Hamilton: Tricks of the Mind -- Magic, Mystery, and Possibility [Apr 23 - 24]

Tickets at https://www.tixr.com/groups/sonicunyon/events/tricks-of-the-mind-magic-mystery-and-possibility-177910

From the March 18th Instagram post by Brandon Love: 

On April 23 & 24, magician Brandon Love brings an evening of impossible demonstrations, mind-bending surprises, and audience interaction to Bridgeworks in Hamilton.

Read more. 

 

Hamilton: Misdirection -- Magic and Mind Reading Show [Feb 6]

Tickets at Eventbrite. 

 

From the December 31st Instagram post by Graeme Reed: 

MISDIRECTION 
Comedy Magic & Mind Reading Show 
Live at Fairweather Brewing, Hamilton
Friday, February 6th

Featuring:
Canada's Top Mentalist - Ryan Edwards
& Level 7 Wizard (...totally real) - Graemazing 

 

 

 

Hamilton: Chris Campbell's Strange or Danger Thrillshow at Ring 49 [Nov 11]

From the Ring 49 website: 

FenyxFyre the Innovator of Insanity has risen from the ashes and been thrilling audiences worldwide for over the past 2 decades. As a sideshow performer, escape artist and master of the fire arts, he boldly bellows flame like a dragon. His shocking stunts challenge us to confront the places that scare us, by illuminating all things dark. 

Read more. 

 

 

From the October 26th Facebook post by Rene Chouinard at IBM Ring 49 Hamilton:

November 11th, Chris Cambbell's StrangeOrDanger Thrillshow! This will be an event not to be missed. Check out the details on Ring 49's website (https://ring49magic.com/) 

 

 

 

Hamilton: Members' night [Oct 14]

From the October 12th post by Rene Chouinard at the I.B.M Ring 49 Hamilton Ontario - Doug Henning Magic Wand Club Facebook group: 

Coming Up! Tuesday (Oct 14, 2025) Ring 49 will be featuring… well, YOU actually. It’s our 2025 Members Night. Bring some of your favorite effects to perform and teach to the membership. It’s an opportunity to practice effects in a live audience atmosphere, mentor fellow members to help build our community, and to learn new skills and effects from the best performing professionals in the area. Don’t miss out on this opportunity – see you there! 

 

 

 

 

Hamilton: Smooth Comedy [Jul 27]

From Eventbrite:

Whoa, we let AI write the above paragraph and it's friggin good at this! WE'RE DOOMED! anyways, come on out and have some damn fun!

This month's lineup includes Alex Handy, Amy Bugg, Jeremy Dobski, Lucy Winkle, Genevieve Dube & more!

MAGIC BY GRAEMAZING 

Read more and buy tickets. 

 

From the June 23rd Facebook post by Smooth Comedy:

>

 

 

 

 

Galt and Hamilton: Graeme Reed and Ryan Edwards [May 24 & 26]

Tickets:

• Misdirection, Magic, & Mindreading with Graeme and Ryan May 24 at Eventbrite 
• Magic Night with Graeme May 26 at Eventbrite
  

 

From the May 8th Facebook post by Ryan Edwards:

 

 

 

From the May 8th Facebook post by Graeme Reed:

 

 

 

Rounding the Central rings in May 2025

Updated May 18th to add:

• The Toronto Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club event as been changed to a Mentalist Pro-Panel discussion with Mysterion, Ryan Edwards, and Ron Guttman.

 

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website. 

Montreal, QC	Montreal Magic Jam	- Eric Leclerc lecture - James Harrison lecture
Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- N/A.
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- London Ring Exchange
Hamilton / Burlington, ON	Hamilton Burlington Magic Society	- N/A.
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Magician Foolers.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (KW Magic Society)	- N/A.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- N/A.
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- N/A
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Club social. - Chris Congreave lecture. - Mentalism pro-panel.

Please leave a comment to let us know about corrections or omissions.

 

 

 

 

Hamilton & Peterborough: Spookshow and A Work of Fiction [May 9 - 10 & 17]

Tickets at The Staircase (Spookshow - May 9 - 10) and  Market Hall (A Work of Fiction - May 17).

 

From the April 15th Instagram post by Nick Wallace: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nick Wallace (@nickwallacelive)

From the March 12th Instagram post by Nick Wallace:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nick Wallace (@nickwallacelive)

Rounding the Central rings in April 2025

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website. 

