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 playing is reserved for solos. The TBB would assist you in obtaining a tutor if requested.

Alternate Mondays, 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm., Royal Canadian Legion Branch 266/046, 3591 Dundas Street West, York, Ontario, M6S 2T1.

 

Directions: One block west of Jane St. on the south side of Dundas St. W., Toronto.

 

2025 Practices

January 6, 20

February 3, 24

March 10, 24 (cancelled by Legion), 31 (new)

April 14, 28 (CANCELLED by Legion),

May 5 (NEW DATE), 12 (CANCELLED since juxtaposed to gig), 30 (NEW DATE AT RUNNYMEDE PRESYBTERIAN CHURCH)

June 23

July 21

September 8, 29

October 20

November 3, 17

December 1, 15

 

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

Also, in the event of having to cancel either a practice or a gig, members will be notified by 10:00 am on the day of the event.

 

2023 - Shows & Activities

Thursday, March 16, 2023: Etobicoke Probus Club at the Weston Golf and Country Club, 50 St. Phillips Road, Etobicoke, Ontario, M9P 2N5.. Entertainment event by the Toronto Banjo Band.
Time: Be ready to play before 10:00 am. We play for 45 to 50 minutes.

Sunday, March 26, 2023: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 266/046 (where we practise) an Easter Show for the Sunnybrook K Wing Veterans. Includes a lunch for guests and the band. Time: The Vets could be arriving as early as 11:30 am so be ready to play at that time. The band will play again after the lunch until the Vets depart by bus back to Sunnybrook Hospital. Regretfully this show has been CANCELLED again.

Tuesday May 23, 2023: Probus Club of Kingsway Islington at the Lambton Golf and Country Club, 100 Scarlett Road, Toronto, M6N 4K2.
Time: 10 am.

Saturday, June 10, 2023: Yonge Lawrence Business Improvement Association 'Village Day'. At the Shoppers Drug Mart, 3366 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 2M7.
Dress Code: Short-sleeved red shirts, no tie, white pants and white shoes if possible.
Time: 10:00 am start through until 2:00 pm.

Saturday, July 1, 2023: Canada Day entertainment at the Marsh Street Centre, 187 Marsh Street, Clarksburg, Ontario N0H 1J0. Weather permitting we will be playing outdoors at thelr licensed outdoor patio. The Toronto Banjo Band and the Blue Water Jazz Collective will alternate sets in the afternoon.
Time: Approximately 12 pm to 4 pm or so with our first set starting at 1 pm.. The Bluewater Jazz Collective will be starting at 12 pm.

Friday, August 25, 2023: Kingsway Place Retirement Residence (formerly known as the Kingsway Arms), 145 Murray Drive, Aurora, Ontario, L4G 2C7. If weather is conducive, we may play outside. That noted, if we do, we will be under two tents.
Time: 2:15 pm for one hour.

Wednesday, September 27, 2023: Christie Gardens Apartments and Care, 600 Melita Crescent, Toronto, ON M6G 3Z4. Main auditorium on the lower floor. This is at the same level as the Concierge Entrance.
Time: Showtime is 2:30 pm. The band will be playing for an hour, perhaps more if requested.
Uniforms: Full dress band uniforms for this show. Long sleeve red band shirt, long black pants, white tie.

Saturday, September 30, 2023, Markham Fair, 10801 McCowan Road, Markham, Ontario L3P 3J3. In the Entertainment Tent. Time: Two sets: 1:30 pm and again at 4:00 pm.
Uniforms: Full dress band uniforms for this show. Long sleeve red band shirt, long black pants, white tie.

Sunday, December 3, 2023: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 266/046 (where we practise) a Christmas/Regular Show for the Sunnybrook K Wing Veterans. Includes a turkey dinner for guests and the band.
Time: 11:00 am. K Wing Sunnybrook veterans arrive.

December 12, 2023: Kingsway Place Retirement Residence (formerly known as the Kingsway Arms), 145 Murray Drive, Aurora, Ontario, L4G 2C7. Christmas Show.
Time: 2:15 pm for one hour. This show has now been CANCELLED due to a Covid 19 presence at the residence.

2024 - Shows & Activities

Friday, March 22, 2024: West Park Healthcare Centre, 82 Buttonwood Avenue, York, Ontario M6M2J5. Afternoon Entertainment. POSTPONED DUE TO IMPENDING SNOW STORM.
Time: 2:30 pm for one hour.

Monday, April 22, 2024. Hearthstone By the Bay. 3 Marine Parade Drive, Etobicoke, ON, M8V 3Z5. An Afternoon Entertainment.
Time: 3:00 pm for one hour.

Friday, April 26, 2024: Kingsway Place Retirement Residence (formerly known as the Kingsway Arms), 145 Murray Drive, Aurora, Ontario, L4G 2C7.
Time: 2:30 pm for one hour.

Saturday, May 11, 2024. Sunnybrook Hospital K-Wing, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5. A show for the Veterans and their families at their K-Wing.
Time: 2:00 pm for one hour.

Monday, July 1, 2024 CANADA DAY. Kingsway Place Retirement Residence (formerly known as the Kingsway Arms), 145 Murray Drive, Aurora, Ontario, L4G 2C7.
Time: 2:30 pm for one hour. Dress Code: Short-sleeved red shirts, no tie, white pants and white shoes if possible.

