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Ekoplex - Journey Of The Turtle; Canadian psytrance album release, free!

ektoplazm — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:11:21 GMT

Journey Of The Turtle is the full-length debut from Ekoplex (Ray Vincent), one of Canada’s most well-respected psytrance producers. Infused with an original style and unmistakable energy, this album flows through dark and driving techtrance, quirky melodic full-on, and richly atmospheric progressive to arrive at an inspiring downtempo finale. Versatile and unconventional, Journey Of The Turtle is designed to flourish in a wide variety of settings, from the festival dance floor to your home stereo. To ensure the best possible sound quality, this album has been mastered by Tim Schuldt at 4CN Studios, Germany.

Download it in MP3/WAV format for free or purchase the CD direct from ektoplazm.com:
http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/ekoplex-journey-of-the-turtle/

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Bellydance show in Arabian Tent- July 12!!

Princess — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:23:10 GMT

Not to be missed!

15 professional dancers from around the world perform in an authentic Arabic tent with live musicians, wine, food, and fun!

* plush cushions * shisha pipe * sumptuous food *
* passionate live music * Bellydancing *

Show and Dance Party:
8:00-10:00
doors open at 7:30

July 12/08
$15 in adv/ $20 day of

Arabic Food and Drink available

Academy  Dance Co.  Agency  Boutique  Orchestra

1 Gloucester Street, Suite #107
Toronto, ON M4Y 1L8 Canada
 1-416-920-5593  1-416-703-5593

info@arabesquedance.ca
www.arabesquedance.ca

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New member...looking for a place to live

Hannah — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:01:23 GMT

Hey!

I'm moving to Toronto from Victoria, BC in mid August to attended George Brown's Theatre school and I"m on the search for a place to live.

I am a 20 year old with a love for theatre, community, eco friendly living, music and dance. I'm clean and respectful, and I'll be focused mostly on school while in Toronto.

I'm hoping to find a place for mid August/ September 1st in an eco contious, or community based house.
Downtown area would be great, as my school is in the Distillery District
And I'm hoping to find something in the $450 -600 month range.

It'd be great if you could tribe message me back if you know of anywhere or have any leads on where to look.

Thanks,
Hannah

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Coming to Toronto...

Zachary — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 04:37:30 GMT

My girlfriend and I are coming to toronto for the first time for the body mod prom event being hosted by BME magazine. We are very much looking forward to going to the home of some of the most amazing people I have met. We are much more the type to find fun locals to stay with rather than try to find hotels, (I am a chef and will gladly take care of food and meals for board!!). She is a Glass Body Jewelry Artist among other things. I am an chef/electronic head and Bloodshot Riddims Representative (Dubrock and Digital Soundboy friendly!) from Portland and Maui (home of Gabriel ELF and Tipper!), and a fire dancer as well.

If you know of any friendly houses that might accomodate the two fo us in exchange for food and great company, please contact Zack at

pacificchef@gmail.com
971-227-4895

amusebouchellc.com
glassheartstudio.com

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6/20, 5pm 'til late, Toronto Islands Solstice Burn & Beach Cleanup

dyslexia — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:01:30 GMT

Friday, June 20th, 5pm until *whenever*, Gibralter Point @ Toronto Islands. Let's go to the beach and play with some fire!

While we're there, I thought it'd be nice to do a little beach cleanup beforehand. Gibralter seems to be one of the least well-maintained beaches as far as trash goes and it's also my favorite, so I wanna show it some TLC. Cleanup from roughly 5-6pm and bonfire from 6pm-the last water taxi leaves!

(Put the water taxi # in yr cell phone! It is 416-203-8294 -- last ferry from Centre is at 11:45pm and last ferry from Hanlan's is at 10:30pm.)

Bring for cleanup: gloves, garbage bag, rake (hand-held gardening rakes can be found at Dollarama for a buck).

Everyone bring: a piece of firewood or fireplace log (v. important if we wanna keep the fire going -- we cannot count on there being dry firewood on the island), food, beverages of choice, fire toys/fuel, blanket/towel, etc. Bring a jacket, as this spring as been long and relentlessly autumnal. Playa wear heavily encouraged (Playa as in Burner-esque, not as in a "Player" who drops their r's.)

If you wanna burn, bring some fuel or a buck or two to throw into the fuel fund, please!

Gibralter Point is between Hanlan's Point and Centre Island. The Centre Island ferry is a bit closer if you are walking, but it might be easier to bike from Hanlan's. From Centre: head towards the pier and hang a right. You'll see the beach entrance across from the water treatment plant. From Hanlan's: head towards Centre Island and turn in just after the Gibralter Point Arts Centre (and across from water treatment center). If you get to the pier, you've gone way too far. Turn back. Look for the people looking like they're having an awesome time! If it's not us, you might just meet someone else cool....

Message me for more details/directions/etc. -- dyslexia

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Arabic drum classes - downtown!!

Princess — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:45:48 GMT

Dumbek lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:15 with the amazing Suleiman Warwar!

5 week sessions:

Level 1:

Mondays at 8:15 - starting June 9

Level 3:

Wednesdays at 8:15 - starting June 11

$105 per 5 week session

bring your own drum * Arabesque has several dumbeks for sale starting at $200 (iron cast)

See clips of Suleiman in action here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDD4CB3G_Ws

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ark34pYXjW8

at Arabesque:

1 Gloucester Street, Suite #107 (at Yonge St., just south of Bloor)

Toronto, ON M4Y 1L8

416-920-5593

www.arabesquedance.ca

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CIRCUS JAM + NEWS

amiraemma — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:28:20 GMT

Allo Circus People!

Ready to bust out and enjoy yourself after the slowest spring on record? Come on out the Tuesday, June 3 and join us in Bellevue Park in Kensington Market for another jam night. Lot of hoops, poi, and staff to go around, for the usual low low price of nothing.

When: This Tuesday, June 3, 7:30-ish-10:30 P.M.
What: New Model Circus Army Jam Night
Where: Bellevue Park, Kensington Market (check the map here)
Why: Your chance to run away with the Circus, one night at a time.

Lots of circus news, much of it starting this weekend!

The Slaw Festival Live And Swinging started Thursday, and will run until next weekend. The show mixes circus ariels, singing and some of Canada's best comedians -- see the full write up below. It's located at in The Laurentian Room at 51A Winchester Street in Cabbagetown. Check the google map here and the fb write-up here.

There's also a few events going on this weekend with IMPACT (the Indian Martial-Performance Arts Demonstrations & Public Workshops & Community Events) happening across the city. There are events open to the public today (Saturday) and some in June, plus workshop time. Check at the bottom of the email, or contact Gitanjali Kolanad (gitakolanad@gmail.com) or Andrew Suri (yoonsuri@sympatico.ca) for more information.

A little off from circus topics, but a lot of you might be interested in a massive pillow fight on tonight (Saturday) at City Hall hosted by New Mind Space. Check the details here:
http://www.newmindspace.com/pillowfighttoronto2008.php

Also on this weekend -- Second City is holding a '24 Hours of Improv' from noon on Sunday to noon on Monday as a fundraiser for the Therapeutic Clowns who work at Sick Kids hospital. Check the details here:
http://www.secondcity.com/?id=theatres/toronto/24hrs

Circus Without Borders will be performing outside on Sunday afternoon and evening, including a special performance around 9 p.m. by Circus Alchemy. Who is Circus Alchemy? Well, we've got some exciting news coming...

And last but not least -- Our own sexy Sadie is now running *two* drop in hoop dance classes each week - Monday at 5:30 at Yonge and Wellesley, and Wednesday at 8 at College and Augusta. See more details at http://hooptoronto.com/classes.html "

One last little thing -- a big thanks to all of you who sent messages about the lost unicycle. I'm going out postering tonight, and still working my connections, so fingers still crossed.

All right. Hope to see you in the park!

