Silence Presents: Grdina/Lillinger
2026-06-21 19:00 - 22:00 UTC | Silence, 46 Essex Street, Guelph, ON, N1H 3K8, Canada
JUNE 21, 2026
Doors: 6:30 PM
Show: 7:00 PM
Gordon Grdina Midi-guitar/oud, Christian Lillinger Drums/Electronics
The phenomenal, genre-mashing juggernaut duo Grdina/Lillinger mixes electronica, drum and bass, metal, punk, and free jazz into their explosively self-expressive sound. A force of nature on guitar and oud, Gordon Grdina and virtuosic powerhouse drummer Christian Lillinger intersperse intense, complex, spacious, heavily grooving free improv with modular composition ideas. Equal parts rock, punk, and exploratory atonality, these next-level innovators take unexpected turns at every corner, while taking their wildfire chemistry to the next level in this duo setting.
‘Grdina’s fierce licks pushing Lillinger into a manic punk-jazz realm. Lillinger is a masterful shapeshifter, and Grdina is the perfect counterpart for his anything-goes aesthetic…the ideal mixture of technical brilliance and gut-punch intensity.” TROY DOSTERT ALL ABOUT JAZZ

Willem James Cowan w/ Cowboy Medicine & Nick Zubeck
2026-06-27 20:00 - 23:00
JUNE 27TH, 2026
8 PM
$15 in advance/ $20 at the door NOTAFLOF
Nick Zubeck:
Nick Zubeck is a Toronto born, Guelph based musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his eclectic and inventive style, blending elements of folk, rock, jazz, ambient, and experimental music. He has been active in the music scene for more than three decades and has developed a reputation for thoughtful songwriting, expressive vocals, and intricate guitar work. Nick has recorded and released a number of original LP’s, including Hiding Out And Laying Low (2003), Tracker (2008), Saltwater (2008), Skydiving (2016), Venusian Blues (2020), and Echo Park (2023). He also composes and produces instrumental ambient music under the moniker Maud Gonne.
In addition to his solo work, Nick has collaborated with a wide range of artists and musicians, further expanding his creative reach and musical palette. As a sideman, he has worked with Sun Kil Moon, Great Lake Swimmers, Sandro Perri, Dana Sipos. Barzin, Donovan Woods, Royal Wood, Roxanne Potvin, Rich Burnett, Priya Thomas, and many others. Nick has toured extensively and internationally, having played many of the world’s great stages and festivals, notably Pitchfork Fest, Hillside, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Royal Festival Hall in London and The Town Hall in NYC.

Cowboy Medicine:
A duo project created on a foundation of friendship and shared passions, Cowboy Medicine is rooted in tight harmony and story telling. Kale and Lane bring their chemistry and folksy indie influence to the stage, showcasing their shared experiences and the growing pains of life.

Willem James Cowan:
In a Willem James Cowan song, the entire world spills out from the smallest detail. He never sacrifices the vividness of the narrative for a borrowed platitude or a hackneyed phrase. Writing and recording in London, Ontario, Cowan draws inspiration from great wordsmiths like Elliott Smith, Dan Mangan, Joni Mitchell, and Sufjan Stevens. He lets his characters breathe in the verses and choruses, and he’s laser-focused on the emotion and authenticity tucked into the dark corners of his stories. In “Apartment” he sings of nostalgia and how we are haunted by the ones we’ve loved: “Three years from tonight / I won’t remember your body / But I will remember your light / Alone in an airport lobby”. His taut hooks and driving rhythms draw us into the narrative, rooting for the characters as they careen toward salvation or demise.
Cowan’s process is varied but often begins with a few chords and a mumbled melody until something sticks. Perhaps his focus on lyrics stems from his discomfort with placeholders. Where many songwriters start with nonsense or simple phrases and write the final lyrics in the editing stage, Cowan’s unfold as the song progresses. The story never takes a back seat to the overall creation, and the songs carry this clarity into the studio and the live show. Cowan’s alternately confessional and celebratory show has graced the stage of NXNE, VENUExVENUE, and Summerfolk where he left audiences wondering whether they want to cry sad or happy tears.

