We welcome four-string banjo players at all levels to try out. Lead players normally pluck the melody single-string. Chord (or rhythm) players need to know basic chord patterns for starters. A conducted group; free-style reserved for solos. The TBB would assist you in obtaining a tutor if requested.

Alternate Mondays, 7-10 p.m., Immaculate Conception School, 500 Aberdeen Ave., Woodbridge, Ontario, L4L 5J4.

2010

September 13 (Room 209) and 27, October 4 and 18, November 1, 15, and 29, December 6.

2011

January 3, 17, and 31, February 14 and 28, March 7 and 28, April 4 and 18, May 2, 16, and 30, June 13.

 

NOTE: Practice dates are subject to change based on future gig dates and weather related cancellations ... Dave Robinson, Secretary.


2010 - Shows & Activities

More information on the Show Details Page .

Saturday, February 13, 2010: Highway Terraces, Rexdale Presbyterian Church, 2314 Islington Avenue, Etobicoke. Two sets, 7:30 to 8:20 pm & 8:40 to 9:30 pm.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010: Flower City Seniors, at the Flower City Community Campus, Brampton. One set from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.

Sunday, February 21, 2010: Sunnybrook War Veterans & Their Families, at Sunnybrook Hospital. Two sets between 2 pm and 4 pm with a 15 minute break.

Sunday, April 11, 2010: TBB Spring Fling Party, Laskay Hall - just west of King City. Spouses and Significant Others are welcome. Dinner is included. From 2:00 pm. to approximately 7:30 pm.

Thursday, April 29, to Saturday, May 1, 2010: North American International Banjo Convention. Doubletree Hotel, Dearborn, Michigan, USA. The TBB is performing at this NAIBC.

Thursday, May 20, 2010: Sport's Celebrity Dinner at the Army, Navy and Air Force Club in Barrie. Play at 5:00 pm for 1 hour and 45 minutes straight. WINTER UNIFORMS.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010: Brantford Waterways Foundation Fund Raiser, Petofi Hungarian Cultural Centre in Brantford, Ontario. One set starting at 5:15 pm lasting approximately 1 hour. SUMMER UNIFORMS.

Saturday, June 5, 2010: Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario Provincial Conference - 2010, in the evening at Sir Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. Arrive by 7:30pm/8:00pm at the latest.

Saturday, June 12, 2010: Yonge Lawrence BIA - Village Day Street Festival, Toronto. Three sets starting at 11 am.

Thursday, June 24, 2010: Baycrest Community Centre for Seniors, 3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto. Arrive at noon to 12:20 pm.

Sunday, July 11, 2010: Art Society King, at Koffler Scientific Reserve, King City. One set from 6:45 pm to 7:15 pm.

Wednesday, July 21, to Saturday, July 24, 2010: Fretted Instrument Guild of America Convention. Indian Lakes Hilton Resort, Bloomingdale (outside Chicago), Illinois.

Sunday, August 8, 2010: Veterans Luncheon and Show. The Royal Canadian Legion - Branch # 385, Aurora. TBB given lunch at 11:45 am. Show time at 1:15 pm.

Saturday, August 14, 2010: North Metro Chorus at the Nottawasaga Inn, (near) Alliston, Ontario.

Sunday, August 22, 2010: Summer Party. At Jean and Randy Longfield's home in Burlington. Time and other details to follow.

- - - - -

Thursday, September 16, 2010: Alzheimer's Fund Raiser at Origin Evergreen, Mississauga, Ontario. One set for one hour from 1:30 PM.

Saturday, October 2, 2010: Markham Fair. At the fairgrounds in Markham. Currently a 1:30 pm start time. Details to come.

Saturday, October 2, 2010: Wexford Heights United Church, Scarborough. At 7:30 p.m. One set - 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010: Tapestry at Village Gate West, 15 Summerland Terrace, Toronto. Starts at 3:00 pm with 1 set for 1 hour

Saturday, October 16, 2010: St. Paul's United Church, Scarborough (Kingston Road & Midland). Evening performance. One set - 1 hour.

