Sweet Pete and The Heat are a collective of local musicians who play with various bands in Kingston. Meeting each other at various open mics and house parties we all share a love of dirty, funky blues music inspired by everyone from Junior Wells, Muddy Waters and Van Morrison to lesser-known artists such as Lucky Peterson and Snooky Prior. Our goal is to get people dancing and that’s what we do.

Thunder Glove is a Toronto-based "barbarian band" founded in 2021 by Greg Dalgetty, blending synth-heavy music with swords-and-sorcery themes inspired by 1980s fantasy films and retro video games. Known for a dedicated in-character performance style, they have released multiple albums, including Battle for the Planet of the Dinosaurs and Thunder Glove Miami.

The ToneKats is a versatile & experienced Canadian band based out of Kingston, Ontario. They perform Classic and newer rock, some catchy country rock, and their own original high-energy rock! These Kats even take requests! The band plays something for everyone!

The band Jellytrain was originally formed in 2019 as “ Up jumped the Blues “ . With the departure of founding members Rick Flanagan, and Greg Duncan ( R.I.P. ) , and then keyboardist Craig Tousignant, Jellytrain was set to re- invent itself. With original members ZAK Colbert ( Bass ), Shawn Dore ( guitar, vocals ) and Mike Sakell ( drums, vocals ) keyboardist Alain McCann ( keys, vocals) joined the band offering his considerable talents. The result is a tight four piece Funk Blues band that is receiving high praise from live audiences every time they appear. With three lead vocalists, and sweet harmonies, they are sure to impress all who attend one of their live shows.

Swordwall presents

Owl Farm (Kingston)
rock / psych / punk / metal
owlfarmband.bandcamp.com

Gifts of Guilt (Kingston)
alt / indie / post / rock
giftsofguilt.bandcamp.com

Owl Farm are an intense yet tuneful rock and roll band with a playful sense of humour and a love for sonic psychedelia. Their early sound was described as “creepy punk” and/or “lounge metal”. "Playing music beats thinking about playing music" has always been their motto.

Though refraining from the term "supergroup", Gifts of Guilt members have spent years playing in Kingston bands like Forty Seven Teeth, The Gertrudes, Heavy Living, and Owl Farm. Their sound is a heart on sleeve love letter to late 80s and early 90s alt / indie / post rock.

CELTIC EVENING

3:00 PM Celtic Rumbling
3:55 PM Fiddle Earth
4:50 PM Celtic Strings Irish Folk Club with Barry Yuen
5:45 PM Shane Dunne

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL FEST
7:00 PM The Retro Kings
8:00 PM River Cats
9:00 PM Doug van der Horden & Company
10:00 PM Holy Wow
11:00 PM SQUID Pistol
12:00 AM Radio Wasteland
1:00 AM WHYGO

Get ready to turn it up at The Toucan with a night of unapologetic rock n’ roll.

Dork Load, the high-energy project led by Kingston’s own Rueben deGroot, is bringing bringing a full-throttle, no-rules live show that hits hard start to finish. No one really knows what to expect—come find out what Dork Load delivers: a set that keeps the floor packed and the amps cranked.

Whether you’re in it for the music, the energy, or just a proper night out, this is one you don’t want to miss.

The China Cat Riders

We're a Grateful Dead tribute band from Kingston Ontario Canada. Newly formed out of a reunion of Hurricane Bob who played around town in the early 90's. Our members are all veterans of the Kingston music scene, and have a common love of The Dead.

Featuring visuals and light show by Josh Garrett and special guest Harrison Stewart-Juby on the drums!

Frank Ryan, a singer songwriter from Dublin, will be taking the stage and playing a range of covers and original songs! His music has been described as “soulful rock” with hauntingly powerful and melodic vocals.

Support Frank Ryan & Friends by leaving a tip:

http://paypal.me/pools/c/8t6oqmzfqT

We’re bringing back a true Toucan tradition with Rocket Surgery, featuring singer-songwriter Rueben deGroot and his supremely talented backing band.

From 2012–2018, Rocket Surgery’s electrifying blend of country rock ’n’ roll, roots rock, jazz, and prog lit up Monday nights at The Toucan—keeping crowds dancing and smiling week after week. Now, they’re back to bring that same magic to a Saturday night.

