Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  Fifty years later the AGO is locking, tutting, and krumping to Hip-Hop By Stephen Weir Do yourself a favor, pop in your earbuds, and ask Spotify to play the AGO-curated soundscape they label as The Culture. It starts loud and proud with Run-D.M.C.’s 1988 hit “Beats to the Rhyme.” It’s early hip-hop, all about the group’s talent to make rhymes, make money, and, well, have fun. And that is just the beginning. Once you have the music throbbing in your head, get yourself down to the Art Gallery of Ontario on Dundas Street and take in their new show. Hip-hop has just bounced into town and taken over the top floor of the Art Gallery of Ontario from now until April. The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century is an exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) that explores the profound impact of hip-hop culture on contemporary art and visual culture. PHOTO OF DRAKE ON TOWER It opened to its members only last week, but come January 7th, anyone can take it in for the p...

  Hammering home the hits! New Steel Pan Music Radio is Live and Online By Stephen Weir Heck no, don’t bother with Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Radiofor your Canadian pan music fix. As of this month, there’s a new online “radio” station delivering pan music commercial free from right here in Toronto! Well-known pannist Earl LaPierre Jr. has launched Steel Pan Music Radio, and although it’s a few months away from its official launch, the music is already streaming free of charge to pan fans across the nation. Right now, it’s wall-to-wall music when listeners log on to the station at https://steelpanmusicradio.com/_nowplaying/ . The site opens up with the sweet sound of steel, the radio site lists the currently playing tracks, along with the artists and their origins and what has already been played. While listening to the station on Wednesday, we enjoyed music from Canadian and Caribbean artists, including his his Trinidad-based brother Noel! The first song of the day for the p...

  Stand By Me! On Sunday it was Sing By ME By Stephen Weir The festive season came alive in North Toronto as the Kingdom Choir delivered a stirring performance at the George Weston Recital Hall, located within the Meridian Arts Centre on Yonge Street. On the late afternoon of December 1st, the nearly sold-out audience was treated to a captivating showcase of Christmas carols and gospel music, all performed with the choir's signature warmth and powerful harmonies. For many in attendance, this concert marked a cherished seasonal tradition, as the acclaimed ensemble brought the spirit of the holidays to life through music. Led by Karen Gibson, affectionately known as the "godmother of British gospel," the 15-member group, accompanied by two musicians, returned to Canada with joyous energy. Like Santa spreading cheer, the Kingdom Choir enchanted the audience with a blend of traditional carols, uplifting gospel melodies, and their iconic rendition of Stand By Me, which became ...

  Marching to the Tune of Different Drummers Stephen Weir The Caribana Arts Group (CAG), originally known as the Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC), the founding organization of the original 20th-century Toronto street festival, held a virtual Annual General Meeting and election over the weekend. The CAG now has a new board, with Chedwick Creightney elected as Chair for the next three years and Damien Edwin as Vice Chair. CAG Across from City Hall at their Emancipation Day Parade 2024. SWEIR "Six members were elected, and five members will be appointed," said Geraldine Stafford, the CAG General Secretary. "We had a record-setting attendance of 174 members—our highest in at least the past decade." Chedwick Creightney, a Jamaican Canadian who lives and works in Pickering, previously served on the CAG board during the last term. According to Stafford, he brings significant fundraising and networking experience to the board. Chedwick i...

Christmas Comes Early for Toronto Festivals—But Not the Caribbean Carnival BY STEPHEN WEIR More than 80 Toronto festivals received $1.6 million in funding through the city’s new Special Events Stabilization Initiative (SESI). Announced two weeks ago, the program supported major events like the Santa Claus Parade, Toronto Pride Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, Luminato, JerkFest, and the Toronto Jazz Festival. Last week, reporter Stephen Weir obtained the full list of funded events. While festivals like Afrofest ( $44,080 ), JerkFest ( $91,450 ), and Afro-Carib Fest ( $22,370 ) made the cut, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival—a massive cultural draw and one of the city’s most financially strained events—received nothing. Signature Carnival events like the Grande Parade, King and Queen competition, and Pan Alive were all excluded. In contrast, the Pride Parade and Santa Claus Parade each received $ 100,000 , while Luminato was granted $83,000. Even the Harbourfront Centre’s Canada Day Soul ...

Cécile McLorin Salvant, This Saturday Night By Stephen Weir Now it's our time! After the Swifties have packed up and headed off to Vancouver, Toronto gets its turn to shine with a performance by one of the most celebrated jazz vocalists of our time. Cécile McLorin Salvant, 35, is a Haitian-American jazz vocalist who is in high demand worldwide. She has quickly become one of the most highly regarded US-based jazz vocalists of her generation, earning a trunk full of music awards along the way. Her stunning vocal range and ability to reimagine jazz standards have earned her praise from critics and fans alike. Cécile has performed in Canada five times already, and this Saturday will mark her sixth performance in the country when she brings her current tour to Toronto’s Meridian Arts Centre. The concert will take place on Saturday, November 30th, 2024, at the Weston Recital Hall, located at 5040 Yonge St., Toronto. The show is set to start at 8:00 p.m., and tickets are still available, ...

  LIVE OR ON YOU TUBE, SANTA CAME TO TOWN WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS CARIBBEAN CANADIAN FRIENDS By Stephen Weir Pictures by Anthony Berot "On a brisk Toronto morning, Santa's sleigh may not have been pulled by reindeer, but it was certainly propelled by community spirit. With over 750,000 spectators lining the streets, the 120th anniversary of the Santa Claus Parade was nothing short of magical—despite the looming Grinch-like shadow of rising costs. As festive floats and marching bands paraded through Toronto’s downtown core , one thing was clear: Toronto’s beloved tradition is here to stay, at least for this year. But what happens when even Santa needs a little help from his friends next year?" Sunday’s The Original Santa Claus Parade, celebrating its 120th year, was a major success even though at times this Fall there were major money concerns that put the event, one of the world’s longest annual Santa’s parade, in a shaky position. But the city pulled it off and the p...

Our GG Honours Michelle Jacques for Excellence in Arts Caribbean Canadian curator Michelle Jacques is among eight recipients of the 2024 Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts, recognized as Canada’s highest distinctions for excellence in the visual and media arts. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, presented the awards during a ceremony last week at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. Jacques, a former Toronto resident now based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is celebrated for her significant contributions to contemporary art and cultural programming. She currently Head of Exhibitions and Collections & Chief Curator at the Remai Modern Art Gallery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Her heritage, rooted in St. Lucia and Barbados, often shapes her perspective on diverse artistic practices and influences her approach to curatorial work. An advocate for equity in the art world, Jacques has spoken openly about the challenges and opportunities of being Bl...