Artword Artbar

Thursday June 20, 2019, at 8:00 pm, $20 or pwyc. World Refugee Day Concert hosted by the Emergency Support Committee for Refugees, in support of family reunification for refugees.
Arabic songs by Moutaz Al-Shalabi on oud and Marah Assaf on vocals.
Music of Latin America by Lil America and Marcelo Puente.
Eclectic roots rock by Babbage Industries.

Donations over $20 are eligible for an income tax receipt!

From the United Nations website: “In a world where violence forces thousands of families to flee for their lives each day, the time is now to show that the global public stands with refugees. On World Refugee Day, held every year on June 20th, we commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. This year, World Refugee Day also marks a key moment for the public to show support for families forced to flee.”

Event, Music-World, Special event

Tuesday June 18, at 9 pm, free admission (sponsored by Hamilton Arts Council and the Downtown BIA). Part of Hamilton Arts Week.
Special event at Artword Artbar: The Capella Intima vocal quartet (Sheila Dietrich soprano, Jennifer Enns Modolo alto, Bud Roach tenor and Artistic Director, David Roth bass) performs Hamilton, Durand, Pub & Parlour, the story of the founding of Hamilton, with music and readings from early 19th to 20th centuries. Fun, enlightening programme on the city’s early days: settlement, growth, war, court system, pub songs, churches, development. Readings are from Public Library archives. Runs 45 minutes. www.capellaintima.com
Founded by tenor Bud Roach (of Hammer Baroque) in 2008, Capella Intima has carved out a niche for itself in the Toronto/Hamilton early music scene by presenting the vocal chamber music of the 17th century in exciting concerts of rarely-heard gems. With motets and cantatas for up to four voices interspersed with readings from composers, performers and critics of the period, audiences are given context to music

Event, Literary, Spoken Word, Music, Music-Classical, Special event, Storytelling

Monday May 20, Tuesday May 21, Wed May 22, 2019, from 5 to 7 pm. Pint of Science: Hamilton comes to Artword Artbar. Pint of Science is an international festival over 3 days in May. The idea is to bring some of the most brilliant scientists to your local pub to discuss their latest research and findings with you. You don’t need any prior knowledge. It’s a chance to meet the people responsible for the future of science (and have a pint with them). https://pintofscience.ca/team/Hamilton%20Team.    https://pintofscience.ca/events/hamilton-on

Monday May 20, 5:30 pm: A Trip to Quantumland: What if I tell you that the world in the smallest imaginable scales has nothing to do with what we know?
* Bosons versus Fermions: with Duncan O’Dell (Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, McMaster University)
* A Universe in Every Material, with James Lambert ( PhD Candidate)
7:00 pm: Linger afterwards for “Currently Brewing”, mingle and ask questions

Tuesday May 21, 5:30 pm: How to make good blood? Get your answer while drinking a beer.
* Blood, ketchup, and other complex fluids: with Adam Fortais (PhD Candidate)
* Under the Radar: Bionic Blood Cells to Fight Diseases: with Sebastian Himbert (PhD Candidate)

(Followed at 8:00 on Tues May 21 and Wed May 22 by Artword’s science-fiction play Whoever You Are.)

Wednesday May 22, 5:30 pm: Seeing is believing. In a galaxy far far away, a black hole and a big space rock walks into a bar.
* The World is Your Telescope: Our first ever image of a supermassive black hole: with Toby Brown (Postdoc)
* Is a big rock in space coming to destroy us all? The threatening, the nonthreatening, and the straight up make-believe: with Ben K. D. Pearce (Ph.D. Candidate Physics & Astronomy – Astrobiology McMaster University)

Event, Special event

Thursday April 4, 2019 at 8 pm, cover $10. The Planet of the Loops returns! Noted guitarist Andrew Aldridge is bringing back his legendary Planet of the Loops  live at Artword Artbar with special guests Big TRBL and Dave Gould.
Join us for a night of live improvised recycling of sounds! Anything can happen, and frequently does! Andrew explains: “In 1998 I started a Collective event called Planet of the Loops. It’s an improvisational/ experimental night consisting of 3-4 players. It ran in Toronto until 2005. Then I moved to Hamilton and occasionally had some Planet events in various locations. I was touring a lot too and couldn’t do a regular monthly event.”
In 2017 Andrew brought his Planet of the Loops to Artword Artbar, where VJ improvisor Judith Sandiford joined the musicians for some real-time visual “looping”. She’s looking forward to another trip to the Planet.
Photos left from 2017: Andrew Aldridge. with Wally Jericho, Tim Tickner,
 https://www.andrewaldridgemusic.com/

