Niagara's Independent Voice for the Performing Arts
I knew before Pat Metheny played a note that I wasn't going to be taking many notes myself.Before Friday night's performance at Massey Hall, an announcement informed the audience that, at the artist's request, there would be no photography or recording of any kind, and that cell phones were to be turned off.The ushers took that request seriously.
Read the ReviewCoco Bar & Mexican Grill was packed Saturday night.And I mean packed.Steve Goldberger & The Gentle Spirits had brought an eleven-piece band to the stage, and judging by the crowd, plenty of people had come out to hear them.The music had a… Continue Reading →
Event: Steve Goldberger & The Gentle Spirits 11-Piece Big Band →
I knew before Pat Metheny played a note that I wasn't going to be taking many notes myself.Before Friday night's performance at Massey Hall, an announcement informed the audience that, at the artist's request, there would be no photography… Continue Reading →
A word of warning: This review may contain occasional profanity. Not for shock value, but because certain moments of Thursday night's performance simply demanded a stronger vocabulary.In 1978, my father took me to see The Last Waltz at the… Continue Reading →
After almost sixty years as a published journalist, one should know the basics. This writer just returned from blowing a principle or two. When reporting, one is supposed to be totally objective and unbiased. Continue Reading →
A few decades back, Harrison Ford made a movie (Hollywood Homicide) about a cop who moonlights as a real estate salesman. His "You have the right to stay silent; and to list your property with me" almost ranks with " Go ahead, punk- make… Continue Reading →
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. 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 →
“It is by the interest & support of culture that a community is truly defined.”
— E. Terry Metter, 1990
Helliwell Hall, St. Catharines (opens venue website in a new tab)
Thursday, October 15 • 8:00 p.m.
Presented by Cicada Music & Arts Festival
Ontario singer-songwriter Spencer Burton brings his country and roots songwriting to Helliwell Hall in St. Catharines on Thursday, October 15. Burton's recent work includes North Wind (2024) and Coyote (2021), with North Wind recorded during a retreat to a secluded cabin in…
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines (opens venue website in a new tab)
Saturday, October 17 • 8:00 p.m.
Few live acts deliver the sheer energy of My Son the Hurricane. The Niagara-based, internationally touring ensemble has built a reputation for turning concert halls and festival stages into dance floors with its explosive blend of funk, soul, jazz, rock and hip-hop. Featuring a…
OXIGIN Club, Hamilton (opens venue website in a new tab)
Friday, October 23 • 7:00 p.m.
Edmonton soul, roots and blues collective Secondhand Dreamcar rolls into Hamilton's OXIGIN Club with singer-songwriter Joe Nolan for an evening of Canadian roots music. Secondhand Dreamcar brings together nine veteran Alberta musicians whose backgrounds span soul, blues, jazz…
LIV Communities Arena (King Street Ice Palace), Welland (opens venue website in a new tab)
Saturday, October 24 • 6:00 p.m.
Classic Albums Halloween II brings an evening of alternative rock, punk and metal to Welland's King Street Ice Palace on Saturday, October 24.Four tribute acts will revisit influential albums, with Ænimaniacs performing Tool's Ænima, NotFX tackling NOFX's The Decline and other…
David Horhota is a lifelong Niagara resident and muso, with deep ties to the local music scene and a lifelong passion for attending live performances. He hosted the "Make a Jazz Noise" radio program for many years on CFBU 103.7FM, once co-hosted the…
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.
