Instead of texting ‘on my way’ I’m just gonna start sending this

STORY CALL - please RT I’m working on a story for The Grind and looking to explore how Ontario music venue owners + concert organizers are adapting to Bill 10, which holds landlords + staff criminally liable for drug activity on their properties. DM or @ me here to connect

thanks to everyone who's shared this already. I haven't connect with anyone yet, and I think this speaks to the general lack of information we've so far received re: the application of this bill. I also imagine folks are cautious of painting targets on their backs—which is valid!

Happy Labour Day! In our latest issue, Michael Rancic wrote about how the ongoing pandemic continues to profoundly impact working-class musicians and arts workers despite its erasure from the public consciousness. newfeeling.ca/2025/08/08/cov…

This is a meticulously researched article. Recommend to read.

Rae Spoon (Rae Spoon) tells Tom Beedham (Tom Beedham, say, do you remember?) about why they’re returning to their country roots, the genre’s fraught relationship to marginalized communities, and their queered cover of the class (im)mobility anthem “Friends In Low Places”: newfeeling.ca/2025/08/08/rae…

We’re baaack. Mark your calendars for Nov. 15 and Dec. 6. We’re locking down dates for 2026 as you read this! This year of LW is made possible with funding support from Toronto Arts Council & Toronto Arts Foundation Council, Ontario Creates, Canadian Heritage, and your PWYC donations at the door. More soon friends💐

From erotic open‐mics to film screenings, there’s a movement to reclaim pleasure in Toronto. I spoke w/ the organizers behind Natural Born Sinners reading series, filmmaker Kalil Haddad, and TS Jelena Vermilion - 💉FULLY VACCINATED x5 💉MPx2 about art, sex, and censorship for The Grind. thegrindmag.ca/torontos-pleas…

What are we doing here? Musicians are moving to listing websites and mailing lists to get the word out about shows. For The Grind, I spoke w/ Karen Ng and Fahmid Nibesh about EARLOBE, a new resource compiling listings for experimental music in Toronto. thegrindmag.ca/soundlist-is-d…

I also have a short piece about Ontario's Bill 10 in this issue of The Grind, correcting some of RA's reporting and getting into the historical precedents the war on drugs set across the border. Thanks to Diana Chan McNally for her tireless advocacy. thegrindmag.ca/nightlife-brac…

The latest issue of The Grind also includes a fresh round of What We're Listening To from NEW FEELING, featuring mini-reviews of Nadah El Shazly, Orbital Ensemble, noonjeem, and more from Daniel G. Wilson, Leslie Ken Chu, Sarah Chodos, and myself thegrindmag.ca/what-were-list…

so far we've overwhelmingly received pitches that are clearly AI. if you are a real human person who likes to use their brain and wants to write about canadian music, you should hit us up!

This also explains why tech billionaires love AI x art/music/culture models — they want the ability to shape (and stake a claim in) culture, despite having zero ability to create affecting art themselves.

our gorgeous poster for our 5th anniversary celebration and slash need's record release show is finally here! grab your tickets here: dice.fm/partner/ndy-gi…

Kicking off our 14th year, on November 15, we’re excited to host the official Toronto launch for VIVEK SHRAYA 🆚’s 11th album NEW MODELS, out TODAY! TICKETS: zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketin…

Ontario is a joke province. It hasn’t increased its annual support for the Ontario Arts Council since 2009 (~$60M) and so funding is now lower than the 1970’s in real dollars. 🫠🫠🫠 Via G&M

Canadian artists are bracing for cuts as PM Mark Carney signals austerity ahead of Tuesday's federal budget. Arts groups warn that slashing 15% could devastate a sector still recovering from the pandemic, Tom Beedham, say, do you remember? reports. thegrindmag.ca/canadian-artis…

A report just published by the Chamber of Commerce says Canada's arts & culture contributed $65 billion to the national economy in 2024, representing 2% of the economy. But cuts are looming, and the budget gets tabled on Tuesday. My latest for The Grind thegrindmag.ca/canadian-artis…