Prepping for the Bonfire Ball

I thought I'd prepare any Vancouver readers for what's shaping up to be one of the best shows of 2010-- The Bonfire Ball, featuring Bahamas, Zeus and Jason Collett, all hailing from Toronto. Their tour, which has the three acts sharing the stage for one another's songs as opposed to 3 distinct sets, has already gathered rave reviews across the country. Another highlight is that a challenge has been sent out by Grant Lawrence of CBC Radio 3 for all Bonfire Ball attendees to dress to the nines, like you would going to an actual ball. Can't wait to see if only a few indie kids glammed up!

Firstly, let's have Bahamas seduce you with his bluesy guitar. He opened for Amy Millan a couple of months ago, and half stole my heart since then.


BAHAMAS - Already Yours from Mitch Fillion on Vimeo.

Next, we have one of the most exciting upcoming bands out of Toronto, Zeus. Having played as Jason Collett's backing band for some time, these boys have since shown that they have more than enough chops to strike out on their own. When I caught them at Rifflandia Festival back in September, the first word that came to mind was "groovy."

Zeus - "Marching Through Your Head"



And last but certainly not least, we have the band leader, the rough and tumble veteran of the bunch. Collett, known prior to his solo career as part of the Toronto supergroup Broken Social Scene, is Canada's answer to Dylan. He has a characteristic drawl and a certain nostalgic warmth to his tone.



And here's a taste of what the collaborative show will sound like: Collett, Zeus & Bahamas cover Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" at Canadian Music Week in Toronto.



And for those elsewhere in Canada, here are the remaining tour dates of the Bonfire Ball:

26 Mar 2010 20:00
Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, British Columbia
27 Mar 2010 20:00
Sugar, Victoria, British Columbia
29 Mar 2010 20:00
Communitea Cafe, Canmore, Alberta
31 Mar 2010 20:00
Pawn Shop, Edmonton, Alberta
1 Apr 2010 20:00
The Legion, Calgary, Alberta
2 Apr 2010 20:00
The Exchange, Regina, Saskatchewan
3 Apr 2010 20:00
West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
4 Apr 2010 20:00
7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, Minnesota
6 Apr 2010 20:00
Majestic Theatre, Madison, Wisconsin
7 Apr 2010 20:00
Schuba’s, Chicago, Illinois
12 Apr 2010 20:00
Casbah, Hamilton, Ontario
13 Apr 2010 20:00
Starlight, Waterloo, Ontario
14 Apr 2010 20:00
Zaphods, Ottawa, Ontario
15 Apr 2010 20:00
Petit Campus, Montreal, Quebec
20 Apr 2010 20:00World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
21 Apr 2010 20:00
The Iron Horse, Northampton, Massachusetts
24 Apr 2010 20:00
Union Hall, Brooklyn, New York

The Bonfire Ball featuring Jason Collett, Zeus & Bahamas

Jason Collett, Zeus and Bahamas have announced a North American revue tour featuring all three artists performing together and alone during a night long set of incredible music. The three acts have a long history of collaboration, as intertwined as their musical lineage. Instead of the typical show in which each act plays its own set, Collett, Zeus and Bahamas will all take the stage together, playing songs by all three.

The tour comes on the heels of new albums for Jason Collett (Rat A Tat Tat, March 9) and Zeus (Say Us, February 23), and songs from both will be featured throughout the evening. The Bonfire Ball will kick off in March at Canadian Music Week in Toronto, wrapping in Kingston, April 17. Dates are below, with more to be announced.

Dates:
03/10/2010 Toronto, ON Lee's Palace
03/11/2010 Guelph, ON E-Bar
03/12/2010 London, ON Call The Office
03/13/2010 Hamilton, ON Casbah
03/26/2010 Vancouver, BC The Biltmore
03/27/2010 Victoria, BC Sugar
03/29/2010 Canmore, AB Communitea
03/31/2010 Edmonton, AB The Pawn Shop
04/01/2010 Calgary, AB The Gateway
04/02/2010 Regina, SK The Exchange
04/03/2010 Winnipeg, MB West End Cultural Centre
04/13/2010 Waterloo, ON Starlight
04/14/2010 Ottawa, ON Zaphod's
04/15/2010 Montreal, QC Petit Campus
04/16/2010 Peterborough, ON Red Dog Tavern
04/17/2010 Kingston, ON Grad Club