Montreal, QC	Montreal Magic Jam	- Alain Iannone lecture
Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- N/A.
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- Auction. - Members performing different magic themes
Hamilton / Burlington, ON	Hamilton Burlington Magic Society	- N/A.
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Closers.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (KW Magic Society)	- N/A.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- N/A.
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- N/A
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Club social. - lecture TBA.

Please leave a comment to let us know about corrections or omissions.

 

 

 

 

Rounding the Central rings in March 2025

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website. 

Montreal, QC	Montreal Magic Jam	- Alex Linian lecture. - Yoan Tanuji lecture.
Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- N/A.
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- Doug Hunt High Hopes lecture.
Hamilton / Burlington, ON	Hamilton Burlington Magic Society	- N/A.
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Scott Hood: Floating Hank levitation, and - Christopher Campbell lecturing on escapes.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (KW Magic Society)	- N/A.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- N/A.
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- N/A
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Club social. - Alex Linian lecture

Please leave a comment to let us know about corrections or omissions.

 

 

 

 

Rounding the Central rings in February 2025

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website. 

Montreal, QC	Montreal Magic Jam	- Mario Diamond workshop.
Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- N/A.
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- Symposium Ancaster. - Teach and perform restaurant table magic.
Hamilton / Burlington, ON	Hamilton Burlington Magic Society	- N/A.
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Levitations. (incl. floating hank with Scott Hood)
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (KW Magic Society)	- N/A.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- N/A.
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- N/A
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Chung and Slim lecture

Please leave a comment to let us know about corrections or omissions.

 

 

 

 

Hamilton: Smooth Comedy with Graemazing [Jan 31]

Tickets at Eventbrite.

 

From the January 6th Instagram post by Smooth Comedy:

HAMILTON! We are back January 31st at the historic Staircase Theatre! If your new resolution was to laugh so hard that you puke your guts out, then you should grab some damn tickets to this show and puke with us!

This month’s performers
Ryan Visser
Megan Myke
Daniel Araya
Bita Joudaki
AJ Bate
Kyle Bergstresser

MAGIC FROM GRAEMAZING

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Smooth Comedy (@smooth_comedy)

 

 

 

 

Rounding the Central rings in January 2025

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website. 

Montreal, QC	Montreal Magic Jam	- N/A.
Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- N/A.
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- What I Bought for Xmas.
Hamilton / Burlington, ON	Hamilton Burlington Magic Society	- N/A.
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Biddle, Paddle or Double.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (KW Magic Society)	- N/A.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- N/A.
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- N/A
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Zoom chat with Lance Burton! - Chris Pilsworth lecture

Please leave a comment or email me about corrections or omissions.

 

 

 

 

A peek behind the curtain with Liberty Larsen

The cat's out of the bag.  Champions of Magic welcomes Liberty Larsen to its cast!

We're delighted to interview Liberty leading up to the Champions of Magic "Chasing the Unbelievable" tour dates in Canada:

• Nov 13 - 16:  National Arts Centre, Ottawa ON
  
• Dec 4 - 6:  Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Thunder Bay ON
  
• Dec 8:  Sudbury Community Arena, Sudbury ON
  
• Mar 19:  Slush Puppie Place, Kingston ON
  
• Mar 20:  Place des Arts, Montreal  QC
  
• Mar 22:  Avenir Centre, Moncton NB 
• Mar 23:  Scotiabank Centre, Halifax NS
  
• Mar 25:  FirstOntario Concert Hall, Hamilton ON 
• Mar 26:  Performance Stage at Canada Life Place, London ON 
• Mar 27-28:  Pickering Casino, Pickering ON 
• May 8-9:  Royal Theatre, Victoria BC
  
• May 11:  Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary AB
  
• May 20-22:  Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver BC

Check the Champions of Magic website for updates and more information.

 

Read our thoughts about the 2023 Champions of Magic show in Toronto:

TLDR: So. Much. Fun!

Random thoughts about Champions of Magic 

 

 

You may already know Liberty: 

• is a fourth-generation magician,
  
• is from the family that founded The Magic Castle, Genii Magazine, and the Academy of Magical Arts,
  
• is a singer,
  
• combines theatrical magic with original musical compositions, and
  
• was on Penn and Teller's Fool Us S04E04
  

What is your first memory of magic?

