January 9th-26th Hedwig & The Angry Inch @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. “A rock concert with plenty of biographical interludes courtesy of trans-bombshell Hedwig, former East-German twink and lead singer of nonchalant indie band ‘The Angry Inch’. This production takes the audience through a tragic story of betrayal, emotional and physical sacrifice, and love.” $35 or $25 for students and arts workers (tickets available online). Show runs Wednesday through Saturday.
WEDNESDAY
9 pm Fear Street @ Sex Laser, 1369 Dundas St W. Horror/sci-fi movie scores/songs from soundtracks, or spooky/cool stuff every Wednesday. Maybe you’ll talk about movies. Maybe you’ll dance with some zombies. Maybe you’ll fall into the Hell Mouth. $3 PBR before 11 pm.
10 pm Sha Na Na @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. DJ Brittney (one half of the Bangs & Blush duo) plays jukebox hits and makeout songs all night long.
10 pm Best of Live in Bellwoods 2012 Celebration @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. The Humble Empire team screens their favourite park sessions from last year! DJ Humble Mike plays his favourite records, followed by the Best of Bellwoods screening at 11ish, and a special acoustic performance by Donovan Woods at midnight. Then the vinyl goes back on and you dance like it’s summer time. PWYC.
THURSDAY
7 pm “New Development: A Photography Show” Opening Reception @ Creatures Creating, 822 Dundas St. W. is proud to present New Development: A Photography Show. Creatures Creating presents its first show of the new year with photographers Shane Fester, Ilyse Krivel, Mike Morris, Tom Ridout, Andrew Savery-Whiteway, Matthew Volpe, Michael White, and Danika Zandboer. Show runs until January 16th.
10 pm Dirty Talk @ Unlovable, 1415-B Dundas St. W. The Adult Fantasy Adventure™. DJs Diana and Pammm play Italo, disco house, indie dance, and space shit. Cheap drinks and arcade games!
10 pm The Quiet Storm @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. DJ Andycapp plays four hours of melodically soulful music that provides an intimate, laid-back mood tailor-made for late-night listening and a welcome end to the stresses of the workday.
10 pm Life After Lemonade @ Sex Laser, 1369 Dundas St. W. The fourth installment of the afterlife party series: a clash of music and a coming together of friends. With DJs Alana, Mel, Stab Master Arson (Nick), YoYoBall, and Iain + magician Lukas Stark. $3 PBR before 11 pm.
10 pm The Grump Goes To Camp @ Camp 4, 1173 Dundas St. W. The Grump gets loose on the decks. Don’t sleep.
10 pm Elevated / Bass6 @ Crawford, 718 College St. Upstairs, DJs Soundskan, Shorcut, and Mike Stoan play classic and current bangers all night. Downstairs, the Bass6 crew play hip-hop, reggae, and dance music to keep you happy. $5.
FRIDAY
10 pm 90s Party: Electric Circus Edition @ The Annex WreckRoom, 794 Bathurst St. Good Kids, She Does the City, and Worn Fashion Journal are excited to bring the Electric Circus edition of 90s Party! Come in your best worst 90s club wear for a chance to win $200 in cash. $1 vodka jello shots ALL NIGHT LONG. DJs Caff and Fawn BC play all your favourite alternative rock, pop, and hip-hop tunes from the decade. $5 before midnight, $10 after.
10 pm Birthday Sex @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Go shorty, it’s your birthday! Diego Bros play 90’s and 00’s hip-hop and R&B all night long. (January babies, post your birthday requests on the event page). Free before 11 pm, $5 after.
10 pm Da Da Da: A Psychedelic Dance Party @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. An all-night free love psychedelic midnight ball! DJs Brad Casey and Wilderness Creature play psychedelic music from The Beach Boys to Beach House, The Kinks to Caribou, The Byrds to Black Moth Super Rainbow, etc. $5.
10 pm All Inclusive @ Holy Oak, 1241 Bloor St. W. A vacation for your ears and mind with DJs Craig Dunsmuir on melting vinyl and Cam Lee with a piping hot laptop. Join them in this soulful oasis of sonic warmth and relaxation. Check your worries at the door, partake in a yoga-dance session, expressive full body soul massage, and smoothie vibes.
10 pm (ALT)Night: Work! @ Margret, 2952 Dundas St. W. (ALT)Night turns Margret into the sweaty booze-fueled gym you always wanted to be at! Get ready to burn those calories and remember to stretch before you work. DJ Dislexia on decks with the tunes to make you break that sweat + work out videos on the screen to show you how its done and drink specials to get you well oiled. Wear your best 80’s workout attire and don’t forget a towel!
10 pm Fuck It @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. A sweaty, dirty, guilty-pleasure-filled evening where the Bangs & Blush ladies play whatever the fuck they want! 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s… all the music you know and secretly love. $5.
10 pm Legoblocks @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. DJ Linus Booth and guest Brandon Oliver play robojams.
10 pm Slowed @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. Slo-mo tunes (115 BPM or less) with special guest DJ Cyril Hahn (Vancouver/Switzerland) and resident Lucie Tic. $10 advance tickets available at Rotate This, Soundscapes, and online. For reduced guestlist, email events@ledewit.com.