Event, Music, Music-Improvisors, Special event

Friday February 15, 2019, at 8 pm.
$15 advance, $20 door.
Call 905-543-8512 or
Book online  

The wonderful blues/gospel duo Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley are bringing us a very special show: “Morning Sun” – a celebration in song for Black History Month.
Chris and Diana’s most recent appearance at Artword Artbar was in October 2018 in the Steel City Jazz Festival with a show of vintage jazz and blues.
Chris and Diana’s website

Event, Music, Music-Blues, Music-roots, Special event

Event, Music, Special event

Monday October 29, 2018, 7:30 pm, $15.00, $10 students. Book online  
Special event at Artword Artbar!
Acclaimed jazz / hip-hop trumpet player Brownman Ali will lead an all-star quartet through his popular annual Halloween Thriller concert.
Brownman Ali – electric trumpet (Jay-z, Guru, Missy Elliot)
Nick Maclean – synthesizer (Snaggle, Robert Ball, Ori Dagan)
Sean Dennis – 6-string electric bass (Brownman Electryc Trio)
Jacob Aylward – drums (KC Roberts & The Live Revolution)
The much lauded Brownman Electryc Trio + 1 will perform the entire Michael Jackson Thriller recording, interpreted and re-worked in the Miles Davis-esque fashion this multiple National Jazz Award winning improviser has become known for.  In addition to the quartet performing Thriller top to bottom, other MJ classics will be featured through the night for this unique Halloween jazz party series.  Costumes and Thriller video dance moves encouraged.  http://www.thriller.brownman.com/

Event, Music, Music-Jazz, Music-pop-etc., Special event

Wednesday June 20, 2018, at 8 pm (by donation). An evening of Syrian and Latin American music, hosted by the Emergency Support Committee for Refugees. Special guest is Syrian oud player Moutaz. Also performing are singer Lil America from El Salvador via Cuba, and local band Babbage Industries. More details coming.
Event on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/129236804593724/

Event, Music, Music-World, Special event

Tuesday June 19, 2018, from 6 to 9 pm. All ages. Exchange for Change – a clothing swap fundraiser in support of Under The Willows, arts and garden program where children who experience adverse life circumstances may joyfully express themselves as creative individuals of value. www.underthewillows.org
What: Snazzy duds, rad tunes, yummy treats and chill zones for relaxing. All donated items are up for grabs for $2 each!
How: Bring your still-wearable but no longer-for-you clothes. to the swap itself. Or have them picked up for a fee of $5 with proceeds from pickup going to UTW, Email singfromthestart@gmail.com to arrange pickup.
Why: Because UTW is amazing. Because clothes left over will be donated to
Drama Dressup. Because your closet needs a refresh so why not do it
for a good cause. Because $2 is a ludicrously lovely price to pay for your
new favourite top/pants/dress/skirt/shoes/hat/mitts/tux. Because Artword is
a super fun place to hang out. Because YOLO and FOMO. Because you want to!

Event, Special event

Sunday June 10, from 4 to 7 pm. Our good friend Glenn Hardcastle died at St. Joseph’s Hospital on Saturday May 26, 2018 in his 79th year after a short illness. His partner Valerie Kay has asked us to host a celebration of Glenn’s life, with lots of music and memories and love. Some Artword favourites will perform a song or two: Charly Chiarelli, Tim Ninehouse, Paula Grove, Gordon Odegaard, and more.
Glenn was a frequent concert-goer and theatre enthusiast, at Artword Artbar and other arts hangouts. He was also an artist, musician and nature lover. Valerie has been a member of Artword Theatre Ensemble since 2008 in Hamilton, appearing in You Are What You Do, Rascals and Numskulls, James Street, and Scroogissimo. Glenn was Val’s devoted supporter at all of these. Glenn, we will miss your sparkling eyes and cheeky smile!

