Live Music entertainment in Ontario
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Zaphod Beeblebrox
‘Zaphod Beeblebrox’ means ‘kick-ass live music venue’ in an otherwise undecipherable alien tongue. Grab a Gargleblaster cocktail, and let the trippy beats (from New Age to thumping African rhythms) take you on a ride to the edge of the universe.
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LopLops
This inviting venue is coated in earthy tones, with the occasional splash of a neon polka dot. Grab a glass of imported wine from the glittering steel bar and enjoy an evening amid strumming guitars while eavesdropping on the restless murmurs of tortured artists. Unleash your inner diva at one of the many open mic nights or catch the latest folk and jazz music from local and visiting artists.
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Rivoli
Songbird Feist got her start here, and the talents keeps rolling in. Nightly live music (rock, indie and solo singer-songwriters), weekly stand-up comedy and monthly hip-hop nights are all part of the line-up. CD launches, art shows and Saturday-night DJs complete a very renaissance picture. There’s also a pool hall, and the food is fabulous!
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El Mocambo Lounge
The derelict palm-tree nightclub sign suggests Miami, but it's all local bands at the internally renovated El Mocambo – alt-rock, hip-hop, reggae jams, funk, jazz and anything else. This is the place where Mick Jagger once writhed as the ex-prime minister's wife danced approvingly on the tabletops.
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Horseshoe Tavern
Well past its 60th birthday, the legendary Horseshoe still plays a crucial role in the development of local indie rock. Not so local, The Police played here on their first North American tour – Sting did an encore in his underwear. Buy tickets at the door or check Ticketmaster.
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Bovine Sex Club
Don't worry, this isn't some kind of twisted fetish establishment. BSC is a maverick punk, metal and retro rock room that's been here since the 1991, one of the first venues to latch onto the Queen West arts explosion. A rusty tangle of scrap metal spews down over the front wall to the doorway.
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Music Showbar
Off to one side at C'est What ?, Music Showroom is a small-capacity live venue with a stellar sound system. Expect intimate pop-rock with an edge – Jeff Buckley, The Tea Party and Wilco all played here. Tickets are sold at the door – first come, first served.
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Sneaky Dee’s
Spangled with graffiti on the prominent Bathurst/College St corner, Sneaky Dee’s isn’t so sneaky-looking. The downstairs bar has battered booths with skeletons painted on them; upstairs is a darkened breeding ground for new TO rock talent. Fill up on Tex-Mex while downing cheap beer.
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Toronto Symphony Orchestra
A range of classics, Cole Porter–era pops and new music from around the world are presented by the TSO at Roy Thomson Hall, Massey Hall and the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Consult the website for the answers to such questions as ‘What if I need to cough?’ and ‘Should I clap yet?’.
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Healey’s
The 300-capacity Healey’s has an idiosyncratic lineup of rock, blues, soul and roots. Swing by when owner Jeff Healey, a Canadian music icon, audiophile and radio DJ, gets up on the stage with his house band. Tuesday open-jam nights and Saturday muso matinees are free.
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Glenn Gould Studio
Glenn Gould Studio’s acoustics do the namesake famous pianist honors. Purchase advance tickets for evening concerts of classical and contemporary music by soloists, chamber groups, choirs and sinfonia between September and June. Young international artists are often featured.
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Graffiti's
This diverse bohemian bar has credible acoustic rock, roots, blues and jazz acts, as well as open-mic nights and 'cabarets' that could (and usually do) embrace any subject. There's Sleeman Cream Ale on tap, jazzy murals, Persian rugs and beautifully painted marble tabletops.
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Canadian Opera Company
Canada’s national opera company has been warbling its pipes for over 50 years. Tickets sell out fast; the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre (in the Four Seasons Centre) holds free concerts from September through June, usually at noon. Check the website for specific days.
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Free Times Café
Maintaining a hippie Jewish vibe, this small back-room venue is the oldest folk club in T.O., with free music most nights. The pints are cheap, the food substantial and James Brown keeps it tight on the stereo. Open-mic nights are usually on Mondays; sign up by 7pm.
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Phoenix
The 1000-capacity Phoenix has occupied the former Harmonie Club, a grand ol' room that now sees the harmonious rock of bands like The Tragically Hip. Huge Superman and Wolverine murals might inspire your crowd-surfing efforts. Check the website for upcoming shows.
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Reservoir Lounge
Swing dancers, jazz singers and blues crooners call this candlelit basement lounge home. A great martini list includes a chocolate raspberry drink as well as the ‘Reservoir Red,’ and you can enjoy chocolate fondue strawberries while enjoying the entertainment.
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Rex
The Rex has risen from its pugilistic, blue-collared past to become an outstanding jazz and blues venue. Over a dozen different Dixieland, experimental and other local and international acts knock over the joint each week. Cheap drinks; affordable cover.
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Cameron House
Singer-songwriters, soul, jazz and country performers grace the stage; artists, musos, dreamers and slackers crowd both front and back rooms. Sunday evening’s Mad Bastard Cabaret (‘accordion singing about love, lust and Spain’) is a can’t-miss.
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Dominion on Queen
This jazzy pub has earned a rep for sassy vocalists, trios and sextets through to full-blown swing bands. Music starts nightly around 9pm. Beers have a crafty edge, and there’s plenty of vin rouge to soothe your big-city heartbreak.
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The Manx
A homey velvet sea awaits you at this basement pub-style hangout. Weekend folk music is a big draw, although most people come for the great selection of Canadian microbrews (including the beloved Creemore) served on copper-top tables.
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Opera House
The old Opera House is an early 1900s vaudeville hall. Over the years rockers like The Black Crowes, Rage Against The Machine, Eminem, A Perfect Circle and Beck have all strutted out beneath the proscenium arch.
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Hugh's Room
Hugh's is one of Toronto's only dedicated old-school folk venues for local and touring acts. Mandolin, ballads, floral shirts and sincerity by the truckload. Save a few dollars by booking in advance.
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Fat Tuesday’s
Ottawa’s little slice of New Orleans is known around town for its dueling pianos on Friday and Saturday nights. Palm readings and happy hour discounts lure the locals on the other days of the week.
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London Music Club
Touring blues and folks acts fall over themselves to play here, a rockin’ room out the back of a cream-brick suburban house. Electric blues jam on Thursday nights; acoustic open mic on Fridays.
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Dakota Tavern
This basement tavern rocks with wooden-barrel stools and a small stage where you can catch a little bit of twang. Country music is the main sound, but you’ll also hear some blues and rock.
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