Silence Presents: Michelle Willis + Lori Cullen – Winter Amity Tour
November 20th, 2025 Doors: 7:30 PM Show: 8:00 PM MICHELLE WILLIS AND LORI CULLEN WINTER AMITY TOUR Canadian songwriters Lori Cullen and Michelle Willis perform an intimate collection of songs from their new records, Rich is the Wanderer and The Thunder and the Bay. The night will feature a sophisticated and soul-filling double bill, solo and together, highlighting their musical chemistry, warmth, and humour. Longtime friends, their ease with one another brings a rare kind of trust and playfulness to the stage, deepening the emotional resonance of the music. Lori Cullen is a Juno-nominated Canadian songwriter whose pure vocal style captivates listeners. Jazz great Kurt Elling once praised her as “his favorite new singer”—a testament to her unique artistry. With nine albums spanning jazz, folk, and pop, Lori has built a devoted following through heartfelt performances across Canada and internationally. Michelle Willis is a Toronto-raised singer-songwriter, pianist, and guitarist currently based in Scotland. Her blend…
Silence Presents: Sam Wilson
November 15th, 2025 Doors: 7:30 PM Show: 8:00 PM Sam Wilson is an acclaimed guitarist/composer based in Halifax/Kjipuktuk, Nova Scotia/Mi’kma’ki. Blending finger-style guitar and improvisation, her practice is inspired by natural spaces and site specific responses evident by her forthcoming album Sowing Spring and 2024 release Wintertides. Notable recent performances include the Halifax, Vancouver, Victoria and Calgary jazz festivals and the Open Waters Festival. Featured on CBC’s Saturday Night Jazz with Laila Biali and reviewed by The Whole Note, Rhythm Changes, Jazzmania and CultureJazz among others, she has been described as “an original voice” (Yves Dorison), “highly unusual… but never seems to get old in the listening” (Rick Anderson), and “able to highlight the beauty of nature” (Mario Borroni). Incorporating elements of folk, contemporary chamber work and pastoral jazz, the improviser is at the forefront of her writing. She has been commissioned several times by Upstream Music association and was the recipient of…
Silence Presents: We Three Ft. Iios Steryannis
January 31st, 2026 Coming together under unusual circumstances, the members of piano trio We Three found a common thread in their mutual appreciation for pianist Phineas Newborn. They quickly decided to add Newborn’s entire 1958 album We Three to their repertoire, a classic piano trio record that features Roy Haynes and Paul Chambers. Since then, Josh Smiley on piano, Bennett Young on bass and Ilios Steryannis on drums have added other composers to their playlist, including Oscar Pettiford, Benny Golson, and the late and dearly missed Toronto musician Julia Cleveland.