Newmarket Live Music Show a Genre Bender

When I was a 'kid" rock and roll bars were the norm. If we weren't always mesmerized by the next big acts coming to Toronto we were entrenched in the bar band scene, each having favorites.

Trooper, Max Webster, Helix, April Wine, Teenage Head, David Wilcox to name some, and then there were the infamous numerous clone acts, some of which were ( are?) pretty good like Just Alice and Blushing Brides who did The Rolling Stones so well. A Rod Stewart cover guy I recall was good as well but I got jumped after his show while on assignment for Coverstory Newspaper outside The Rockin Deli in Newmarket...I think for wearing leather pants! Long story for another day. Needless to say, Hot Legs wasn't my theme song that cold wintry night! Ahhh..the memories. Lol. Still have the scuffed pants too! Ha.

The Sean Abbott Band

With rock & roll bars on a steady decline over the past few years, one wonders if the rock genre will even survive? It's hard to deny, with one live club after another closing up shop, there is hardly any left to play live at anymore and certainly none starting up built around live bands. It's all electronic these days. Cheaper. Less hassle. But is it better?
Recently, an old haunt from the heyday, the Silver Dollar, was designated an historical building. Wow, they must feel this is a breed becoming extinct. The SD featuring top acts on the scene at one time along with the never a cover Gasworks, upstart Rock & Roll Heaven, the Rivoli, Diamond Club, Big Bop etc and what became The Guvernment, which just closed last week and had once housed bigger acts - all gone now.  Ditto the El Mocambo where recently I saw one of the final shows there featuring The Yappers.. The bars that do house live acts still, often prefer cover tunes, eliminating an entire element to the scene, including stunting the artistry of live performers.

Going, going...

So it's great to see flexible venues like Stellar Hall located above the bowling alley at 1220 Stellar Dr in Newmarket, offering great acoustics in a hall and adjoining room just large enough to call it a bash! Having put on or promoted a number of shows there over the past several years now it's been great to see them grow as a venue, adding a top of the line sound system, new lighting and mobile staging in that time as well.

Sat Mar 21 2015 will be such a night there, with a line up reminiscent of a walk back in time through a number of rock genres and featuring only top notch talent. The licensed event will also have a light menu and be Emceed by yours truly, TP, so expect some wacky improv giveaways! Air guitar anyone!? Ha!

The evening will open with house music followed by TPE intros and fun stuff before the phenomenal Brits and American blues inspired Sean Abbott Band, playing a mix of originals and covers in the rock and blues genres, take the stage. Sean, who has played with greats including guys who played with Clapton is expected to electrify the room, along with his band-mates, making for an unbelievable live experience!

The Yappers are also on the bill and play a superb original brand of reggae mixed with rock and sometimes a splash of country in a head bobbing and body sway inspiring set, with song writer/ singer/ guitar player Ray Yap leading the way, influenced heavily by bands his mentor and Uncle, Phil Chen, one of the world's most prolific bass players played with, such as Bob Marley, Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart who Yap met as a kid among some greats his uncle played alongside and also influenced Ray.Their new songs are just killer too and I can't wait to hear them live!

Hip Hop 'till you drop! Stoked!

At 11 pm the genre evolves to more recent with an All Star Showcase of Hip Hop talent taking to the stage, hosted by Stay Blessed Productions' Dean Wild and also featuring Headliners Root Of All Evil - MissPaige, DGT, Sadie Marquis..also! Enigmatic, DeeCeption - Diana Nardelli - as well as Shatter Theory  and Justin R Harris Just Flow !


Wonderground Magazine is also sponsoring a booth for the Performance Artists attending to sell their stuff! 

The entire line-up is stellar - just like the hall's name! 19+ Licensed Event with Hot Food Menu. $10 Cover. 
Doors Open 8PM. Info Call TPE@ 289-221-0928

 It's going to be one heck of a Genres Bender, March 21 2015! Snooze U Lose. Doors Open 8pm.

Advanced Tickets contact tpeproductions@gmail.com or Stellar Hall & Event Centre @ 905-830-4208 Join the Event and TPE on FaceBook

Top Live Talent Coming Near You!

Headliners Glass Ampp rocked Stellar Hall

Recently I was involved in an event that hit town, and I must say I got a good taste of what Arthur Jr Music and Captured Films have been up to - witness the array of talent they were able to assemble for the Newmarket stop of the Talent Search Concert Tour 2014 - and as well I earned a new respect for Farley Flex - Canadian Idol's judge who, up until now, I'd regarded as possibly Canada's token "Randy Jackson" or some shit - no offense meant, just my experience is we often try to copy what they do (like American Idol) and sometimes too literally methinks. But Farley really impressed me with not only his work ethic - rarely leaving the judges area - but his genuine love for entertainment and by caring enough to stick around and offer advice to the contestants. Now that was class. To boot, the info I heard him dish, I agreed with 100%, so I respect his entertainment opinion as well.

