Photo Gallery: Amanda Marshall with Colin James and AHI at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or X.
Private Parties With a Twist: Elevate Your Event Plans With Mini-Concerts
By Mitch Rice
Are you tired of hosting the same old private parties every year? Looking for a way to spice things up and truly wow your guests? Enter the world of mini-concerts!
This fresh and exciting idea will transform your private parties into unforgettable nights filled with music and joy. Imagine the look on your friends’ faces as they enjoy live performances right in your living room.
Get ready to discover how mini-concerts can elevate your next event to legendary status! Keep reading to find out more.
The Appeal of Mini-Concerts
Imagine your friends and family arriving at your party, not just for the usual chit-chat and snacks, but for a live mini-concert. It’s a unique way to entertain your guests and create an unforgettable experience.
Mini-concerts add a personal touch and make your event feel special.
How to Organize a Mini-Concert
First, decide what kind of music you want at your party. Do you prefer a solo acoustic guitarist, a lively band, or maybe even a jazz trio?
Once you have an idea, you can hire a musician or a small band that fits your theme. Local musicians are often looking for gigs and would love the opportunity to perform at your event.
Setting the Stage
Next, think about where the mini-concert will take place. It doesn’t have to be a big stage; a corner of your living room, backyard, or even your garage can work.
Make sure there’s enough space for the performers and a spot for guests to sit or stand comfortably.
Inviting Your Guests
When you send out invitations, let your guests know there will be a mini-concert. It will build excitement and ensure everyone arrives on time. Mentioning a live performance will pique their interest and add an element of surprise.
Creating the Atmosphere
Enhance your space to align with the music’s atmosphere. For a private party entertainment featuring a jazz trio, try dim lighting and candles to create a cozy, intimate ambiance.
For a rock band, consider using vibrant lights and some funky decorations. The right atmosphere can elevate the overall experience, making intimate gatherings and mini-concerts even more memorable.
Enjoy the Show
On the day of your party, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the show with your guests. The live music will set a great mood, and your friends and family will love the unique entertainment.
Plus, you’ll have the chance to support local artists and give them a platform to showcase their talent.
Capture the Moments
Don’t forget to capture the moments. Take pictures and videos of your guests enjoying the music.
These will be great memories to look back on and share with those who couldn’t make it to the party. Plus, the performers will appreciate any photos or videos of their performance.
Elevate Your Private Parties to New Heights
Incorporating mini-concerts into your private parties is a game-changer. It combines the intimacy of a small gathering with the excitement of live music, creating an unparalleled atmosphere. Your guests will be amazed by the unique entertainment and the personal touch it adds to your event.
Embrace this innovative idea to transform your private parties from ordinary to extraordinary. Start planning your next gathering with a mini-concert and make it a night to remember for everyone involved.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
My Next Read: “Blacksound: Making Race and Popular Music in the United States” by Matthew D. Morrison
Blacksound explores the sonic history of blackface minstrelsy and the racial foundations of American musical culture from the early 1800s through the turn of the twentieth century. With this namesake book, Matthew D. Morrison develops the concept of “Blacksound” to uncover how the popular music industry and popular entertainment in general in the United States arose out of slavery and blackface.
Blacksound as an idea is not the music or sounds produced by Black Americans but instead the material and fleeting remnants of their sounds and performances that have been co-opted and amalgamated into popular music. Morrison unpacks the relationship between performance, racial identity, and intellectual property to reveal how blackface minstrelsy scripts became absorbed into commercial entertainment through an unequal system of intellectual property and copyright laws. By introducing this foundational new concept in musicology, Blacksound highlights what is politically at stake–for creators and audiences alike–in revisiting the long history of American popular music.
JAZZ.FM91 Presents The Fourth Season Of Discover Women In Jazz
In partnership with the Pat and Tony Adams Freedom Fund for the Arts, JAZZ.FM91 presents the fourth season of Discover Women in Jazz.
JAZZ.FM91 is dedicated to entertain, inspire and unite the community through inclusive high-quality programming, education and storytelling. As Canada’s only 24/7 all jazz radio broadcaster and a charitable arts organization, JAZZ.FM91 has a responsibility to push for greater equality and diversity in the arts.
This concert series promotes, champions and highlights women’s contributions to jazz as musicians, composers, lyricists and bandleaders and has featured artists such as Joy Lapps, Debi Botos, Nicky Schrire, Virginia MacDonald and more.
