IMy name is Andrew Gavin Hicks. With a strong curatorial vision and dedication to artistic quality I’ve often been a central point of connection between music and art  institutions and the city’s diverse, multi-cultural, and identity based communities in Toronto. The foundation for my work was born from my lived experiences as self-proclaimed lifer in the music, arts and nightlife industry having successfully worked in every facet from event producer to graphic designer to DJ, historian, educator, exhibition curator, cultural programmer, stage manager, and multiple roles behind the scenes in the hospitality industry.

Nightclubs, public exhibition spaces, and abandoned buildings are the scaffolding of music the scene ad what completes it is the people and community housed within. They have been with us for well over a century, evolving from classic rock and jazz spots to dance halls to dance clubs to discos and beyond, sometimes in the same location.

But what do these spaces really have to offer us besides all that lovely late night noise? 

They are cultural preserves, hotbeds of musical innovation, and springboards for the advancement of fashion, dance and social change. A night out in our favourite club or after hours spot often help create our sense of identity, our place in the world and are the incubators of connections and memories.

They also  contribute billions to the night-time economy and studies have shown that public gatherings like these can also improve mental wellbeing. Without a musical culture, any region suffers. The churn of cities is part of what makes them exciting places to live. Venues come and go, and have their good and terrible phases. This portfolio tells the stories of a small portion telling stories of local communities. There are countless more, far too many to list although I do try. 

As well as a highly respected career in event production am multi-disciplinary creative with decades of experience and expertise in design. With influences rooted in the visual culture of music and film. I have a passion for producing bold and innovative work that reflects current and historical diverse voices, perspectives, and life experiences.

The various flyers, posters, shorty videos, and mixes used for promotional purposes, were placed in record and clothing stores, wheat pasted on street walls, handed out on the streets at closing time and uploaded across multiple social media campaigns. Yet beyond the physical and digital realms, these documents provide an extended window into the underground movements, dance groups, emerging performers and  long trusted promoters whose extraordinary creative spirit contributes to the growth and atmosphere of the city.

Collecting music and researching how new styles, sounds and scenes are developed has always been the first and foremost main focal point. A lifetime has been spent working within the music industry amassing a vast knowledge of music genres specializing in new and classic hip-hop, house, techno, boogie, disco, soul, jazz, r&b, African, Latin, West Indian and Middle Eastern sounds.

As well as long time career in DJ’ing as “Andycapp”, opening and playing alongside many musical heroes, many years were spent working working in record stores ordering and merchandising a wide selection of underground music, overseeing label and artist outreach, assisting  in local artist promotion and making lifelong connections with fellow collectors and curators.  

ADDITIONAL EVENTS

Below are examples of some of the many events that I have played at as “Andycapp” since my permanent arrival in Toronto in 2005 in such locations as Sunnyside Pavilion, Circa, Wrongbar, The Rivoli, Luanda House, Nest, Bambi’s, Blk Box Theatre, 99 Sudbury, The Gladstone Hotel, and The Drake Hotel.  Some of these events like the Maurice Fulton, Dego, New Year’s Eve, Paradiso, Dam Funk events were co-productions with other event planners and the other events, I was featured as a headliner or guest DJ. 

NiTE PeOPLE, The Steady, Toronto ON, (with Jason Palma & Paul E Lopes)

Prisoners of Love, Ravage and Rumble, Toronto, ON (with Pooyan and  Muscle & Heat)

Terrorvision, 99 Sudbury, Toronto, ON (with Pooyan, & JUS ED)

TIFF Festival (10 DAY RESIDENCY), Ritz Carlton, Toronto, ON

Otherland, Tattoo, Toronto, ON (with Pooyan, Ali Ster, & Simian Mobile Disco)

I'm Going Downstairs, Unlovable, Toronto, ON (with Todd West &  Nep Sihdu)

Sundust, Brockton Collective, Toronto, ON  

 Family, Smiling Buddha, Toronto, ON (with Liam Crockard)

Wildlife, Double Double Land, Toronto, ON (with Pooyan & Wes Allen)

Over & Over, La Casa, Toronto, ON (with Pooyan & Ali Black)

Disco Amico, Amico's, Toronto, ON (with Muscle & Heat)

Tomorrow's Forever NYE, The Yukon, Toronto, ON (with Liam  Crockard, Todd West, Andrew Allsgood, & Jon Coe)

Slaughterhaus, 99 Sudbury, Toronto, ON (with  Jeremy Glenn,  Gingy, Marcel Fengler, Members Only)

It's a Disco Jam,  Sunnyside Pavilion, Toronto, ON (with Brennan Green, Pooyan, and Ali Black.

 Footprints, Obsession 3, Toronto, ON (with Jason Palma, General Eclectic and Basic Soul Unit)

Uma Nota, The Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON (with General Eclectic)

Tha' Difference, The Garrison, Toronto, ON (with Jesse Catibog)

Higher Heights, Sterling Lofts, Toronto, ON (with Pooyan)

Onra, Black Box, Toronto, ON (with MyManHenri )

Around Sounds, Bunda Lounge, ON (with Koray Ozel)

Galapagos, Wrongbar, Toronto, ON (with Egyptian Lover) 

Tropical Galactical, Bunda Lounge, Toronto, ON (with Hajabug)

Paradise, Bambi's, Toronto, ON (with Jeremy Glenn)

 Unit NYE, Unit Bar, Toronto , ON (with Todd West, Nep Sidhu, Jeremy Glenn, Aman Sandhu)

Archi:textures, Augusta House, Toronto, ON     

Aeroplane, Wrong Bar, Toronto, ON (with the Makeover)

Wrath Of Math, XSPACE, Toronto, ON

Tropicalism, Savoy, Toronto, ON (with Elijah Walsh)

Life On Mars, Redlight,  Toronto, ON (with Pooyan)

More Proof, The Drake Underground, Toronto, ON (with Gabe Knox  and Gingy)

Onra, The Drake Underground, Toronto, ON (with MyManHenri)

Manifesto: Chapter 3 Art Show, 52 MCaul St., Toronto, ON

Fashion Takes Action, The Burroughs, Toronto, ON (with Brendan Canning)

Randomland, Circa, Toronto, ON (with Andy Butler & Pat Mahoney)

Hot Blood, Wrongbar, Toronto, ON (with Glass Candy & Nite Jewel) 

7Th Heaven, Wrongbar, Toronto, ON (with Severino [Horse Meat Disco] & James Murphy)

Lipstick Cherry, The Drake Underground, Toronto, ON (with Pam Hong) 

Randomland, Circa, Toronto, ON (with Miss Kitin, Kevin Saunderson, Jaime Sin, Andrew Allsgood)

7th Heaven 2 Year Anniversay, The Beaver, Toronto, ON (with Wil Munro, and Jaime Sin)

Bang the Party & 7th Heaven, Levack Block, Toronto, ON (with Maurice Fulton)

Manifesto After Party, Revival, Toronto ON, (with DJ Premier, Dj Law, Son Of S.O.U.L., John Bronski)