jump to Concert Venues
        (coffee houses & concert halls)

        The Folk Clubs (& open stage venues):  
 

The Acoustic Harvest Folk Club
Toronto's East End, Beaches and Bluffs folk club.
at the St. Nicholas Anglican Church
(corner of Kingston Rd. and Manderley Rd)
note: this is a new location (as of September 2006), 1 block east of the old one
Concert series: all start at 8pm (doors open at 7:30)
schedule available at the Acoustic Harvest Website
Admission: (usually)$12. Students are half price..
For further information email Lillian Wauthier (lillianw@interlog.com).
(see also Fiddles & Frets Concert Series)
 
 

Acoustic Traditions Folk Club
at 80 Broadway, Orangeville, Ontario.    L9W 1J9
Wednesday night jam sessions and regular house concerts. 
Update (March 17, 2003): There is now have a new home for the Jam Session. Every Wednesday 7:45 pm
Ecology Retreat Centre,  Hockley Road East of the Third Line South Side    519-941-4560
"Our definition of "Folk" is very broad, encompassing most acoustic music.
Located in Orangeville, Ontario, we are home to many talented musicians.
In addition to showcasing local performers, our house concert series
has been hosting musicans from other parts of Ontario and Canada.
If you are a performer or music lover and would like to become involved, please contact us."
Phone: (519) 942-6258    Fax: (519) 940-9367
Email:    folkclub@acoustictraditions.com     Webpage:    http://www.acoustictraditions.com/folkclub/
Acoustic Traditions: the stores
80 Broadway, Orangeville, ON  L9W 1J9  (519) 942-6258.  Fax: (519) 940-9367
Email: info@acoustictraditions.com    Webpage: www.acoustictraditions.com
209 St. Andrew St. W., Fergus, ON  N1M 1N8  (519) 787-3241
 
 

at the Brant Park Inn/Best Western Hotel
19 Holiday Dr., Brantford. N3T 5W5
(at the Hwy 403 and Wayne Gretzky Parkway interchange)
Every other Friday at 8:30 PM, September through June.
Run by Don & Brenda McGeoch. (519) 759-7676.
Website: http://www.Brantford.folk.on.ca/index.htm
Email: brantfordfolk@execulink.com
Open stage format (2-song sets). Some concerts.
Adm: $3 (performers free)
(wheelchair accessible & smoke-free)
map
Go here for a newspaper article about the club, published September 18, 2002    

at the Brant Park Inn/Best Western Hotel
19 Holiday Dr., Brantford. N3T 5W5
(at the Hwy 403 and Wayne Gretzky Parkway interchange)
Every other Friday at 8:30 PM, September through June.
Run by Dave Jensen.  519-752-0453
Website is here
Email:    dave4446@rogers.com
or:   jeremiah@bfree.on.ca
Open stage format (2-song sets).
Adm: $3 (performers free)
(wheelchair accessible & smoke-free)

map

British Isles Traditional Folk Music Pub Sessions
at the Golden Kiwi, 47 Dickson St, Cambridge.  
 Hosted by Tethera on the first & third Sunday of each month from September until June, from 3 - 5 pm.
Informal gatherings of like minded musicians, playing together in a pub setting for fun!
The repertoire consists of mainly - though not exclusively - English music, with a focus on tune playing.
This is group playing, not a singaround format.
Inquiries: Brad McEwen
                   
                      
                      
Cuckoo's Nest Folk Club
usually a (non-smoking) concert series beginning at 7:30 (doors open at 6:45) 
usually on Sundays at Chaucer's Pub, 122 Carling St., London, Ontario
Website: http://www.cuckoosnest.folk.on.ca
E-mail: folk@iandavies.com
Reserving in advance is recommended as Chaucer's Pub has limited seating. 
Reservations can be made by calling 473-2099 or e-mail folk@iandavies.com
map

Dockside*
at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 12 Catherine Avenue, Brantford, Ontario
no longer being held (as of October 2008)
                     
                       

Fat Albert's Coffee House*
at the United Steelworkers Of America Union Hall, 25 Cecil Street, Toronto
open stage on Wednesday evenings
7 pm - set-up and open stage sign up      8 - 11:30 pm or so - performances w/ afeature set around 9 pm
a donation of $2 is requested        non-smoking venue    info:  Tony at (416) 531-9730
& at last a website:  http://www.angelfire.com/folk/fatalberts/

First Friday Fiddle Jams  -  Orangeville
at new Acoustic Traditions music store at 57 Broadway
(just east of the Town Hall/Opera House)
first Friday of the month from 7 pm.
All instruments are welcome. Bring a pop or a coffee if you wish,
maybe a stool or folding chair and be prepared to enjoy some great music.
contact:   fiddlee@hotmail.com

