Author Archives: fordhampr

Canadian Black Music Archives launches “B’Lack Then” exhibition of music icons & pioneers.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Canadian Black Music Archives launch event last Thursday for their B’Lack Then exhibition of memorabilia, instruments and costumes from Canadian music icons and pioneers. The show runs until February 2026 in the Archives of Ontario housed in York University in Toronto (details at end of story).I was thrilled when I was contacted a few months ago by curator, Shadio Hussein, to secure items from Claudja Barry who continues to enjoy a successful career first in disco music, then on to R&B as well as appearing in films, world tours and making her own documentaries. Claudja submitted a gorgeous beaded gown worn on stage and in videos, her “boogie woogie dancin’ shoes”, several magazines from the 70s and 80s with multi-page photo spreads and interviews, press clippings and all manner of mementoes from her exciting career. (pictured below – Shadio poses with Claudja’s beaded gown and some of Claudja’s photos and magazine articles)
Spread across eight glass showcases, the exhibit illuminates the lives of 23 artists across 10 music genres through photographs, albums, newspaper clippings, film screenings, discussions and more. Visitors are invited to explore significant albums, singles and compilations by artists such as Portia White, Salome Bey, Jackie Shane, Jackie Mittoo, Leroy Sibbles, Nana McLean, Adrian Miller, Motion, Rochester aka Juice and Gene King. Rare sheet music by the Ball Family, Shelton Brooks and Nathaniel Dett is also featured, along with original performance costumes worn by King Cosmos, Claudja Barry and Rochester aka Juice.

King Cosmos poses with his own costume & Claudja’s gown

The celebratory evening presented a number of performances by artists featured in the exhibition or their descendants (Tuku, daughter of Salome Bey / Robert Ball, a descendant of the Ball Family Jubilee Singers / Brooke Blackburn of the Blackburn Brothers & son of Bobby Dean Blackburn), speeches from VIPs and congratulations – bravo to Executive Director Phil Vassell (pictured below) and Managing Director Donna McCurvin and to the archivists and curators who worked so hard to amass a collection of artists from so many different genres. Ontario head archivist Jacqueline Spencer (pictured below Phil) spoke eloquently of her colleagues who dug deep to learn about and locate so many of the musical legends.

The exhibition will run through February 2026 to coincide with Canada’s Black History Month.
Located at 134 Ian Macdonald Blvd at York University (opposite the York U subway entrance).
Details: https://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/events/Canada_Black_Music_Archives.aspx
Open Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5pm   FREE ADMISSION!
Follow @the.cbma on IG for up-to-date news.

MEET JULIA BERNSTEIN, THE FUNNY LADY BRINGING MEATY COMEDY TO THE L.A. MASSES!

I recently discovered online videos and social media posts from a fab and funny LA-based comedian, Julia Bernstein (pictured below) who’s been presenting a comedy variety show called the Bologna Sandwich Show. She’s wonderfully silly as well as provocative, and she’s building quite the following online. Julia has now created a series of live shows with special comedy guests as well as audience participation – the first show goes up on June 6th at the Glendale Room, just outside of downtown Los Angeles (ticket info/link provided at end of this interview)I reached out to Julia to congratulate her on this ballsy endeavor to present live curated shows and asked her a few questions about her comedy career journey so far …..

Julia, what inspired you to take up comedy for a living and not become, say, a doctor or teacher?  I’ve always known I wanted to entertain people and make them laugh. My mom loves to tell this story—whenever she was going through something tough, I’d start being goofy just to cheer her up. It was my way to heal people! Also, any “normal” job I’ve ever had, all I would think about is how I wished I was doing something entertaining. I’d always keep a notepad of jokes or funny skit or sitcom ideas. In 2007, I did a show at the public access station called, The Boring Show, doing things like read a dishwasher manual for 45 minutes and then have guests come on & be super awkward and funny. I wish I had kept that going and dove into comedy back then, but I think I just didn’t trust the process yet.

 

Who are your comedy heroes or influences?  I’ll give comedian names and my favorite TV shows/movies… Chevy Chase, Martin Short, Will Ferrell, Monty Python, Larry David, Pee-Wee Herman, Airplane the movie, The Three Amigos, and Sasha Baron Cohen.

Your Bologna Sandwich Variety Show has been shared on YouTube and now you’re going live at the fabulous Glendale Room, just outside of LA. Is everything going to be improvised or do you have a scripted outline to help control the anticipated mayhem?

That’s a great question! It’s scripted, in the form of my Bologna Sandwich Public Access Show where I interview a guest, but this time I’m gonna have a couple guests on stage with me and a co-host…So scripted but also allowing room for improvisation. Think Comics Unleashed meets The Eric Andre Show.  I’m going to give out heckle passes & get the audience involved…have them be a part of the show. So yes, controlled chaos, I guess. My good friend Dicey is helping me produce the show, which is good because I am not organized.

 

Now you must tell us why “bologna sandwich” for a title? Where did that come from?

I had been wanting to have a show where I interview people but also have silly funny weird segments involved. I didn’t know what to call it, then I remembered the story about how my mom and dad served bologna sandwiches at their Jewish Pentecostal wedding, and I knew right away that has to be the name of my show – Bologna Sandwich Show! Because life is bologna and I think it’s a perfect name for a show! Plus it pays homage to my family, which is super important to me.

