Learn more about this weekend’s performers
All summer long, join us every Friday from 6 – 8 pm, Saturday from 11 am – 1 pm, and Sunday from 12 – 2 pm for live music by local artists on the public stage located on the north east corner of Bloor St. and Brunswick Ave.
Performing this Aug. 1, 2, and 3:
Friday, Aug. 1 at 6 pm – Diar
ABOUT: Diar (دْيَار ) dedicated to reviving and preserving traditional Syrian and Arabic songs by infusing them with a flamenco touch. Their aim is to cultivate and celebrate the rich Arabic heritage through their music, using easy rhythms so everyone can appreciate and enjoy it. The term “Diar” (دْيَار ) refers to the open space of a courtyard in Damascus’ traditional houses, also known as “Ard Diar” (أرض دْيَار ). This term evokes memories of their homeland in Syria, childhood, friends, family, and first love, and reminds them of their musical roots. As they now call Canada home, Diar is the bridge between their memories in Syria and present lives in Canada.
Saturday, Aug. 2 at 11 am – Elena Spanu ( @bibbidi_bop )
ABOUT: Elena Spanu started playing the violin when she was three. She began her studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music. At the age of 6 she began piano lessons and reached the level of RCM 9. She continued to develop her skills as a violinist at the University of Western Ontario where she received a Bachelor of Musical Arts and then studied Baroque music at the University of Toronto. She currently holds the chair of principal second violin with the North York Concert Orchestra and plays regularly with orchestras in the Toronto area. Elena is also the director of the Toronto Suzuki Studio. In addition to classical music, Elena delves inside the world of folk music. She is in an Appalachian old time trio called Ruah with Tony Allen and Chris Adriaanse. Elena was also part of the late ethereal folk quartet called The Wilderness Inside. They released an EP on Bandcamp in 2024. Elena has been exploring her voice as a composer and in 2021 she debuted a set of her original music at the Tranzac in Toronto.
Sunday, Aug. 3 at 12 pm: Mike T. Kerr
ABOUT: Mike T. Kerr is a wild guitar player and ambitious songwriter living in downtown Toronto. Combining the boisterous Ragtime of the Reverend Gary Davis, the Country class of Chet Atkins, and the explosive energy of Django Reinhardt, Mike’s show is a fireworks display of musical joy. During his time at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and in over 10 years of performing, he’s lived his life through many historical and contemporary musical styles. Always curious to dig up not only a song’s history, but the shape of the world at the time, Mike plays passionately and openly while interpreting the great guitar players of the past.