As this is the third, hopefully charmed time that I am applying to the Awesome Foundation, you may be tired of hearing about The Complete Street Band, the community street band open to musicians of all ages and musical abilities, dedicated to making Toronto’s public spaces more exciting and inviting places to be.

So let me rather tell you what we’ve been up to and why I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to even resubmit an application to you for the last couple of months.

1. Playing for the Bells on Bloor mass ride to Queen’s park for the safer streets rally in June. The Complete Street Band gathered outside of Honest Ed’s at Bloor and Bathurst and played for the stream of cyclists riding by as well as those on the street, much to everyone's delight.

2. "A street band in search of a street piano". On the second Saturday in July, The Complete Street Band marched through Trinity-Bellwoods park, playing contemplative, park-like music, before setting up at the piano that was placed in the park as part of the fantastic “Play me, I’m yours” exhibit. At least that was the plan except there was no piano to be found when we arrived! We found out too late that the piano had been moved but that didn’t stop us from playing a set for a very appreciative crowd right there in the park.

3. Playing in the courtyard outside of St. Stephen in the Fields church in the north end of Kensington market many Saturday afternoons. The band rehearses every Saturday at the church but we often find ourselves lured outside to play for the folks on College St.

The band is currently composed of 8-12 musicians though we continue to actively seek out more. Recently, I have been focusing on reaching out to younger musicians who may be looking for new opportunities to play.