THE BREAK⚡️EVEN BOYS album release Gala
2026-07-03 19:30 - 23:00
THE BREAK⚡️EVEN BOYS are releasing their debut all original album. Friday, July 3 at silence in Guelph Ontario. Tickets are limited.

This is a very special event you do not want to miss. Join us as we take you through our original music. On a journey through music and The High Plains of wonder.

Silence Presents: Andrea Scala
2026-07-10 20:00 - 23:00
July 10th, 2026
Doors: 7:30 PM
Show: 8:00 PM
Andrea Scala (drums + electronics) :
The project involves the use of acoustic drums, samples, and other electronic elements, all played in a sort of one-man band. These compositions incorporate abstract rhythms, textures, noises and electronics, employing analog and digital processes. Everything is expressed through a system of improvisation within a musical structure, dictated by the interaction of different rhythms that overlap and generate incidents with other sounds in transit. The idea is to fuse all these elements together and transport them beyond the static, aiming to express something happening in the moment, generating chaos and movement. Organic and digital, human and machine, in total creative freedom, conceptually jazzy and adventurous.Bio :
Born in Italy and based in Toronto, Andrea Scala is a drummer and composer. He showed a natural inclination towards percussive instruments and creative arts since he was a kid. Andrea started from a teen age to work as a live and studio session drummer with various bands and songwriters, gathering several collaborations with established musicians in the field of rock and progressive music. He toured with pop, alternative, jazz, folk and world-music bands, performing at festivals, venues and clubs in Europe, Canada, USA. He continues to collaborate and develop original musical projects together with creative composers and musicians.
Over the years, Andrea had the opportunity to collaborate with several projects, his concerts and recordings include collaborations with: David Binney, Shahzad Ismaily, Jozef Dumoulin, Roberto Tarenzi, William Brittelle (Grammy-award winning), Nicola Costa, Francesco Puglisi, Karl Potter, Piccola Orchestra La Viola, O’ Zulù, Duo + 2 Quartet, Jeff kollmann, Tommy Denander, Ron Thal, etc.
Andrea has been recording, performing, and producing music with some of the most visionary artists around: In 2024, he recorded the EP “ENDROLL” and subsequently the single “Till Next,” with the collaborative trio Shahzad Ismaily/Stanford Cheung/Andrea Scala, produced by Ismaily. Between 2024 and 2025, Andrea wrote, produced, and released “BURHST,” a collaborative single with Italian drummer and composer Roberto Pistolesi, and subsequently another single titled “Stems,” with American saxophonist and composer David Binney (creator/producer of David Bowie’s band Blackstar).

Jessica Rhaye, Bill Preeper & Sandy MacKay
2026-11-04 19:30 - 23:00
Catch New Brunswick based artist Preeper Rhaye MacKay bringing their unique folk vibes for a night you won’t want to miss!

Step into an evening of rich harmonies, thoughtful songwriting, and timeless folk music with Jessica Rhaye, Bill Preeper and Sandy MacKay – together known as Preeper Rhaye MacKay.
From New Brunswick, Canada, the trio takes listeners back to the height of the Greenwich Village folk scene of the 1960’s, while bringing a sound that feels timeless yet entirely their own. Finely blended three-part harmonies, shared lead vocals, and a seamless mix of acoustic and electric instrumentation that echo the spirit of Woody Guthrie, Ian Tyson, and early Bob Dylan.
Acclaimed songwriter and Canadian Folk Music Award nominee Jessica Rhaye, with more than 25 years of touring and nine albums to her name, leads on rhythm guitar, while Bill Preeper’s intricate fingerstyle guitar and mandolin add richness and depth. Sandy MacKay rounds out the trio on upright and electric bass, with touches of banjo that add warmth and colour to their sound.
Together, they create an intimate and engaging performance, often likened to a modern-day Peter, Paul and Mary, showcasing music from their ECMA Roots-nominated album Wood & Wire (2024) and their much-anticipated follow-up album Blackberry Lane (2026).
Whether you’ve followed folk music for years or are simply curious to experience it live, this concert offers an evening to settle in, listen closely, and connect through song, story, and harmony.