Discover Women in Jazz features five artists from the Greater Toronto Area selected by an informed panel that includes members of JAZZ.FM91’s Alumni Committee — musicians and entrepreneurs Agneya Chikte, Chelsea McBride, Jesse Ryan, and Jacob Chung — and JAZZ.FM91 Creative Strategist and Host of Voice Tracks, Dani Elwell. Recommendations were also received from members of the artist community and festival partners.
Through this program, JAZZ.FM91 offers these talented women support, space, funding and marketing to foster their careers.
One concert will be broadcast live to air and live-streamed to YouTube each week throughout August. Concert dates are: August 1, August 8, August 14, August 22, and August 29. Each concert will take place between 7 and 8 p.m. ET.
Plus, tune in to Jazzology, supported by RBC Foundation on JAZZ.FM91 each Wednesday at 9 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. ET between July 24 and August 25 to get to know more about this year’s artists leading up to their concerts.
Apocalyptica Announces “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2” U.S. Tour With Special Guest Nita Strauss
In the lore of heavy metal, only a handful of artists can claim to have changed history, and even fewer can say they’ve done so twice. Enter Apocalyptica, and one of metal’s greatest, most unlikely success stories. By any account, it’s the stuff of legend, and it’s about to come full circle as Apocalyptica announces their “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 Tour” across the United States, featuring support from guitar virtuoso Nita Strauss.
Formed in 1993 at the world-renowned Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, Apocalyptica began as a loving, lo-fi nod to Metallica from four classically trained musicians. Their debut album, Plays Metallica By Four Cellos, released in 1996, was a game-changer. As founding band leader Eicca Toppinen explains, “We just loved Metallica and we wanted to play it with the instruments we were able to play, which just happened to be cellos. We played a metal club in Helsinki, and then we were asked to do an album. Five months after it was released, we were opening for Metallica. It’s still unbelievable to me.”
Fast forward to today, and Apocalyptica has released eight rapturously received records, sold six million albums, and toured relentlessly. Now, they continue their unique homage to Metallica with Plays Metallica, Vol. 2, featuring powerful collaborations with Metallica members and using original tracks from the legendary Cliff Burton. The album came out June 7, 2024 to rave reviews…
“Apocalyptica have gone beyond mere novelty value to become their own unique entity, breathing fresh life and a new perspective into these songs. “ – LOUDER
“Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol.2 is a fitting homage to the band, and the fact that Metallica has so much involvement in it gives it that extra stamp of approval.” – Heavy Music HQ
The band looks forward to playing these fresh interpretations of Metallica songs for their US fans in 2025. The “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 Tour” will kick off on February 6, 2025, in Washington, DC, and will visit major cities across North America.
Tour Dates:
Thu Feb 06 – Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre
Fri Feb 07 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia
Sat Feb 08 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
Tue Feb 11 – New York, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
Wed Feb 12 – Montreal, QC @ MTELUS
Thu Feb 13 – Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Fri Feb 14 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady Music Center
Sat Feb 15 – Chicago, IL @ Athenaeum Center
Sun Feb 16 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
Tue Feb 18 – Minneapolis, MN @ Uptown Theater
Wed Feb 19 – Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre
Thu Feb 20 – Saskatoon, SK @ Coors Event Centre
Fri Feb 21 – Edmonton, AB @ Midway Music Hall
Sat Feb 22 – Calgary, AB @ Grey Eagle Event Centre
Mon Feb 24 – Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Tue Feb 25 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
Wed Feb 26 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Thu Feb 27 – San Francisco, CA @ Palace of Fine Arts
Fri Feb 28 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Orpheum Theatre
Sat Mar 01 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
Mon Mar 03 – Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
Wed Mar 05 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live – Moody Theater
Thu Mar 06 – Dallas, TX @ The Majestic Theatre
Sat Mar 08 – Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
Raf-Saperra Announces ‘Raw As Folk World Tour’
Raf-Saperra announced his ‘Raw As Folk World Tour’. Produced by Live Nation, the 13-city tour kicks off on Wednesday September 4 at The Howard Theatre in Washington D.C. making stops in Dallas, Vancouver, Manchester and more before wrapping up in London at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Friday, November 15.
Raf-Saperra, a South London native, has fast become one of the most talked about exports from the UK since his debut release ‘Glassy Riddim’. Combining his traditional Punjabi Folk vocals with his western musical influences, he has taken social media by storm.