 Are there any guests you would love to invite to your live show such as your favorite actors, comedians….?  You know living in Los Angeles gives me access to so many people that are close by. I would love alumni from SNL days that are in my area to be a part of my show. Giovanni Ribisi – he’s one of my favorite actors. Maria Bamford, she’s one of my favorite local comedians. Any local celebrity and or politician would be fun to have on the show.

 

So Julia, what’s your “end game”? Would you like to eventually have your own comedy chat show on one of the more popular streaming channels or network tv?  Yes, my long-term vision for the show is that it is picked up on a major streaming platform. I want it to be a place to showcase comedians – especially those who have put so much time and work into the craft. Have it be a stepping board or spring board for people to try something new with their comedy. Also involve serious conversations about life. I feel like life is bologna…the good, the bad and the ugly so I want to encompass all of that in my show.

 

BTW, have you ever watched Tiny Chicken Machine Show on YouTube? Created by Mediocre Films, they are my indie heroes from YouTube’s early years.  I just watched it I haven’t heard of it but it’s hilarious that’s absolutely the vein of what I’m thinking for my show a little less wacky but kind of like that. I love the absurdity of that

How can comedy fans find you – is there a website or social media?

Yes, you can follow me @bologna_sandwich_show on both YouTube & Instagram and julia_bernstein on TikTok.

And click on this link to my June 6th show in Glendale:   https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bologna-sandwich-show-friends-of-the-bologna-with-julia-bernstein-tickets-1369322403169

AUTHOR HEATHER BABCOCK CELEBRATES 5 YEARS OF “FILTHY SUGAR”

May 2025 marks the 5th anniversary of Heather Babcock‘s book “Filthy Sugar”. This titillatingly titled book is, in fact, a provocative (and fictional) look at the life and times of a young woman of the 1930s let lose in a city full of colourful characters, gangsters, hoofers and burly-q queens during a time of economic depression and squashed dreams.  As the book’s promo says:

Set in the mid-1930s, Filthy Sugar tells the story of Wanda Whittle, a nineteen-year-old dreamer who models fur coats in an uptown department store, but lives in a crowded rooming house with her hard-working widowed mother and shrewd older sister, in the slums; a world where “death is always close but life is stubborn.” Bored with the daily grind and still in shock from the sudden death of her father, Wanda finds both escapism and inspiration in the celluloid fantasies of the Busby Berkeley musicals, Greta Garbo dramas, and Jean Harlow sex comedies. Strutting up and down the aisles of Blondell’s department store, Wanda fantasizes that she’s Ruby Keeler, the tap-dancing sweetheart from 42nd Street (pictured below) But Wanda wants more than to wear a glamourous woman’s coat—she wants to live inside of her flesh.

Her dreams come true after a chance encounter with the mysterious proprietor of the Apple Bottom burlesque theatre. Suddenly Wanda is thrust into a world of glitter and grit.  Descending from the roof top of the Apple Bottom theatre on a red velvet swing, Wanda Whittle morphs into a dream named Wanda Wiggles; sweeter than a strawberry sundae and tastier than a deep dish apple pie. At the Apple Bottom she meets Lili Belle, a naughty cartoon flapper brought to life, Queenie, a sultry headliner whom Wanda feels drawn to like a bee to a butterfly bush; the sweet and salty club drummer Eddie, and Brock Baxter, the Apple Bottom’s vaudevillian comic whose apple cheeked, pretty boy exterior belies his sinister intentions.
All will have an impact on Wanda’s journey. Cowardly boxers, shady coppers, dime store hoodlums, and painted ladies—Wanda will encounter them all. On her voyage from rags to riches and back again, Wanda experiences a sexual awakening and achieves personal independence as she discovers that a girl doesn’t need a lot of sugar to be sensational!  So, are you intrigued yet? Filthy Sugar is available online (Amazon & other online outlets) plus at your favourite bricks-and-mortar bookstore. I had the opportunity to chat online with the talented author and here’s what Heather shared with me….

Heather, it’s been 5 years since your book, Filthy Sugar, hit the bookstores – how has the journey been for you as an author?  Thank you! Well, it’s been quite the journey! Filthy Sugar is my debut novel and it was released in May of 2020, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. That alone made my journey an unpredictable and unchartered one. I quickly learned to roll with the punches. There are often more lows than highs in this writing business so you’ve got to celebrate every win.

Has your publisher (Inanna Publications) been supportive and encouraging, especially during the Covid years when people were forced to find solo activities and entertainment such as reading?  Definitely! The Covid years presented challenges that were new to everyone in the publishing industry. Everything – events, book sales – that had previously been brick and mortar had to quickly be moved online. The planned book launch was held virtually and was attended by over one-hundred people; most in-person bookstores probably wouldn’t have been able to accommodate such a crowd. Word on the Street (WOTS) was also moved online that year. Renée Knapp, who was Inanna’s publicist and marketing manager at the time, was always on hand to answer any questions I had and to help ease my anxieties – and there were many of them in those early days. Looking back, an unexpected benefit to the pandemic was that because people were stuck at home, and many had more free time and even more money on their hands, they were more likely to buy books. I had many friends who marvelled at how quickly Inanna fulfilled their book order. Remember how much fun it was receiving a package in the mail during the Covid days?