Saturday, October 5, 2024: Markham Fair, 10801 McCowan Road, Markham, Ontario L3P 3J3. In the Entertainment Tent..
Uniforms: Full dress band uniforms for this show. Long sleeve red band shirt, long black pants, white tie. Maybe a jacket and hat depending on the weather.
Time: Two sets: 1:30 pm and again at 4:00 pm.

Sunday, December 1, 2024: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 266/046 (where we practise) a Christmas/Regular Show for the Sunnybrook K Wing Veterans. Includes a turkey dinner for guests and the band.
Time: 11:00 am. K Wing Sunnybrook veterans arrive. TBB arrival between 10:15 and 10:30 am.

2025 - Shows & Activities

Sunday, April 6, 2025: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 266/046 (where we practise) an Easter Show for the Sunnybrook K Wing Veterans. Includes a roast beef dinner for guests and the band.
Time: The Vets could be arriving as early as 11:15 am so be ready to play at that time. The band will play again after the dinner until the Vets depart by bus back to Sunnybrook Hospital.

Friday, May 9, 2025: Kingsway Place Retirement Residence (formerly known as the Kingsway Arms), 145 Murray Drive, Aurora, Ontario, L4G 2C7. An Afternoon Entertainment.
Time: 2:30 pm for one hour.

Monday, June 2, 2025: Credit River Retirement Residence, 175 Rutledge Road, Mississauga (Streetsville), Ontario, L5M 0X7. A Weekly Entertainment n the Lower Rotunda.
Time: 3:00 pm. One set.

Monday, June 16, 2025: Christie Gardens Apartments and Care, 600 Melita Crescent, Toronto, ON M6G 3Z4. Main auditorium on the lower floor. This is at the same level as the Concierge Entrance. An Afternoon Entertainment.
Time: Showtime is 2:30 pm. The band will be playing for an hour, perhaps more if requested.

Tuesday, July 1, 2025: Kingsway Place Retirement Residence (formerly known as the Kingsway Arms), 145 Murray Drive, Aurora, Ontario, L4G 2C7. A Canada Day Entertainment.
Time: 2:30 pm for one hour.

Saturday, October 4, 2025: Markham Fair, 10801 McCowan Road, Markham, Ontario L3P 3J3. In the Entertainment Tent..
Uniforms: Full dress band uniforms for this show. Long sleeve red band shirt, long black pants, white tie. Maybe a jacket and hat depending on the weather.
Time: Two sets: 1:30 pm and again at 4:00 pm.

Click here for details of our next show.

Sunday, December 7, 2025: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 266/046 (where we practise) a Christmas/Regular Show for the Sunnybrook K Wing Veterans. Includes a turkey dinner for guests and the band.
Time: 11:00 am. K Wing Sunnybrook veterans arrive. TBB arrival between 10:15 and 10:30 am.
11:15 am. TBB starts playing.
12:00 pm. Lunch is served to veterans and TBB.
12:45 pm. When lunch over, TBB plays while veterans board the buses.

The Toronto Banjo Band

The TBB at the Clarksburg, Ontario Canada Day Celebrations 2023 playing the Canada Song. Barb Jordan on vocal.. Video by Ward Cornforth.

Savoy Blues by the Toronto Banjo Band at the 2014 Markham Fair. Video on YouTube 25musical channel.

The TBB's Dave Robinson sings I'm Confessin' that I Love You at the Sunnybrook Hospital Veterans' BBQ. Video by John Heninger.

The Toronto Banjo Band at the Toronto Yonge-Lawrence BIA Village Days playing Five Foot Two (2011). Video by Jo Christie.

The TBB with Jim Hindorff plays Carolina in the Morning at the 2016 Markham, Ontario, Fall Fair. Video by Don Yuill.

The TBB with Bob Armstrong plays Bill Bailey Medley at the 2016 Markham, Ontario, Fall Fair. Video by Don Yuill.

The TBB plays Stephen Foster Medley at the 2017 Markham, Ontario, Fall Fair. Video by Eileen Jensen.

The TBB plays Sweet Georgia Brown at the 2016 Markham, Ontario, Fall Fair. Video by Don Yuill.

The TBB plays Creole Belle at the 2016 Markham, Ontario, Fall Fair. Video by Don Yuill.

The TBB plays Five Foot Two at the 2016 Markham, Ontario, Fall Fair. Video by Don Yuill.

The TBB plays La Vie en Rose at the 2017 Markham, Ontario, Fall Fair. Video by Eileen Jensen.

The TBB, with Barb Jordan, plays I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter at the Capitol Banquet Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. Video by Eileen Jensen.

The TBB, with Jim Hindorff, plays Wooden Heart at the 2017 Markham, Ontario, Fall Fair. Video by Eileen Jensen.

The TBB plays Bye Bye Blues at the 2017 Markham, Ontario, Fall Fair. Video by Eileen Jensen.

Some Favourite Banjo Players

Tim Allan - William Tell Overture

Maurice Bolyer Tribute - Canada's King of the Banjo

Johnny Baier plays at the Arizona Banjo Blast 2014

Sean Moyses plays King Chanticleer

Ken Aoki is Waiting for the Sunrise

George Formby Plays for The Lads