Chriz/North

~~~ A New Model Circus Army Event ~~~

SLAW FESTIVAL

What do gangster Al Capone, jazz diva Billie Holliday and a burlesque swing have in common with Cabbagetown Theatre's 14th Slaw Festival of Short Original Works?

On May 29, 30 and 31, and June 4, 5 and 7* at 8 p.m., the Cabbagetown Theatre Company is LIVE AND SWINGING at our new venue, fifty-one (formerly The Laurentian Room) at the historic Winchester Hotel, 51A Winchester Street. Tickets to the Slaw Festival of Short Original Works are $15 (with a $10 Opening Night special on May 29th) and can be reserved by calling 416.653.5870. Dinner theatre packages are also available. *NOTE: no show on June 6

Once frequented by the likes of Al Capone and Billie Holliday, the Art Deco-styled Laurentian Room was abandoned for 39 years (if you don't count squatters) until it underwent a full restoration in 2004. Now this former 'ladies and escorts' watering hole has been re-branded as fifty-one and is being managed by the Stonegrill On Winchester and becomes the Slaw Festival's new home.

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing! To celebrate our new venue, and to ensure those burlesque swing hooks don't go to waste, the Slaw Festival welcomes a first – singing aerialist Lindsay Stephens, who will set the Laurentian Room stage alight with her breathtaking vocal-aerial combinations. Lindsay trains at Toronto's Centre of Gravity and performs both at home and abroad.

This year's Slaw Festival also features the world premiere of Michael Ralph's new Canadian comedy, Not A'Mused, in which a desperate writer is brought face-to-face with his worst nightmare - a Muse more interested in tabloid gossip than inspiring his next book. Not A'Mused features comedic virtuosos Greg Corkum, MC Thompson and Dave McKay.

Two Fringe-favourite playwrights, Allison McWood and Matt Toner, also get into the swing of things at the 2008 Slaw. Allison McWood's Shakespeare's Brain is a cutting academic satire featuring Shakespeare, a scientist, and two Literary Professors armed with scalpels! Directed by Slaw Festival veteran Bell, this wacky comedy features the talents of Rob Candy, Chris Irving, Michael Posthumus and Jane Hunter.

Matt Toner's We Unhappy Few reunites two old enemies (played with dexterity by Michael Halkusis and Blake Thorne) who decide to confess to old wrongs and apologize for their roles in the "whole darn thing". Toner was a winner of the 2003 Fringe 24 Hour Playwriting Contest.

Finally, Cathy McKim presents her much-lauded one-woman comedy, Being Cecil Graham. A lesbian actor tells the story of how she took on a role in Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan and got way more than she bargained for….but in a good way! Being Cecil Graham was originally performed at the Alumnae Theatre's New Ideas Festival.

Last but not least, singer Michael Posthumus adds his own brand of lyrical humour and comedy impress-ario Liam Doherty keeps things in full swing as our Master of Ceremonies.

Slaw Festival patrons are invited to swing on over to the Stonegrill On Winchester (www.stonegrillonwinchester.com), 51B Winchester Street, before the show. Call 416.967.6565 for dinner reservations or to book the 3 Course Dinner Theatre Package.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IMPACT EVENTS!!!

May 31st, Saturday 1-2 pm at Community Picnic in Neilson park (just S. of Neilson Rd. & Finch, Scarborough). Event co-hosted by Malvern Community Recreation Centre & Councillor Raymond Cho (Ward 42 Scarborough-Rouge River).

June 15th, Sunday, 3-4 pm at Harbourfront Centre 235 Queens Quay West, Ann Tindal Park (in front of Toronto Star Stage) for Luminat'Eau Festival presented by Harbourfront Centre.

June 21st, Saturday, 9:30 pm, Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre Fundraiser. Event tickets, location & details available through: theccac@yahoo.com, 416.925.7222.

IMPACT - Indian Martial & Performance Arts Collective of Toronto continues to bring two unusual and exciting martial art forms to your neighbourhood. Kalari payat, from Kerala, involves kicks, jumps and animal postures, while Banethi, which was once used as a sword training technique, makes use of whirling sticks. Both forms
are meant to engage youth in the community in an activity that is fun and yet has more serious benefits: they promote flexibility, strength and mental focus.

The mandate of IMPACT is to empower youth and awaken their creativity through these martial art forms from South Asia. The program, which
promotes physical and mental health, diffuses aggression and demystifies physical conflict, is aimed at youth, but is open to people
of all ages and abilities.

Even in India, these martial & performance art forms are difficult to access: Kalari payat is widely known only in Kerala, though it is recognized as one of
the oldest martial art forms in the world. Banethi is practised in Uttar Pradesh, but even there it is not easy to find a teacher. So it
is a unique opportunity to learn these art forms together. Gitanjali Kolanad, who teaches Kalari, and Andrew Suri, who teaches Banethi,
hope that students will learn these forms as aspects of a rich South Asian arts tradition and contemporary cultural practice that they
themselves can shape and make their own.

Workshops are ongoing at the following locations:
1) Thursdays 6-8pm at Malvern CRC, 30 Sewells Rd., Scarborough.
2) Saturdays 10am-12noon at North Kipling CC, 2 Rowntree Rd. North Etobicoke,
3) Mondays 4-5:30 pm at John Innes CRC, 150 Sherbourne Street., Toronto,
4) Tuesdays 4-5:30 pm at SKETCH - Working Arts for Street Involved & Homeless Youth, 580 King St. West.

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New Tipper album (( Wobble Factor )) - Now Available!

Hypnotech — Mon, 26 May 2008 23:50:07 GMT

New Tipper album (( Wobble Factor )) - Now Available!

http://www.addictech.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=12499

With the Wobble Factor release Tipper is rocking at the midtempo/tip hop tempos, forging and evolving the "Tip Hop" sound even further than the initial release...

Its got all of the heavy beats, big time swing, and alien frog fart noises that squidge out of the Tippermusic studio! :)

Get your Wobble on now!

http://tippermusic.addictech.com/

http://www.addictech.com/

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What's Happening in Toronto Between May 5th to May 9th?

noahwallach — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:02:27 GMT

Hi there,

I am visting Toronto on business and only here from May 5th to May 9th. I am having an absolute blast here and heading out to find an amazing sushi joint. Please send your recommendations if you have any? Are there any nice dancing and/or social weeklies in the Toronto area? Perhaps that feature psytrance or psyambient styled music? I'd be interested in reading about them if any of ya'll tribe members know of any.

Cheers,

Noah

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New session of Hoop classes in Toronto

DTribalFusionBellydance — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:56:33 GMT

Hoop Nouveau
Post-post-pre-neo-post-modern hoola hooping (for grown-ups!)
Taught by Sadie Yancey, Licensed HoopGirl(TM) Instructor
HoopGirl : Get Fit, Feel Sexy, Have Fun

- New location and regular drop-in classes starting April 7
- Six-week session is starting March 17!

Learn more: http://hooptoronto.com/

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Jikkenteki - Flights Of Infinity; full-length psytrance album free to download in MP3/WAV

ektoplazm — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:44:38 GMT

01 :: Symplicity (31:04)
02 :: A Bowl Gruel World (11:24)
03 :: The End Of The End (9:21)
04 :: Another Kick In The Head (9:41)
05 :: Running Start (11:02)

Flights Of Infinity is the second album from Jikkenteki (Rennis Buchner), the driving force behind PAR-2 Productions. Following up on the surprise success of Jikkenteki’s ambitious debut The Long Walk Home (2005), Flights Of Infinity invites the listener to embark on an epic journey deep into the heart of psychedelic trance. The sound is unique, fusing old school influences with futuristic experimentation. Through the use of unusually long track lengths and alternative time signatures, Jikkenteki bends the rules, overturns convention, and pushes the envelope. Far from being gimmicky, this album exhibits a back-to-basics mentality that balances style with genuine substance. As such, Flights Of Infinity succeeds in providing an original musical experience that is “far beyond the norm.”

Download it for free or purchase it on CD:
http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/jikkenteki-flights-of-infinity/

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Eclipse Festival 2008

Cafrine — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:42:59 GMT

Hello everybody,

Just wanted to share this year's international line-up:

:::::::ECLIPSE FESTIVAL 2008:::::::
ELECTRONIC MUSIC FESTIVAL: SOLAR EDITION
FESTIVAL DE MUSIQUE ÉLECTRONIQUE: ÉDITION SOLAIRE
August 1-4 2008
Quebec, Canada
WWW.ECLIPSEFESTIVAL.COM

INTERNATIONAL LINE-UP

GMS LIVE!
Spun Records/ Coast II Coast Entertainment
Ibiza, Spain/ Espagne
www.gms-music.com

HALLUCINOGEN LIVE!
Twisted Records/ Coast II Coast Entertainment
UK/ Grande-Bretagne
www.twisted.co.uk

SHPONGLE DJ SET
Twisted Records/ Coast II Coast Entertainment
UK/ Grande-Bretagne
www.twisted.co.uk

VIBRASPHERE LIVE!
(2 live PAs: Progressive + ambient)
Tribal Vision Records/ Digital Structures
Sweden/ Suède
1st appearance in Quebec! 1ère performance au Québec!
www.vibrasphere.com

THE DREAMTREE PROJECT LIVE!
Sonic Turtle
British Columbia/ Colombie-Britannique
1st appearance in Quebec! 1ère performance au Québec!
www.sonicturtle.com/
«…A magic carpet ride of Classical Indian raga afloat a dub cloud of swirling tabla, mystical flutes, spacey beats and booming basslines. Beyond notions of East meets West, Dreamtree conjures a fertile space for all who long to be seduced by the ritual power of music».

DJ D-NOX
Plastik Park
Germany/ Allemagne
www.dnox.com

DJ ADHAM SHAIKH
Interchill Records/ Sonic Turtle
British Columbia/ Colombie-Britannique

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SUB TERRAIN / April 5th / FRANKIE GUNNS, JONAH K, ZUMBA, SLEUTH

megarectangle — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:35:03 GMT

SUB TERRAIN

[expedition 001]

On April 5th, 2008, begins a new expedition into uncharted territory.

Join us for the kick-off of a re-occuring event, uncovering the best in underground Neurofunk, Techstep, Jungle, Breakcore, Dub and any other Experimental Nonsense that we may fancy.
Lots of rotating local DJs, live performances, and unexpected guests.

The first installment will feature the infamous

FRANKIE GUNNS

alongside

JONAH K
SLEUTH
ZUMBA [live]

visuals by Plastikwrap and Siren

Cheap drinks before 11!

THE WHITE ORCHID
812 Dundas W.
10pm
5$

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Ekoplex - Enter The Dragon EP; free release from Ektoplazm!

ektoplazm — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:02:44 GMT

01 :: Premonition (7:27)
02 :: Astronomical Unit (7:07)
03 :: Julia (7:47)

We are proud to present the very first netlabel release from Ektoplazm: Ekoplex’s Enter The Dragon EP. Ekoplex is Ray Vincent, a multifaceted psytrance producer currently based in Toronto, Canada, already known across the country for his engaging live shows. The Enter The Dragon EP showcases three different sides to Ekoplex’s production capabilities: Premonition pulsates with full-on energy and a dirty techtrance drive, Astronomical Unit exudes dark and whimsical qualities, and Julia delves into bright and melodic vibes for the morning hours. This release has been professionally mastered at Timecode Studios, South Africa.

