Spring announcements / Cancellation / Free Tickets

Sorry to start off on a negative note, but unfortunately, we’ve had to cancel the March 29th date for Tal National at the Drake Hotel. In a story that’s become all too familiar these days, the group were unable to secure visas in time to make their tour happen. Such is the nature of trying to expose music from places like Niger – we find ourselves at the mercy of increasing challenges to mobility – ironic in this age of interconnectedness. Alas, maybe next time.More positively, we have Asian Music Series announcements – as we get closer to (dare we say it?) ‘spring’, there are more great events to talk about. Coming up in April, DroneDoctor returns to the Small World Centre on the 12th. The group have been doing a regular series of ‘musical meditations’ that fuse influences of the East and West that have won praise from a diverse and enthusiastic audience. You can enjoy the therapy with FREE tickets. The first two responses to ali@smallworldmusic.com get to visit the Doctor!Also at the Centre on the 25th, it’s a special event – Voices of Asia  – an Asian-Canadian celebration of women’s songs and stories. This ‘cross-cultural incubator’  brings together four of the city’s most engaging female music creators come together to develop and present new works that represent and celebrate the talent of Asian women in Toronto. Featuring the copious talents of Suba Sankaran, Bandana Singh, Vandana Vishwas, and Amely Zhou, we’re really excited to see what transpires.

Meanwhile Burq Off! continues its run at the Centre until Sunday. Most evenings are sold out, but there are some seats available for the Saturday and Sunday matinee performances. Speaking of tickets, it’s a month until the return of the great Zimbabwean singer Oliver Mtukudzi at Koerner Hall. If you haven’t bought yours for this great show yet, now’s the time!

Lastly, our friends at Massey Hall are back at the Winter Garden Theatre next Thursday (what a magical venue, as reminded at last week’s Camane concert) with Harry Manx.  His unique East-West hybrid guitar style was inspired by the great Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, whom we’ve had the pleasure of hosting twice.  Should be a good one!

                                         
Executive Director