The heroine of your story, Wanda, is a sassy 19yr old with dreams of dancing with Ruby Keeler and hanging out with Garbo and Harlow – her screen idols.  They say “write what you know” so is this era and the B&W films of the time you favourite personal interests?  Yes, my father introduced me to classic movies. He loved all of those great glamorous dames: Greta Garbo, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor. My favourite memories are of watching films like Roman Holiday and A Streetcar Named Desire with him. While researching Filthy Sugar, I immersed myself in the movies of pre-Code Hollywood: films that were made before the enforcement of the Production Code in July of 1934. The 1932 sex comedy Red-Headed Woman, which stars Jean Harlow (pictured below), had a big influence on my novel. I also reference it in the book as it’s one of Wanda’s favourite movies. My father passed away in 2010. I wish he was alive to read Filthy Sugar because I think he’d like it – although he probably wouldn’t approve of Wanda’s raunchier antics!

And what inspired the story…are your characters based on personal friends or perhaps the great dames of the screen – Mae West, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford?  In January of 2015, for no reason at all, or at least no reason that I can remember, I decided that I was going to read as many books written and published in the 1930s as I could. I began with Henry Roth’s 1934 novel Call It Sleep. My partner, noting my new interest in the decade, bought me a second-hand copy of Pierre Berton’s 2001 historical book The Great Depression: 1929-1939. I began to submerge myself in 1930’s history and pop culture. The ambivalence of the decade fascinates me. Although it was a time of great suffering, the 1930s produced some of the most beautiful music, films, literature, fashion & décor and visual art, all of which has had a great influence on future generations. It was also a time of important social upheaval and change: birth control, unions, workers’ rights (including the minimum wage and 40-hour work week) all came into fruition during the decade. The characters in Filthy Sugar are fictional but, like the youth of their day, they themselves are inspired by the stars and characters that they see in the movies. Wanda is obsessed with Jean Harlow and Greta Garbo and I pictured Eddie, the burlesque house’s drummer, as speaking like Jimmy Cagney.

Have you done many in-store book signings and readings? Any coming up?  Because my book was released during the pandemic, I unfortunately didn’t have the chance to do in-store book signings. However, I was able to participate in online readings and when things began to open up again in 2022, I read at the Bright Lit, Big City reading series at Hirut Cafe (pictured below) and later that year, I was invited to speak at the Vintage Film Festival in Port Hope. I spoke on the topic of “Dangerous Dames – Celebrating the Women of Pre-Code Gangster Movies”. It was an amazing experience and I got to share Filthy Sugar with like-minded movie fans. Coming up, I will be presenting “How to Write a Novel When You Don’t Have Time to Write a Novel” at the Toronto Public Library. My presentation will be at the Agincourt branch on Saturday, July 5th at 2pm. Anyone who is interested in attending can call the library at 416-396-8943 to register.

You set the story in 1930’s Toronto as opposed to New York or Chicago…..why?  The city that Filthy Sugar is set in is fictional: it could be any urban city in North America during the 1930s. This was a conscious choice to give me artistic license and freedom. Wanda’s world is Blondell’s Department Store (a fictional store named after Joan Blondell, one of my favourite actresses from the pre-Code period); the Apple Bottom burlesque theatre where she becomes a star and “the World Behind the Market”, which is what she calls the “slum” where she lives.

Has your publisher suggested an appearance and book sales during Word on the Street this fall?  As far as I know, I won’t be at the Word on the Street this fall but I did attend with my publisher in 2023. It was a lovely afternoon of book signings and catching up with friends in the literary scene, many of whom I had not seen since before the pandemic…see photo below

Is there a sequel in the works or are you working on an entirely different concept or plot for your next book?  At this time, there is no sequel in the works but you never know. I am currently working on my second novel, The Memory of Crows, which is a noir inspired tale of sibling rivalry.

So congratulations again to Heather on the past 5 years of Filthy Sugar…hopefully the book will continue to be bought or taken out of the libraries, read online or listened to via audio books. Maybe a film? Reads just like one of those fabulous movies Wanda loved.

Filthy Sugar by Heather Babcock
Inanna Publications – available in paperback, e-book and audio book from all your favourite bookstores, AppleBooks & Amazon.

RON KORB PRESENTS SPECIAL SAKURA CONCERT CELEBRATING CHERRY BLOSSOMS @ THE JAPANESE CANADIAN CULUTRAL CENTRE

Congratulations to Ron Korb and the staff & volunteers at Toronto’s Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre for presenting a wonderful concert to celebrate sakura season this past Thursday evening. Featuring taiko drummers, dancers and a children’s chorus, the show featured many songs from Ron’s latest album, Global Canvas, as well as traditional music and tunes from Ron’s previous albums.

It was a packed audience in the stunning Kobayashi Hall with several VIPs in attendance including Matsunaga Takeshi – Consul General of Japan, Senator Dr. Vivienne Poy, Bruce Kuwabara QC founding partner of KPMB, Noriko Yamamoto – Executive Director at The Japan Foundation, and numerous media celebs including Ken Stowar Program director of CIUT Radio and host of Global RhythmsAdi Braun former Classical FM host and current host of Soulscapes, Tom Treumuth – music producer and podcaster, Sonya Davidson of The Toronto Guardian, and Dr. Ed Turgeon, Dean of Music Algoma University with his wife Dr. Anne Louise-Turgeon who make up the classical piano duo Duo Turgeon.