The Enter The Dragon EP is licensed under the Creative Commons; you are encouraged to share, copy, broadcast, and perform this recorded work as long as it isn’t for commercial gain. In addition to the free MP3 and WAV packages, this release is available for purchase on CD as part of Ektoplazm’s groundbreaking hybrid distribution model. We welcome your support!

http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/ekoplex-enter-the-dragon-ep/

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Fraud Alert regarding North Coast Earth First! Aka NCEF! Media. Completely independent from any activist group!

White Rabbit — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:47:26 GMT

20 views since posting on Sunday, December 2, 2007
Location California

enlarge photo
NCEF! Media in Humboldt County Ca.(AKA NORTH COAST EARTH FIRST!), is accused of fraud and donation embezzlement. Caution! Do not support this lone wingnut's scam! Active and legitamate groups exist in the area. Caution! Do not be fooled by NCEF! Media and his fraudulent outreach. Shunka Wakan exists completely seperate from any active affinity group.

Read about how he perpetuated a lawsuit under the guise of EF! against a legitimate environmental nonprofit:

From: northcoastjournal.com/100407/...004.html

October 4, 2007

"Money On Trees"

Big cash nearly fell into Shunka Wakan's lap. Other Earth First!ers are kinda happy it didn't.

by Heidi Walters

As the jury trial for the civil suit Kathryn Miller v. the Trees Foundation puttered to a start last week inside Courtroom 3 at the Humboldt County Courthouse, Shunka Wakan — a key witness for the plaintiff — spent mornings sitting on the hard wooden benches in the long hallway outside the courtroom. During breaks, Miller's attorney Linda Mitlyng, would come out of the courtroom to join him. But otherwise, as other people and their legal affairs swirled around him in a warm, odiferous bath of humanity, Shunka sat alone. Or, sometimes, he stood alone, straight-spined, his small, stocky body swallowed by the huge, stiff blue suit out of which his newly shorn, razor-scraped bald head poked vulnerably — as if, at any moment, the suit could gulp once more and he'd disappear completely. Always, he clutched a paper folder with a wolf's face on its cover.

The North Coast Earth First! Media guru had shaved off his woolly rust-tinged brown hair and beard the night before jury selection started, after discussing it with attorney Mitlyng. Now, it took an uncertain moment to recognize him. Then, of course: Shunka's light blue eyes in the pink-pale face, Shunka's closed-lip smile, Shunka's trademark husky murmur, "Mm-hmm, for sure," in response to a comment.

In Courtroom 3, the amiable but no-nonsense Judge Christopher Wilson's domain, the fate of a $185,000 donation dangled. Would the plaintiff, donor Kathryn Miller, prevail in her claim that the defendant, the Trees Foundation, was not in fact the intended recipient of her generous gift? That Shunka Wakan's NCEF! Media Center and the treesitters were? Or would the Trees Foundation convince the jury that, in fact, the money was intended all along for Trees, with no instructions attached for funneling it elsewhere?

Richard Idell, left, who is defending the Trees Foundation against a lawsuit filed by Kathryn Miller, confers with Doug Wallace, community support coordinator for Trees. Photo by David Lawlor.

In her opening arguments, Miller's attorney, Mitlyng, said the case came down to "fraud and broken promises." "She believed [Trees] would hold [the money] in trust, for the benefit of North Coast Earth First!" said Mitlyng. The defense's attorney, Richard Idell, countered in his opening argument that the donation was an unconditional gift and Miller never wrote letters of instruction — as Miller claims she did. "Ms. Miller ... didn't do anything. She took the check [from her mother's estate] and flipped it over and wrote on the back, 'Payable to the Trees Foundation,'" said Idell.

Miller's claim sought the return of her $185,000, plus interest.

Out in the hallway, Shunka waited to tell his side of the story. Maybe he thought about the magical donation that never materialized, and now probably never would. Maybe he thought about the other times he'd been in this courthouse — dozens of times, along with other activists, often before Judge Wilson, answering to charges of trespassing and other forms of civil disobedience in the woods. Likely, he wondered when they were finally going to call him in to testify — it was taking forever in there. He'd even sent out an e-mail prematurely to the several hundred subscribers to his NCEF! online group erroneously announcing he would be first up to testify.

By the end of Friday's court session, Miller was still on the stand. Perhaps Monday it would be Shunka's turn. Whenever it was, he would be testifying on Miller's behalf; but he wasn't a party to the lawsuit. And in the end, after hearing all of the evidence, the jury would be determining who was telling the truth about intentions and letters of instructions. Shunka was just there to provide context and evidence in a contract dispute.

But to a number of forest activists, including a half dozen or so who appeared in the audience last Friday to watch the trial unfold, that context matters more to them than the legal questions. They say this lawsuit has placed a strain on the environmental community that could do as much damage as an ill-felled redwood that takes down other giants in its descent. They disapprove of the lawsuit, and they blame Shunka for it. And, they say, it's just another example of how Shunka has commandeered the North Coast Earth First! identity and used it for purposes that nobody else in the amorphous but consensus-driven local Earth First! movement has agreed to.

"For a lot of us, when we read about the lawsuit, this is kind of like Shunka on trial," said long-time forest activist Deane Rimerman last Friday, calling from Olympia, Wash. "And, to what extent is he worthy of that money?"

Kathryn Miller wanted her money to go toward saving trees, she said on the witness stand last Thursday. The slender 59-year-old was dressed in a pink print skirt and white sweater, with her gray-streaked dark hair pulled back into a neat, thin braid tinted slightly green. (Little did the jury know that Miller had spent the night in jail, in blue jail duds, and then had been "dressed out," in court lingo, in her street clothes before being escorted into the court by the bailiff. Miller had been arrested the week before, on Sept. 17, when she arrived in civil court for the pre-trial readiness hearing; according to the misdemeanor criminal charges filed against her, Miller allegedly had made annoying phonecalls to Barbara Ristow of the Trees Foundation all hours of the day and night.)

On the stand, Miller described how she became an activist. She remembered how, when she was a child in Orinda, her mother decided to stop spraying the beautiful oak trees on their property after reading Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. "And then, when my son was 9, we were watching the news on TV about the Chernobyl nuclear power plant meltdown. And my son said to me, 'I wish I'd never been born. I don't think I'll get to live a full life.'"

She protested the building of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. She started a peace action group in the late 1980s in San Jose. She did nonviolent protests at the Nevada Test Site. And in 1990, she came up with some of her fellow protestors to help set up the camp for Redwood Summer, and to take part in demonstrations. She's been on and off involved in Earth First! actions in Humboldt ever since, she said, including huffing in supplies for treesitters and huffing out their garbage. She'd also, at one point, bought a condo in Arcata.

In 2004, Miller sold her condo and bought an acre of farmland, already planted with coffee, in Guatemala. She put in fruit trees to shade the coffee. That same year, her mother, who lived in Sonoma, died. "The last time I saw her was in 2003," said Miller. "She told me when she died, she was going to leave me some money. I told her I'd use it to further my work for the forest. And she was pleased, because she loved the treesitters and the forest."

Shortly after learning of her mother's death, Kathryn Miller sought out Shunka Wakan in front of the food co-op in Arcata, where he "tabled" to raise funds for the North Coast Earth First! Media office — selling T-shirts, and stickers, offering pamphlets, accepting donations. She'd known Shunka for about five years, she said.

"I said to him, I was going to inherit some money: What was the best way to get that to the North Coast Earth First!?"

In the spring of 2005, Shunka Wakan was floating above the treetops. "I was so excited," the 32-year-old said in an interview a few weeks ago, sitting inside his tiny but colorful North Coast Earth First! Media office in Arcata, walls covered in art and topo maps — including one of Buckeye Mountain, where in 2000-2001, during the "Mattole Free State" action, Shunka and others hiked 14 miles through waist-high snowdrifts to save trees.

Kathryn Miller, he recalled, had come up to him excitedly as he walked along the sidewalk outside the Arcata Co-op and said, "I just donated $185,000 to North Coast Earth First!'"

She'd talked to him the year before about making the donation — she'd said she was anticipating an inheritance from her mother's estate, and she wanted to make a big donation to his group. He'd told her to make it through the Trees Foundation, which handled the NCEF! Media office's finances through an arrangement that had been established years ago. (The Trees Foundation is an umbrella organization formed in 1991 to assist smaller environmental groups. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, it can accept large, tax-deductible donations on behalf of affiliates, and provide professional resources. And it can lead large campaigns, like the one to save the Headwaters Forest back in the '90s.)

Well, now she'd finally done it.

Miller and Shunka agreed to meet at Fiesta Café in Sunny Brae, so she could tell him how she wanted the money spent: She wanted, straight away, for someone to organize a mediated workshop for the local Earth First! activists on ageism and sexism, issues she thought were fracturing the movement. And, she wanted the bulk of the donation to help support the forest activists who blockade logging roads and hunker up in ancient redwoods to fend off loggers' saws.

Not long after, Shunka was on his way to have lunch with some folks from the Trees Foundation, where they'd talk about Miller's wishes.

"Our media outreach was going to get a big boost," Shunka said. "The donation would keep the EF! office going for many years. So I walked into the Wildflower Café feeling elated, thinking we got all this money."

Barbara Ristow and Doug Wallace of the Trees Foundation were there. "I was super excited," Shunka said, "and I said, 'This is great, this big donation. Isn't it wonderful?' We ordered food, and still I'm all excited, talking about the money, but I notice they're looking nervously at each other. [Finally], they said, 'Well, we're just shocked that you think this money was for you.' And I was like, 'I just met with the donor, and that's what she said.' And they're like, 'Well, let's go ahead and plan the workshop and deal with that later.' I remember that, because it put me at ease."

After that, Shunka said he gave Trees a list of people he thought might benefit from the mediator-run workshop. "Some were people I knew had beefs with me, but I was willing to bring 'em into the circle and talk about it."