 

My first memory of magic is on my fifth birthday, at the Magic Castle, on stage with the one and only – Ireland’s Largest Leprechaun, Mister Billy McComb. I believe he did the vanishing birdcage that day. He eventually got me on stage as a volunteer and I was in heaven. I thought he was the bees knees. And as I got older, he just got funnier and funnier. One of my favorites ever. Rest in peace, Billy.

 

Other than your family, who were the first professional magicians you remember seeing?

I was lucky enough to see the Siegfried and Roy show as a young kid, and that show was truly mesmerizing, larger than life. It felt like being in another world. I remember the electricity in the room. It was thrilling and kinetic, and they were so graceful. They seemed to have walked onto the stage from the clouds.

 

On "Penn and Teller’s Fool Us" you mentioned that you 'resisted' the call to magic in your early years.  Do you remember the specific moment when you knew you could or wanted to perform magic full-time?

Well, I always loved to perform, since I was very young. But I think everyone goes through a phase where they want nothing to do with what their parents (or grandparents, or great-grandparents!) want them to do. My family didn’t push for magic too hard, but I still rebelled against it on sheer principle. I can’t say that the decision to “give in” happened in a single moment. It was more gradual – the result of seeing some truly amazing performers who were really coming on the scene with a very different approach to magic. That was very inspiring, because it showed me that magic is more versatile than I may have imagined. But more than anything, I really came to appreciate the gift magic gives people – the feelings it produces – and I realized I wanted to continue in the legacy and be a conduit for those feelings, because they’re so wonderful.

 

 

 

By what mechanisms did you begin learning magic? 

I learned magic at Magic Camp as a kid (that’s right, folks!) in Idyllwild, California. I also learned from dear family friends, and from books.

 

Liberty Larsen

 

 

 

Who inspires you that is not a magician?

Outside of magic, I’m inspired by Joanna Newsom, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen (two very special Canadians who almost dated!), Jesca Hoop, Martha Graham, Charlie Kaufman, Michel Gondry, Peter Brook, Carmen Amaya, Kate Bush, Harry Nilsson, Tom Waits, Remedios Varo, Robert Moss, on and on… I love people who make worlds out of their dreams and stubbornly insist on living inside them. 

 

 

 

Who inspires you magically?

I’m inspired by Rob Zabrecky, Michael Carbonaro, Jared Kopf, Voronin, The Swedish Monkey Opera, René Lavand (rest in peace) and many other gems.
  

 

 

 

In addition to performing magic, we understand that you are also a musician. Have you studied anything else magic-adjacent? How have these studies informed your magic performance?

Though I can’t say I’ve officially studied art, film or photography, I’ve definitely been influenced by my own rogue education in all of those realms. Everything that inspires, everything that lights up the circuitry, everything that gives goosebumps, can translate into magic, I think.

I draw from music more than anything else, because I look to magic to create strong feelings. I’m not really drawn to cerebral stuff, or puzzles, it’s not how my mind is wired. I can appreciate them but they don’t motivate me to get on stage.

On stage, I don’t want to be clever. I want to feel connected to people When I’m in an audience, I want to feel like the performer is cracking my heart open like a walnut, and melting me. So, I look to music for how to do that, because that’s how I’m wired. So I often sing, because it’s a quick cheat to shift things from intellect into feeling. But even when I’m not singing, the same elements of music – rhythm and pacing, tone and resonance, harmonics and dissonance, dynamics and flow – all these things go into good theater, and satisfying magic.  

 

 

What, if anything, makes you nervous about joining the Champions family?

Giant theaters! Exciting, but not something I’m used to. I’ve performed in a lot of very small, cabaret style venues. This is a whole different ball of wax.

 

What are you most looking forward to about joining the Champions of Magic family?

The adventure of it! I love the electrical current that’s running through this project. It’s got a strong pulse. It seems like I’m hopping on a train that’s changing platforms and going to a whole new dimension. This is such a fantastic group of people, and it’s an ambitious risk we’re all taking together, which is a truly exciting challenge.
 

 

 

 

If you could go back in time to study (magic or otherwise) under anybody, who would you choose to be your mentor?

I think I would go back in time and study dance with Martha Graham. I devoured her autobiography and am so inspired by the way she lived her life. She was a genuinely magical person, and a profound teacher. I feel like what she taught could translate beyond dance into just about anything. She taught people how to be deeply in their bodies, truly themselves and radically open to their own source of inspiration.    

Liberty Larsen

Many magicians have a Canadian connection to magic.  Tell us about your Canadian magic connection(s).

