Dan introduces Pina: his 13-year-old rescue street dog from Mexico, equal parts companion and chaos. From comfort to creative inspiration, animals remind us that sentience extends far beyond humanity, deserving care, respect, and maybe a little forgiveness for the occasional skunk incident. Even the wild creatures on Bitter Sweet, Sweet Bitter carry that spirit.
Jennifer Foster reflects on the financial realities of #independentmusic , navigating #grant writing herself, enduring long stretches without funding, and balancing the real cost of paying skilled musicians. Whether investing in seasoned professionals for a polished performance or building something looser with friends, sustaining live music often means constantly negotiating between budget, artistry, and community.
Ace of Wands has released Future Wave, it is expansive, intricate, and unmistakably their own; harmonized vocals, shimmering strings, seamless time changes, and the kind of emotional precision that feels both cosmic and deeply human. Few Toronto bands operate with this level of consistency, ambition, and identity.
Produced by Toronto legend Ian Blurton, Future Wave radiates warmth, power, and clarity, while community-rooted visuals from Alicia Nauta and Desiree Das Gupta reinforce how deeply this record belongs to Toronto’s creative ecosystem.
Future Wave is another towering achievement from one of Toronto’s finest bands. World-class art, made here.
Support local music. Buy the record. Buy the merch. Show people what Toronto sounds like. And Subscribe to the Substack 🙏🏼
Dan Colussi, aka Fortunato Durutti Marinetti reflects on his years in Toronto’s music scene, from his earlier project Pink Loncolns to the moment Fortunato Durutti Marinetti was born. What was originally meant to be another Pink Lincolns record became something entirely new. A creative shift that marked the beginning of a bold new chapter.
Jennifer Foster shares a few local artists worth diving into, highlighting the songwriting and creative spirit of @selina.martin.1 , @loricullenmusic , and @jamesclarkinstitute , a reflection of the rich, thoughtful community that continues to shape Toronto’s musical landscape.
Hey Locals, back with another Rent Free Albums, this time courtesy of some new pals I met through that wonderful little institution we call Spin Class Local.
Luckless is a new Toronto band, and I caught their very first show this weekend, a packed, sweaty basement in the east end known as The Attic, opening for @trashwyre . The room filled fast and stayed that way. Equal parts chaos and charm: stray gear, odd treasures, and…three separate copies of Guitar Hero for the Wii U. Why? No idea. But it felt right.
Their debut album, I Promise to Be Good, drops next week.
I wrote about the making of it, the songs, and why you should catch them live, ideally somewhere with slightly better sightlines (though there’s something to be said for watching a set while braced against a washing machine).
Give it a read, and keep Luckless on your radar.
✨ SPIN CLASS LOCAL: Venues That Matter: Bar Dystopia
What makes a venue matter?
In this latest Substack piece, we head to Bar Dystopia (Queen West, Parkdale), a small, DIY-built room that’s quietly become a real hub for music, community, and everything in between.
This isn’t a venue chasing an aesthetic. It’s one built by hand (by Peter, Ingrid, and family) where the stage is small, the beers are cheap, and the energy is real. Karaoke that people actually care about. Shows that are immediate. A room that holds whatever the night turns into.
We get into what makes the space work: its DIY ethos, its role in a changing Toronto, what bands should know before playing, and the ongoing realities of accessibility in smaller venues.
It’s a reminder that in a city where spaces for live music are shrinking, rooms like this aren’t just nice to have, they’re essential.
📍 Parkdale, Toronto
📖 Read the full piece — link in bio
✨ May SPIN CLASS LOCAL: A Full Album Sunday with Theo Vandenhoff and Spring Colours
This Sunday, May 10th, we’re welcoming two incredible artists into the Danu Social House for a special full album listening experience and #community Q&A.
Spring Colours is a fever dream of digital emo: a manifestation of frenetic, Animal-from-The Muppets-level energy. Booming drops, squealing synths, and call-and-response vocals pull me back to pre-drinking in parks and leaving parties early because of social anxiety. It’s a project that captures youth in all its chaos and carries it forward into a new generation of sound.
Theo Vandenhoff, alongside Tom Nixon and Callum Crombie, has crafted a European-leaning #synthpop #record that hangs over you like the constant clouds of #leeds , then crashes in with the force of a Newcastle rainstorm: all energy, late nights, and dancing without a jacket to go home in. Photos by @nick.tiringer
Come spend an evening with some of the most melodramatic (in the best way) musicians #toronto has produced in a while; music, conversation, and a shared listening experience.
🗓 Sunday, May 10th | 6PM–10PM
💛 Always free
♿ Fully accessible
Come for the music, stay for the conversation
There’s something to talk about when a stompbox that feels built with intention. So let’s talk about it:
My latest Spin Class Local piece looks at Tools of the Trade: Winnipeg Electric Company, a pedal maker that hums with texture, volatility, and a kind of static reverence that sneaks up on you.
Machines, music and meaningful intention are all all hand hewn into WEC’s devices. From the unapologetic fuzz to the throwback aesthetic and earned confidence of a builder who knows their salt, WEC is making at the local level.
These aren’t your dad’s boutique pedals.
🔗 Full piece on Substack (link in bio)
#SpinClassLocal #TorontoMusic #CanadianMusic #IndieMusic #NowPlaying