According to some vague accounts, the workshop was a disaster. One person who was there claims that Shunka, at one point, pounded his fists on the floor, blustered, then got up and stormed out, yelling as he walked away. Shunka says that's overblown.

"The letter from Kathryn Miller to Barbara Bristow said she wanted the mediation to be a safe place, safe to be emotional," he said. "And I think people are saying 'I freaked out.' The freak-out reports are exaggerated. It's just part of this ongoing character assassination. People say I was 'red-faced.' But my face is naturally red."

In late 2005, while Shunka was in Seattle, a friend called him from Arcata to say a woman had come by asking for the office key. She had a list of equipment she wanted to take away. The friend didn't give her the key.

When Shunka got back from Seattle, he discovered his reimbursement funds from Trees had been "frozen." He also learned about a letter someone in the NCEF! movement had circulated for signatures and then sent to Mark Knipper, who handled the Trees Foundation transactions for the NCEF! Media office. It said, in essence, "We don't want Shunka running EF!"

"I called the Trees Foundation," Shunka recalled. "I was sick, it was the middle of the winter, I'm trying to table, it's raining, it's cold. And Barbara Ristow told me, 'You just need to have a meeting [with the other Earth First!ers] and come to a group consensus on what the Trees Foundation funding should be used for."

The meeting never happened — nobody could agree to meet, said Mark Knipper, also in an interview last week. Knipper is a social worker and a long-time activist who had been the contact person between Trees and NCEF! Media. "So it ate itself," Knipper said. "And although I'm former Navy, a mariner, I said I'm not going down with this ship. So I divorced myself from it ... and signed it all back to Trees."

The NCEF! Media office was dropped from the Trees Foundation altogether.

Shunka and the NCEF! Media office never did see any of the big donation. Miller didn't even know that, he said, until she phoned him up in the summer of 2006, more than a year after she made the donation, to ask about a guy named "Jungle," who had been reported as missing on the NCEF! hotline. Miller was spending much of her time in Guatemala now, where she was raising fruit trees; after she'd made her big donation, Hurricane Stan had struck — she spent the ensuing year mopping up the mess.

First, Shunka told her Jungle was still missing. Then he told her about the money.

"I said, 'Yeah, they told me it wasn't for us,'" said Shunka. "And she said, 'I meant for all of it to go to you guys.' She sounded real upset. And I was like, 'I knew it! I knew it!'"

Shunka tried to sue Trees in small claims court, but it went nowhere.

Miller filed a claim against the Trees Foundation on Oct. 5, 2006, in Humboldt County Superior Court, seeking the return of the $185,000 plus interest so she could distribute the money herself.

And if she wins? "She may just spread it out more," said Shunka. "She's got tree planting ideas. Maybe she could buy a grove. She'd maybe not give it all to Earth First! this time. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Trees blew for us."

On an uncomfortably hot afternoon last week, four forest activists who'd agreed to an interview for this story — Jeff, Shaggy, Sparrow and Farmer — sat on the ground at the Arcata Marsh next to a log bench on which a teeming crew of red ants worked a splintered notch. Someone had come along here in 1999 and carved a grouping of faces — bearded, grimacing, possibly mourning faces — onto the log and signed it Daniel. The carving had been drenched in red paint, and burnished by years of sitters.

"It kind of reminds me of the memorial for Gypsy," said one of them. "With the red paint."

Gypsy was the forest name of David Nathan Chain, who in September 1998, during an Earth First! action at Grizzly Creek, was crushed to death by a tree felled by an enraged logger. Farmer, actually, was there — he was just 16, but had a year of activism already under his belt. And Shunka was there — it was Shunka's first forest action.

Farmer, Shag, Sparrow and Jeff first made it clear that they spoke for themselves alone, although they participate in various forest defense affinity groups: Farmer works for the Mattole Wildlands Defense Group now, watchdogging the California Department of Forestry for new timber harvest plans, and keeping an eye on a Pacific Lumber Co. watershed analysis. Shag, who saw his first redwood about five years ago, helps keep the Fern Gully treesit village in Freshwater functioning. Jeff, who grew up in the high desert, and fell in love with the woods, works with the Nanning Creek treesit just outside of Scotia, as well as other groups. Sparrow, who was drawn to forest action because the cultural landscape was "like a folktale" he couldn't resist, is with the Fern Gully affinity group. These groups are all part of the Humboldt Forest Defense Association, a collective with a website but no formal structure.

The HFDA sprang into being six years ago — about the time the entity called North Coast Earth First! had essentially dissolved. It would take a book to describe that drawn-out dissolution — a book of lost causes, won causes, waning media interest, Judi Bari's death, Gypsy's death, ego-spurred squabbles, interpersonal catastrophes, a war overseas, hurricanes. And while the HFDA activists might still cherish the Earth First! name — the movement — in their hearts, it's now been further complicated by what you might call the Shunka effect.

"I still feel in many ways solidarity with the greater Earth First! movement abroad," said Farmer. "But in this county, in this climate, if you say you're with the North Coast Earth First!, many people associate you with North Coast Earth First! Media."

Shunka revived the North Coast Earth First! office around 2002. And he did what previous office managers had done — tabled, put out news releases, wrote articles for other publications. But it wasn't like the old days, in the '90s, when hundreds of people were getting arrested in forest actions and the jail support phone and legal resources were in constant use.

Shunka first worked in an office in Eureka, then later moved to Arcata. He called his outfit the NCEF! Media Center. For a time, he and other "affinity groups" tried to work together. But he alienated some people. He took over the North Coast Earth First! website. He controlled the North Coast Earth First! email list of 300 or more subscribers to the news alerts. He sent out press releases on his own.

"I felt the North Coast Earth First! Media Center was a unilateral effort on Shunka's part," said Farmer. Whereas, in the old days, "spokespeople were decided on by the group. And if you wrote an article it was passed by everyone. I feel Shunka appointed himself spokesperson at some point."

Many also claim they've been subject to a lashing anger from Shunka.

"I won't work with him because I pledge nonviolence in my actions," said Shag. "I don't believe he pledges the same thing. He has exhibited violent behavior towards me and towards other activists in my presence."

"He's a bear," said Jeff, making claw-fists with his hands.

But the sad thing is, all of this infighting probably has done nothing to help the actual trees. And the mediation workshop Kathryn Miller wanted didn't fix matters. Now, there was her lawsuit.

"When I heard about this lawsuit, I thought, the Trees Foundation does not deserve to be attacked in that way," said Farmer. "There's much bigger issues that need to be dealt with — with Maxxam and old-growth logging. ...If you look at Fern Gully and Nanning Creek (the Bonanza timber harvest plan), there's hundreds of old growth acres still standing whose fate is unclear."

Shag put it more bluntly: "If [Miller] knew Shunka and wanted to get the money to North Coast Earth First! Media, she should've given it to Shunka. But if she was trying to get it to treesits and forest defense, then the money went to the right place.

"My problem is this whole representation thing. There's people in the trees — how do you know who to get the money to, to help them?"

Shunka knows that a lot of fellow activists aren't happy with his role in the donation dispute. He also knows how some people talk about him and say he's hard to get along with. "I'm just standing up for the truth," he said. "And people don't like it. To me, it feels like a small clique of people who don't like me. I feel a lot of love and support in this community."

He certainly doesn't come off right away as someone who's angry, or who lashes out, or who locks the office and doesn't let people in. Why, recently, he helped a young woman hook up with the treesitters so she could learn the ropes. (Shaggy said that's proof Shunka doesn't have direct connections with the people doing direct action; but you can't deny it's a connection.)

It's probably a bad idea to ask Darryl Cherney, one of the founders of the local Earth First! movement, what he thinks of Shunka Wakan, whose real name is Jason Wilson. (Shunka tells a story of how he was named by a Lakota medicine man on the banks of the Cheyenne River in South Dakota in 1995. "Shunka Wakan," meaning "great dog," is only part of it. There's a secret part after that — altogether, his name means "the humble man called horse.")

"Shunka's a wingnut," Cherney said over the phone last Friday, sounding cheerfully vitriolic. "I have a 10-verse song about Shunka."

Here are the last few verses:

Who's at the co-op spanging a donation
Shunka, Shunka
Who's got a lawsuit 'gainst the Trees Foundation
Shunka, Shunka
Shunka, Shunka
Who's gonna keep on fighting the fight
Shunka, Shunka
With four of his friends at swimmers delight
Shunka, Shunka
Shunka, Shunka (Shunka voice: It's the last of the revolution)

There's no other word for it but "mean." But Cherney and Shunka have history — not all of it sour. Cherney said Shunka laughed when he heard the song, at least the first time.

"I met Shunka in 1998," Cherney said. "And I know he knew Julia ["Butterfly" Hill, whom Shunka had come west to find]. That was a good thing, helping Julia. That was good Shunka."

Cherney had even pushed for Shunka to go to Houston to talk with Charles Hurwitz, whose Maxxam Corp. bought out the old Pacific Lumber company back in 1985 and quickly became the forest activists' number one villain. Shunka went.

But now? "The current status of Shunka and me," Cherney said, "is that Shunka has sent me five or eight or nine e-mails threatening to sue me. Shunka is a joke."

Cherney can talk for hours about the problems he's had with Shunka over the years. His main point, though, is what has Shunka done for the trees lately?

"My question is, where's your topo maps?" he asked. "Where's your wilderness preservation proposal? Where's your lobbyist team in Sacramento?"

It has to be that, on some level, even the people in the movement who don't like Shunka understand somewhat where he's coming from. So he's emotional. Passionate. Perhaps he's caught up so completely in the cause he can't let go. Or, who knows — maybe he's a phony, like he accused Knipper of being back in 2005.

But being a forest activist comes with perils beyond the obvious physical ones.

"I'm really trying to have compassion for Shunka, even though he's kind of attacked us," said Susy Barsotti by phone from Laytonville a couple of weeks ago. Barsotti is president of the Trees Foundation board, and she says the lawsuit has held Trees hostage, unable to function fully. "I've been mystified and dismayed that he's participated like this in the suit. But Shunka witnessed Gypsy's death. And I think he may have post-traumatic stress syndrome. I don't think he's recovered from it. And that can affect your behavior."

