Entertainment Beat

There is to be a special memorial concert in honour of Angus Mackay, June 25, at 8 p.m., at the Toronto Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. in Yorkville.
Those of us in the Beach knew Mackay as the Sales Manager of Scarborough Music for many years. Those in the Canadian music industry knew Mackay as one of the founding partners of Ready Records, which brought such bands as The Spoons, Blue Peter, and The Demics to Canadian listeners. He was also a founding partner of Kids Records which recorded Robert Munsch. Mackay himself was a talented musician, and toured with the R&B band Northern Dancer. This concert will be to raise funds for pancreatic cancer (from which Mackay died last year) at Princess Margaret Hospital.
The concert will feature a stellar line-up of musicians including Beach guitarist-composer Mark Battenberg, shakuhachi master Debbie Danbrook, pianist David Powell, percussionist Pete Eichstadt, composer-performer Mark Korven, guitarist Tom Price with vocalist Kira May.
Tickets are $25, and can be obtained by calling Mark Battenberg at 647-340-1708, or at Scarborough Music, 1051 Kingston Rd., 416-699-8333.
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Ten Feet Tall, 1381 Danforth Ave., will be jumping through the month of June – not only because of its regularly scheduled line-up, but also because is is one of the venues for the TD Toronto Jazz Festival. Artists and schedules may change, but for now here is the line-up of performers.
June 18, 8 p.m. – AT EASE
June 19, 3:30-6:30 p.m. – Bruce Cassidy featuring Reg Schwager & Shelly Berger
June 24, 9 p.m. – Kingsley Ettienne
June 25, 3:30 p.m. – Pat Murray Trio
June 25, 9 p.m. – Betty Richardson
June 26, 3:30 p.m. – James Walburton’s Spirit of Jazz
June 27, 8 p.m. – David Occhipinti Trio, featuring Andrew Downing
June 28, 8 p.m. – Sam Broverman Trio
June 29, 8 p.m. – Sultans of String
June 30. 8 p.m. – Ori Dagan
July 1, 9 p.m. – Juliann Kuchoki
July 2, 3:30 p.m. – June Garber
July 2, 9 p.m. – Alex Samaras performs Sondheim
July 3, 3:30 p.m. – Carin Redman w/Mark Kieswetter, Ross MacIntyre & Ben Riley
And don’t forget that Thursdays is Open Jazz Jam night at Ten Feet Tall featuring Brendan Davis, Amanda Tosoff and Jeff Halischuck. Drop in, get your name on the list, and jam along beginning at 8 p.m.
Every second Tuesday the Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar Association holds its popular open stage for all interested players. The next session will be June 21 from 8 to 11:30 p.m. For info call Dunstan Morey at 416-785-9903, or visit www.fingerstyleguitar.ca.
For more information on these or any other happenings at Ten Feet Tall, call 416-778-7333, or visit www.tenfeettall.ca.
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Also participating in the TD Toronto Jazz Festival is Beach jazz artist Brenda Carol. Carol, along with her band, Clairevoyance, will be celebrating her 15th year performing at the Hot House Café, 35 Church St. June 26 to 29.
Joining Carol will be pianist Stephen Gardner; Bill McBirnie, flute; tenor sax player Rob Christian; Brownman Ali on trumpet; bassist Bryan Didier; and drummer Wilson Laurencin.
For more information on Brenda Carol and Clairevoyance call 416-467-7959, or visit www.brendacarol.com.
There will be two sets each evening starting at 8 p.m., and reservations are strongly recommended. They can be had by calling the Hot House Café at 416-366-7800, or visit www.hothousecafe.com.
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Beach chanteuse Peggy Mahon brings her quartet to the Dominion On Queen as part of the TD Jazz Festival, June 26 at 8 p.m. The Peggy Mahon Quartet, featuring Danny McErlain, piano; Dave Field, bass; and Bruce Philip on drums, will perform a collection of jazz standards “and more.”
Tickets for the Peggy Mahon Quartet are $12 at the door, or in advance by calling 416-368-6893. For more information visit www.dominiononqueen.com.
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The Grinder Coffee house, 126 Main St. just south of Gerrard, is presenting acoustic music on Sunday afternoons, from 1  to 3 p.m. Featured performers upcoming include Michael Lake on June 19, and Sam Cash on June 26.
For more information call The Grinder at 416-901-0290.

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