Starting with a charming address by the Consul General of Japan, Matsunaga Takeshi, JCCC Director James Heron then spoke about Ron and the entertainment and activities being held during the Sakura month, then Bruce Kuwabara introduced his cousin, Ron Korb.The evening started with the thundering power of Kyowa Daiko taiko drummers. Throughout the show, Ron and his band were joined by solo dance artist Atsuko Abeta, and the dance groups Sakura Kai and Ayame Kai, as well as koto and shamisen player Aiko Fujii all of whom were adorned in beautiful kimonos and were featured in several songs to wonderful affect. There was also a traditional geisha song (last video)

So many colourful dancers and haunting tunes….(photos courtesy of Susan Howling)After the concert, Ron met up with fans to autograph his latest album and pose for pics with friends… Above, Ron with podcaster and music producer Tom Treumuth, and below Lydia Washchuk and Ken Stower pose with Ron’s poster prior to the concert.You can follow Ron on social media linked via his website: www.ronkorb.com

Pick-up your CD copy of Ron’s latest album, Global Canvas, on his website or stream via your favourite streaming platform

Join Women at Play(s) 7 opening in Toronto Mar.28, taking us on comedic & dramatic journeys in seven short plays

Women at Play(s) 7 is a festival of original short one-act plays written, directed and performed by Canadian women-identifying playwrights, directors, and actors. This seventh edition features seven short plays for a dramatic, comedic, unexpected rollercoaster of a show. From Boomers to babies, from China to the Cheakamus, from literature to larceny, these plays take viewers on a journey through the lives of a truly diverse group of characters.
Runs Mar 28-30 and Apr 2-6 at the Alumnae Studio Theatre (70 Berkeley Street) Toronto (upstairs – sorry, no elevator)
Dates: Mar 28-30, Apr 2-9 7pm – Saturday and Sunday Matinees 2:30pm & 7pm
Tickets: Regular: $28 and students/seniors/art workers: $22
https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/50820/  or at the door (cash only)
Reservations: womenatplays2023@gmail.com  To accommodate those with mobility issues, a shortened PWYC version has been added at an accessible venue: the Performing Arts Lodge  – 4 of the 7 plays will be presented. PAL is located at 110 The Esplanade, Toronto on April 10 at 7pm
Email reservations to: womenatplays2023@gmail.comWomen at Play(s) was created in 2005 by Artistic Director Marianne Sawchuk (pictured below) to provide a creative outlet for women playwrights, directors and actors. It was conceived to inspire artistic achievements in theatrical performance for women. WaP is a grassroots artist profit shared organization that showcases women of all diversities, 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive, from Gen Z to Silver Foxes for an audience of those who want to experience a variety of great theatre.For the seventh Women at Play(s) 7, non-binary actors have also been welcomed into the collective. Women at Play(s) had 3 successful shows in Vancouver where WaP 3 broke the Jericho Arts Centre’s house record on closing night and had, so far, 3 successful shows in Toronto where it has managed to survive the pandemic. In 2023, Marianne Sawchuk was honored with a Playwrights Guild of Canada Tom Hendry “Bra D’Or” nomination for her ongoing support of women playwrights in Canada.

For more info, you can follow Women at Play via social media:
https://www.facebook.com/womenatplays/
https://www.instagram.com/women_at_plays/
https://linktr.ee/womenatplays

GREAT NIGHT OF THEATRE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THIS YEAR’S FRINGE FESTIVAL

Thrilled to see friend and theatre buddy TRICIA WILLIAMS promoting a fundraiser performance for the Fringe-bound Grown Ass*d Broads Talkin’ Dirty that features legendary Canadian stage & screen actor VALERIE BOYLE. Tricia passed along all the details and, if you’re in Toronto this Friday night, I encourage you to head down to the Performing Arts Lodge to enjoy a night of theatrical hijinks.  Here’s what it’s all about….On Friday March 14th, there will be a fundraiser for the upcoming 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival comedic play, Grown Ass*d Broads Talkin’ Dirty. This night of music and comedy promises to be fun and full of hilarity, and features renowned singer/actor who also wrote the play, the indomitable Valerie Boyle (pictured below)Valerie starred, wrote and produced her own one-woman show,Sophie Tucker,which toured Canada, as well as workshopped in London, UK, and she was also Shirley in Shirley Valentinewhen the play toured Canada. She also starred as Mother Superior in Nunsense for twelve productions – a role she is going to resurrect again in 2025 at the Victoria Playhouse, Petrolia, for the Nunsense 40th Anniversary. Valerie also has numerous big & small screen roles to her credit including a turn on Murdoch Mysteries. She is a Canadian treasure.