Event, Special event

Tuesday March 27, 2018, 7 to 10 pm. The Annual General Meeting of the Hamilton Fringe Festival.

Event, Hamilton Fringe Theatre Fest, News, Special event

Friday, March 16, 2018, 8 to 11pm,  (viernes, 16 de marzo 2018,  20:00 a 23:00), at Artword Artbar, an evening of poetry and music, for the Grito de Mujer International Festival. Hamilton Coordinator is Ama Luna, with collaborators from Friends of the Poet Tree. The theme for 2018 is Faros de esperanza / Beacons of hope.

Event, Literary, Spoken Word, Music-Latin, Music-World, Special event

Sunday March 4, 2018, at 7:30 pm. $15/$10. Artword Artbar is hosting a special concert:  Zula Presents a celebration of the music of Ken Aldcroft performed by Two Hours Early, Ten Minutes Late + Mars People. This concert is part of an 8-venue tour.
** Two Hours Early, Ten Minutes Late: saxophone and guitar duo music by Ken Aldcroft performed by Jason Robinson & Eric Hofbauer (USA)
** Mars People: music by & for Ken Aldcroft, performed by Emily Denison, Daniel Kruger & Joe Sorbara (Montréal/ Toronto)
March 2 to 11 2018 will see a vanload of adventurous musicians from both sides of the 49th parallel travel from Montréal through Southern Ontario in celebration of the late guitarist Ken Aldcroft, a long time leading figure in Canada’s creative music community. Read more…

Event, Music, Music-Jazz, Special event

Wednesday February 28, 2018, at 8 pm, doors open at 7 pm, free. Open to all. Join scientists from McMaster University’s Physics and Astronomy Department for an entertaining night filled with scientific discussion, trivia, and beer. At Science on Tap, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with researchers in various scientific fields as they present some of science’s most intriguing phenomena. There will be plenty of time to ask questions while the scientists are on stage, or afterwards over cold pints. Come try this educational twist on a night out at the pub. Host: Joey Rucska.

Event, Special event

Thursday February 22, 2018, from 7 to 9 pm, free (call 905-543-8512). Reading of a new script-in-progress by playwright, screenwriter and director Kevin Land. Readers are: Deanna  Stevens, Martha Christianson, Aimee Kesler Evans, Janet Kompare Fritz, Greg Flis, Carlos Jiminez, John Land, Dean Rooney, Julian Nicholson, Paul Rivers.
Attentive listeners with an interest in theatre are welcome to attend. Seating is limited, call 905-543-8512 to reserve.
“Static” is a film script about a musician who has never been able to forgive himself for his responsibility in the death of his wife and six month old baby while driving home late after a gig over 25 years ago. Having rejected music, alcohol, and human connectedness in the intervening years, Mitch, now retired as a letter carrier, rents a recording studio to put down nine songs he wrote in the ten years after the accident. There he works with a trans woman who is an intern sound engineer and in the process, the two form a bond out of the redemptive, communal, and restorative nature of music.

Event, Literary, Spoken Word, Special event, Theatre

Wednesday February 21, 2018. Artword Artbar will be closed to the public today. We are holding OPEN AUDITIONS for several upcoming theatre projects by Gallery on the Bay and Artword Theatre. Gallery on the Bay is seeking to fill two roles for men in 20s-30s age range. Artword Theatre doing Get Acquainted auditions for a variety of possible projects, for men and women, any age. To make an appointment for an audition, email: artword@artword.net.

