TOqueTrad – Page 2 – Traditional Québécois music in Toronto (on the 3rd Sunday of the month)

A group of people singing and playing music in Auvergne circa 1900.

Session this Sunday, January 21

Posted onJanuary 17, 2018January 17, 2018

A little reminder of the upcoming session… This Sunday we meet, as always, from noon to 2:45 pm at the Tranzac Club. In case you are new to our group, we wanted to let you know about Comhaltas’ slow (Irish) session, which also happens at the Tranzac on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, starting at 7pm. One of the big Irish music events of the Toronto calendar is coming up, too: the annual Chris Langan weekend, March 2-4, 2018. This is the 27th year people have been meeting to play music, listen to concerts, talk about music, learn tunes, and Read More …

Ambrotype photograph of a young man playing the fiddle. Bound in a brown leather frame.

Session this Sunday: November 19 (and a warning)

Posted onNovember 16, 2017November 17, 2017

Reminding you all of our regularly-scheduled get together this Sunday at the Tranzac Club from noon to 2:45. If you hurry, you can catch the Toronto Fiddle Collective‘s performance by fiddler Kerry Fitzgerald. She will be running two workshops UPDATE: Thursday night tomorow night (Friday) starting at 7pm, followed by a session at the West Toronto Baptist Church (3049 Dundas St. W). Tickets are $35, cash at the door, for the evening. The first workshop is for original tunes, the second for Newfoundland tunes. (facebook info). Sorry for the late notice, y’all. Warning: REMEMBER THE PARADE! The 113th annual Santa Claus parade will Read More …

Concert poster for Hart House Singers concert Nov 19, 2017.

Two upcoming events

Posted onOctober 18, 2017October 18, 2017

Sorry to miss the pre-session reminder last week: things have been a bit mad. Glad a lot of you made it anyway, and we were thrilled to welcome two new players! We wanted to let you know about a couple of things that are happening in the near-ish future, so you can participate if you are interested. On Tuesday, October 24th, both the Scott Library (York) and the Music Library (UofT) will be hosting a Wikipedia contribution event on the theme of Canada 150: Music and belonging. To participate, all you need is a (free) Wikipedia username. We’re not sure Read More …

A man playing the fiddle in a country store in Tennessee in the 1940s. He sits next to a stove, a number of people sit or lean while giving him their undivided attention.

September session is September 17

Posted onSeptember 15, 2017September 15, 2017

That’s this Sunday, from noon to 2:45 pm at the Tranzac Club. Where DID the time go? Can’t wait to see you all! It’s been a while. Heartiest congratulations to Emilyn and John who, word has it, had one of the loveliest weddings in living memory. The pictures sure made it look so, too. Rob and Donna

Session reminder: August 20, 2017

Posted onAugust 17, 2017

A quick reminder about the session this weekend, from noon to 2:45 pm at the Tranzac Club. This week’s session might be sparsely attended, as Rob and Donna are off to the Festival violon traditionnel Sutton, Pascal’s festival in the Eastern Townships. (You can follow this festival vicariously, through their facebook page.) It’s also an AlgomaTrad week, for those lucky enough to get up there… So, we hope you can soldier on without us this week, and we’ll be looking forward to joining you in September, on the 17th. Rob and Donna

Shahn, Ben, photographer. Fiddlin' Bill Hensley, mountain fiddlerAsheville, North Carolina. 1937. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.

July session and other events

Posted onJuly 13, 2017July 13, 2017

There is indeed a session this coming Sunday, as usual from noon to 2:45 pm at the Tranzac Club. See you all there! That said, this is a busy time for lovers of Quebecois music! Hope some of you made it to the Pierre Schryer concert on July 9th. We certainly enjoyed De temps antan at the Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia that same weekend! Mark your calendars for one or two of these: Friday, July 21, free concert with Le vent du nord (thank you, Elizabeth!). The show starts at 9:30, but get there early to find seats. From Read More …

Poster for Pierre Schryer, Dermot Byrne and Adam Dobres concert July 7 at the Tranzac Club.

July concerts in Toronto

Posted onJune 30, 2017June 30, 2017

This quick update is to let you know about two events we have heard about in the next couple of weeks. On Sunday, July 9th, Ontario-style fiddler Pierre Schryer is playing at the Tranzac Club, along with Dermot Byrne and Adam Dobres. Their group is called 3TíR. I can’t find the price posted anywhere, but I assume it’s in the $20 range. You can see them on video from their facebook page. Remember, Tranzac Club members (only $30 for a whole year) often receive discounts on admission. These gentlemen will also be at the Goderich Celtic Roots festival, and the Read More …

Session: Sunday, June 18

Posted onJune 17, 2017June 17, 2017

Yes, there is a session tomorrow. See you all between noon and 3 pm. If you have ever been lucky enough to attend an AlgomaTrad event (family camp, dance, travelling concert, music or dance workshop, or concert by the O’Shraves or the Brian Pickell Band), please take a moment to answer a very short, multiple choice online survey. They will use the responses they get when applying for funding to offer more of their engaging and culturally important events and activities. Next weekend (June 23-24) in Hamilton, the annual FrancoFEST “gets Hamilton rocking… in French!”. We are eager to listen Read More …

Reminder Session on Sunday

Posted onMay 19, 2017May 19, 20171 Comment

Spring is back, and with it, the return of the TOQueTrad session to it’s regular time. This Sunday, at the Tranzac Club, at 12:00 PM, we look forward to seeing you all at the regular session. (Session details) What a wonderful way to spend part of the long weekend. If you’re not out at the cottage, come play some tunes! Hope to see you there.