TANYA WILLS
6.00
Singer/songwriter Tanya Wills is as comfortable on stage in a musical as she is in a club with her Quartet, and has sung everything from swing to blues/folk and jazz. Known not only for her dynamic performance, but also as a great vocal technician, Tanya brings a sensual and evocative sound to her musical interpretations.
She has performed in a great number of Toronto’s most popular Jazz venues such as Hugh’s Room, Jazz Bistro and Hirut, and is one of the featured vocalists for The Wintergarten Orchestra, a Toronto based, 11 piece Vintage Jazz Ensemble – a sensational band for her to flex her Cabaret muscles, and to add her German and French repertoire. With her Quartet, Tanya brings her unique sound to the stage with three of her favourite gentlemen – master musicians, Bill Bridges, Ron Johnston and Kevin Coady.
WALEED KUSH AFRO-JAZZ
8.30
The Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz Ensemble combines the impelling ancient rhythms of Africa with exhilarating, modern jazz improvisations. From Nubia, Sudan, to Harlem and Toronto.
Their rhythms are played in what is considered “odd time” in Western music, combining jazz chord progressions with traditional African rhythms to produce an entrancing experience.
Waleed tells stories atop an imaginative musical landscape, inspired by the chanting and vocal phrasing which have accompanied these rhythms since ancient times. Each composition narrates an experience or journey, continually changing depending on what story the musicians want to tell. Sometimes these experiences are personal, sometimes they are historical, sometimes they are a retelling of the past of the Nile and Nubian pyramids. Each musical journey creates a relationship between the storyteller (the band) and the audience. Waleed sings in over 15 African and Western languages, celebrating the African diaspora in Canada. As the band leader, Waleed has received numerous awards for different solo and group projects, being awarded and nominated for several Juno and Grammy awards.
$15 cover after 10PM and $20 after 2AM, with all proceeds going directly to the musicians performing.
JER LIVE AT DROM
11.30
Junction based Brazilian Canadian artist JER kicks off 2026 at Drom with an exclusive preview of her upcoming album It’s Not a Joke. Joined by João Leão, Dhaivat Jani, Demetrious Petlzieki, and special guests, she builds a live sound that crosses Brazilian roots, global melodic colours, and the pulse of North American experimentation. Expect a performance that moves between deep trance like moments and high voltage grooves, on a night where ancestry rhythm and instinct meet onstage.
A strong start to the year. jersings.com
KON-FUSION
2.30
Kon-Fusion, a captivating music group from Montreal, embodies the very essence of musical diversity. Formed by a collective of talented musicians from varied backgrounds, Kon-Fusion skillfully blends musical genres to create a rich and distinctive sonic experience. This musical symbiosis transcends borders, weaving global influences into a strong foundation of original rhythms and melodies.
Formed in 2012, the band has won over audiences with its wide-ranging musical influences. Infused with ska, reggae, funk, Andean music, and driven primarily by cumbia, the group has released both an EP and a full-length album, both self-produced. On stage, Kon-Fusion channels the energy of festive Latin music through engaged, socially conscious, and harmonious lyrics. Their melodies and rhythms have traveled across stages in Quebec, Ontario, and Mexico, spreading their message, camaraderie, and the music that fuels them.