jonny

Jonny Dovercourt (Jonathan Bunce) has been participating in the independent music community in Toronto – as a musician, writer, editor, presenter, organizer and advocate – since the early 1990s. The Scarborough, Ontario native settled on Toronto as home not long after moving downtown to attend University College at the University of Toronto, where he completed a philosophy degree while paying more attention to writing for the student paper (The Gargoyle) and playing in bands. As guitarist, bassist or vocalist, Jonny has been a member of more than a dozen bands, including Danger Bay, Republic of Safety, Christiana, Secret Agent, Kid Sniper and A Tuesday Weld. Though none have ever achieved widespread commercial success, many of these bands are now recognized as seminal cult groups within the now-world-renowned Toronto scene. With all his various musical projects, Jonny is respected for his commitment to “do it yourself” principles of independence within a creative community. He is currently playing with old pal Matt Vocabulary in the space-improv-punk guitar duo, Hybrid Moments. He has also performed with The Hidden Cameras (Swedish tour 2004), Rhys Chatham’s A Crimson Grail for 200 guitars (NYC 2008) and David Daniell’s Sunfish (organizing a 14-piece ensemble, Toronto 2007). Having worked as Listings Editor at Toronto’s Eye Weekly (from 1997 to 2002), in 1999 Jonny combined his experience in both the music scene and journalism to help co-found the Wavelength music series and zine. Launched in early 2000, and recently having celebrated its 10th anniversary with the monumental Wavelength 500 Festival, the artist-run organization — incorporated as Wavelength Music Arts Projects — is universally hailed as helping revitalize the once-stagnant Toronto music scene. Jonny currents acts as Founding Director and one of the main programmers and organizers of Wavelength’s activities. In 2002, the success of Wavelength led Jonny to become publicity director of The Music Gallery, Toronto’s premier venue for experimental and avant-garde music since 1976. Two years later, Jonny launched his own concert series at the MG called Pop Avant, which has helped bridge the divide between the youthful independent music scene and the older, more academic new music community. In 2007, he was named artistic director of the Music Gallery, and is credited with rejuvenating the institution, as well as conceiving and launching the Gallery’s annual X Avant New Music Festival, now going into its sixth edition in October 2011. In addition, Jonny co-edited (with Alana Wilcox and Christina Palassio) of The State of the Arts: Living With Culture in Toronto (2006) and GreenTOpia: Towards a Sustainable Toronto (2007), the follow-ups to Coach House Books’ acclaimed uTOpia anthology covering Toronto’s cultural renaissance (2005), to which he contributed an essay, “Making a Green Scene.” He has also contributed to MusicWorks magazine, and been a guest host on CBC Radio 3. Jonny Dovercourt no longer lives on Dovercourt, but now resides on Crawford Street next to Trinity Bellwoods Park. He will probably call Toronto home forever.