‘Support and love everybody because that’s how it should be, right? We don’t have space for hate.’

Six southern Ontario bands rocked Barrie, Ontario’s Simcoe Hotel, in support of trans youth on October 15 during Stonewall 2: Fundraiser Boogaloo.

People who didn’t make it out to enjoy the music ranging from acoustic folk punk to punk and pop rock but still want to support transgender youth as they endure attacks from far-right agitators across Canada can contribute at https://www.transwellness.ca. Trans Wellness Ontario provides counselling, resources and peer support for transgender youth in Ontario at a time when anti-2SLGBTQIA rhetoric is on the rise.

Six bands supporting Trans Youth will be raising funds in Barrie at Stonewall 2: Fundraiser Boogaloo on Oct. 15

Gay-Ass Productions is presenting Stonewall 2: Fundraiser Boogaloo at the Simcoe Hotel in Barrie on October 15. Money raised will support transgender youth through Trans Wellness Ontario. This organization provides counselling, resources and peer support for Trans Youth in Ontario at a time when anti-2SLGBTQIA rhetoric is on the rise.

Six bands are on the bill: Morel, Chachi On Acid, Earl Wyvern with Spare Parts, Mercy, Speed Humps, and Not So Gentle at the Simcoe Hotel, 31 Bayfield St. Barrie, On for $15. It’s 19+, and the doors open at 7 p.m. sharp. The bands will be playing shortly after, and it will run like clockwork.

“Insulting Language” Dipping into Listowel Ontario’s cultural history

This is the second of three pieces of local media that dove into a strange incident that shook the foundations of Listowel, Ontario.

After the shit hit the fan following “Bandfest ’95,” the Listowel Youth Support Committee wrote an open letter to clarify their position, which was printed in the Wednesday, October 4, 1995, issue of the Listowel Banner.

In the letter, the committee established their innocuous involvement in the “distasteful” behaviour and that the needs of the many may have been in jeopardy because of the “actions of a few.”

“Almost obscene” Dipping into Listowel Ontario’s cultural history

This is the first of three pieces I am reprinting from local media that dove into a strange incident that shook the foundations of Listowel, Ontario. When this issue flared into a fervour of debate among the town council and local authorities, my father told me, “You are ahead of your time; this town is not ready for you yet.” It seems that this is still the case. Yet, I’m still here.  

Originally printed in the edition of the Listowel Banner on Wednesday, September 20, 1995, this story had no byline attributed to it.  Although the newspaper has gone through several ownership changes since then, it has been printed continuously since 1866, and back issues can be found at the archives housed in the Stratford Perth Museum.

Woodstein Media Podcast Episode Four: Jillian Clair confesses MVLL CRIMES

On episode four, Jillian Clair, singer for MVLL CRIMES, talks about the release of their 12″ EP “YOU EMBVRRVSS ME” on Cursed Blessings Records, her day job dealing with Freedom of Information requests for the City of London, the need for punks to get involved in municipal politics, zines, the lack of all-ages venues in many music scenes, many bands currently active in Ontario, and much more.

YOU EMBVRRVSS ME: Piecing together connections with MVLL CRIMES’ Jillian Clair

On Sept. 8, the evening before the official release of MVLL CRIMES 12” EP “YOU EMBVRRVSS ME,” lead singer Jillian Clair took the opportunity to avoid helping her bandmates to load in for a show at Doors Taco Joint and Metal Bar in Hamilton, Ontario, instead having a conversation with Woodstein Media.  The chat took some unexpected turns as connections through the music and zine community were discussed in a Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon way, which led to as much talk about the reporter’s accomplishments as the new MVLL CRIMES release. You have been warned.