WEDNESDAY
8 pm Punk Rock Bingo @ The Beaver, 1192 Queen St. W. Drink specials, prizes, sporadic performances, and bingo! A buck a card to play, and don’t forget your lucky trinkets. Hosted by Jenna Syde with special guest Champagna Enemea. Tunes by Triple-X.
10 pm Liquid Karaoke @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Colin Bergh, James McDonough, Nadia Belerique, and Jeff Hayward are your hosts. $4 Jameson and $5.50 pints before midnight.
10 pm Home Based @ Weldon Park, 569 College St. A night filled with good hip-hop, good people, and good vibes with DJs Sanga Genesis, James Redi, and special guests. Every Wednesday.
10 pm Natural Wednesdays @ Studio Bar, 824 Dundas St. W. Swirve Music and Babylon Warchild present a new hip-hop series by the heads, for the heads. Featuring a fresh roster of up-and-comers and OGs that changed the game + an in-house 12-round battle league, with the winner taking home a $500 cash prize.
THURSDAY
10 pm Switched On @ Camp 4, 1173 Dundas St. W. DJ Pammm and special guest Lauren Wilkins party on in the (mostly) ’90s way of plaid shirts wrapped around your butt and Doc Martens (meaning they’ll be playing compact discs of indie rock, noisy pop, and campus radio jams, duh).
10 pm Strangelove @ Weldon Park, 569 College St. The return of a Toronto cultural institution. Every Thursday. $5.
10 pm #ThrowbackThursdays @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. Every Thursday, come get a taste of tunes from: J-Lo, DMX, Spice Girls, Will Smith, Aqua, Ludacris, Backstreet Boys, Snoop Dogg, S Club 7, Jay-Z, Hanson, Ace of Base, Savage Garden, Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child, and many more. $5.
10 pm DJ Downunda @ Crawford, 718 College St. Trap, rap, RnB, and bangers! Hosted by Miss Olivia and Kermit. $5 bar rail + $4 shots and jello shooters.
10 pm Fat Laces @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. DJ Big Jimmy Mills, the scratch-monster, spins old school hip-hop.
10 pm Reckless Nights @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. DJs Mikky and Alex play indie dance, throwbacks, hip-hop, and disco. Free before 11 pm, $5 after.
FRIDAY
10 pm Essence Brown Presents: Essencé @ The Steady, 1051 Bloor St. W.Hip-hop, dancehall, R&B, and Yoncé jams all night. Come in your best Beyoncé/Yoncé-inspired look (prizes for best outfit). With your hosts Teej Mahal, Hoiking, and Alikulapo. $5.
10 pm Guilty Pleasures @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W.Hang out with Radford and Steve Rock while they play their favourite blasts from the past, from The Backstreet Boys to Beyoncé, Wild Cherry to Katy Perry, and Whitney to Winehouse – all played with unabashed joy and passion that’ll have you bouncing off the walls and head over heels with excitement.
10 pm High Gloss @ The Libertine, 1307 Dundas St. W. A night of nudisco, house, and indie dance brought to you by Cyclist and Dickystixxx.
10 pm Evening Standard @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Let this Friday night encourage you to commit your body to the sound of music made for dancing. With residents MEMBERSONLY playing for 5 hours and a bit. $5.
10 pm Shindig @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. The first Shindig of 2015! Resident selectors General Eclectic, Splattermonkey, and Parkdale Funk spin your favourite ’50s and ’60s R&B and soul on 7” 45 RPM records. $5 before 11 pm, $5 after.
10 pm Wayward Fridays @ Wayward, 1096 Queen St. W. Hip-hop, old school, and classics with DJ Tech Twelve.
10 pm Rudeboy Donk @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. Taking a trip back to London, UK, somewhere between ’77 and ’82. From jazz-funk steppers to post-punk skankers. All wax. No noggin’ about.
10 pm Jamz! @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. An anything goes, no bullshit, non-genre, dance ’til you drop, all your friends in one room, party hard, make the floor wet with sweat, shit show! With DJs Slater and Ty. $5.
10 pm Regretro: Terrible Twos Edition @ The Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St. W. Regretro turns two this month, which means it’s time to trade in your long johns for your cutest flannel party dress (or bowtie) and dance the night away to all your fave retro(ish) tunes. As always, requests welcome! Time to turn back time.
10 pm Get It Together @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. All genres, all genres, and all peoples welcome! Selections by Mikey McFly. $5.
10 pm Dolls In Disgrace: Russ Meyer Burlesque Vixens @ Disgraceland, 965 Bloor St. W. Disgraceland’s monthly burlesque night “puts the disgrace in your face” with bumps, grinds, shimmies, and winks from T.O.’s superbabes. And who better to inspire a night of thrills than the king of ’60s/’70s sexploitation films, Russ Meyer? January’s event will be paying homage to these films and characters. Sleazy ’60s and ’70s tunes to set the mood.
10 pm Nino Brown Presents… @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. DJ Nino Brown and guests play hip-hop, dancehall, soca, RnB, and deep grooves.
10 pm No Sleep ‘Til Brooklynn @ Brooklynn, 1186 Queen St. W. Make new friends. No dress code. No bullshit. Mickey “bottle service” available. Music $5with guestlist before 11:30 pm, $10 otherwise.
10 pm F*CK Y*U D!E @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. DJs Brains4brkfst and Japain. Free before 11 pm, $5 after.