Dai Vernon and Doug Henning are masters in their own right, but I didn’t have any direct connection with either of them. So, I would say my first Canadian magic connection in this life is one Mister Christopher Hart. I saw his act many, many times growing up, and it was striking for a young imagination to watch. I love Christopher. He also played “Thing” in the (more recent) Addams Family movies. Go Canada!

 

 

If you could prevent other performers performing an effect forever, what would it be?

I read a truly terrible “gag” in an antique magic book about having your Thanksgiving turkey get up and walk off the table. It involved using a real chicken, plucked, and doing some terrible things to force it to be still, and painting it brown as if it was roasted. I would outlaw that turkey trick, punishable by tarring and feathering.

If you could only perform one effect for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I am not sure I could ever be up to that challenge. But if I could shapeshift into a bird while singing, and land one someone’s shoulder, maybe deliver a secret message that only they would understand and that would inspire a huge gasp, it would be that.

 

 

What’s your go-to Karaoke song?

“Get it While You Can” by Janis Joplin. Not because of the lyrics, necessarily, but because her emotional range is just so great to sing.

 

 

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about performing in Canada?

The Louise Bourgeois spider sculpture.

Just the fist thing that came into my mind…  

[Editor's note: "Maman" by Louise Bourgeois can be seen at the National Gallery of Canada.]

 

 

From the October 31st Instagram post by Young Hollywood, Liberty Larsen, and Fernando Velasco (one of her Champions of Magic co-stars) are interviewed about the Magic Castle:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by YOUNG HOLLYWOOD (@younghollywood)

 

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

I just learned that, “The first reference to throwing rotten vegetables at bad stage acts came in an 1883 New York Times article after John Ritchie was hit with a barrage of tomatoes and rotten eggs by an unpleasant audience in New York. A large tomato thrown from the gallery struck him square between the eyes and he fell t the floor just as several bad eggs dropped upon his head.” The more you know…!

 

 

Thank you Liberty, for making the time to answer our questions!

Learn more about Liberty by visiting her website LibertyLarsen.com, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

  Champions of Magic  

Catch Liberty in Champions of Magic touring in Canada 2024-2025:

• Nov 13 - 16:  National Arts Centre, Ottawa ON
  
• Dec 4 - 6:  Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Thunder Bay ON
  
• Dec 8:  Sudbury Community Arena, Sudbury ON
  
• Mar 19:  Slush Puppie Place, Kingston ON
  
• Mar 20:  Place des Arts, Montreal  QC
  
• Mar 22:  Avenir Centre, Moncton NB 
• Mar 23:  Scotiabank Centre, Halifax NS
  
• Mar 25:  FirstOntario Concert Hall, Hamilton ON 
• Mar 26:  Performance Stage at Canada Life Place, London ON 
• Mar 27-28:  Pickering Casino, Pickering ON 
• May 8-9:  Royal Theatre, Victoria BC
  
• May 11:  Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary AB
  
• May 20-22:  Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver BC
  

    Check the Champions of Magic website for updates and more information.

 

Read our 2023 interviews with the rest of the cast:

• Michelle Mazzarella
• Sam Strange 
  
• Fernando Velasco and
• Richard Young   
  

 
Learn more about Champions of Magic at ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

 

 

 

Peterborough and Hamilton: Greg Frewin's Wild Magic [Sep 22 - 23]

Tickets at TixHub (Peterborough) and TicketWeb (Hamilton).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hamilton: Nick Wallace's Spookshow [Jul 18 - 26]

From the July 4th Instagram post by Nick Wallace:

It was a busy morning over at @chch_morninglive promoting the new show. Big thanks to @emilykvukovic for the hospitality. And an extra special thanks to the extra special backstage support. SPOOKSHOW runs at @thestaircase July 18-26th 💀🐰

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nick Wallace (@nickwallacelive)

 

 

 

ON & QC: Aaron Matthews, Dogs Do Magic, and the Canine Circus [Jul]

From the June 21st Instagram post by Aaron Matthews:

It’s my favorite time of the year, Summer is here☀️🎉

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aaron Matthews Magic (@aaronmatthewsmagic)

 

 

Hamilton: Graemazing Level Seven Wizard at the Fringe

From the April 1st Instagram post by Graemazing:

For the first time ever, catch the denim dazzler, Mr. Level 7, this summer at Hamilton Fringe!

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Graemazing - Level 7 Wizard (@graemazing)