Riverdale Share Concert

norm nelson - Inside Toronto

Nothing new to report on the Riverdale Share annual concert, held Saturday, Dec. 12 at St. Barnabas Church on the Danforth. I said it last year in my review, and I’ll say it again - best entertainment ticket $15 can buy.

I was curious as to how the change of venues - from the Danforth Music Hall (now home to the Toxic Avenger musical) to a venerable church - would shake out. It worked for me, for one reason - size. The new venue featured an even more intimate setting while still being spacious.

The sound was rich, which is a good thing, given the calibre of musicians volunteering their time. Everything starts with the house band under musical director (and pianist) Tom Leighton and band leader (and guitarist) Steve Briggs, and complete with horn and string sections. It’s worth the price of admission itself.

They were as at home backing Tabby Johnson in a rousing gospel rendition of Go Tell it On the Mountain as they were backing Russel deCarle and Michael Berube in jazzy versions of ageless holiday standards, respectively, Winter Wonderland and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

The whole show was uniformly great, and I don’t want to mention too many more or I might as well just go through the entire list which you can get from the program. I will note the youngsters, however. Frankland Choir - the youngest performers. Wow. Great job. And particularly to the youth in Spraoi, Gentlemen of the Jury and the Tanners, it’s alway great to see that kind of blossoming musical talent.

Also, a very nice close-out by Mia Sheard on Lennon’s Happy Xmas. Had to wipe away a tear or two on that one, as usual.

Last but not least – as if the above wasn’t worth the price of admission – were the star turns by two favourite local international acts, former Barenaked Ladies co-founder Steven Page and legendary children’s performers Sharon, Lois and Bram. Their music is special in my family’s life, including their holiday CDs which are part of our collection, and it was special to see them on stage at St. Barnabas.

Both received rousing and warm ovations, Page for a stand-out version of his own Hanukkah Blessings from the BNL Holiday CD and Sharon, Lois and Bram leading a spirited, audience-participation Twelve Days of Christmas.

For those who would like to attend another Christmas benefit, Mia Sheard will host the The Christmas Show Dec. 18 and 18 (Fri/Sat) at the Rivoli on Queen Street in support of the Daily Bread Food Bank and The Stephen Lewis Foundation. Cost is $18 and if you’re able, a non-perishable food item would be appreciated. Check it out at http://mouthpartsandwings.ca/

Riverdale Share announces tentative lineup

Inside Toronto

Former Barenaked Ladies' Stephen Page and famed children's group Sharon, Lois and Bram are among a strong cast of local musicians who have already pencilled in the date of the always anticipated 18th annual Riverdale Share Concert, which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 12.
There's a couple of changes this year.

First, it's being held on a Saturday; second it's at a new location at St. Barnabas Church, 361 Danforth Ave. (between Chester and Broadview subway stations, south side); and third, there's two shows at 2 and 4:30 p.m.

A sellout is expected, but tickets are still available at three Danforth locations:

* The Big Carrot,

* It's My Party,

* and Treasure Island Toys.

The charity concert, in support of local non-profit community organizations, has traditionally been well supported by local entertainers, many of them native to Riverdale or East Toronto.

Others musicians who have also signed up for this year include Sproai, Soul Influence, Gentleman of the Jury, Northern Legs Southern Fists, The Jazzabelles, Jory Nash, Russell deCarle, Tabby Johnson, Luba Goy and Mia Sheard.

Tickets are $15 each and people are being asked to bring a food donation.

Visit www.riverdaleshare.com for details.

CAROL SING

As usual, Riverdale Share will get the community warmed up with its annual sing-along, which will be held this year at The Second Cup at Danforth and Hampton avenues Friday, Dec. 4 from 11 a.m. to noon.

And if you're wondering about the midday Friday time slot, Riverdale's volunteer president Susan Baker assures in an email - "it's a P.A. day! Bring the kids."

"All are invited to join a spirited gaggle of neighbours, volunteers and performers as they gather for their traditional sing-along. Even Santa shows up. Help us decorate the Riverdale Share Peace Tree."