Another featured performer will be Curtis Sullivan (pictured below) whose time at the Stratford Festival includes the roles of Admiral von Schreiber in The Sound of Music, Captain Watson in Carousel, Tony (cover) in The Boyfriend and Giuseppe Palmieri in The Gondoliers. Rounding out this night of show-stopping musical performances will be Tiffany Deriveau (below) who has performed in Soul Sistas as Tina Turner, Wanda in Beehive: the 60s Musical, Mama Morton in Chicago and Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors, in various theatres across the country.Bringing the comedy will be Christel Bartelse (below). As a solo artist, Christel has wowed Fringe audiences and beyond with her one-woman shows including CHAOTICA, ONEymoon, Significant Me, All KIDding AsideThe Surprise and Encore. She has been nominated twice for a Canadian Comedy Award and has toured every major Canadian fringe festival, as well as several in the U.S. and has performed twice at the original Edinburgh Fringe Festival.The emcee for the evening will be Tricia Williams who has graced the Toronto Fringe Festival stage for the past three years in hit shows such as the Sorauren Book Club, Hymns and Hearse and Disarming Venus. She is also a cast member of Grown Ass*d Broads Talkin’ Dirty along with Jorie Morrow, Andrea Davis, Morrie Sinkins and Julie Burris.The fundraiser will take place at the Performing Arts Lodge (PAL), 110 The Esplanade in the Crest Green Room Theatre. Tickets are $20 cash at the door and $10 cash for residents of PAL. Doors will open at 7:00 pm and show time is 7:30 pm.

So come on down to PAL, just around the corner from the St. Lawrence Market and have a great night of fun and laughs with a cast of great Canadian actors…including my friend, Tricia. Tell her I sent you!

Celebrating Int’l Women’s Day 2025

Big shout-out to all my sisters around the world…the women who lead, the woman who create, the women who inspire.  Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to meet so many fabulous talented women who have brought joy to my life as well as helped educate and inform me. I reached out to a number of women who have left a tangible imprint on my current life so I asked them to offer up their thoughts, their own inspirations and how they live their lives in such a positive and engaging fashion….here is what they said.Celebrating Inspiring Women ...So many women throughout history across multiple disciplines spring to mind but it is anthropologist Margaret Mead whose words remain embedded in my consciousness, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” We all do what we can to make the world a better place and my films are built on frameworks that speak to truth, understanding, forgiveness, love and reconciliation…with a bit of action, adventure and fun thrown in. Art is where thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. And the beauty is we can all do it. ~ Victoria Wharfe-McIntyre, Australian film director, writer and producer (below)Throughout my life, I have been inspired by the amazing women around me – their resilience, spirit, and strength in facing and overcoming changes while caring for others. The sister bond of support and encouragement, working together, sharing our stories – there are too many to mention. I remember my mother teaching me stories through singing our Anmatyerr song lines for as long as I can remember. Mum would sing songs about our family dreamtime stories and told stories by drawing symbols in the sand. This deep connection to my culture and heritage is reflected in my song ‘Heading Home’ where I sing: ‘Lying in my mother’s arms feeling safe and sound. She sang of Tjukurpa and her Homeland as she drew in the sand.’ These experiences have profoundly shaped who I am as an artist and a woman, carrying forward the ancestral storytelling traditions that continue to inspire my work. ~ Rhubee Neale, Indigenous Australian artist (below)When I think about the women artists who’ve influenced me, my practice and my work the most, I’m seeing that they influenced me by being welcoming and supportive in addition to being talented artists with their established practices. Though I was a newbie, Irina Schestakowich immediately treated me as a fellow artist, sharing opportunities, materials and introducing me to her contacts. Being part of a community provided a foundation to anchor my practice. Though I met Janet F. Potter through painting, she’s shown me that following the muse to the craft side is another way of expressing our vision. Paper, textiles, rocks, sticks are as important as paint to her work. Learning from Janet I’ve incorporated textiles and whimsy into my work. I learned to trust and follow my muse. I hope my work inspires artists to trust their instincts, find the community that will support them. They should create what they’re inspired to create and trust that the audience will find them and value them. In other words, do the work you’re inspired to do and trust that the world needs it and wants it. ~ Nancy Bennett, Canadian artist at Labatt Studio, Toronto (below)To start with, I’d like to share one of my favourite quotes….I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in singing, especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed.” ~ Mary Oliver, US poet. As a musician and composer, I appreciate her philosophy which continues to inspire me on a daily basis. She is known for her poignant observations of the natural world. Her work has a romanticism that refuses to acknowledge the boundaries between nature and the observing self. I think the natural world is the essence of creativity in its purest form. ~ Petra Salsjö, Australian film & tv composer (below)I owe who I am today to my mother, Rasheda Islam—an amazingly strong and resilient woman, a trailblazer far ahead of her time in a traditional and conservative society. In the 1960s, she raised me to think for myself, ask questions, and speak my mind without fear of judgment. She also taught me never to let traditional norms define me as a girl/woman. Her wisdom and guidance taught me to stay grounded in my values and navigate challenges with patience, calmness and prudence. She was always poised, proper and well spoken, respected by everyone around her. After pausing her education to care for a young family, my mother returned to university to complete her Master’s in Literature followed by a degree in Education. She started her teaching career after becoming a grandmother—showing me that it’s never too late to follow your passion. Although she is no longer physically present, she remains my greatest source of inspiration, empowering me to embrace new beginnings, pursue my artistic passion, and dedicate myself to healing and sharing my teachings with others. She was, is, and always will be, my true mentor and guiding angel. – Tanzina Amin, artist, teacher & gallerist (below) Women possess the power of the universe but it’s up to women to understand how it works. Successful women use that power. ~ Adonay, recording artist, songwriter & business woman (below)