Flying Cloud Folk Club
at the TRANZAC (292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto)
(between Bathurst and Spadina, just south of Bloor)
Sunday evenings, usually a concert venue
E-mail: flyingcloudfolk@gmail.com    or phone:  416 410 FOLK (aka 3655)
Website:    www.flyingcloudfolk.ca/
 

Folkway Music
163 Suffolk Street West, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Folkway Music is a small (35 people max.) performing space
that masquerades as an instrument repair shop during the day.
Folkway will be having concerts on the 2nd and 4th Fridays October to June
Admission is $10.00. Doors open at 8pm, concerts start at 8.30pm.
Call 519-763-5524 to reserve a seat.
website:     www.folkwaymusic.com
Also hosting the "Songwriter Collective" on the last Thursday of every month from 7:00 to 9:00 pm
- a gathering of songwriters, with or without instruments, for the opportunity to share
the songs they are working on, and to give and receive structured feedback.
As well the Grand River Dulcimer Club (see below) meets the first Thursday of each month.
 
 

Fonthill Community Coffee House
at the Pelham Old Town Hall on Canboro Road (near Centre Street), Fonthill, Ontario
2nd Friday of the month at 7:30 PM, September through June.
Open stage format (2-song sets), with a feature set.
Admission is $2 (children free).     It's non-alcoholic and smoke free.
Information:  Graeme: 905-563-1226   or   Jim: 905-892-0732

website                         map
 

Free Times Cafe*
320 College Street, Toronto, Ontario. 416-967-1078
open stage Monday evenings, all year long
Sign-up time is 6:45 pm & Start time is 7:00 pm
Recommended that you get there early to sign up & play. Guest Host every week

The Grand River Dulcimer Club
meets at Folkway Music, 163 Suffolk Street West, Guelph, Ontario
first Thursday evening of each month; 7:30 - 9:30
for information, phone: 519-763-8092    fax: 519-821-9468
Email: grandriverdulcimer@rogers.com
Snailmail: 1 Darren Place  Guelph, ON N1H 6J2
website
"We swap tunes and tips, teach each other what we've been learning on our own, and have a great time playing,
and sometimes singing, together. We like to experiment with tunings and arrangements - traditional tunes,
contemporary songs and original compositions all have their place in our club's repertoire.
We welcome new members! There are always a couple of extra instruments available for beginners."
 
 

The Great Claude Fiddle and Folk Jam
Claude Church, 15175 Hurontario Street, Caledon, 3.5 km north of King Rd.
Held on the third Friday of each month (beginning January 16th, 2004), at 7:30 pm 
All musicians, folk & fiddle afficionados most welcome! No admission fee.
Occasional concerts will also be scheduled
Telephone: Claude Presbyterian Church: 905-838-3512
or Elizabeth Szekeres:  905-843-2749    email:  wjeg@3web.net

Greenbank Folk Music Society
In Uxbridge
1st Sunday of each month
friendly & informal acoustic performance circle (musicians only please)
For information, call Ren (905) 852-7578 (Uxbridge area)
or Tony (416) 421-3827 (Toronto)
E-mail Tony Burns: ynot@globalserve.net
Website: http://www.globalserve.net/~ynot/grnbnk.htm
 
 

at the Pheasant Plucker, 2rd floor, 20 Augusta St., Hamilton.
Every other Tuesday at 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm, from September to June.
Website: www.hamiltonfolkclub.ca            E-mail:   info@hamiltonfolkclub.ca
Phone: Don Middleton: 905-628-5945; Al Lindsay: 905-529-8896
Open stage format (2-song sets), + regular feature set.
Adm: $3 (performers free)            map
2006 dates:    September 12, 26    October 10, 24    November 7, 21    December 5, 19
2007 dates:    January 16, 30    February 13, 27    March 13, 27    April 10, 24   May 8, 22    June 5, 19
July ? Annual Summer Picnic

Hamilton-Wentworth Old-Tyme Fiddlers' Association
at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 58, 1180 Barton Street East, Hamilton. (across from Centre Mall)
Third Wednesday of the month, 7pm,  in the banquet room, upstairs.

