Wednesday, October 19, 2022

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Toystock IX And Rhythm & Brews!!)

Today's post is devoted to LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS for shows late next month, both on the same weekend, but very different in size, purpose, and country of origin, so let's look at both in chronological order!

Local hard rock quartet Rhythm & Brews will make their apparent debut at Huck's Pub & Grill in nearby Rudyard for a one-nighter on Saturday, November 26th! This show has not been confirmed by the band's Facebook page yet (it may never be given how infrequently it's updated), but Huck's Facebook page announced the date yesterday via this event calendar. Some readers may recall Rhythm & Brews being booked at the former Joe's Bar in November 2021 for a hunter's bash, only to withdraw for unannounced reasons and be replaced by Tarnished on late notice. A year later, and it looks like Brandon, Chris, Brett, and Ron are ready to try again, let alone on ladies night (old Back Door regulars will like that!) Hunters are welcome too, of course. You can enjoy Rhythm & Brews' hard rocking covers on November 26th at 8:00 PM with no cover and a 21+ age limit. Visit the above links for more details!

Next up, and after a two year, pandemic-induced hiatus, Sault Ontario Christmas Cheer fundraiser concert Toystock returns for its ninth installment on Sunday, November 27th at The Grand Gardens North! In case you need a refresher, Toystock is the annual fundraiser put on by Bone Yard frontman Greg Simpson of GS Entertainment & Design (formerly Maxx Entertainment) to raise money for Christmas Cheer and collect toy & non perishable food donations for the cause, traditionally being held in late November to help kick off the holiday season. Wonderful cause, and kudos to Greg for sticking with it through the last two years to bring it back in 2022! If past years are anything to go by, look for local vendors, an appearance by Santa Claus himself, and perhaps the return of the Stuff-A-Bus, but further details have not been announced as to the non-musical aspects of Toystock IX. Visit the official website for continuing details!

As in all past years (including the last five at The Grand Gardens), ten bands will be playing in ten hours on November 27th, with the aforementioned southern hard rock cover trio Bone Yard hitting the stage as headliners at 9:00 PM! This will be Bone Yard's record eighth Toystock set, only missing out in year #2 from 2013 (where Greg sang with two other bands of his). Classic rock quintet Mustang Heart will surprisingly make their Toystock debut as the 8:00 PM co-headliners, while country musician Brendan Hodgson will play his third straight Toystock at 7:00 PM. Classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will take the stage at 6:00 PM for their fourth straight Toystock, though no word yet on if drummer Glen Thomas will bring back his annual drumkit giveaway. The other six bands are Toystock newcomers, including debuting pop rock cover band Bourbon Blue at 5:00 PM.

Details on them are slim so far, but they feature Soo Fighters/ex-Cherry Crush frontman Jules Cote in their lineup. Country musician Rob Wagner "and friends" take the stage at 4:00 PM, preceded by a mystery band named Ravencore at 3:00 PM. The name sounds intriguing for SMS-friendly genre ties, but I have no inside information whatsoever on them, so we'll keep you posted! Punk trio Vanity First will get some solid exposure with a new audience in the 2:00 PM timeslot, while the Long & McQuade Band will perform at 1:00 PM. I presume this band is made up of music students at the McDonald Avenue music store, and this conceit is hardly new for Toystock, as music student bands (either from Case's Music or the Bocturoc Academy) have played every year except the first one in 2012. Lastly, singer/guitarist Jeremy Logan Newman (who opened for Fort Creek at shows this year) will kick off Toystock IX at 12:00 PM.

705Live Sound Co. will be on hand to work sound this year. Admission to this all ages holiday event is strictly by donation (toys, non-perishable food, and money all counts), and it's great to see Toystock back at last to help give needy families something to celebrate over the holidays! I know Greg didn't want to cancel Toystock the last two years, but it's back now and hopefully the return is bigger and better than ever, so visit the above links for current details on Toystock next month, stay tuned for updates, and look for weekend concert previews on the site next! Thanks everyone!

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