TOqueTrad

Happy Easter! The world is going to heck in a basket, and how are you going to spend your end times? By ignoring reality and immersing yourself in the heart-wrenchingly joyous tunes that have come out of Quebec, of course! The Tranzac is open again, which means we can meet in person for music, though Tranzac still has COVID policies in place to protect their staff, performers and guests. Short answer: masks are still required in the Tranzac, though you can take them off briefly to take a sip of your beverage. Performers (that’s us) must wear masks unless your Read More …

It’s been a while since we’ve had a session here at the ToQueTrad as we’re only coming to terms with the Omicron lockdown that followed the freedom of the outdoors sessions we had last fall. Now that the funk has receded, we’re ready to have another Zoom session to keep us from forgetting our favourite tunes or our favourite people. We are doing a one-time-only Saturday Session (until next month) to accommodate a travel episode. Therefore, we would like to invite you to a: SATURDAY SESSION, February 19 @noon! As always for the Zoom sessions, it will start at noon Read More …

Well, it’s now November, and the lovely weather has abandoned us. The Tranzac is open, but it’s not OPEN-open. Just open. They have yet to open the front rooms for general use, so it looks like we’ll have one more Zoom session where we can reminisce about online sessions, and meet up with our more far-flung friends. Donna and I have recently returned from the Gatineau Hills Fiddle Festival in Chelsea Quebec, and it was a corker. Friends of the session, Stéphanie Lépine and Éric Beaudry were there and we learned a couple of new tunes there, particularly a really Read More …

It’s time for another session! Live (weather permitting). Again we benefit from the generosity of Nancy and David. The current forecast is for a 3-hour break in the rain. Let’s play all our favourite October/Halloween-based tunes and take advantage of the last fleeting fine weather of the season. The details: Date: Sunday, October 17th, 2021 Time: Noon to 3PM (Eastern Standard Time) Location: Nancy and David have offered to host us again in the Annex of Toronto. Please contact us at toquetrad@gmail.com for the directions and details. The TOQueTrad COVid Protocols from last month remain in place: For health and safety reasons, Nancy asks Read More …

Last month’s session at Nancy and David’s near the Tranzac worked so well, we’re going to do it again. Our beloved Tranzac is still not opened to the public, though Betty and the Bobs are booked in for Hallowe’en, so the end is in sight. Nancy and David have again volunteered their home in easy walking distance from the Tranzac for our next live Toquetrad session of the decade! We will not be posting their contact information here, but a quick email to us at toquetrad@gmail.com will get you the details of how to join us on Sunday. The details: Date: Sunday, Read More …

Toronto has just relaxed restrictions to allow inside gatherings and dining, but the way is not yet clear for a return to the Tranzac for live and in-person sessions, so we are having another Zoom session via the pandemic-inspired “usual means.” We certainly look forward to joining you in playing our favourite Quebecois tunes with our favourite people! The details: Date: Sunday, July 18th, 2021 Time: Noon to 3PM (Eastern Standard Time) Location: Our traditional zoom link. Please contact us at toquetrad@gmail.com for the link. As always, bring your itchy fingers for playing tunes, your listening ears for appreciating what your fellow sessioneers are Read More …

We’re very nearly out of this pandemic! Stay with us… Canada’s hot spots are changing from virally hot to just-plain-toasty hot. Most folks who want it have their first jab, and a non-trivial percentage of those of a certain vintage have had their second. Toronto has ended its record lockdown, and it is possible to have people in your sight-line without resorting to cold-war duck-and-cover-style antics. [This paragraph brought to you by Hoffa’s Hyphens. Don’t bury your hyphens in turgid prose. Call Hoffa’s Hyphens. Hoffa’s will give you concrete examples of hyphen-appropriate phrases for your friends and family! An offer Read More …

Spring has arrived in Canada at long last. There is hope (and pollen) in the air. Many of us have vaccinations and we can see the glimmerings of a world where the sessions we new and loved can happen again. Naturally, we rejoice for a return to those days where we can see our friends again, and hugs are once again in fashion. Naturally, we have also been able to develop friendships with those who would not have been able to join us in person for our sessions and we value the time and tunes we have shared with them Read More …

Spring is (almost) here! The pandemic is (almost) brought to heel! Not really. Toronto is staggering under third-wave onslaught of COVID variants. So help us to weather the storm by joining us locked down in our homes for some more of that delicious Quebecois music that we love so much! As always, nothing like a last minute announcement for Q-music, so here it is! What: Toronto monthly Quebecois music session!Date: Sunday, April 17, 2021Time: Noon Eastern (9AM Pacific)Where: Zoom link. Send request to ToqueTrad@gmail.com for a link. So much has happened since our last session. Last month we attended the Read More …