As well The Second Cup, longtime sponsor of Riverdale Share, will donate a dollar from every beverage sold on Dec. 11 and 12 to the Riverdale Share Concert.

Annual holiday show slated for Dec. 12, tickets on sale Nov. 16

norm nelson - Inside Toronto

The annual Riverdale Share holiday benefit concert, a perpetual sell-out in recent years, has a new home, day and format.

Remaining unchanged from last year is the price – $15.

This year’s 18th annual edition will be held at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, on the south side of Danforth Avenue at Hampton Avenue (between Broadview and Chester subway stops), on Saturday, Dec. 12 and the format will feature two shows, at 2 and 4:30 p.m.

Tickets, which have been a hot commodity in recent years, will go on sale to the general public on Monday, Nov. 16 both online at www.riverdaleshare.com and at three locations on the Danforth – Treasure Island Toys, the Big Carrot and It’s My Party.

Those who have supported the local charity either through sponsorships (which range from $1,000 to $5,000) or as a ‘friend of the charity’ (ranging from $100 to $500) will have an opportunity to pre-order their tickets two weeks in advance.

Each concert will be able to hold about 500 people, right in the church sanctuary.

“The moment I walked in, I felt this was it,” said longtime Riverdale volunteer and current executive director Susan Baker. “It just felt right. I could see us in there. I think it will be beautiful. It just felt warm and cozy and community and grassroots and all the things that are important to us.”

Traditionally, the concert, for the past 17 years, has been held on a Sunday at the Danforth Music Hall, but this year the venerable Danforth venue is debuting what it hopes will be a long running musical – The Toxic Avenger.

The theatre did offer to make its ‘dark’ night available, which is Monday, but Riverdale Share would basically have had to build a stage in front of the stage to make it work.

Baker said they were even considering taking the show slightly out of the area – to Rosedale Heights School for the Arts (at Bloor and Castle Frank) – when Faiza Ansari from Greektown on the Danforth suggested a location right under their noses, literally across the street: St. Barnabas. Baker said the church put out the welcome mat.

But just not on a Sunday, for obvious reasons. And hence the switch to a Saturday show.

“They want us there and we want to be there,” said Baker. “Perfect.”

Obviously not as big as the Danforth Music Hall, organizers will rectify that somewhat by working the volunteer musicians twice as hard, performing for two shows.

Riverdale and the surrounding area is home to many of Toronto’s working musicians and they have come out in droves in support of the charity, including those with national or international profiles such as Murray McLaughlin last year and in previous years Steve Page and Jim Cuddy, just to name a few.

The church will require more preparation work than was required for the Danforth Music Hall, which already had a ready-made stage complete with lights and sound system.

On the other hand, organizers will have more preparation time at St. Barnabas.

And fortunately, said Baker, they also have had wonderful support over the past several years from Frontier Sound and Light, the production company they use.

Riverdale Share, which has raised thousands of dollars over the years, makes its annual funding announcements at a spring gala, which also serves as a fundraiser. As usual, Riverdale Share intends to warm the community up with its pre event holiday sing-song at the Second Cup on the Danforth, and full details will be announced a little later.

For those wishing to help out, “what we’re looking for now, the main priority, is looking for ‘sponsors’ and ‘friends’.”

In-kind donations are definitely also welcome, in particular in two areas.

• T-shirts: ”what we’re really looking for now is a t-shirt sponsor, somebody who would be willing to donate the t-shirts we give to the performers and the volunteers;
• A printer: “the printer that’s donated all our printing for many, many years now at absolutely no cost has retired and closed his business so we’re looking for a new printing sponsor, so that’s another thing we’re reaching out for...It was a fairly big package he did for us and he never wanted thanks in the program, we always tried to put his name on the t-shirt or in the program, or make him an official in-kind sponsor – and he never wanted it. So we were never able to thank him the way we usually do, but we sure miss him now.”

Volunteers are also welcome, in particular during the day of the concert.

“Driving around, doing pick-up, loading in the show, loading out the show, we can always use people in those areas.”