RAW AS FOLK WORLD TOUR DATES:
Wed Sep 04 – Washington, DC – The Howard Theatre
Fri Sep 06 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
Thu Sep 12 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
Fri Sep 13 – Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
Sat Sep 14 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
Sat Sep 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater
Thu Sep 26 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
Fri Oct 04 – San Francisco, CA – The UC Theatre
Fri Oct 18 – Manchester, UK – O2 Ritz
Sat Oct 19 – Leeds, UK – Stylus
Fri Oct 25 – Leicester, UK – O2 Academy Leicester
Sat Oct 26 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute
Fri Nov 15 – London, UK – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Sat Nov 23 – Abu Dhabi, UAE – Wireless Festival^
^Festival Date
Sarah Silverman Announces ‘Postmortem’ U.S. Tour
Today, Sarah Silverman announces Sarah Silverman: Postmortem will bring her signature witty humor and thought provoking insight to over 30 cities across the U.S. Full routing and ticketing information are available below. Produced by Live Nation, the tour will also feature a special live taping during her two NYC shows at the famous Beacon Theatre this January. The two-time Emmy winner has been a staple in the comedy world for over 2 decades, with a reputation for tackling subject matter with her unique and provocative perspective.
“Looking forward to hitting the road and connecting with human beings in a live setting,” Silverman said.
No cellphones, cameras, or recording devices will be allowed at this show. Upon arrival, all phones and smart watches will be secured in Yondr pouches that will be unlocked at the end of the show. Guests maintain possession of their phones throughout the night and, if needed, may access their phones at designated Yondr unlocking stations in the lobby. Anyone caught with a cellphone in the venue will be immediately ejected. We appreciate your cooperation in creating a phone-free viewing experience.
Sarah Silverman is a two-time Emmy Award-winning comedian, actress, writer, and producer. Her most recent special Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love was nominated for a Grammy, Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award and is streaming on Max, She also continues to host her critically acclaimed, weekly podcast, The Sarah Silverman Podcast, which relaunched on October 19 through Lemonada on all platforms and TBS’ Stupid Pet Tricks, an expansion of the famous David Letterman late night segment. Sarah also appeared in Netflix’s Oscar-nominated Maestro, a biopic on the life of composer Leonard Bernstein, where she portrayed Bernstein’s sister Shirley. Silverman’s other credits include Battle of the Sexes, Wreck It Ralph, The School of Rock and her Emmy nominated performances in The Sarah Silverman Program and I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman.
SARAH SILVERMAN: POSTMORTEM TOUR DATES:
+ Special Live Taping
Thu Sep 19 – St Louis, MO – Stifel Theatre
Fri Sep 20 – Indianapolis, IN – Clowes Memorial Hall
Sat Sep 21 – Cleveland, OH – KeyBank State Theatre
Sat Sep 28 – Las Vegas, NV – Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort
Fri Oct 25 – Brooks, CA – Cache Creek Casino Resort
Sat Oct 26 – Reno, NV – Silver Legacy Casino
Fri Nov 1 – Madison, WI – Orpheum Theater
Sat Nov 2 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre
Sun Nov 3 – Columbus, OH – Mershon Auditorium
Thu Nov 7 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
Fri Nov 8 – Durham, NC – DPAC
Sat Nov 9 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
Thu Nov 14 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Fri Nov 15 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Civic Theatre
Thu Nov 21 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met
Thu Dec 5 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre
Fri Dec 6 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit
Thu Dec 26 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theater
Fri Dec 27 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Sat Dec 28 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
Fri Jan 3 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kingsbury Hall
Sat Jan 4 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
Sun Jan 5 – Austin, TX – ACL Live – Moody Theater
Thu Jan 9 – Tampa, FL – Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock – 2 SHOWS
Fri Jan 10 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live Orlando*
Sat Jan 11 – Miami, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater
Sun Jan 12 – Atlanta, GA – Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre*
Fri Jan 17 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre+
Sat Jan 18 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre+
Wed Jan 22 – Concord, NH – Chubb Theatre at Capitol Center for The Arts
Thu Jan 23 – Providence, RI – Veterans Memorial Auditorium
Fri Jan 24 – Medford, MA – Chevalier Theatre*
Sat Jan 25 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur
Jinjer Announces 2024 North American Headline Tour
Hot on the heels of the recent release of their first official live DVD/BluRay, Live in Los Angeles, Ukraine’s very own modern metal phenomenon JINJER have just announced what is poised to be one of heavy metal’s most in-demand tours of the year. The progressive metal giants have once again set their sights on North America for a massive headline tour produced by Live Nation, featuring support from fast-rising Japanese metalcore unit Hanabie. and progressive metalcore mainstays Born Of Osiris.