So all these wonderful women have contributed to my personal happiness by sharing their talents and own personal joys. Thank you, ladies.  But who was my earliest inspiration growing up as a little girl in the West Australian bush? Hmmm….well, I spent hours in the local library learning about history (yes, I was a bit of a geek even back then) and was always intrigued by a warrior woman who changed history –  Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, who took on the occupying Romans who had slaughtered her tribe, killed her husband and raped her daughters in 61 AD. She took up arms, rallied her tribe and lead a revolt against the occupying Roman troops, raising towns and settlements as she headed towards Londinium (London). She set the most western outpost of the Roman Empire ablaze! Sadly, she was killed and the Iceni were conquered and absorbed into the main population of the British Isles. All this took place near where I was born and where both sides of my family originated (there’s even a town called Fordham in Essex county). So here’s to all the Boudicas out there continuing the fight against oppression, cruelty, misogyny and the path of destruction and bullshit created mostly by men.  HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!

 

BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN CANADA

I reached out to a number of friends for comments on Black History Month and what it means to them. Like all artists, many are a bit slow to respond with quotes but here are messages from four friends who have had an impact on my life and I have huge respect for their ethics and opinions.

First up, Michael Williams who many will know from the early days of MuchMusic (1980s) when he was the first face of colour appearing regularly on our TVs. He’s now producing and working with artists while keeping in front of cameras and hosting live events across the country.I live 24-7/365 days a year – Black History Month is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and teach those around you so that your history, our history, is no mystery. But I understand that black history is truly Canadian history now and is being taught in the schools (at least in Ontario) and hopefully coast to coast, that’s what I love about Canada the most.
Michael Williams
CEO, Greydread Productions Inc. and celebrated original veejay of MuchMusic

I’m thrilled to welcome a few words from Kenny Robinson, one of the comedy greats who started back in the 80s when Canadian comedians ruled!! Kenny has had several comedy TV specials over the years and is the founder of the Nubian Disciples of Prior, a collective of black comedy artists that frequently presents special showcases, one of which is coming up soon…With President Trump trying to erase Black History Month in the States, I’ll say EVERY DAY is Black History for me. Political, business, sports and entertainment: the internet has made is possible to discover something new every day.
Kenny Robinson, renowned stand-up comedian and founder of the Nubian Disciples of Pryor

And I’m honoured to include the following quote by well-respected poet and health & wellness entrepreneur Wakefield Brewster. Wakefield’s poetry and spoken word performances have engaged, enraged and entertained audiences across the country.The two easiest camps to identify with during Black History Month are: “Yes! Black Pride, Black Power, Black History Month!” …and “Damn! We still NEED this?!”  I’m in both camps, and here is where I pitch my tent: in the last 5 years of world-changing events: President Obama, #45, COVID-19, the murder of George Floyd, the re-energized presence of BLM. Those five events if you will, gave me the opportunities to change my life. In the midst of global interruption, in the wake of economic upset, I was able to establish a new rhythm and financial moderation. I was not the only one, Black or otherwise, to thread the needle of the worldly chaos. These events allowed “smaller people” to do “bigger things”. There was now more room where very little, to none at all, once existed. I’ve been Living My Lyrical Life as a Poet of The People for a quarter-century, now. Only since 2020, have I become Poetically and personally seen, heard, felt, and embraced (especially by Calgary), like never before. Black History Month brings focus and attention to Our People, and all that we are; more than slavery, heralds of History, presently thriving, and living our legacy. Happiest Black History Month, every single day.
Wakefield Brewster
YYC Poet Laureate Emeritus, Professional Poet & Spoken Word Artist
Page2StageProductions Inc.
Professional Health & Wellness Practitioner
WakeFull Wellness Registered Massage Therapy & Healing Space
www.wakefieldbrewster.com

And here is the indomitable recording star Claudja Barry who has had so many “firsts” as a black artist in Canada I’m gonna let her tell you all about it. She has had hits in every decade since the 70s and is set to release new music later this year. Bravo, Claudja! https://www.theclaudjabarry.com/ 

Thank you so much to all for sharing your thoughts on BHM…am hoping to share more comments from other artists on the subject before the end of the month.

CELTIC ROCKERS “TARTAN TERRORS” BRING OUT THE BRAVEHEART IN US ALL!

I’d like to introduce you to the TARTAN TERRORS – a fierce warrior-like band of musicians who perform Celtic rock music with a little step-dancing  thrown in. Think…Riverdance meets Braveheart, with bagpipes and a punk attitude! The band members are all multitalented musicians and their fiddle player is an award-winning step-dancer, too. Tartan Terror shows are full of humour and energy with audiences up on their feet throughout most of the show; dancing and hollering are encouraged!With a distinctive sound and a proud tradition of making Celtic music fun and accessible to any audience, the Tartan Terrors bring their Celtic Invasion to concerts, festivals and fairs across North America, blending the energy of a rock show with humour and stepdance. They’ve played highland games, renaissance fairs, battle re-enactments (we have to invite Mel Gibson to come out and do his “you’ll never take our freedom” speech!) and in large soft-seater concert halls. They’re perfectly suited for Steampunk fairs, too. They present exciting original music as well as traditional Celtic songs but with a definite edge. So get your kilts on and shine up your knees as Tartan Terrors are about to invade your town in 2025, starting with their Robbie Burns tour of Ontario that kicks off in Brantford on Friday January 10th (tour details at end of this post).

