything this quick, but SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS have hit my news desk today, both only announced today, so hopefully this gets up before both start. To fill things out, we have some fallout from a recent online battle of the bands with local representation, so here's what you need to know, and check out this morning's post for some new videos and a new local band!

Local hard rock singer/guitarist Tym Morrison will return to Reggie's Place on Queen Street East for shows TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, Tym only just confirmed these date via separate Facebook event pages on his Facebook group, though be advised that Bone Yard had previously advertised playing there this weekend. Tym just played a Sunday matinee there on March 13th, but TONIGHT & TOMORROW's shows are more traditional nighttime concerts set for him, mildly unusual given that he's only really played the Sunday matinees at Reggie's as of late. I wish these shows had more notice, but his prolific setlist of classic rock, hard rock, and select country cuts should entertain fans and patrons alike at Reggie's TONIGHT & TOMORROW! If there is an error in the scheduling given that Bone Yard haven't announced that they're out, I'll let you guys know.

Assuming Tym is accurately playing TONIGHT & TOMORROW, then expect a 9:30 PM start time, no cover charge, and a 19+ age limit, and of course, be mindful of the pandemic even with restrictions being loosened. Visit the above links for more details, and here's Tym live!

Next up, Sault Michigan hard rock quartet Rhythm & Brews will reportedly return to The Rapids Lounge at the Sault Ste. Marie Kewadin Casino for concerts TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! Again, apologies for the short notice, I only heard about these shows this evening via shared posts on frontman Brandon Carr's personal Facebook page, as the band proper has not publically promoted these on their own Facebook page. As best as I can tell, these shows are relatively late notice bookings, as Kewadin's website's schedule lists Traverse City dance rock cover band Risque as playing this weekend instead. Risque did announce that these shows and their planned Petoskey gig last week were cancelled, as per their website, but did not announce why in either case. Hopefully nothing bad happened, but it will be nice to see Rhythm & Brews fill in with their hard rocking covers!

Remember, Rhythm & Brews' bassist Brett Blackwood can also be seen in the new metal band Buddy Repperton & The Camaros, as spotlighted in this morning's post. Expect TONIGHT & TOMORROW'S shows to have 9:00 PM start times, no cover charges, and 21+ age limits. Visit the above links for more details, we'll let you know when videos of Rhythm & Brews surface, and apologies again for the short notice on these concerts! I'd have covered them yesterday had either been plugged even a day sooner!

Next up, remember how Sault Ontario indie punk quintet The Northwest played at the virtual NLFB Meltdown battle of the bands on Thursday to try and win an opening slot at the Northern Lights Festival Boreal in Sudbury in July? Well, as it turns out, the winner has not been announced yet, as the competition was fan voted this year, and you can still vote! Bit of a surprise given that in-person installments tended to have judges, but even though the competition was held via Zoom and is not publically viewable elsewhere, the fan vote is open to all, even those who can't answer questions specific to the live-stream. Seems odd that they'd do it this way, but I can't speak for what NLFB staffers' rationale was. If you do want to vote for The Northwest, click here, but in case you want to check out the other Northern Ontario artists who competed, who all also took part?

While the NLFB never announced the full performer lineup, the voting form confirms that 8 acts competed on Thursday, and the other 7 are comedy/folk musician High Knuckles, grunge band Nickel City Grunge, classic rock/world music artist Falcon, black metal band For Mother, new folk group The Rascabells, glitch rock/hip hop project Dadb0dd & The Everyman, and alt-rock group Rare-Earth Magnet. With the possible exception of The Rascabells (whose online footprint is very slim), all of The Northwest's opposition is from Sudbury. Based on the range of music that the Northern Lights Festival Boreal usually hosts, The Northwest strike me as a stronger fit than many of their opposition, but the fan vote will tell a lot about what path this slot on the festival takes. No matter what, a lot of talented bands took part, including some surprising heavier diversions, so vote A.S.A.P. above! 

That's definitely now all for today, but stay tuned for this month's YouTube Channel Profile on the site tomorrow! Thanks everyone!