Event, Special event, Theatre

Friday February 9, 2018, two shows: 6:30 pm (SOLD OUT)
9:30 pm $25 Adv, (Call 905-543-8512 or 905-912-9083)
$30 Door for 9:30 show only
A tribute concert to the late Willie P. Bennett, icon of Canadian folk-roots scene up to his untimely death in 2008. To celebrate Willie’s legacy, Willie’s guitar player and blues man extraordinaire, Rick Taylor, teamed up with Barry James Payne from String Bone and Rant Maggie Rant to create a show celebrating the legendary folk hero. As well as performing some Willie P Bennett songs themselves, they are bringing in Bennett’s first record producer, guitar virtuoso David Essig and Juno Award winning singer-songwriter Jenny Whiteley to top the list of artists, which also include Paul Langille, Michael J. Birthelmer, and Linda McRae (from Nashville, new addition to the line-up). Plus Lynne Hanson from Ottawa will join just prior to heading on a European Tour with Lynn Miles in The LYNNeS.
Born in Toronto, Willie P. Bennett was part of the 1970s folk music scene in Canada, Read more…

Event, Music-folk, Music-roots, Special event

The Steel City Jazz Festival launches a series of free talks designed to widen the conversation about how musicians make great jazz.

Friday, October 27, 5 pm, at Artword Artbar. A clinic by drummer Aubrey Dayle of On Topic Trio. He’ll be covering what it takes to be the backbone of the rhythm section.

Saturday, October 28, at Artword Artbar, three afternoon talks.
*noon: Smordin Law Artist-in-Residence Colleen Allen, with a talk on improvisation.
*2:00 pm: Adrean Farrugia (pianist and Mohawk faculty member) speaks on Music and Mindfulness. Farrugia: “Mindfulness can create a liberated space within which we can discover our own true potential as artists, and possibly even as human beings.”
*4:00 pm: Dr. John Chong speaks about some medical problems common in performing artists. He describes the latest ways to treat or prevent repetitive strain injuries, motor control problems, anxiety, depression, neuropathic pain, nerve entrapments, and stress-related disorders.

Sunday, October 29, 2:00 pm, at Hamilton Central Library. A panel discussion on the history of jazz music in Hamilton, the current state of the scene and avenues for further development. The panel includes musicians and teachers Astrid Hepner and Mike Malone and jazz venue owner Ronald Weihs.

Event, Special event, Steel City Jazz Festival

Saturday September 9, 2017, events at Artword Artbar for Supercrawl weekend:
* 7 to 10 pm, pwyc /suggested $5-$10: Melodic Pixel Media hosts a Supercrawl Saturday Songwriter Showcase: with The Human Race, Brandon General, This Mad Desire.
* the human race: A special set as a one-man-band with live-loopers and as a duo with Pamela Gardner. The Human Race is the music of Adam F Carter; melodic, heartfelt, ironic and weird. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD5drKjfXYNHoxiDw0Ct_ZQ
* My Flying Machine: Brandon P. General‘s solo project. Sad songs from the basement. Resulting in a sound that is somewhere between Ryan Adams and M. Ward. https://myflyingmachine.bandcamp.com/
* This Mad Desire:   The brainchild of Mackenzie Kristjon, This Mad Desire recently released a delightful single and music video for ‘Operators Are Standing By’. Quirky and weird, highly entertaining. https://thismaddesire.bandcamp.com/

Event, Music, Special event

Monday July 10, 2017, at 7:30 pm, $15. SPECIAL SHOW! Call Artword Artbar 905-543-8512, or Book online

Matapa World Festival Series presents the WÖR band from Belgium, on a festival tour in Ontario.  The musicians: Fabio Di Meo, baritone & soprano saxophone; Bert Ruymbeek accordion; Jeroen Goegebuer violin; Pieterjan Van Kerckhoven bagpipes, musette, soprano saxophone; Jonas Scheys guitar. Back to the 1780’s! If it sounded good back then, why not today?
“Wör’s album is brilliant. It’s very exciting to hear a young band reinterpreting old manuscripts in a refreshing and new way” Sam Sweeney – BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician Of The Year 2015
With their finely textured arrangements WÖR injects new energy into 18th-century tunes from the Flanders region of Belgium. Their music shines an inventive spotlight, with a modern twist, on tunes from the manuscripts of De Gruijtters (Antwerp, 1746), Van Belle (Van Belle, 1743), De Prins (Leuven, 1781) and many more.     “They’re all astonishing musicians, coaxing fantastic sounds out of their chosen instruments. But more than this, they craft intricate and fresh arrangements for each piece.” Stephen D. Winnick – Huffington Post

Event, Music, Music-Classical, Music-World, Special event