Time: 9 p.m.

Cover: $7

Schomberg Fair www.theschombergfair.com or  http://www.myspace.com/theschombergfair

With three years and hundreds of shows under their belts, the Toronto roots-rock trio The Schomberg Fair have developed a reputation for their hard-breathing, sweat-stained, late-night speed-gospel sets. It is with great pride that they announce the release of their sophomore long player “Gospel” - out October 2009 on Hi-Hat Records / Sonic Unyon Distribution.

The Schomberg Fair’s music grapples with the inclination to destroy oneself, the desire to be saved, and the hope of better things ahead. The band itself was born out of the near destruction of the musical ambitions of lead singer, guitarist/banjo and primary songwriter Matt Bahen. At 24, Bahen cut off all of the fingers from his left hand in a work accident, and had them reattached. While recuperating, he reconnected with high school friend Nathan Sidon, and the two bonded over their mutual appreciation of pre-war blues. It was as Bahen regained movement in his digits that The Schomberg Fair was born, named for the spring agricultural fair of their small Ontario hometown, the one time a year that teenage townies look forward to most. With the addition of drummer Pete Garthside’s thunderous beat and high lonesome vocals harmonies, along side Sidon’s punk-rock bass technique and rich bass vocal and you’re left with an inferno of a whiskey-swilling good time and an unforgettable Saturday night.

The true stories songwriter Bahen has been privy to in his job as an outreach worker heavily inspires ‘Gospel’. These are tales of the dispossessed, the hurt, the vulnerable, the lost, the cruel and ultimately, the survivors. But the music is raucous, rousing and wild - it is within this dichotomy that the band shines brightest. The result is a sober reality with decidedly dynamic delivery.

This past year has seen The Schomberg Fair touring everything from dive bars to major festivals across Canada and the United States, sharing stages with Canadian indie stars (The Handsome Furs, Slim Twig, The Pack AD), international imports (The Oholics), and even 85-year-old blues legend T-Model Ford. Look for them as they cross Canada once again this fall.

Blind Mule www.myspace.com/blindmulemusic  area  Hamilton band who play an unusual mix of pop, bluegrass, rock and country. They feature unusual instrumentation and pretty melodies.

 Blind Mule began its history as a progressive rock band called Gorp, which evolved a few years later into Golden Lake Diner, both formerly on Sonic Unyon Records. Both bands had successfully charted high on the college radio charts, and had the pleasure to play with many outstanding acts such as Sloan, Big Wreck, Ashley McIssac, Rheostatics, Big Sugar, Treble Charger and Hayden, just to name a hand full.

The two main songwriters of these bands took a break to rediscover what it truly was that made the soul breathe musically. As time progressed, Graham Peacefull and Joey Balducchi found what they were listening for and built a roots act in January 2007, incorporating a total of 6 members to fill out the sound.

Since their inception as a band, they’ve toured Canada 3 times since the summer of 2007, playing festivals throughout Ontario and BC, including It’s Your Festival (Hamilton, ON) with Tom Wilson and Tomi Swick, Artswells Festival (Wells, BC) with Caroline Mark and Geoff Berner, they headlined their first festival called the Arts Quest Festival (London, ON) in October 2008, and they were the surprise act of the day at the Grand Stage Festival (Paris, ON) in July 2008, alongside other acts Blue Rodeo, The Sadies and Matthew Good, to name a few of the bigger acts on the bill.

After completing their debut album 'The Gallery', Blind Mule got nominated at the Hamilton Music Awards ‘08 for ‘Best New Alt/Country’ act, and didn’t win, but got the best reception in their category.

Blind Mule are known to audiences as one of the more entertaining bands to watch, as they find it very easy to connect with all age groups with their own unique sense of personality, music, and humour.