An Intimate Night of Passionate Music: Straats and Marielle Divino Shine at Burdock Brewery

12 January 2025 / by Maya Gallo
Concerts
An Intimate Night of Passionate Music: Straats and Marielle Divino Shine at Burdock Brewery
The final date of Straats mini-tour in Toronto was one to remember
Rating:
8/10

With the production put on by Straats at Burdock Brewery, they have proven why they are playing sold-out venues. On December 7th, 2024, Straats played their final show of their first mini-tour. The tour, spanning three cities in Ontario, ended in Toronto. With limited extra tickets selling out at the door, this show made for a packed event space. The venue itself is inside of the Burdock Brewery. In a long room with string lights hanging from the ceiling and a small disco ball, it felt like this show was taking place in a barn with stars lighting up the venue. 

 

The stage was set up like a living room, with a rug covering the stage floor, and several lamps lighting up the instruments. This helped to keep up the warm, inviting atmosphere, and the visuals accompanied the music perfectly.

 

The only featured artist on the Straats’ album We Miss You is none other than Marielle Divino, who hit the stage as the opener. She began her set with the title track of her new and first EP, Eye to Eye. Divino was accompanied by backing vocals from another Toronto artist, Danny Webster. Their voices melded beautifully, and Divino’s vocals really shone through. 

 

She also played her 2022 single, “Every Blue Moon” which she said reminds her of summertime. I completely agree – it sounded like a song you could slow dance to on a beach somewhere. The acoustic guitar set a waltz tempo, as hints of the piano shone through, and created a beautiful collaboration. 

 

While she did play a lot of her own music, Divino also played a couple of covers. She started with Daniel Caesar’s song, “Japanese Denim,” which was completely cohesive with her own tracks. She also played a track I didn’t expect, “Angelina” by Lizzy McAlpine. This heart-wrenching song fit Divino’s voice so beautifully. She even played the mouth trumpet near the end of the track to mimic the real song. 

 

Throughout the show, Divino showed her gratitude many times to the audience, the venue and to the Straats for having her. Her stage presence was warm and welcoming, which made her set all the more enjoyable. 

 

Near the end of her set, Divino played her last track off her EP, I’ll Still Be Around which was my personal favourite. Straying a little from the sound of the rest of the set, this upbeat and bouncy track had everyone swaying to the beat. I would love to see more of this from Divino. 

 

 

At around 9:00 pm the second half of the show began. Before the band were welcomed on stage, the show began with a trumpet, bass and keys playing a short melody before Straats took the stage. Staats consists of Adrian Straatsma on keys, Joel Porter on guitar and vocals, and Annie Martin on lead vocals. The trio opened the show with their track “About You,” a somber and slow track with beautiful lyrics that showcased beautiful vocals from Martin. 

 

Their second track, “Drift Away,” has a little bit of a different vibe than their first track, with Porter on acoustic guitar and vocals, harmonizing with Marielle Divino who is also on this track. Porter was the most vocal with the audience, keeping everyone engaged and even sharing the story of how the band met Divinoat at an open mic night in Guelph, Ontario. 

 

The entire show felt larger than it was, with a full band featuring two keyboards, an upright bass, electric guitar, trumpet and electronic computer sound effect additions, Straats really created an experience for their audience, and every note was filled with an intentional piece of the larger beautiful puzzle that was this show. 

 

My favourite song of the set was “Sleeves” which showcased all parts of the trio beautifully. From the keys addition from Straatsma, to the gorgeous harmonies from Porter and Martin. This song was overall the cleanest and built intensity for a powerful performance. 

 

This sold-out show attracted a full house of fans swaying and waving their arms to their tracks. For the second half of the show, Straats performed a few covers including a Day Glo Cover of “Close to You,” a festive cover of Wham’s “Last Christmas,” and “Linger” from The Cranberries which absolutely stole the show. 

 

The final song of the night was their 2019 track called “Jessica” in collaboration with Jay Feelbender. I absolutely loved this track and the rhythmic bounce it brought closed out the show nicely and showcased Porter’s vocals. 

 

Overall, that night at Burdock Brewery was a special one. Marielle Divino kicked things off with a heartfelt set, and Straats brought the energy with their unique blend of sounds. The intimate vibe of the venue only added to the experience, making it feel like a shared moment between the artists and the audience. Between the original tracks and the unexpected covers, the show had something for everyone, and it’s clear these artists have big things ahead. It was a night filled with great music and even better vibes, leaving everyone excited for what’s next.