Niagara's Independent Voice for the Performing Arts
Somewhere during “Thinking Of You,” Ian de Souza played a bass fill that “ruined” my night off.I'd gone to Niagara Artists Centre Thursday night intending to watch my friend Joe Lapinski play, have a drink with Jay and enjoy the show. No notes.
Read the ReviewSomewhere during “Thinking Of You,” Ian de Souza played a bass fill that “ruined” my night off.I'd gone to Niagara Artists Centre Thursday night intending to watch my friend Joe Lapinski play, have a drink with Jay and enjoy the show. Continue Reading →
Event: Joe Lapinski + Band with special guest Geordie Gordon →
Five Canadian jazz veterans brought John Coltrane's music to Helliwell Hall — after two young Niagara musicians showed why that legacy still matters.There are tribute concerts that attempt to recreate the music of the person being… Continue Reading →
It wasn't a march — that was Schubert. It certainly was not a parade — that was Erik Satie. As for a stroll — that would be Charles Williams! Continue Reading →
The location is a parkette with concrete slab seating facing a smallish stage and a backdrop of swaying sailboat masts moored in what is technically titled Old Lock One Commons. Continue Reading →
Two exceedingly worthwhile organizations took over the Performing Arts Centre to offer three well known Canadian talents in order to spread their raison d'etre and the myriad advantages they offer. Continue Reading →
There is an uncomfortable moment in writing about a performance like this when you find yourself asking who exactly you are to criticize Elvis Costello. Continue Reading →
Yesterday, Sept. 11th, was a somber day for most of us adults, remembering where we were and what we were doing that fateful Tuesday morning twenty-five years ago. Continue Reading →
I sometimes tell myself I'm not going somewhere as a reviewer — I'm just stopping in for a couple of beers and some live music. Apparently that distinction exists only in my head. Continue Reading →
Event: Jimmy's Juke Joint with Paige Armstrong & Dane Wedderburn →
“It is by the interest & support of culture that a community is truly defined.”
— E. Terry Metter, 1990
Henley Island, Port Dalhousie
Friday, October 2 • 3:00 p.m.
Presented by Cicada Music & Arts
Cicada Music & Arts Festival returns to Henley Island in Port Dalhousie for two days of Canadian music, art, food and community on October 2 and 3, 2026. Metric headlines Friday night's programme, with a lineup that includes USS, The Darcys, The Zolas, SonReal and more across…
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines (opens venue website in a new tab)
Thursday, October 8 • 7:30 p.m.
Few farewell concerts have achieved the legendary status of The Last Waltz, The Band's star-studded final performance in 1976. More than four decades later, its music continues to resonate with audiences, celebrating an era when rock, folk, blues and country came together to…
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines (opens venue website in a new tab)
Friday, October 9 • 8:00 p.m.
Presented by Bravo Niagara
Two leading voices in contemporary jazz come together at Partridge Hall on October 9 as trumpeter Terence Blanchard and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane celebrate the centennials of Miles Davis and John Coltrane — not by recreating the past, but by exploring what their music continues…
Massey Hall, Toronto (opens venue website in a new tab)
Friday, October 9 • 8:00 p.m.
Few contemporary musicians have shaped modern jazz as profoundly as Pat Metheny. Throughout a career spanning five decades, the acclaimed guitarist and composer has continually expanded the boundaries of the genre, blending jazz with elements of folk, rock, world music and…
Daniel (Danny) Gaisin was born in Montreal ninety years ago. His involvement with writing was a result of his background; both grand dad & father were printers, so, he was instinctively a proofreader. Doing so for his University newspaper led to writing…
View BioNiagara Arts Review is being developed as an independent digital publication for the performing arts across the Niagara Region. The website is not meant to be a generic blog or technical showcase; it is a home for reviews, cultural memory, contributor voices, and community support.
Our guiding principle is simple: the publication comes before the technology. Every design decision, editorial tool, workflow, and public-facing feature should serve the reader, the reviewer, and the arts community first.
The publication's founding story brings together the experience of Danny Gaisin, retired arts critic; the editorial and development direction of David Horhota; and the contributor and social media support of Darrell Mason. Together, that gives Niagara Arts Review roots in traditional criticism, local commitment, and a practical path toward reaching new readers.
Niagara Arts Review has been shaped through editorial planning, reviewer identity work, masthead development, publication workflow, and community outreach planning.
Designed and published under the direction of David Horhota, with AI-assisted software development using ChatGPT.