A staple of Kingston’s music scene, Rueben deGroot is known for his rich songwriting and dynamic stage presence. Over the years, he’s shared the stage with acclaimed Canadian artists like Corb Lund, Sarah Harmer, NQ Arbuckle, Coco Love Alcorn, and Oh Susanna—who even covered one of his songs on her 2014 album Name Dropper.

Expect a night full of top-tier musicianship, genre-bending grooves, and the kind of energy that only a Toucan classic can deliver.

A killer night of Canadian indie rock is coming to The Toucan this April.

The Lazarettes bring their gritty, guitar-driven sound to the stage—blending garage rock attitude with melodic hooks and a raw, modern edge. Known for their high-energy live shows and tight, punchy songwriting, the band has been making waves with a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Expect big riffs, driving rhythms, and a set that hits hard from start to finish.

Joining them is Ron Hawkins (of The Lowest of the Low), one of Canada’s most respected and enduring songwriters. As the frontman of The Lowest of the Low, Hawkins helped define a generation of Canadian indie rock with sharp lyrics, unforgettable melodies, and a fiercely loyal following. His solo performances carry that same spirit—intimate, powerful, and deeply authentic, with songs that have stood the test of time.

Together, this lineup delivers the perfect balance of raw band energy and iconic songwriting—an essential night for fans of Canadian music.

Get ready for a late-night dancefloor takeover at The Toucan on Saturday, April 11 from 10:30PM–2AM — and this time, we’re turning the lights down and the glow way up for a BLACKLIGHT PARTY.

Wear your brightest whites, neons, and anything that shines—because the room will be fully lit in UV for a surreal, high-energy atmosphere all night long.

We’re bringing in two electrifying acts from Toronto’s cutting edge of live electronic music:

Pick A Piper opens the night with their signature “organic dance music” sound. Led by Caribou drummer Brad Weber, alongside collaborators like Sophia Alexandra, Angus Fraser, and Dan Roberts. The project blends live electronic percussion, warm synths, and textured samples with indie-pop sensibilities—creating immersive, atmospheric grooves that ease you onto the dancefloor.

Headlining the night is MOONBEAN, an Ontario-based queer electronic duo known for their high-energy, all-live hardware performances. Fusing synth-pop with acid-house, techno, disco, and psychedelic textures, they deliver lush vocal melodies with a bold, punk attitude. Expect striking visuals, unforgettable costumes, and a hypnotic set that pushes the boundaries of live electronic music.

Two dynamic live acts. One unforgettable night.

Overrated is packed with a wide experience musically. They cover Collective Soul and Stone Temple Pilots to anything in between. New and old rock to get your party going.

Here is a taste of what you will hear: AC/DC, Stone Temple Pilots, Headstones, Tragically Hip, Johnny Cash, Billy Idol, Black Keys, Big Sugar, R.E.M, Green Day, Rolling Stones, Glorious Sons, And more!

Alt-rock energy meets Kingston’s rising local talent for a stacked Thursday night at The Toucan.

100 Below takes the stage with their signature alt-rock sound—raw, melodic, and built for a packed room. Known around Kingston for their dynamic live sets and tight musicianship, they bring the kind of energy that keeps the crowd locked in from the first note to the last.

Joining them are two standout local artists:
Thomas Draper (of Kasador) delivers heartfelt folk-rock with a gritty edge, blending storytelling and powerful vocals.
Jules Halpern brings a smooth, genre-blending mix of jazz and pop, adding a soulful contrast to the night’s lineup.

Squid Pistol is an alternative rock cover band that plays a mix of hits focusing on movie soundtracks. Our setlist features a range of tracks from some of our favorite films, in our own interpretation.

FABB returns to their home away from home to do it again. The last show was a blowout, so get your beauty sleep and get ready to let loose. Featuring original members Mike Farrell, Spencer Evans, Ian 'Loaf' Woodward, Bōnz Bowering and Scott Megginson.

Oakridge Ave. returns to the Toucan on March 27th for the final show of their career — a marathon farewell running 9:30pm–2am. Four one‑hour sets. Every song in their repertoire. One night to close the book properly.

