Reflecting on Sounds Like a Park - A Summer Music Series in Allan Gardens
Thanks to a wonderful partnership with TMU’s Office of Social Innovation, we brought three days of free music to Allan Gardens this summer!
Everybody in the park community participated, and many new memories were made!
Cotee Harper bringing the community together on July 13th, 2023.
July 13th - Let’s Dance!
Cotee Harper and Theo Mcgregor of Walks Across Collective opened the Sounds Like A Park Music Series in a good way with traditional singing, drumming, dance and storytelling. In one memorable act, Cotee brought us all into a circle to dance together. It was wonderful reminder of the strength of this community.
Samba Squad leading us in dance on the north lawn of Allan Gardens.
Even the adults enjoyed painting butterflies!
Following Cotee and Theo, Samba Squad livened up the park with high-energy drumming inspired by the Afro-Brazillian samba traditions!
Samba Squad brought a choreographer to teach us some dance moves, too. That night, we turned Allan Gardens’s north lawn into a dance floor!
For those of you who are wise enough to remember, the north lawn is located where Larry’s Hideaway - a bar and music venue - used to be before it closed in the late 80s. In 1990, the land was purchased by the City of Toronto and incorporated into Allan Gardens.
In addition to the music, local families were invited to paint butterflies that would be mounted around the park to add beauty and colour. While the activity was largely geared towards children, their parents also enjoyed the time painting.
Counterpoint and Friends performing in the Children’s Conservatory on July 20th, 2023.
July 20th - Ode to Thor
Counterpoint Community Orchestra & Friends graced us with their talent for the second event in the Sounds Like a Park series. Since it was a stormy day, we gathered in the Children’s Conservatory to enjoy the performance. The setting was intimate, and the acoustics were marvelous!
At one point, thunder seemed to amplify our applause as we cheered on the band, adding to the magical atmosphere of the night.
Since these musical performances were scheduled for Thursdays – or rather Thor’s days – it made sense that the Norse deity of thunder decided to greet us for at least one event.
Thyron Lee Whyte’s closed out the Sounds Like a Park music series.
July 27th - Jazz with Views
Thyron Lee Whyte & Band caped-off the Sounds Like a Park music series with a wonderful show.
If you closed your eyes during the performance, it would be as if Thyron transported us to a different world.
When you opened your eyes, you saw the CN Tower and the Children’s Conservatory in the distance. You were reminded of where you were – a beautiful Botanical Garden & Conservatory in downtown Toronto.
Lillian Allen, Toronto’s recently named Poet Lauriate and her Revolutionary Tea Party were due to perform on Thursday July 6th, but that event was postponed due to weather. Sign up for our mailing list at the bottom of this page, and we’ll let you know when Lillian will perform next at Allan Gardens!
Special thanks to the Toronto Arts Council for their support for the events! Due to their support we were able to provide free music for the community.
Each of Sound’s Like A Park’s events featured artists with very different musical styles, and each took place in a different part of the park. We are inspired by what was achieved and we hope to bring more events like it to Allan Gardens again in the near future.
We’ll see you around the park dear Friends!
The Sounds Like a Park poster.