11 pm Party Machine @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Join DJs Daddy Maysr, (Montreal, Dublounge), Caff (Good Kids), Fathom (On Vacay) and STEP TWiNS (a.k.a. Caff and Walmer Convenience), and Benzo (BTX) for a night of classic to current hip-hop, R&B, dancehall, and club music. In the Lounge, DJ Your Boy Brian (More Proof) plays a feel-good party mix. $10
SATURDAY
11 am Winter Craft Beer Festival @ Steam Whistle Brewing, 255 Bremner Blvd. Roundhouse Park is transformed into a giant craft beer wonderland for brew lovers and food truck aficionados! Until 5 pm. Limited $25 tickets available at the gate.
10 pm Zoï Zoï @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. Toronto’s French pop dance party is back for a special 10th anniversary edition! Join DJs Mimi La Twisteuse and Soju for a night of all-French ’60s mod pop, ’70s punk rock, ’80s new wave, ’90s hip-hop, and today’s finest indie pop gems. $5.
10 pm Juicebox @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. Indie hits dance party with DJs Tweed and What’s Her Problem. The Strokes, Bowie, Arcade Fire, New Order, LCD Soundsystem, and more! Free before 11 pm, $5 after.
10 pm Bitch Craft @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W.DJs Blonde & Redhead play LOUD RAP MUSIC. Free before 11 pm, $5 after.
10 pm Material World @ Johnny Jackson, 587 College St. All ’80s and ’90s pop, hip-hop, and dance music. Madonna, Cher, Backstreet Boys, Robyn, Prince, MJ, Tupac, Duran Duran, S Club 7, Britney Spears, Spice Girls, Fatboy Slim, and many more.
10 pm Lampin @ Two Bites Saloon, 840 Bloor St. W. Enjoy Southern food, craft beer, and fresh cocktails as DJ Caff provides the soundtrack.
10 pm X @ Coalition: T.O., 349-A College St. Èbony x Happy Boy Tona x Carly Bangs x Metoux. House ‘n’ techno till the sunrise. $5.
10 pm Shake, Rattle & Roll @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. Spend the night together with the Bangs & Blush ladies! ’60s pop, soul and rock ‘n’ roll to drink, dance, and get messy to. $5.
10 pm Dance Pitt @ The Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St. W. A fun-raiser for an OCAD printmaking/publications + buddies field trip to Pittsburgh to see the Sister Corita Kent show at the Warhol. With DJs Mary Mack and Chanteclair. $5 suggested donation at the door (no one will be turned away).
10 pm DJ Fresh Flesh & Hot Mess @ La Hacienda, 640 Queen St. W. DJ sets from Fresh Flesh and Hot Mess. Rap, hardcore hip-hop, house, electro, grunge, burritos, $4 pints.
10 pm Blood, Sweat & Queers: Sissy Nein Edition @ The Steady, 1051 Bloor St. W. Does it get sexier than SISSY NEIN? If it does, then come show them what you got. With DJs Boy Pussy and Aeryn Pfaff. Drink special: tall can of pilsner + shot of JD for $9. $5.
10 pm Panic @ Velvet Underground, 510 Queen St. W. The ultimate retro party with DJ Lazarus spinning the kind of retro that changed your life. ’80s, ’90s, new wave, classic alternatives, ska, Brit-pop, dance, shoegaze, post-punk, and more. This month’s spotlight is The Cure. $10.
10 pm #CrushTO Goes to the Beach @ Club 120, 120 Church St. #CrushTO celebrates January with our third annual beach bash – because they know you miss werkin it in your summer wardrobe. Come prepared evening of sweaty dance floor action, sultry burlesque, private booths to get hot and wet in (consensually), and go go dancers. Sea creatures, pirates, beach babes, and life guards welcome. $10.
10 pm Sweat Pants @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. DJ Coolin Cregg spins hip-hop, soul, RnB, and dancehall.
11 pm Shake A Tail @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. ’60s pop, rock, soul, funk, garage, ska, ANYTHING! Always humid. $5.
11 pm Itzsoweezee @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. A feel-good house party atmosphere! DJs Tom Wrecks, DeMiggs, and ΛV play music to make you dance, smile, and holler. For $5 reduced guestlist and line bypass, email guestlist@itzsoweezee.com (closes at midnight). $10.
SUNDAY
11 am Perfect For Gathering Here Today @ 2nd Floor Events, 461 King St. W. Brides and grooms-to-be are invited to experience the stylish downtown wedding venue, 2nd Floor Events, and become acquainted with local florists, photographers, bakers, designers, DJs, and more. Until 6 pm. Free/PWYC, with all proceeds going to the Daily Food Bank.
5 pm Any Given Sunday @ Wayward, 1096 Queen St. W. (second floor).Superbowl XLIX on the big screen + games, giveaways, raffle prizes, and more! Guys $30, girls $20 (tickets include food from The Good Son restaurant).
6 pm Super Bowl Sunday at THR & Co., 97 Harbord St. Avoid downtown crowds and head to THR & Co. to watch Super Bowl XLIX, for the other game day highlight – the food. Serving up a specialized snack menu, dishes include Ancho Braised Beef Cheek Tacos, Grilled Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, and Nachos Very Very Supreme. Drink specials include $5 Budweiser and Coors, and $5 Jack Daniels. There will also be draws/prize giveaways. For reservations, call (647) 748-7199.
7 pm Brass Facts Trivia @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Test your knowledge and win prizes! Hosted by Famous Kirk Hero. Until 10 pm.
9:30 pm Karaoke Sundays @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. Karaoke, every Sunday night! Hosted by Cajo.
~ For event submissions, email Caitlyn Holroyd at caitlyn_holroyd@hotmail.com