Known for their blend of anthemic indie‑rock, soulful vocals, and guitar‑driven storytelling, Oakridge Ave. built their sound on big choruses, warm harmonies, and the kind of honest, heart‑on‑sleeve songwriting that turns small‑room shows into communal moments. Their music moves between high‑energy rockers, slow‑burn emotional tracks, and crowd‑shouting singalongs, all tied together by a band that plays like they mean every note.

This is the last chance to hear it all — the deep cuts, the favourites, the songs that shaped their years onstage. If you’ve ever been part of the Oakridge Ave. story, this is the night to show up, sing loud, and send them off with the room packed and the volume high.

Zuffalo is an internationally touring psychedelic rock and roll band. Thick three-part vocal harmony is laced with funky bass, joyfully explosive drumming, and inspired keys and guitar playing that weave around each other like two painters sharing one canvas. Hailing from Toronto, traveling all across their homeland Canada, pulsating the dance floors across Europe and the United States, it is no doubt that Zuffalo has become one of the world’s most entertaining, must-see live shows.

The four-piece funky powerhouse formed in 2016 and has released two full-length studio albums (Zuffalo, 2018 & BIRDBRAIN, 2021), and one EP (Space, 2019).

Zuffalo has toured over 8 countries in North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom including performances at the legendary Glastonbury Festival in 2023. In the summer of 2024 the band embarked on their first tour in the United States, including a stop at Back Home Festival in West Virginia to play alongside the Wailers, Keller Williams, Sierra Hull, and Big Brother & the Holding Company.

“The charisma of the vocals, confident guitars, and a taut instrumentation unite to make for an effort that will tattoo its melodies deep into the minds and hearts of listeners.” - James McQuinstan, NeuFuture Magazine

JukeBox County is the stage name of Rich Tyo, whose prolific songwriting ranges from voodoo blues and gospel to astro-folk and rock. He creates sounds that are both danceable and introspective. The idea behind JukeBox County is to have a broad range of styles and sounds conveying a myriad of moods all the while embracing the root of good songwriting: storytelling. Drawing from influences such as Neil Young, Nick Drake, Ween, Velvet Underground, and The Beatles, JukeBox County music contains deep dialogues about what makes us human and how we cope with the questions that come with this profound and (at times) disheartening existence.

Rich has developed numerous music-based mental health education programs for at-risk youth, he’s published his poetry in anthologies, and has spoken internationally on health, psychedelics, spirituality, and transpersonal development.

These past projects have been his main artistic endeavours of the past decade. Now, after years of community art-based education and lots of songwriting, JukeBox County will be releasing his first full length album with multi-instrumentalist and producer, Hugh Christopher Brown (Wolfe Island Records). The album, Inner Space Outer Space, is a fun and engaging album filled with songs that emerge from his experiences out on the streets working as a mental health crisis worker, in liminal realms, and from being witness to life’s hardships and the will to overcome through faith, compassion, firm grounding, and connecting to one’s passions above all else. The album will be released in Spring of 2021!

Join Jukebox County on a trip to inner space and outer space—the places of wonder and imagination, isolation and connection, alien abductions and re-discovering the deepest wisdom inside ourselves and connecting with all that is in this vast universe.

We’re throwing a proper party at The Toucan on Thursday, March 19 to celebrate Virginia Meeks’ birthday, and you’re all invited to raise a glass! The night kicks off with a free sample party at 9PM featuring SVNS Hard 7UP, plus tons of free swag giveaways to get things started right.

From 9:30PM–1AM, the stage comes alive with an eclectic lineup of live music featuring Friendly Rich & The Jane Does, along with special guests Emilie Steele & The Deal.

Friendly Rich & The Jane Does
Led by the wonderfully eccentric composer and performer Friendly Rich, this group delivers a wildly entertaining blend of avant-cabaret, experimental rock, and theatrical pop. Known for their playful performances and off-beat storytelling, Friendly Rich & The Jane Does bring a musical experience that’s equal parts absurd, brilliant, and completely unforgettable.

Emilie Steele & The Deal
Kingston favourites Emilie Steele & The Deal bring a soulful mix of blues, jazz, rock, and roots to the stage. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist Emilie Steele, the band delivers gritty grooves, smooth melodies, and high-energy performances that always get the crowd moving.

Come celebrate Virginia, enjoy some free drinks samples and swag, and settle in for a night of great music, great people, and great pints at The Toucan.

Music starts at 9:30PM — get here early for the freebies at 9! 🍀