I recently spoke with band spokesman, CHRIS KERBA (bodhran, acoustic guitar & vocals) pictured below, and he shared his thoughts and band history….Who created the Tartan Terrors and what was the inspiration?  The Tartan Terrors started 29 years ago by siblings, Ellen & Ian Irmisch They had been dancers their whole lives as their mother ran a dance school. They started a show at the Ontario Renaissance Festival in Oakville ON. Their father had dubbed them the “wee tartan terrors” and the name stuck. Over the years, they added more musicians and as the band grew it became a variety show including skits, dancing and music. As members came and left the group, the shift from a variety show to a music-oriented group evolved. Now, we’re a Celtic rock band that incorporates traditional Ottawa Valley Step Dancing in our shows. Pictured below, band co-founder Ian Irmisch (Bodhran & Emcee)What were the band’s first gigs and how well were you received by audiences? Did they expect such rousing performances?  The first time I saw the Tartan Terrors was in 2005 at a Ren Faire in Hamilton ON. At this point, it was still the variety type show. Every single performance they had was packed. People were laughing, dancing, and singing along. If you had told me then that in 2 years, I’d be putting on a kilt and performing with them, I’d probably have laughed at you. They were bigger than life!

By including a fiddle-playing step dancer (Emily) the band offers a whole different dimension – how important is that extra vibe to the show?  I remember the first time I met Emily; she was a sub fiddle player for the group as we were looking to fill the role with our former fiddle player taking a step back. I picked her up at her place in Oshawa and we began our drive to Maine. Unfortunately, there was a massive accident on the 401 into Quebec and we were diverted through Cornwall and through NY state. At a time when GPS systems didn’t handle well with rerouting, Emily and I easily added 5 hours onto our drive. That was the start of, I feel like, has become a great friendship. She was really quiet at first and I couldn’t help but think “What’s this shy young lady going to add to our show?”. I was in for a spectacular surprise. We performed our show and Emily, at that point, had only played fiddle for the group. I remember being absolutely blown away by her abilities on fiddle. Not only had she learned all of our material, but she performed it and kept chasing excellence between shows. I texted Ellen on the trip and told her, in no uncertain terms, that we HAD to keep Emily. We had a string of Christmas shows coming up and that I’d take half of my pay if it meant we could offer Emily enough to join those shows. Luckily, Ellen had already had the same thoughts.As the shows progressed, Emily and Ellen choreographed a routine for our final number of the night that combined Ellen’s traditional highland dance/Irish hard shoe dancing with Emily’s Ottawa Valley Step Dancing…the audience LOVED it. We had a video that had hundreds of thousands of views around the world. It was awesome.

Sadly, 8 years ago, Ellen was diagnosed with cancer. While she kept touring with the band and performing as much as she could, unfortunately, she wasn’t able to dance the number of songs she wanted to. Emily stepped up HUGE. She would take over some of the dancing duties from Ellen and choreographed new routines for our songs. As Ellen’s health deteriorated, more and more Emily filled those shoes (yes, pun absolutely intended). Unfortunately, Ellen passed away 6 years ago (in August). Emily and her abilities on fiddle and dancing have become a staple in our shows and her abilities are unparalleled.

Each band member has extensive music education and cross-genre experience; in an age when most “musicians” have never put their hands on an instrument (thanks to computer generated music) how important is that familiarity with each instrument?  I don’t want to throw shade at musicians who don’t “create” their own music. Technology has evolved and, as professionals, we have to evolve as well. They have a different skillset that I’ll never know or understand. For me, personally, I’ll always prefer to have an instrument in my hands. I’m fairly certain that the same applies for everyone who puts on a kilt for the Terrors.(Pictured below- Peter McArthur on bagpipes, Charlie McKittrick on drums, Jake Saenz on bass & Phill Hood on electric & acoustic guitar & vocals)


I have to preface this properly because I’m not saying I’m not good at what I do. I pride myself on being a solid rhythm guitar player and a pretty decent bodhran player. But when I look around the stage, it’s not lost on me that I’m the least talented/educated, musically, on stage. Watching everyone else play their instruments, what looks like, effortlessly will constantly be mind blowing to me. The part that really blows my mind is knowing that every person on stage is a multi-instrumentalist, and not just “oh they dabble” no, they can PLAY more than one instrument. It’s wild. Now, while they make it look easy, I know that there are decades, yes decades, of practice, blood, sweat, and tears into honing their craft.The band has played across Canada and the US – do you aspire to hit the glens of Scotland and Ireland, too?  Short answer? Have band, will travel! We love playing. Give us a stage and we’ll perform. We would love to cross the pond and play in Scotland, Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand…anywhere and everywhere.