Headwaters Acoustic Music Society
concert series titled :   "Live! At the Opera House"
Orangeville Opera House, 87 Broadway, Orangeville
website:    http://www.laurabird.com/HAMS.htm        e-mail:    h.a.m.s@sympatico.ca

Home County’s Open Stage
at the London Music Club , 470 Colborne Street
last Sunday of the month at  2 pm.
3 songs / 15 minutes
Admission: a $3 donation.  Food/Beverages available for purchase.
Website  or email Karen Mclaughlin   or phone: 519- 641-3088
2006/2007 dates are: September 24        October 29        November 26,
January 28        February 25        March 25        April 29        May 27

                      
                      
Keith Thompson Songwriters Cafe
at Manhattans, 951 Gordon Street, Guelph. 519-767-2440
All originals performed by the writers (OK, it can be a co-write),
all acoustic (no pre-record music) just you and your guitar (or piano if you're at Manhattans)
we do not tolerate covers, not even during sound check - Yes, we mean it.
(full details at www.thesongbirdcafe.com)

Old Chestnuts Song Circle
in Kitchener/Waterloo
4th Saturday of the month, from September to May. 8 PM
For information, call Jack Cole. (519) 578-6298
E-mail: jhcole@mgl.ca    Web Page: http://www.mgl.ca/~jhcole/
acoustic singaround/singalong
 

Port Colborne Folk Arts Council Coffee House
3rd Saturday of the month at St. Patrick's Catholic Church Parish Hall located in downtown Port Colborne
at the northeast corner of King and Victoria Streets.
"Join us for an evening of music and entertainment as the Port Colborne Folk Arts Council
hosts their Coffee House. Sure to please, this night of many musical styles, poetry
and story telling is an open mic forum.
Admission is only $2.00 with proceeds going towards Folk Arts events held throughout the year.
Doors open at 7:30pm and the fun begins at 8pm.
Refreshments are available throughout the evening.
So come out, bring your instrument and be a part of the evening's list of entertainers
or just enjoy it as part of the audience.
A splendid time is guaranteed for all!!.....We'll see you Friday Night!"
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT - DEREK 905-835-9889 or MONIQUE 905-835-0661

Singers Club / Jam Session
in Toronto at the Tranzac Club,  292 Brunswick Avenue (just west of Spadina, off Bloor)
 last Thursday of every month, 8pm to 11pm
informal acoustic singaround/jam session
  

 
South Coast Folk Club

Not local to us by any means, but they do seem to have a thriving club. Worth a look, methinks.
Adelaide, Australia                       
                      
                 
  
   
                      

Southern Ontario Fingerstyle Guitar Association
at the Pheasant Plucker, 2rd floor, 20 Augusta St., Hamilton.
Beginning March 31, 2003 and every 2nd Monday thereafter
8 pm.    There will be a $2 admisssion fee, performers free
There will be the usual open stage and Guest performers of the highest quality
Operated by Shawn Trotter & Charlie Calvert.   Further information: SOFGA website
Email:   info@sofga.com    or telephone  905-525-9639
           

                      
                      
Vital Spark Folk Society
in Whitby, Ontario
Concert series - variable venues
E-mail:    vitlsprk@icomm.ca
Website:   www.icomm.ca/vitlsprk
or call:    Karen at 905 430 8692
or:           Vicky at 905 432 3237
  

Waterford Old Town Hall Folk Club*
at the Old Town Hall on Main Street in Waterford, Ontario
(about 25 min. south of brantford)
1st Sunday of the month, October to May, from 2 pm til 5
informal open stage    admission: free  (coffee, tea, pop & snacks available)
further information: phone Kim Moverley at 519-443-4390
see also the Old Town Hall Association (OTHA) site about information
on the restoration project, which includes a superlative old-fashion music hall.
note: a large part of the restoration has been done, the hall is now active
& the folk club is taking place there.

The White Oak Folk Club*
has more or less melded into the activities of
The Moonshine Café       137 Kerr Street       Oakville, Ontario

Windsor Folk Music & Arts Society*
Concerts and Acoustic Stage events are held at Mackenzie Hall
3277  Sandwich Street     Windsor, Ontario
Telephone: (519) 255-7600    Email:  cibor@server.uwindsor.ca
Website:  www.windsorfolk.org
Membership fees: $15 per individual/ $25 per family
Members receive a discount on concerts, newsletters (approximately 4 times a year), and notices about special events.
Acoustic Evenings from 8 to 11, & limited to 8 performers. If you wish to perform,
contact David Whitaker at (519) 945-9831 during the week before the scheduled evening.
Admission for the Acoustic Evenings is free, but donations are invited. Refreshments are available.
Acoustic Stages are scheduled for the following dates:
.

Notes: * - denotes sound system. Others are acoustic singarounds.

Each club has different arrangements regarding the price of admission. Some clubs are able to admit performers free. Others simply can't if they are to meet their expenses. Please be understanding of this.

If you know of any other clubs, particularly west of Toronto, to add to this list, please e-mail Jeremiah.
 
 

back to homepage