The Masters Series
At a time when many of the world’s marquee DJs are booked on the strength of studio productions, a Toronto event series is shifting the focus back to the nitty-gritty skills it took to rock a party before software spawned legions of producers-turned-DJs.
Last fall, The Masters Series brought hip-hop founding fathers Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa together on the same bill, and on Saturday two respected turntablists take over the decks at the second edition: competitive turntable champ and fourth Beastie Boy Mix Master Mike and Grand Wizard Theodore, the first DJ to scratch a record and pioneer of the needle drop.
Theodore is so revered that the International Turntablist Federation named its lifetime achievement award, which Mix Master Mike has won, in his honour. Local funk group KC Roberts & the Live Revolution and vintage-vinyl spinner DJ Splattermonkey round out the bill.
Saturday (February 28) at the Phoenix (410 Sherbourne), doors 10 pm. $20-$40. playderecord.com, wantickets.com/mixmaster.
KAKI KING, LOOM Geary Lane (360 Geary), Thursday (February 26) See preview.
THOMAS D’ARCY, NEW HANDS, THE OXFORD WILD Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Thursday (February 26) See album review.
ZEUS, ART THE BAND & OTHERS Opera House (735 Queen East), Friday (February 27) Biggest Johnnyland all-ages show yet.
GIRLS ROCK CAMP Tranzac (292 Brunswick), Thursday (February 26) See preview.
YOUNG PARIS, BONJAY, JUNIA T & THE JUICE MONEY COLLECTIVE, PHOENIX PAGLIACCI & OTHERS Rivoli (332 Queen West), Friday (February 27) See preview.
IRIS DEMENT Hugh’s Room (2261 Dundas West), Friday and Saturday (February 27-28) See preview.
OVERNIGHT, CATRIONA STURTON Holy Oak (1241 Bloor West, 7:30-9:30 pm) and Duffy’s (1238 Bloor West, 10:30 pm), Saturday (February 28) See preview.
GREYS, TEENAGER, BELIEFS, FAKE PALMS Johnny Jackson (587 College), Saturday (February 28) It might get loud.
DAN MANGAN + BLACKSMITH, HAYDEN Massey Hall (178 Victoria), Saturday (February 28) Singer/songwriter gets ambient.
NIGHTMARES ON WAX Wrongbar (1279 Queen West), Saturday (February 28) Warp Records stalwart.
HOZIER, GEORGE EZRA Massey Hall (178 Victoria), Monday (March 2) Irish bluesman takes ’em to church.
SLEATER-KINNEY, LIZZO Sound Academy (11 Polson), Monday (March 2) See preview.
ST. VINCENT, JENNY HVAL Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth), Tuesday and Wednesday (March 3-4) See preview.
THE DODOS, SPRINGTIME CARNIVORE Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Tuesday (March 3) See preview.
HONEYBLOOD, 2:54, STELLA ELLA OLA Silver Dollar (486 Spadina), Tuesday (March 3) See preview.
