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NOVEMBER 7TH, 2017 - THE HIDEOUT
NOVEMBER 9TH, 2017 - PADDOCK TAVERN
As Indie Week 2017 roared into the downtown core, many local bars and venue played host to the weeklong event filled with showcases, panels, and industry events. On the night of Tuesday November 7th, local spot The Hideout and neighbouring The Nest hosted the week’s launch party. Revellers slowly gathered to pack the venue as the opening night rang through. The launch party set the stage for artist Poor Nameless Boy, who serenaded the crowd with a rendition of indie and folk rock chords alongside two backing musicians. Following the trio was Pat Robitaille, the solo musician crooned his way through the set and at one point, paying homage to a fellow Torontonian musician – Daniel Ceasar with a pointed acoustic cover of Ceasar’s R&B single “Get You”.
As the evening grew, I made my way over to the Nest and took in the acts beginning their night. Singer Veronica channelled her pop/R&B influenced act with a rounding set including a cover of the chart topping single “Rockstar” by Post Malone. Afterwards, Inuit artist Kelly Fraser proclaimed through her act the Indigenous land Canada is built on. With a performance including throat singing and drumming she declared resistance on colonialist acts utilizing the example of the threats to practices of seal hunting with a resounding creed to “leave us alone”, echoing throughout a personal track.
On Thursday November 9th, I made my way to the Paddock Tavern, the small bar was host to this night’s judged showcase with myself serving as one of the judges, the bill featured bands and singer-songwriters with Emily Mac opening the night. The songstress played a high energy set, followed by Marlon Chaplin, Wes Mason, and Jiants. Each band played through sound issues and managed to make the most of a small stage even so, all bands performed well with Marlon Chaplin taking the win of the night.
As the week flew by with sets scattered downtown, over the weekend I made my way to the Supermarket located in the bustling Kensington Market. The night featured singer-songwriters L.A Foster, Sheenah Ko, and Blood & Glass. The restaurant had a cozy vibe, although the stage set up proved quite dim, L.A Foster managed to get the small crowd grooving and dancing the night away with her eclectic sounds of R&B and pop. She gracefully rang the night behind a keyboard, swaying along to the rhythms and the beats with the crowd.
Indie Week managed to keep the DIY, grassroots feel with the mix of local bars and small-sized venues even with corporate sponsors such as Jack Daniels, Slaight Music, and institutions like Seneca College, various radio stations and more.
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