A number of people mentioned this, actually, about Shunka. And he often refers to Gypsy's death himself. In an article titled "What Luna has taught me," posted on the website of Julia "Butterfly" Hill's organization, Circle of Life, Shunka writes: "I decided to commit to doing ground support after witnessing the death of David Nathan "Gypsy" Chain on September 17, 1998 ... I remember looking across the valley as we hiked up that day, seeing the rolling hills of forests and clear-cuts, and thinking out loud, "That's why we're here!" Seeing Gypsy's life taken from him, and then seeing the corruption and lies of the Humboldt County Sheriffs ... really opened my eyes to the situation our old-growth forests face."

Later, he did ground support for Hill in her second year in Luna. And in the same article on her website, something else Shunka writes indicates how ready he was to devote himself to a cause: "Being on the support team was the top priority in my life, and I was happy knowing that everything else revolved around when I'd be needed for the next supply run. I never felt lost because I knew what I was doing. That was a feeling I had not felt in years, between feeling dissatisfaction with life in college, and then more dissatisfaction with life as a minimum-wage worker after college. Before joining Julia's ground support team I was unhappy, even to the point of tears, wondering if my entire life was going to be a minimum-wage nightmare ...."

Pure devotion, without benefit of a little hypocrisy, could drive anyone batty. Deane Rimerman, the activist from Olympia who said it is Shunka who is on trial, said it's not uncommon for intense, stressful movements like Earth First! to produce an army of walking wounded. And he's been around, in forest actions up and down the coast, for long enough to know; he was the one, in fact, who "got the maps and led the first hikers up to the hill" to the Gypsy Mountain campaign and Luna treesit.

"In the forest activist movement, there's very little that's rewarding," Rimerman said. "There's a lot of post traumatic stress syndrome. All of us get it. Once you've been through the court process, and the jail process, and seen 1,000-year-old trees get cut down that you really cared about and thought you could save — it's devastating."

That alone, setting aside the troubles with Shunka, could explain the many rifts that have occurred within the local EF! ranks over the years. Josh Brown, who moved to Humboldt in 1995 right before the peak of the Headwaters campaign, said one of the unique qualities of Earth First! is that it "is primarily a youth movement."

"A lot of people that come through are young, are passionate — and it's a wonderful thing," he said. They get thrown into leadership positions quickly — and then they get burned out. Many move quickly on to other things. Brown stayed in longer than most. "When I left [in 2001], I was 30 years old. And I'd been a full-time activist since I was 18."

Paradoxically, said Brown, the youthful draw and the departure of seasoned activists leaves the movement with "no elders to kind of sit around and coach the [new kids]."

The movement also draws strong personalities, he said. Tenacious ones, too, like Shunka's.

"Shunka, I think he really does have a big heart," said Brown. "And I think he does care for the forest."

Last Friday, following the morning session of Miller v. Trees, a group of the Humboldt Forest Defense Association activists stood on the courthouse steps talking. The door opened, and Shunka walked out and down the steps toward the group. They didn't greet him. After a time, he tried to talk to one of them, Jeff. Jeff walked away. Shunka followed him, then stopped and talked to another guy. Then he stood alone again.

From: northcoastjournal.com/101107/...011.html

"Trees Foundation Wins"

October 11th, 2007

The jury in the civil case Kathryn Miller v. the Trees Foundation decided in favor of Trees, after deliberating all day Tuesday. (See "Money on Trees," Oct. 4).

Miller is the long-time forest activist who inherited a bundle from her mother and then signed $185,000 over to the Trees Foundation. In her lawsuit, she claimed she had intended the money to be passed through Trees to one of its affiliates, North Coast Earth First! Media, run by Shunka Wakan. She claimed she had made her intentions clear, verbally and in writing, and that Trees had agreed to the conditions, then broken its promise and kept the money. Trees denied making such promises, and said it had never seen any letters or heard of instructions to give the money to NCEF! Media. (Also, somewhat relatedly, in criminal court on Tuesday Miller pleaded no contest to charges that she had made annoying phonecalls to Barbara Ristow of the Trees Foundation.)

So, that's that. Now, there are only the pieces to pick up.

For Shunka Wakan — featured in last week's Journal as a central figure in a messy nest of infighting that has fractured the current ranks of local Earth First!ians — it could be a long, lonely patching together of lost friends and broken alliances. Not only did he and Miller lose their attempt to retrieve her donation, but now he's been banned from the North Coast Co-op.

Yes, that happened last week. It was Thursday, around 4:15 in the evening, and two activists with the Humboldt Forest Defense Association were tabling — hawking brochures and such — outside the Co-op. It's an activity Shunka himself has spent many a day doing in that very same spot, raising cash to pay for his NCEF!Media outreach work and other causes. And, well, these two fellows, Jeff and Farmer, were on Shunka's shit list, now. They'd spoken gently, but unfavorably, about Shunka's doings in the North Coast Earth First! arena — said he lashed out at people, said he commandeered NCEF! resources, and so forth. Here's a snippet of Jeff's account of what happened, which he sent to the NCJ in an e-mail on Friday:

"Shunka was removed from the Arcata Co-op yesterday after a scuffle with myself and another activist around 5 p.m. Well, he wasn't exactly removed, but APD was called. He was asked to leave after threatening to flip over the HFD donation table while stating he was 'like Jesus in the marketplace ...'"

Sue Coulter, manager of the Arcata Co-op, recounted on Friday how an employee walking by heard the argument and went inside to get her. "So I went out to talk to [Shunka], because it's not the first time we've had problems," she said. "Most of the time, he's fine. Most of the time, I stick up for him." One time, she said, she even called the police to protect Shunka after someone had threatened him. "But he gets into arguments. I tried to talk to him. I told him to leave. ... He was causing a scene, right by the door, and I can't have it. He refused to leave. ... I said, fine. I went into the store. He followed me into the store, and he was still yelling at me, 'Oh, now you're going to call the police on me.'" Coulter called the police, but Shunka left before they arrived.

Shunka, waiting in the courthouse for the jury verdict Tuesday, said Coulter did indeed ask him to leave and he did, indeed, refuse to. As for the HFD tablers, he said he merely asked them why they had Trees Foundation literature on their table. "I said, 'Why do you want to represent these people?'" And then, he said, "Jeff accused me of embezzling — he said this in public. He said, 'You've embezzled thousands of dollars from the Earth First! movement through the years.' And I complained to one of the employees who was walking by. Because that's serious, accusing someone of embezzling."

But Shunka said the whole thing's yet another attack on him. "I don't consider I was yelling. We were talking. I'm an emotional person, I concede to that. I speak from my heart. I don't scream at people. I would love to — but I don't."

In his email, Jeff with HFD predicted Shunka would leave town within weeks, if not sooner. But at the courthouse, even before the verdict, Shunka said he wasn't going anywhere.

"I'm just going to continue to run the Earth First! office and continue to call Humboldt County home," he said. He's also going to write a letter to the Co-op, complaining about how he gets scapegoated and booted out of there even when other people, he says, are the culprits. And, as for the Miller v. Trees case, he said, he and Miller may now take their complaint to another venue.

-- Heidi Walters

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posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

I'm visiting! Toronto best alternative places, burners, etc.?

deadmousegirl — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:22:03 GMT

I'm planning to visit Toronto from Feb. 23-25, and would love to know a few things, if you don't mind helping me out.

We are all the burners? I visited burnon.ca, but there don't seem to be a lot of regular events. Maybe I'm missing something?

What is driving in Toronto like at this time of year? We're driving up from the U.S., and I'm worried about all the snow! Does it get really icy? Do you need tire chains or anything?

What is the best place to find second-hand clothing stores, funky shops, and events? I'm all for indie stores and markets, organic food, anything permaculture, and "underground" music/performance events of any kind. (Pub crawls are out, since I don't drink.)

Anybody know anything about the Canadiana and Global Village Hostels? I don't want bed bugs!

Thanks for your help - I appreciate it!

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

IBCC Sale- Only three days left!

Princess — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:25:20 GMT

Reminder: the Early Bird deadline for the IBCC 2008 is January 31!!

IBCC 2008 Featured Instructors:
Tito- Egypt
Aida Nour- Egypt
Amy Sigil of Unmata- California
Bozenka- Florida
Aisha Ali- California
Mayyadah & Amir- Germany
Lesya Starr- Spain
Nath Keo- British Columbia
Yasmina Ramzy-Ontario
Ferda Bayazit- Turkey/British Columbia

IBCC 2008, April 23-27, 2007
4 days of Dance Workshops, Performances, Lectures, Films, Panel Discussions, Music Classes and Parties!!

Register Now for $599 until Jan. 31/08!
* All IBCC 2007 registrants receive $100 off!
Call: 416-920-5593 to register

Our Sponsors:
Arabesque, Bhuz.com,
Gilded Serpent, Mid-Bits!, MEDA
Toronto Arts Council ,
Turquoise International

www.bellydanceconference.com
Toronto

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

where are all the good raves

FirePhoenix — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 03:05:19 GMT

and where are all the fire performers....hook a brotha up with info

posted in Toronto Underground - 3 replies

new member to this tribe... need advice on apartment hunting

Craftleen — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:35:35 GMT

hey everyone. i'm moving to toronto from peterborough in jan or feb and am wondering...
what resources do you suggest for apartment hunting? i am either looking to rent a room in a female, eco conscious house or am looking for my own 2 bedroom with a friend, close to downtown. i've been looking at craigslist and now magazine. does anyone have any other ideas or tips for apartment hunting?
thanks!

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

Orit Maftsir in Toronto March 7-9/08!!

Princess — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:52:22 GMT

Orit Workshop, Master Classes, Film Presentation and Gala Performance!

Arabesque in collaboration with Voices Forward is proud to sponsor the ORIT MAFTSIR workshop, screening of Israeli / Palestine Film "Rakasa" & Gala Performance with live musicians in celebration of International Women's Day.

