AUGUST: Three awesome festivals and two events you do not want to miss!

Holy Fuck are just one of the acts who will expand your mind at the EE Fest.

The Electric-Eclectics Festival

July 31 – August 2
The Funny Farm (near Meaford, Ontario)

w - electric-eclectics.com

What do Corpusse, Antler, Holy Fuck and I Can Put My Arm Back On,You Can’t – all have in common? They will all appear at EEF! This will be the fourth year of Electric Eclectics, an annual festival featuring three days of all-ages camping, music and installations. Tickets are $35 for a day pass and $65 for a weekend pass.

Whether you want to drive up to the Meaford area for one evening or camp for three days, one thing is certain. This is an experience you will never forget! For information and tickets please visit their website. Torontonians looking for tickets can also visit Soundscapes on College and Rotate This on Queen Street West.

Errol Fisher is one of Canada’s finest and is excited to play the Oshawa Jazz & Blues Festival for the first time this year. (Photo by Ronny Shinder)

The Oshawa Jazz & Blues Festival

August 6 - 8

w - oshawajazzandbluesfestival.com

On Thursday and Friday nights you can enjoy some live music in downtown Oshawa at various venues, leading up to the big free concert all day Saturday at Memorial Park. The main event begins Saturday August 8th at 12 noon with The Swing Shift Big Band (featuring crooner Dave Statham) followed by the awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping sounds of The Eric St.Laurent Trio. Errol Fisher and Lighthouse (among others) also perform during the day. The grand finale is a show entitled Harmonica Knights that features Mark Stafford, Jerome Godboo and Paul Reddick.

People in Toronto please take note: A free shuttle bus is being provided on a first come/first serve basis (likely room for all!) that will pickup guests from The Rex Hotel & Jazz Bar (194 Queen Street West) at 12 noon and 3pm. Buses leave Oshawa at 11pm (as soon as the live music ends) and have you back at The Rex by midnight.

Kevin Clark is up from the U.S. to perform in Markham this month. If you are a fan of Louis Armstrong, Al Hirt and Bobby Hackett, you must check out Kevin Clark!

Markham Jazz Festival

August 14 - 16

w - markhamjazzfestival.com

The 12th Annual Markham Jazz Festival (under the direction of Josh Grossman) kicks off with a concert by The Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra with special guest; mutli-award winning jazz vocalist Ranee Lee, at The Markham Theatre on August 14 at 8pm.

On Saturday and Sunday in downtown Unionville at The Millennium Bandstand Stage some of Canada’s best loved jazz musicians will perform including Kevin Clark, Luis Mario Ochoa and Michael Occhipinti’s Sicillian Jazz Project, among others. Of particular interest to locals is The MJF All-Stars, a band of high school and university students from the area who play every year at the festival.

At the same time, live performances will also occur at Varley Art Gallery (a five minute walk from the bandstand stage) that features artists such as Ted Quinlan, Fern Lindzon and Auto Rickshaw. Sunday also features live music on two stages in downtown Unionville which includes George Grosman & Bohemian Swing. For complete listings please visit their site.

Geneviève is performing in Toronto for the first time in years – don’t miss it! (Photo by Chris Frampton)

Geneviève

Monday August 24 @ 9:00pm
Bread & Circus
299 Augusta Avenue in Kensington Market
$8 at the door

w - breadandcircus.ca genevievesings.com

Geneviève spent her teenage years in Windsor, across the river from Detroit, the nesting ground of Motor City Soul. Schooled in Jazz at Humber College, she has always possessed a particular soft spot for Brazilan music. Refined but intrepid, Geneviève's voice inspires both classic and modern romanticisms. She has recorded with accomplished composer/educator Don Thompson on the track "Gone Astray" and has appeared on numerous collections, including "Toronto Launch Pad" by the Royal Jelly Orchestra & "Babes in Jazzland"; both on Timely Manor. In 2006, Geneviève relocated to Asia where she has established herself as a mainstay in Hong Kong's jazz nights. Between steadily gigging with some of the area's best in jazz and blues, she is currently writing and recording a full-length jazz record with guitarist/composer Daniel LaVelle while also completing a Brazilian-inspired record with Berlin-based musician/producer Joaquim Dos Santos.

a *Schmingle* event

Monday August 24 6:00 - 10:00pm
Lou Dawgs
589 King Streew West @ Portland
$10 @ the door

w - loudawgs.com

An evening of mixing and mingling... meeting new people, re-connecting with friends, meeting potential clients... schmooze and mingle, hence "Schmingle"!

All money raised goes to War Child Canada

On top of awesome music and great people, there will be a silent auction with some wonderful items including a private chartered sailboat for you and three friends... a three hour tour through Toronto Islands and the inner harbour, donated by Barbour Financial. The event is hosted by Dawna Wright.