Summer time weather and live music go so wonderfully together, and there is quite a bit to be found without travelling too far. Better yet, these picks are (mostly) free, so you won’t even have to dip into the summer vacation savings for a decent night out.
Sunsets and Slow Jams
The Westboro Beach Cafe is back for another summer of good times on the river.
If you’re familiar with the venue, not much has changed since last year. If you haven’t made it down before, you are missing out on a serious gem. The cafe has a fully licensed patio, live entertainment and a decent menu of fresh food from the grill.
Music is on Thursday through Sunday. Thursday and Friday are blues nights, Saturday is reggae, and Sundays are latin. Music starts at 5 p.m. and Saturday is the only night with a cover charge; it’s only $5 though.
Ramblin Westboro
The Savoy in Westboro is a super classy eatery, except for Tuesday nights, when they let a bunch of country rednecks in to make a bunch of sweet noise.
Every week the Ramblin Valley Band takes the stage (er, floor) at the Savoy for a set of up beat, classic folk, country and Southern rock favourites. It’s not the kind of venue you would expect for a party, but it makes for a good time to shake off the mid-week blues before they get a chance to set in. Music starts at 8 and rocks ’til 10.
Co-Operative Cafe
If your musical tastes are a little more subdued, you might enjoy the new Thursday Evening Cafe at West End Well Co-Op.
They have brought in local singer-songwriter Tony Turner to host a casual evening of music, good food and drinks. With over 20 years of experience under his belt, Turner’s music is a sort of mellow, working class, Canadian folk delivered in a sweet and low baritone.
The cafe runs from 7:30 ’til 9 p.m., there’s no cover to pay and West End Well have a solid line up of local beer, wine and food at some reasonable prices.