Sunday, November 28, 2010: Sunnybrook Veterans Show, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (a.k.a., Sunnybrook Hospital). One set for one hour starting at 2 pm.

Thursday, December 16, 2010: Etobicoke Senior's Curling Club luncheon, Canadiana Restaurant, Six Points Plaza, Etobicoke. One set - 11:00 a.m. (approximate start time).

2011 - Shows & Activities

Saturday, June 11, 2011: Yonge Lawrence BIA - Village Day Street Festival, Toronto.

 

North Metro Chorus Dinner, Nottawasaga Inn, Alliston, Ontario

August 14, 2010

The North Metro Chorus engaged the TBB as the surprise entertainment at their banquet held at the Nottawasaga Inn near Alliston. This show was a lot of fun as the ladies of the chorus gave us a great welcome and were a lively and vocal audience. The ladies took a turn and sang a couple of numbers for the band. They were nothing short of marvellous. Photos by Glen Midgley, Jim Dickinson and Al Pounsett.

Left: John H. and Bob K. arriving at the Nottawasaga Inn. Right: Dave, Bob A. and Sally.

The Toronto Banjo Band.

Left: Tom on the tuba. Right: Banjo Bob Armstrong serenading the ladies.

Left: Our terrific audience. Right: The band again.

 

Veterans Luncheon and Show, Aurora, Ontario

August 8, 2010

We were invited again to take part in the Veterans Luncheon and Show hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion in Aurora. It's an honour to play for this venerable and fun-loving audience. Photos below by the webmaster and by President Glen Midgley.

Left: The bandstand at the Aurora Legion. Right: Jim and Tom setting up.

Left: The veterans and guests arriving at the far end of the hall. Right: Veterans and guests.

Our hosts provided us with a great lunch prior to the show.

The White Heather Pipe Band and a very well-received dancer filled out the entertainment bill.

Two shots of the Toronto Banjo Band at the Aurora Legion.

 

Art Society King, King City, Ontario

July 11 , 2010

The TBB played at the soiree hosted by the Art Society King at the beautiful 600 acre Koffler Scientific Reserve at Joker's Hill, King City. Threatening storm warnings turned to sunshine by the time things got rolling. The band was treated to dinner selections supplied by a wide variety of local establishments. A very nice late afternoon and early evening. Photos courtesy of Dennis Meyers, John Heninger, and Al Pounsett.

Left: the pavillions at the soiree. Right: the two performance stages.

Dining prior to entertaining the soiree goers.

Left: the GREEN ROOM (credit to Dennis for this one). Right: Getting ready to go on.

Left: Tom, Grace, Glen, with Jim G. in background. Right. Jim H., Al, Sheila, Bill, Dennis, Patrick, Bob and Carl.

Music Director Jim Groulx.

The band in operation.

 

Baycrest Community Centre for Seniors, Toronto, Ontario

June 24, 2010

The Day Care section of the Baycrest Community Centre invited us to play for their Mardi Gras celebration. After our show we received some feedback from a staff volunteer about how nice it was to see some senior feet tapping that hadn't tapped much for a while. Pictures supplied by Glen Midgley and Al Pounsett.

Setting up at the Baycrest Centre.

Ready to perform for the Baycrest seniors.

 

Yonge Lawrence BIA Village Day Festival, Toronto, Ontario

June 12, 2010

The Toronto Banjo Band played once again at the annual Business Improvement Association festival on north Yonge Street. The weather was a bit showery, but we hung in for the duration. It wasn't all gloom and doom as you can see by the photos passed along by President Glen Midgley. Thanks Glen.

Singing in the rain.

Left: This year we played in front of Mcdonalds Restaurant. Right: Dennis and Glen.

Banjo Bob at the mic.

The band back row. Left: Dave, Jim, Bill, Patrick and John. Right: John and Bill.

Left: Patrick, John and Sheila on bass. Right: Smiles.

Left; Jim applies mic and pressure to Al. Right: The TBB.