Proceeds of this event will benefit a Middle Eastern women's rights organization.

Workshop Saturday, Mar 8/08, 11 am - 4 pm (Lunch Included),

Location: Downtown Toronto

Personal style, combinations and a short choreography to a popular song

Master Classes (limit of 15 students per class) Location: Arabesque
Drum Solo, March 7, Friday 7 pm - 9 pm
Modern Egyptian style, Mar 9, Sunday 2:30 - 4:30 pm
Folklore, March 9, Sunday 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Super special price ends this Thursday Dec 20th at 9 pm!!
Saturday workshop $95... special $60
Master Class (each) $75...special $50

Package (Saturday and all 3 Master Classes): $285....special $ 185
(gala and film not included)

Check out Orit's website www.bellydancer.co.il

To register please call: 416-920-5593

See clips of Orit on YouTube!

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

Mass Pan-Handle Tomorrow Morning

Robert — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:04:11 GMT

This is where I'll be tomorrow moring at 11:00am

The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) is preparing to mobilize homeless people and their supporters to come down into the showpiece underground PATH system for a mass panhandle. We want to make clear why we are carrying out this action and what users of the PATH can expect from us.

Huge cuts to social programs and a desperate lack of affordable housing have fueled a crisis of homelessness in Toronto. Instead of meeting the needs of the homeless, those in power are looking to drive them out. Hostels have been closed and people forced onto the streets to beg. Then, police are used to harass and criminalize people trying to survive.

It is the developers, the major merchants and suchlike who press for a policy of sweeping homeless people under the rug. They don't want their money making to be interrupted by destitute people seeking the basic necessities of life. OCAP is organizing to stand up to this process of harassment. We are bringing homeless people and those who support them to panhandle in the very heart of the commercial showpiece they seek to drive people from.

No doubt, attempts will be made to portray our mass panhandle as something people should feel threatened by. We want to make clear that our anger at the injustices homeless people face is not directed against ordinary people eating or shopping in the Path. We will ask you for some change if you wish to give it and we will ask for your support and understanding of the situation facing the homeless.

Our mass panhandle is about people under attack demanding their rights. We hope you will agree with the stand we are taking and that we will have your support and solidarity when we visit the PATH.

Wednesday December 12 2007
11:00am
Meet in the Park just west of the King and Bay intersection
Breakfast will be served

** If you or your group want to participate in this action please contact OCAP at 416 925 6939

Full Info Here

http://ocap.ca/demonstrations/thepath

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

Caminos Flamencos: Celebrating 25 Years. Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company

Valizan — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 04:27:48 GMT

Esmeralda Enrique leads her company in a show celebrating 25 years of flamenco dance in Canada, November 29th to December 7th.

Guests include José Valle, Francisco Orozco and Francisco Mesa in a passionate show of the Spanish dance form at Premiere Dance Theatre at Harbourfront Centre.

Tix: $21 to $38
Phone: 416-973-4000 for information.
http://flamencos.net/

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

IBCC 2008 CALL TO ARTISTS & SPEAKERS ... DEADLINES!!!

Princess — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 18:16:59 GMT

Hurry!! IBCC 2008 Speaker Deadline this weekend.

RELAX - we know you have been busy and we are busy too, so we are extending the deadline to November 19, 2007

You can view the excitement of the Speakers for last year by clicking here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7BMlkHoeJw

You can view the excitement of the Gala Stage for last year by clicking here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0hkD-xg7AM

Main Stage clip to come - new deadline for Main Stage is November 19th as well.
* Open Stage submissions are taken on a first come, first served basis.

Check out our Call to Artists & Speakers brochure and find out more info here:
http://www.bellydanceconference.com/images/calltoartistsJuly11.pdf

By the way …

Did we mention how AMAZING our line-up of instructors for 2008 are??

Tito – Egypt
Aida Nour – Egypt
Amy Sigil of Unmata – California
Bozenka – Florida
Aisha Ali – California
Mayyadah & Amir – Germany
Lesya Starr – Spain/Ontario
Yasmina Ramzy – Ontario
Nath Keo – Cambodia/British Columbia
Ferda Bayazit – Turkey / British Columbia
** Line-up subject to change
Register Now!! 50% Sold Out!!
* Anyone who was registered in the 2007 conference receives an extra $100 off the conference package!!!

www.bellydanceconference.com

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

Int'l Bellydance Conference of Canada Instructors!!!!

Princess — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:31:54 GMT

Tito (Egypt), Aida Nour (Egypt), Bozenka (Florida), Amy Sigil of Unmata (California), Aisha Ali (California), Mayyadah & Amir (Germany), Lesya Starr (Spain/Ontario), Yasmina Ramzy (Ontario), Nath Keo (British Columbia), Ferda Bayazit (Turkey/British Columbia) !!!!!
We are absolutely delighted to host such an amazing roster of talent at this event!

Register Now!! 50% Sold Out!!
* Anyone who was registered in the 2007 conference receives an extra $100 off the conference package!!!

www.bellydanceconference.com

Early Bird rate is $599 CDN** limited quantities!!
($499 for past participants)

Regular rate: $699 CDN

Conference Package includes:
¬ Lectures, Panel Discussions
¬ Music and Drum classes
¬16 Dance Workshops
¬ 8 spectacular Performances
¬ 150 international performing artists
¬ Shopping bazaar
¬ Lunches, breakfast snacks, unlimited water, and more …

Just give us a call to register!
1- 416- 920-5593
We accept: Visa or MasterCard (over the phone)

*The Conference Packages are non-refundable, but are transferable.

Call to Artists:
If you would like to dance on the Main Stage or Open Stage and/or be a Speaker at the IBCC 2008 please check out our brochure at: http://www.bellydanceconference.com/images/calltoartistsJuly11.pdf

Or e-mail us and we will send you the Call to Artists brochure!!

Register now for IBCC 2008!!!

¬ Same locations!!

¬ Same warm, intimate, inspiring vibe with limited numbers of awesome participants!!

¬ Same format with improvements like longer lectures and panel discussions and better food!!

¬ An exciting line up of performers, instructors and lecturers!!

Check out the website for details and last year’s excitement!!

www.bellydanceconference.com

We are so excited about next year, we can hardly sit still!
Cheers!

Conference Coordinator
International Bellydance Conference of Canada (IBCC)
Toronto, ON Canada

info@bellydanceconference.com
www.bellydanceconference.com

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

new releases, woo!

thephatconductor — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:47:39 GMT

check it out:

dave dub + the phat conductor - 'the price is right/dead horse'
-just dropped on dubble sided vinyl, you can check it out and listen to audio samples at www.dubblesided.com

and then my si begg remix as ill.gates (formerly tao jones) just dropped as a digital advance release on addictech... here's the mailer from si begg hq:

Jetlag and Tinnitus Reworks PT 4

Ft. Remixes from :

Crystal Distortion (as played played by the lovely J Cunning on Kiss FM)
Stefane Vera and Ill Gates (aka Dylan the Phat Conductor)
Kid Carpet
Kirk (as played by the also lovely Mary Anne Hobbs)
Si Begg (of course)
Mauin
Mix Mup

http://sibegg.addictech.com/

coming soon:

robb g + the phat conductor - 'chunkasaurus (flore remix)' - promo records - sept 23

dj icey - 'brr go go (robb g + the phat conductor remix) - zone records (vinyl) - imminent...

robb g + the phat conductor - 'heavy/brouse nation' - promo records - oct/nov

the phat conductor - home skool: live at evolve festival (full length album) - promo records - oct/nov

ill.gates - 'have dreadlocks, will travel / p'u / tao jones' - promo records - oct/nov

enjoy!

dylan

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

Shades Of Araby are online!

Valizan — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 02:55:00 GMT

Need a different kind of presence to dance at your party? Check out my troupe, Shades Of Araby. This ain't your mama's sparkly bellydance troupe...

http://shadesofaraby.valizan.com/

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

where are the organic goods at?

Oriah — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:16:14 GMT

I move into town this friday! from victoria bc=)

AND
the first thing i'd like to hit up(that is, just before going dancing)is a sweet health food store. Any suggestions for the best place to find;

*wide selection of organic bulk(somewhere i can put food directly into mason jars) vitamins/supplements
*fresh organic produce and dairy products
*co-op run if possible
*in the area(ish): east of the don valley parkway and north of danforth

it's a tall order i know, perhaps i will need to visit a few shops to get it all.

thx for the tips
much love!
Oriah

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

Article about weekly Bellydance event!!

Princess — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:54:14 GMT

Hi all!! I thought you might like to check out this article written about Layali Arabesque in a Toronto Newspaper!

Check out the link here:
www.mirror-guardian.com/lifest...e/29465

Cheers!

Mel

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

ManMadeMan - Free To Listen (MP3/WAV Album Download!)

ektoplazm — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:53:57 GMT

ManMadeMan's new album Free To Listen is ready to download in 320k MP3 or full-quality WAV format! In their words, the sound of ManMadeMan is described as “positive, funky, psychedelic and musical all at the same time.” Get your free copy today!
http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/manmademan-free-to-listen/
http://www.manmademan.com/

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

Free Bellydance Show Friday July 13 with Yasmina Ramzy & two bands!!!

Princess — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:32:22 GMT

This show is FREE!! Yes, Free!! With Yasmina Ramzy, the Arabesque Orchestra and a live Arabic band partying from 9:00p.m.-2:00a.m.!! It's called "Layali Arabesque".

See Yasmina Ramzy with the Arabesque Orchestra on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us-OYprHQ3k

... and Yasmina performing at a Layali Arabesque here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcO_1YZa1Kw

This is a special night as Myth participates in the "Summerlicious" festival- they are offering a grande prix fix meal at $25!!!!

Reserve your tables now and get a great seat for teh show!! Call: 416-461-8383

** Layali Arabesque cancelled July 15**

Layali Arabesque
July 13 Featured Performer:

Yasmina Ramzy

Layali Arabesque (Arabesque Nights) offers a real Arabic nightclub experience at Myth. Dance to live traditional acoustic music by the Arabesque Orchestra led by Professor Bassam Bishara (Vocals, Oude), Suleiman Warwar (Lead Dumbek), George Barbas (Dhoholla), Sebastian Gatto (Katim), Walid Najjar (Keyboards) and Eddy Suleiman (Violin)!