As JINJER is currently in the studio recording their highly anticipated upcoming fifth studio album, fans can expect to hear a handful of brand new, never-before-heard tracks on the tour. Be among the very first to witness new music! #JINJER5
Kicking off on September 20 in Sayreville, NJ, the tour will visit many major cities in the USA and Canada, coming to an end in Sacramento, CA on October 13 at Aftershock Festival. In addition to Aftershock, the tour will also see JINJER performing at major festivals such as Metal Injection Festival, Louder Than Life, and the return of the mighty Mayhem Festival.
JINJER w/ Hanabie. and Born Of Osiris
09/20/24: Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
09/21/24: Brooklyn, NY @ Metal Injection Fest
09/22/24: Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theatre
09/23/24: Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
09/24/24: Montreal, QC @ MTELUS
09/26/24: Harrisburg, PA @ HMAC
09/27/24: Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
09/29/24: Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
10/01/24: Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
10/02/24: Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
10/03/24: Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House Of Blues
10/04/24: North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues
10/06/24: Houston, TX @ House Of Blues
10/07/24: San Antonio, TX @ The Aztec Theatre
10/09/24: Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre*
10/11/24: Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues
10/12/24: San Bernardino, CA @ Mayhem Festival
10/13/24: Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival
Mk.gee Announces Fall World Tour
Following a run of 18 sold-out shows across North America last month, rising star Mk.gee announces his world tour. The expansive new run will see him traveling across North America again to perform in new cities and returning to play exponentially bigger venues in cities he reached on his spring tour. In addition to his North American dates, Mk.gee will be traveling to Europe and the UK, capitalizing on the momentum from his venue upgrades in London earlier this year, which also saw sold-out success. Mk.gee will be completing the tour down under for three dates throughout Australia.
Last night, to tease the impending tour announcement, Mk.gee shared a live visual of his performance of “Breakthespell” from one of his two sold-out shows at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. The video captures the raw and enchanting energy of his live performance, earning high praise from Billboard, which described it as “a must-see for concert lovers.” Mk.gee’s performances with bandmates Andrew Aged and Zach Sekoff have been widely praised for their captivating presence, embodying the beguiling nature of the songs from his critically acclaimed debut album, Two Star & The Dream Police. Mk.gee’s alchemy of guitar sounds has been the centerpiece of his live shows, showcased on standout tracks that have become fan favorites such as “Candy,” “Are You Looking Up,” and “Alesis.”
Two Star & The Dream Police has captivated the musical world, drawing praise from fans and fellow artists alike, including Eric Clapton, who said in a recent interview, “he has found things to do on the guitar that are like nobody else.” The album received widespread acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and Vulture, who listed the album in their Best Albums Of 2024 (So Far) list, as well as being the subject of fervent fascination on guitar and music message boards online. Following Two Star’s release, Mk.gee ignited more widespread admiration making his late-night television debut with a standout performance of “Are You Looking Up” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Upcoming Tour Dates
North America:
9/2 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
9/3 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
9/6 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre
9/7 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
9/9 – San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park
9/11 – Denver, CO @ Summit
9/13 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
9/14 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
9/15 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues Dallas
9/18 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
9/19 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom
9/20 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
9/21 – Newport, KY @ MegaCorp Pavilion
9/23 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
9/24 – New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place
9/26 – Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues Boston
9/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall
9/29 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
10/1 – Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
10/2 – Detroit, MI @ St Andrew’s Hall
10/3 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
10/5 – Minneapolis, MN @ Uptown Theater
UK & Europe:
10/31 – London, UK @ Electric Brixton
11/2 – Paris, FR @ Elysee Montmarte
11/4 – Berlin, DE @ Betonhalle
11/5 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
Australia:
12/3 – Brisbane, QLD @ The Triffid
12/5 – Sydney, NSW @ Metro Theatre
12/7 – Melbourne, VIC @ Max Watts
