Toronto Pinoy indie bands play gig series

Toronto Pinoy indie bands play gig series

By Ysh Cabana

TORONTO–Equipped with original compositions, ambitious talent and passion for music, a live indie band scene in the city is thriving. Filipino indie artists find a space to ‘jam’ in OPM Indie Night Toronto.

After spending its pilot season in Cusina Lounge in North York, season two premiered on July 19 at Bistro Manila, Scarborough — Toronto’s east end suburb.

For musicians like Pat Simeon, it is finding an opportunity to break through the noise and create out their own niche.

Local Filipino Canadian artists and songwriters include top acts Uppercase Band, Sharen Martin and hip hop supergroup Southeeast Cartel. The venue is quite accomodating that other artists or grassroot bands can jump right into the series and join the spectacle. This year’s challenge for participants is to expand boundaries by writing originals based on a given theme each month and venturing beyond the sounds they may be more comfortable with.

For organizer Mae Janelle, music is a powerful art form that has a special way of bringing people together. The gig series is a community effort at the spur of the moment, a collective space that has its weight in salt in the performing arts.

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OPM Indie Night Toronto plays every third Thursday of the month at Bistro Manila, 4455 Sheppard Ave E, Scarborough, ON M1S 3G9. FB.com/OPMIndieNightToronto