Watch the featured dancer perform two 30-minute shows, one in Cabaret style and the other in Egyptian folklore style (Assaya, Shamadan, Khaleegy, Sword, Milaya, Saiidi, etc.).

Both the live music and the dancing are improvised.

Bring your hip scarf and dance!!

$10 cover at the door.

See Layali poster at: http://www.arabesquedance.ca/perform_events.html#layali

See the Layali Arabesque commercial on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM0Gu8UrxDU

Layali Arabesque At Myth

www.myth.to

Myth

417 Danforth Ave. (just east of Chester subway)

Doors open at 8:00

Show starts at 8:30

** Table reservations are strongly recommended!!

Call: 416-461-8383

Arabesque

Academy l Dance Co. l Agency l Boutique l Orchestra

1 Gloucester Street, Suite #107 (Wellesley Subway)

( 1-416-920-5593 7 1-416-703-5593

info@...

www.arabesquedance.ca

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

Indian Electronica, volume 1

indianelectronica — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 23:28:49 GMT

Hey people, this is a quick message to say that we're finalizing the track listing this weekend for our compilation which is coming out this summer.

If you have tracks you'd like to send in for inclusion on the double-disc release (one chill/downtempo and the other with breaks/dnb/uptempo stuff), ***I urge you to send them in ASAP***

You can use sendspace or yousendit and festival@indianelectronica.com

Also, please submit a performance application:
http://www.indianelectronica.com/festival/perform

To find out more about all the cool Festivals we're throwing this year in Toronto, NYC, London, New Delhi and Bombay, please visit our Festival website:
http://www.indianelectronica.com/festival

Cheers,

Qasim
Director, Indian Electronica
--
http://www.indianelectronica.com

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

short film: APT + Kontrabrand - The Litany

thephatconductor — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 21:21:04 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBsep4Xosk8

this is a short film i made in san francisco with spoken word/performance artist Chris Sia and Eugene Steele. It started out with Chris reading a list of all of these wartorn places in his van at Burning Man last year, and then he asked me to help him make a video, so we dug out a ton of samples and went to town.

our crew is A.P.T. (armageddon prevention team) and Kontrabrand is top secret, but suffice to say, you'll hear about it in the near future if you follow what i do at all.

enjoy!

dylan

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

July 29th {{{ The Roller Disco Experience }}}

larryborins — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 06:47:28 GMT

The Roller Disco Experience
"Its a Party on Wheels"

Sunday July 29th
Harry Gairey outdoor rink in Alexandra Park
Bathurst St. at Dundas (southeast corner)

Word on the Street has it that Terry D and Leisure Larry of THE FUNK N BASE CREW
(who brought you Soulstice Night Fever at Om 2004) have joined forces once again to create
another total FUNKY GOOD TIME!

With support from the city, they are hosting an outdoor roller disco party @ Bathurst and Dundas.
Roller skating will be back for 1 day only. Funk, Disco, roller skates, roller blades, funky outfits and ice cold lemonade!
What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

So get your roller skates or blades ready, your bell bottoms on and prepare to "get down".
This 70's disco funk party will be off the hook!! Smokin' breaks, COOL Funk and HOT Disco all rolled into
one sunny afternoon.

Inspired by our experiences in Central Park: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU4hUlOVLe4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR4mL57iunQ&mode=related&search=

TICKETS: Terry D (razzberry-jelo@rogers.com) or Larry B (larryborins@gmail.com)

$5 in Advance
* you must get your ticket ahead of time as we are not allowed to collect money on-site or the party will be shut down.
**kids skate free
*** capacity is only 150 skaters, so get your tickets before it's sold out!

Funky attire gets you free water or lemonade.
Can't wait to see all our friends on the dance floor!

* PLEASE NOTE: We will not have skates/blades for rent on-site, but more info will be available soon on where you can rent (or buy used) roller skates/blades. We plan to do this a few times next summer...so buying a used pair would be worth it.

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

FCBD General Skills Certification - Sept/07 - Toronto, Canada

audracleopatra — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:38:32 GMT

Carolena Nericcio and Megha Gavin teach ATS General Skills Certification workshop Sept 7 through 9th, 2007 in Toronto Canada.

Registration online or by phone
http://www.cleopatrasbazaar.com/product_info.php?cPath=53&products_id=1071
1.800.431.0418

The general skills intensive is a 15 hour course, usually taken at the FCBD studio, with Carolena teaching. With only 20 people in Toronto, you will have Carolena and Megha teaching and coaching. You will receive instruction in anatomy as it applies to dance, music theory, instruction in all FCBD steps and concepts, drills, critique and question and answer time.

In order to attend this workshop, you MUST have prior ATS knowledge either via class, workshop or FCBD instructional dvds. This is a must - not an option. Usually a dvd or in-person assessment is required in order to qualify for registration, but this has been waived for this event. Do not disappoint Carolena or Megha - be well prepared with the material. All volumes of FCBD dvds can be purchased through Cleopatra's Bazaar or directly from FCBD.

Once completed, you will receive a General Skills for ATS certificate. It should be noted that completing this certification does not qualify one to be an authorized ATS teacher.

Also included in the registration are gourmet catered vegetarian lunches each day, water and juice for all participants.

Please bring finger cymbals

Class schedule:
Fri-Sat-Sun
Registration & warm up 9:30-10 am
Class 10 am - 12:30 pm
Lunch 12:30 - 1:30 pm
Class 1:30 to 4 pm

There is no show for this event

Cost $730 CAD or $631.45 USD

Workshop registration is NON REFUNDABLE

http://www.cleopatrasbazaar.com
Online bellydance supplies and events

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

Toronto DEATH BURLESQUE

Vomitta Hallover — Tue, 22 May 2007 12:35:13 GMT

WEDNESDAY MAY 30TH 2007

Slaves of Seduction Burlesque Show @ The White Orchid

812 Dundas Street West ( 2 Blocks West of Bathurst St.)

Doors open @ 9pm, Show starts @ 10pm

Only $6.00 @ the door!

Performers: DJ D.T.M

Dancers: Ginger Wilde, Penny Whistleton, Roxxxy Jive, Gidget, Ruby Red River, Vomitta Hallover,

Comedians: Dred Lee, Dave Merheje, Luke Alberton, Nathan, MacIntosh, John Ki, Keith Pedro, Jag Ghankas, Arthur Simeon,

www.myspace.com/slavesofseduction <-- troupes myspace address with flyer and links to performers pages

FREE CHOCOLATE FONDUE AND RAFFLE WITH DOOR PRIZES!

If your in the downtown Toronto area, please come out for a fun night. Your time and money won't be wasted! :)

<3 Hope to see you there!

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

Felix "Pupy" Insua & 15 piece cuban orchestra in Toronto June 1-3!!

Princess — Fri, 18 May 2007 18:16:42 GMT

Sophie of manolitointoronto.com is organizing a special class with the Afro-Cuban dance master Felix Pupy Insua in Toronto!!

I'll keep you posted on it.

To see more information about Felix Insua please see: http://www.orikiomioddara.com/mission.htm

Sophie is also bringing an amazing 15 piece salsa band direct from Havana to Toronto on June 1st!! I can't wait to go.

Check it out: www.manolitointoronto.com

Cheers!

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

Tao Jones - Speed Limit Hiphop Sampler

thephatconductor — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 08:53:33 GMT

Tao Jones - Speed Limit Hiphop Sampler

www.thephatconductor.com/TaoJone...imit.mp3

This promo mixset is a sampler of the slower stuff I like to play as Tao Jones. It's basically a condensed version of the hour and a half to two hours I normally play. It starts off all chunky and hiphop, gets glitchy, rages it, catches it's breath, and then get's all wobbly in the low end. The last track I probably wouldn't play at an event unless it was really appropriate, but it's one of my favourite songs ever so I thought I'd share it with you.

If you like the music on this set, please support the artists by buying their music and going to their shows.

Thanks and props go out to ana sia, lorin, the glitch mob, and sean conlon, who did shut em down with me.

Much love

Dylan

1. Cyne - Nothing Scared
2. edIT - Dirt Off Your Hova Cutup
3. Freakon - Badman Mash
4. Funkstorung Feat Tes - Chopping Heads
5. Tao Jones - Shut Em Down
6. TTC - Dans Le Club (Instrumental
6a. M.I.A. - Galang (Acapella)
7. Dabrye - Lost
8. Kelis - Bossy (SebastiAn Remix) - Tao Jones' Non-Dairy Edit
9. Hitch Glop
10. Mochipet - Bass Against The Machine
11. 8 Frozen Modules - Low Bite Riddim
12. Kraddy - Dangerous
13. Tao Jones - Collateral Damage
14. Louis Couture - Backative
15. Soteg - Ebeneezer
16. Vibesquad - Swivel
17. Breakbeat Buddha feat. Shugga - Endurance
18. Si Begg - Bangin
19. Bassnectar - Amorphous Form
20. Exile and Soft Focus - Silicon Chop
21. World's End Girlfriend - Singing Under the Rainbow

posted in Toronto Underground - 1 reply

CROSSPOST: A note from Bassnectar about downloading

Valizan — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:16:26 GMT

This showed up on the Raks Toronto list and I thought it might be relevant here:

http://bassnectar.tribe.net/thread/96992188-da30-4633-ba90-f2fd13c434de

Here is an artist's view on people who download music on the net and how it affects him.

posted in Toronto Underground - 3 replies

Ride with me to Calgary April 16

parsopolis — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 04:25:28 GMT

hi, am driving west to Alberta in late april, if you wanna be a friend and come along, drop me a line, must be one person non smoker, have a valid driver license and be able to drive standard car so we can switch, please let me know who you are,
cheers

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

fire phoenix coming to toronto

FirePhoenix — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:14:41 GMT

Im hoping to perform and have workshops.

or even a place to stay for the month.

I have a lot to offer!!

posted in Toronto Underground - 2 replies

Toronto needs a good chill out

Lexifer — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 08:54:18 GMT

And now we finally have one!
Join Noah and I in a mighty swank locale, chill out, cozy up, quaff down and give your ears and toes a wiggle.
This Thursday is the kick off. I'd love to see you all there.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tangent. Thursdays. | 9pm-2am | No Cover | 713 College St. | www.flight55.ca | shenism.com/tangent.htm

Launching March 8, 2007...

This March, Toronto DJs Shen and Lex launch a new weekly night for forward-thinking, wide-ranging electronic sounds at College Street’s plushest bar/lounge: Flight 55.

Ranging from deep electro to dubstep, glitch-hop to atmospheric techno, to nu-jazz and beyond, Tangent provides an open template based on the theme of multiple genres sewn together by a common thread of down-tempo aesthetics – and quality all around.

Where else can you hear Lusine and Burial, edIT and Deadbeat, Benga and Junior Boys, Tipper and Monolake, Cinematic Orchestra and Colder, Bonobo and Murcof, J Dilla and Kelpe - all on the same night? Aiming to present the Thursday night set with a refreshing audio experience and casual, friendly attitude, Tangent is holding its special launch event on March 8, 2007 – we hope to see you there!