Danny Barker

All idol chat aside, there really was some spectacular talent showcased on the evening with host M.C. and co-organizer Danny Barker (along with Maurice Weeks of Arthur Jr Music) doing a solid job moving the night along from talent to talent and genre to genre. There were a few technical issues due to it being a new venue for the guys, but in the end they got it figured out so the bands could wail and and the Comics and Hip Hop contestants could perform. We also got a taste of the hard rock band Glass Ampp and you can expect to hear lots from this talented quartet in the future - wow. I leaned in to Farley to mention how good I thought they were and he informed me he's managing them. Good on him / them and I look forward to their upcoming e.p. release. Remember the name - Glass Ampp.

Maurice Weeks

Speaking of releases, Maurice Weeks of Arthur Jr Music also performed along with some members of the the A JM Family - including some cuts from The Payment which is to be released in May 2014 with beats written by the same guy who wrote for Eminem! NOW RELEASED. This was also the first time I'd heard Maurice perform and freak! he's quite a talent. He's able to rap with the best of them as it were, but also has a commanding stage presence combined with a unique style and 'smooth" voice and lends himself to holding a tune - often as he reels off the lyric others might simply rap straight up. Having previously heard a recorded version, it was also great to listen and see the transition and that it carries over very well to live. I look forward to the full e.p release!

Goliath Paw

The show itself featured 8 hip hop acts 5 bands and 5 comedians, with Contour winning the band category and Goliath Paw coming in second, and being one of the judges, I can tell you Goliath Paw were good, but did lose points with me for having some music beats recorded - wherein had they entered the Hip Hop category they likely would have won it, which Farley Flex pointed out to them as well post contest.

Top Comedians were funnyman Mark Anthony with American Jake Leland second, and Hip Hop acts had Doggie & D Show coming out on top with Douce taking second place. Winners continue on in the tour and win marketing packages, video and recording time.

The night ended with some comments and observations by Farley Flex as he announced the winners offering constructive bits of info  - from telling Contour's lead singer to find another barber,

"Seriously dude, you can't be a front man with that hair cut." Farley Flex

to telling Goliath Paw they entered the wrong category but the most important advice he gave out on the night, was highlighting the need for the acts to be themselves and bring themselves out on stage - not try and emulate some American hood or fashion they saw on a c.d. cover or whatever.

" You need to stand out from others not be the same. I can see 50 other acts just like you. "

Two of the judges Farley Flex and Tom Pearson

 " Do you want to be stars...or superstars? To do that, it is critical you stand out from the rest."

" You're not American, you didn't have that experience, so why are you presenting that?"

" Seriously, I'd rather you be shit and original than the best copy in the world of someone"

Farley Flex , Talent Search Concert Tour 2014, Newmarket stop

Notwithstanding there was still a good amount of entertaining performers on the night and certainly worth the price of admission, and who knows, maybe a star is born!?

Here's some other upcoming Gigs these guys have coming to town in May 2014!

Contour, winners of Best Band & worst hair cut categories!

All Photos By Glenn Rodger

Schweet!

People roll into Stellar Hall

The Judges yo

Tom Pearson and Maurice Weeks

Underground Method

Hip Hopper Entity

The boys!

Stand up comedy winner Mark Anthony and Farley Flex

  

Farley hams it up with comedian

Valentines Dinner Show a Stellar Newmarket Affair

Stellar Valentines Dinner Theatre Show coming for 2015!

Limited Tickets. Call 905-830-9141 for ticket and show info!

Stellar Hall & Event Centre will host a Special Valentines Dinner Show February 14 2015.

The menu includes a 4 course meal - choices  of  main courses and vegetarian upon request.

The dinner includes a mystery style live dinner theatre with performers from Spotlight, Directed by Karen Barker.

Tickets for the dinner show go on sale Jan 2015.

Stellar Hall  and Event Centre is much more than a banquets hall facility, featuring two rooms for a convenient separated bar and lounge area.

The banquets and restaurant, events hall, hosts a number of regular dances and live entertainment for all ages, including co-hosting the annual and now 2015 Highway 11 Cruisers Car Club fundraiser for Sick Kids New Years Eve party and dinner.

Stellar Hall & Event Centre is located at 1220 Stellar Dr in Newmarket Ontario 2nd floor unit 205 with a convenient front door entrance elevator.

Call Stellar Hall & Events Centre at 905-830-9441 to Reserve