You have a number of shows booked in Ontario over the next couple of months, then down into the States starting in the early spring. What can audiences expect from the Tartan Terrors in 2025? New music? New merchandise? More dancing?  We’ve been reworking some of our older material that we stopped playing for a few years and we’ve been writing our butts off. The creative wheels are always turning and we’re constantly workshopping new ideas. For our January show, we’re bringing back an old pipe tune and we’re premiering 2 brand new songs. We’ve got new posters, pictures, Christmas ornaments, shirts, colouring books…all kinds of new things at the merch table!

Can fans listen to the Tartan Terrors on streaming services or do you prefer offering your music on vinyl or CD, and how can fans purchase the tunes?  We’re all over your favourite streaming platforms. We’re working on getting our older catalogue uploaded there as well. Ian says it the best on stage “You can download us 5,000 times and we make $0.0043”. I wish it wasn’t the reality of the situation, but as any musician now will attest to, it’s the reality. Our money is generated when people buy tickets to shows and then buy merchandise. Think of it as a way of supporting the band and getting a cool souvenir out of the deal. We still have CD’s but are going to be releasing a vinyl album featuring some of our favourite Terrors tracks along with some live versions of the songs. I’m not sure if that’s to be public knowledge or not, but here we are. As it’s our first vinyl release, we’re going to be printing a limited number of records…so keep an eye out for that and don’t wait. The best place to buy is at our shows, but we do have an online store on our website that we’ll mail you merch too.
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You can follow Tartan Terrors on social media: @tartanterrors and all band news, merchandise, shows and tickets available on their website: https://tartanterrors.com/ 

GARY TOPP RECOUNTS A LIFE PROMOTING CANADIAN & INT’L BANDS IN NEW BOOK “HE HIJACKED MY BRAIN”

HE HIJACKED MY BRAIN: Gary Topp’s Toronto
Published by UXB Press
320 Pages
Price: $49.99
Available from uxbpresscanada.bigcartel.com

I arrived in Toronto in 1975 and immediately found myself in the middle of a music vortex – all sorts of genres, venues, artists and local indie promoters, the best of whom, in my opinion, were known as The Garys (Gary Topp and Gary Cormier). The Garys booked and promoted punk, rock, alternative (before that genre had a name) and the bizarre. While I was queen of the discos in the late 70s, I also secretly hung out at places like the New Yorker, The Edge, Larry’s Hideaway, the Roxy, the Isabella, and all the grubby, grungy little underground venues and speakeasies that offered stage time to the hundreds of musicians plying their trade in Toronto.

Reading Gary Topp’s first-person recounting of Toronto’s music scene over the past five+ decades, I marveled at the number of shows I actually attended myself. Fortunately, not being fueled by drugs or (too much) booze, I was able to remember so many evenings at the clubs thanks to the hundreds of photos and poster images in the book and the myriad of quotes and first-hand recounting of tales only insiders could know. Bravo, Gary (pictured below), for amassing this diary-like tome containing first-person recollections from yourself and your colleagues that will instantly transport readers back to the days when so many of us held down 9 to 5 day jobs then turned into bar flies, punk rockers, and rabid fans of the artists on stage each night.Any Toronto music fan worth his/her salt will want to add this book to their collection. It truly is a series of history lessons from the people who created the scene, and Gary’s recollections are clear and sharp. He brought in international artists just on the cusp of greatness proving his and his partner(s) eye for talent (The Police, Roxy Music, Simple Minds, B-52s) and artists who scared other club promoters to death such as Iggy Pop, The Ramones, The Cure and the now-legendary local band Rough Trade. He always treated bands with respect and gave them the break they needed when nobody else would. Gary was a gambler and we are all the better for his commitment to the music. His career is a blueprint of how to build a life in music promotions ; he had no template to follow so he made it up as he went along…readers will follow his journey from working at the old Roxy cinema as a young man, to booking musicians and finding new ways to fill theatres and sell tickets. He created the iconic annual outdoor Police Picnic concerts in the 80s starring the edgy Brit band as well as line-ups of popular artists who might never perform here under regular circumstances.  He knew how to collaborate with venue operators to create a win-win-win result, and generated exciting posters and promo materials long before internet and email democratized the business of show. To borrow from a promotional piece on the book “From taverns to concert halls, cinemas to circuses, the city’s most daring and visionary promoter transformed Toronto’s cultural landscape over five decades. Packed with first-hand accounts and rare photographs, the book vividly celebrates the revolutionary events that countered Toronto’s culture.”He Hijacked My Brain is a veritable who’s who of bands and artists who challenged our collective musical appetites such as The Viletones, Buzzcocks, Plasmatics, The Cramps, Violent Femmes, even Grandmaster Flash and Husker Du. I could go on and on and on naming names of artists who owe a debt of gratitude to the author, as well as paying tribute to the venues and other music promoters, managers and supporters whose stories are all included….but just buy the damn book!Gary is launching He Hijacked My Brain on Sunday December 1st at the old Masonic Temple at Yonge & Davenport in Toronto but it’s now SOLD OUT (typical of a Gary Topp  gig!) but he does it again at 7pm in The Red Room – Mason’s Inner Sanctum, Masonic Temple/Concert Hall, 888 Yonge St. ticketweb.ca