SHEN
Taken from the arcane Taoist term for 'refined energy' or 'depth', Shen is Noah Pred's outlet for low-tempo explorations of forward-thinking computer music. Drawing inspiration from the eastern aesthetics of botanical architecture and geomantic techniques, Shen evokes organic structures through lush ecologies of synthetic chords, deep textures and minimalist machinations. Honing his craft through sets performed alongside the likes of Monolake, Deadbeat, Shulman, Lusine, and Bluetech, his unique interpretation of the downtempo genre rapidly evolved into a distinctly recognizable sound. Incorporating elements of electro, dub and minimal techno, Shen's fluid funk is aimed equally at the public thrill of the dancefloor and the internal transcendence of headphones. With tracks appearing on the acclaimed 'Leftcoast Liquid Vol. 1', 'Floating Point 3' and various Green Samurai Clan compilations, the debut Shen full-length, 'Outlines', was released this winter on Native State Records. More info online @ www.shenism.com

LEX
A DJ since the early ‘90s, Lex is perhaps best known as one half of the infamous Legion of Green Men. With a bevy of full-length albums released on prestigious labels such as Plus 8, Virgin, and their own Post Contemporary Records, L.O.G.M.’s distinctive downtempo aesthetic has earned them countless fans around the globe. This popularity has led to appearances on compilations from Interchill, Waveform, Nutone and Digital Structures. Their deadly live performances have rocked many a festival. New recordings continue to evolve and explore the many incarnations of GRONK, while a new CD of percolating synths, wobbly bass and dubby rhythms awash in aqueous ambience is immanent. More info online @ www.postcontemporary.net

Tangent. Thursdays. | 9pm-2am | No Cover | 713 College St. | www.flight55.ca | shenism.com/tangent.htm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
OK i know this should be an event posting, but i've never done that before and I think Noah has put it up on a few other tribes.
I figured its a pretty underground scene so forgive me if this just comes off as an addvertisement.
ciao!

posted in Toronto Underground - 2 replies

Christina Aguilera Ticket

Amalthea — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 23:56:03 GMT

Hi there, I know this is probably not the place to post but I have a single ticket for the concert on Sunday March 25th and I can't go...wondering if anyone would like it. It's section 105 row 28 good seat!! Please msg me if you are interested or know someone who would like the ticket. $90 (but negotiable since I am desperate!!). Thanx

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

FreQ Nasty @ Footwork Tonight 03.10.07

Naz — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 20:15:07 GMT

FreQ Nasty will be throwin' down TONIGHT!
March, 10 2007 @ Footwork

Activate launches their new THINK:IN:BREAKBEAT
event series - THINK:IN:BREAKBEAT kicks off
With FreQ Nasty TONIGHT. Also Featuring Robb G,
Big League Chu, The Phat Conductor, and Tasc.
Doors at 10pm.

Footwork
425 Adelaide St. W
www.footworkbar.com

$20 | 19+ | doors @ 10pm

** Official record release party for Robb G and The Phat Conductor's
"Chunkasauras/Total Destroyment" EP on Promo Records!
Come Celebrate with he boys and see the world premiere of their new video!

More Info Can Be Found Here:

http://www.footworkbar.com
http://www.myspace.com/djfreqnasty

You are also invited to join the new FreQ Nasty Tribe ...

Dedicated to wide basslines and heavy beats of the
FutureStep movement , steeped in the sounds of Breaks,
Dubstep, HipHop, Ragga, Rock, Reggae and Electro...
From the UK to New York to LA: Join us! :)

http://tribes.tribe.net/freqnasty

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

i encourage you to...

James — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 01:01:55 GMT

Hello All, I encourage you to spend a few mins. on youtube to surrogately experience the plight of our brothers and sisters of "Ungdomshuset Copenhagen" some call is riot, some call it protest. I call it injustice at its best. The history of this battle is also very enlightening and indeed sad. Ungdomshuset meaning Youth house has its share of history, built in 1897. it was given to the Youth of Copenhagen in 82, when it gots its new name and was Sold in 2001 to an independent Christian cult. thats all i got to say about hat for now

posted in Toronto Underground - 1 reply

Sufi Mysticism: Sashar Zarif presents Meeting With Saghi

Valizan — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 05:51:14 GMT

For those of you who have never seen Sashar dance, he takes "mesmerizing" to a whole new level.

MEETING WITH SAGHI

Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre brings ancient Sufi mysticism to the contemporary stage in mesmerizing new
choreography with original music composition of Pirouz Yousefian
for two nights only

A DanceWorks/CoWorks Series Event ¥ March 23 and 24, 2007, Betty Oliphant Theatre.

Let's offer flowers, pour a cup of libation
Split open the skies and start anew on creation
Hafez

Biya ta gol bar afshaneem'o mey dar saaqar andazeem
Falak ra sakht beshkafeemo tarhi no bar-andazeem

Born in Iran of Azerbaijani heritage Sashar Zarif came to Canada in 1987. Following studies in Systems Design Engineering
at the University of Waterloo, Zarif achieved a Diploma of Performing Arts at the Conservatory of Dance and Music in Baku,
Azerbaijan becoming an Artist for the People.

He continued his Bachelor and Masters Degree at York University where he
has been teaching for the the past three years. Founder of Joshgoon Canadian Academy of Azerbaijani Dance and Sashar
Zarif Dance Theatre (1993) and the International Festival of Dancers for Peace (2001), Zarif is well known as an engaging
teacher and a powerful dancer who has performed and taught throughout Europe, Central Asia and Mongolia.

Zarif is also acquiring an international reputation as an enigmatic and gifted choreographer as acknowledged locally with the Paula
Citron TDIF Award in 2006 for his masterful solo In the Letters My Name, a collaboration with Holly Small.

His new creation Meeting with Saghi, has grown out of years of research and ethnographic fieldwork in Central Asia, Iran
and Azerbaijan to construct the Dance of Sagh.

"Dance of Saghi" is a process of construction, in the sense that it seeks to create a classical Persian dance repertoire where one has not previously been established, or has not survived. It is also a process of reconstruction employing many important and relevant elements of cultural context such as Time Arts Trio: classical Persian music, poetry, dance and common expressions of Persian body language. The dance of Saghi was born out of the image of her namesake character, the adored wine-bearer of eastern poetry. In Meeting with Saghi, Zarif is informed by his extensive research on the concept of Saghi while he intuitively attempts to "re-create" a semblance of a lost style of
dance.

"The view of art as a 'form' of embodiment and expression, along with the urgency and need for a presence of a defined
dance style that is compatible to the rich tradition of Classical/Mystical Persian Poetry and Music are the common threads
that tie my artistic inclination and practice to the concept of Saghi. It is from these ideas that this work has found its origin
and inspiration."
- Sashar Zarif

Meeting with Saghi reveals Zarif's journey to connect his worldly experience to his spiritual existence. In this work he
weaves together contemporized Persian Sufi music, poetry (Rumi, Hafiz, Omar Khayyam), and calligraphy (inspiring
movement lines and flow) in this intuitive exploration of the lost mystical dance of Saghi, the adored wine-bearer.

Saghi is the provider of inspiration, the bearer of enlightenment who offers the symbolic imbibing of wine, the elixir that brings
mystical love and divine intoxication.

The evocative tapestry created by Zarif and his dancers in Meeting with Saghi connects the threads of ancient mysticism to
the present day in a multi-layered dance performance, with original sound score, to reveal an expression of earthly love,
beauty and the Divine.

This bringing forward of the past may be a tonic for our sullen era as we open our eyes and let the
experience wash over us. When the uncommon becomes familiar we find we are all connected by what we feel in our hearts.
The work in progress of Meeting with Saghi was performed across Canada and Europe in 2006.
É/2

You will be dazzled, transfixed and transformed by Meeting with Saghi created with Toronto's acclaimed
musician/composer Pirouz Yousefian working in the Persian music tradition of improvisation and collaborators; dramaturge,
Soheil Parsa; lighting designer, Arun Srinivasan and sound designer, Laurel MacDonald.

Following the 60 minute performance join Zarif downstairs at the theatre to discover more about the lost dance of the Saghi
in this gallery of authentic costumes, books and documentation of the places it originated and Zarif's own travels and
research.

Meeting with Saghi
Friday, March 23 & Saturday, March 24 at 8 PM
Betty Oliphant Theatre, 404 Jarvis Street
Toronto
Tickets: $25 & $18 Students and CADA members
Box Office: DanceWorks - 416 204 1082
Further information: www.sashardance.com
Media Contact: Jennifer Watkins
openarts@total.net ¥ 416-340-1299

Come oh Saghi, and serve up that wine
Unto which my heart and faith belong,
Strip me of self, for drunkenness
Is the only rite I profess.

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

weird blows - call for submissions

japhet — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 08:38:58 GMT

weird (wîrd)
adj. weird·er, weird·est
1. Of, relating to, or suggestive of the preternatural or supernatural.
2. Of a strikingly odd or unusual character; strange.

blow (blō)
v. blew, blown, blow·ing, blows
1. To expel a current of air, as from the mouth or from a bellows.
2. slang. Sexual activity involving oral stimulation of one's partner's sex organs.

Weird Blows is an ongoing art project where people anonymously submit their bizarre sexual experiences. These will eventually be archived on an upcoming website for viewing purposes and certain experiences will be adapted into short videos that will also be placed on the website, recontextualizing these accounts through the lens of the pornography they can owe so much to.

You are invited to contribute your experiences to Weird Blows. Each experience can be fondly-remembered or otherwise and it can be based in reality or fantasy or somewhere in between. Possible themes for the experiences are not limited to accounts of oral sex or heteronormative relationships. There are also varying degrees of weirdness; one person's kink is another person's vanilla. What really matters is that the experience you submit is true.

We have only one suggestion:

Be descriptive! One or two-sentence experiences all tend to sound the same.

Mail your experiences to weirdblows@gmail.com or send them, postal-style, to:

Weird Blows
585 Gerrard St. E
Toronto, ON
M4M 1Y2

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies

Local Silver Artisan needed for Charity Project

pixylee — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:29:56 GMT

Hey there,

If you are a silversmith located in the Tdot/GTA area,
(or you know anyone who works with reclaimed or fair-trade eco-friendly silver to make jewellery/pins/flatware etc.)
and would like to become involved in a future international charity project,
please give me a shout back!

*pixy*

posted in Toronto Underground - 0 replies