10 pm Phazed / Trap Gold @ Crawford, 718 College St. Upstairs, old school meets new school hip-hop and R&B with DJ Amplified. Downstairs, DJs Kung Fu Candy and Teddy Trap House play Atlanta hip-hop and grimy dirty south. $5 before 11 pm, more after.
10 pm Floored @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. DJ Fathom and crew play hip-hop, funk, groove, and dance hits. Expect breakdancing!
10 pm Swerve @ The Hoxton, 69 Bathurst St. A monthly party showcasing the best in hip-hop, moombahton, trap, and party music. With DJs Jr.Flo and PB&J. For guestlist, email steven@thehoxton.ca.
10:30 pm Her @ La Perla, 783 Queen St. W. Ut-HER-us Edition! DJs Kris Steeves, Donna Ho, and OMGBLOG.com deliver beats for a smooth exit from the womb of 2012. $2.50 drink special before 11:30 pm + $5 Palomas all night. For line bypass, email set.her.free@gmail.com. $5.
11 pm Johnny & Jay’s Red Cup Party @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. DJs Johnny & Jay + special guest Graham Zilla spin house, hip-hop, and party slam jams whilst bringing a living room vibe to the Underground. Remember those nights you’d spend in a familiar place with old pals, new faces, and the red cup that would never be empty? Yeah, just like that. $10.
SATURDAY
8 pm DJ Skate Night @ Harbourfront Centre (Natrel Rink), 235 Queen’s Quay W. Toronto’s top DJs spin fresh grooves while you glide – this week featuring DJ Manifest taking you back in time as he spins 10 years worth of top 40 hits. Until 11 pm.
10 pm Beam Me Up Disco @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. A Digital Needle DJs and guest Cyclist deliver a healthy serving of funky and soulful disco, disco-rap, boogie, and other aural oddities primed to make you groove. Songstress Shelley Hayes has also agreed to belt out a few blue-eyed beauties at the party’s blushful behest. $5 before 11 pm, $10 after.
10 pm Strictly Business @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. Another round of classic hip-hop heatery for the new year! DJs Serious and Numeric rocking things proper in the back room for you and yours.
10 pm Chronologic @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. A dance party through the ages! Pop and antipop from since the end of history (i.e. music from 1890 to 2013, played in chronological order). $5.
10 pm Lucky Bitches @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Two ice stallions serve it up hot with a glamour positive party for anyone who knows what it’s like to be a lucky bitch. The guiltiest of pleasures all night: hitz that span the ages, 90’s hip-hop, contemporary hitz, 80’s velvet jamz, forgotten gemz.
10 pm Threshold II @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Four dudes playing mostly vinyl of the house and techno variety. With DJs Nautiluss, Kevin McPhee, Andrew Ross, and Ronnie Falcon.
10 pm Funk Off @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. Get down to music of the funk variety! TNT on the tunes. $5.
10 pm Business Woman’s Special @ Augusta House, 152-A Augusta Ave. The holidays are over, so avoid the winter blues by partying with BWS! DJs Phil V, Sammy D, and Nino Brown spin all night long. Kimon is in the photo booth. Romy and Michele will be playing all night long. $5.
10 pm Ignition / Return of the Double Dragons @ Crawford, 718 College St. Upstairs, DJs Caff plays bumpin’ n’ grindin’ RnB, hip-hop, reggae, and club musics (and more than enough R. Kelly classics). Downstairs, DJs Freeza Chin and Shai (a.k.a. the Double Dragons) play the best in reggae, dancehall, and soca + a touch of hip-hop and old school. $5 before 11:30 pm, more after.
10 pm Shake, Rattle & Roll @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. A sexy, sweaty dance party thrown by the Bangs & Blush ladies! 60’s pop, soul and rock n’ roll. $5.
10 pm Synthicide @ Nocturne, 550 Queen St. W. In the front room, DJs Jason Solvent and Neal TwoSixZeroZero play minimal synth, wave, and electro. In the back room, DJ Lazarus spins synthpop and electropop music from modern bands like Trust, Cold Cave, The Knife, Hot Chip, Austra, Cut Copy, Crystal Castles, Grimes, and M83 to classic tunes from Depeche Mode, New Order, Kraftwerk, Human League, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, and more! This month, there’s a spotlight on Ladytron. $4 drink specials before 11:30 pm. $3 before 11 pm, $5 after.
10 pm Breakfast @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. DJs Stupa and Mac plate an eclectic mix of music, mashing hip-hop, electro/house, rock, R&B, funk, and soul.
10 pm Myth Paradise Music @ Unit, 1198 Queen St. W. DJs Todd and Nep are the music providers. Soul, disco, boogie, and house is the music. Get some.
10 pm Classixx @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. With local DJ duo Natural Animal and special guests. $10 advance tickets available at Rotate This, Soundscapes, and online. For guestlist, email guestlist@wrongbar.com.
11 pm Shake A Tail @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. A night of dancing to 60’s pop, rock, soul, funk, garage, ska, ANYTHING! Always humid. $5.
SUNDAY
11 am Free Public Skating @ Evergreen Brickworks, 550 Bayview Ave. (Weather permitting.) The Brickworks Skating Trail is the perfect way to enjoy the winter air! Limited skate rentals available for $5. Until 4 pm.
~ Caitlyn Holroyd
For event submissions, email caitlyn_holroyd@hotmail.com