 

Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario, Waterloo, Ontario

June 5, 2010

At Sir Wilfred Laurier University, the band played for the Federated Women's Instutes of Ontario 2010 Conference. A great audience, which at times invaded the bandstand. Lots of fun. Photos by webmaster.

The band prepared for the gig in the Fred Nichols Campus Centre kitchen.

Left: The kitchen green room. Right: Musical Director Jim, after just regaining control of the bandstand.

 

Brantford Waterways Foundation, Brantford, Ontario

June 2, 2010

The band played for the Brantford Waterways Foundation at the Petofi Hungarian Cultural Centre in Brantford. The foundation supports the local provision of rail trails, thus the railroad theme at this event. Photos by Al Pounsett.

Left: the Petofi Hungarian Cultural Centre ballroom. Right: Jim on stage pre performance.

Left: The bandmembers all apparently looking for something. Right: A fuzzy photo of President Glen.

'

Bill and Bruno under the Wedding Arch.

 

 

FOR SALE

1930's Gibson Tenor Banjo. Mint condition. Beautiful tone. Mother of Pearl inlay on resonator and neck. With case.

$1800.00

Call Lois Cartwright at 416-226-6421 in Canada.

 

Sports Celebrity Dinner, Barrie, Ontario

May 20, 2010

Once again the Toronto Banjo Band entertained at the Sports Celebrity Dinner held at the Army, Navy and Air Force Club in Barrie, Ontario. We had a great band turnout. We retired to Sticky Fingers for wings and ribs after the show. This is becoming a favourite gig for many of the band. Photos by Al Pounsett.

Left: The Army Navy and Air Force Club, Barrie. Right: Bandstand preparations.

Left: Bob, Dennis and John. Right: Tom casing the pre-show hall.

Left: Bob, Sally and Jerry. Right: Dave, Sheila, Jim, Dennis, Bill, John and Patrick with Bob in the back row.

Left: Cocktail hour at the dinner with Jim. Right: Banjo Bob at the mic.

Left: Jim, Tom, Grace, Bob, Glen missing and taking the photo, Jerry and Sally. Right: Stanley Cup and Glen.

 

North American International Banjo Convention

Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.A.

April 28 - May 1, 2010

Many of the Toronto Banjo Band members took the trip down Highway 401 to the North American International Banjo Convention held at the Doubletree Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan. The TBB performed at the Saturday evening concert. Two smaller bands formed from TBB members performed on the Saturday afternoon concert: the Cameo Trio (Jim Groulx, Tom Elliot and Bob Armstrong) and the Toronto Strummers (Dave Robinson, Sally Carroll, Bob Walton, Glen Midgley, Al Pounsett, and Paul Stirling (Flint Banjo Band)). Below are some photos taken at the convention by Dave Robinson, Glen Midgley and Al Pounsett. We don't have a shot of the whole band onstage at this point. Watch this space!

Left: Jean and Grace in the 'Just Us Girls' band. Right: TBB jam session; Tom, Bob, and Sheila.

More TBB jam session. Left: Grace, Bob, Sheila, Al, Jim, Glen, Bill, Bob, and Tom. Right: Jim, Glen, Bill, Bob, and Dave.

Left: Cameo Trio: Tom, Jim and Bob. Right: Toronto Strummers: Paul Stirling (Flint Banjo Band), Bob, Dave, Sally, Al and Glen.

Left: Brian Newsom (NAIBC chairman) and Haligonian Steve Penny (friend of the TBB). Right: Sally (with new Ome banjo) and Dolores Borrow.

Left: Dolores Borrow, Glen and Jim. Right: headline band with Greg Allen (red shirt) and Brian Newsom (white shirt).

~ ~ ~

N.B. Items on this site are presented as a courtesy only and change often. If other groups/acts are shown, please contact them for further information.

Webmaster, Al Pounsett

 

The TBB's Bob Armstrong and Earl Craddock play Sweet Georgia Brown, video shot by Bruce Manning, former Webmaster.

Bill Jackson and Al Allotta

Maurice Bolyer Tribute - Playing a Tenor

Ken Aoki is Waiting for the Sunrise with a Plectrum

Banjo Uke - Formby Plays for The Lads