Billboard Canada FYI Bulletin: Toronto Music Venue Hugh's Room Live Fundraises For Its New Home

Last year, Hugh’s Room Live purchased an historic property at 296 Broadview Ave. as a permanent home for its Toronto music venue. The long-running not-for-profit arts organization had raised more than $500,000 in donations and loans from its supporters and secured a loan guarantee of up to $2.2M from the city council, but needed to raise another $2M in order to complete the purchase, which included a $1.3M first mortgage that comes due Sept. 30.

To clear this hurdle, the venue’s board of directors has floated a series of community bonds that offer up to 4% interest over a five-year term, secured by a new first mortgage on the building. It is also asking for donations to cover mortgage debt.

According to a memo sent to members, Hugh’s Room has already achieved financial viability — generating a surplus in its last six months’ operations after covering debt servicing “And, thanks to a generous donor, we’ve just repaid a $500K vendor-take-back mortgage!"

Since opening in 2001 at its former Dundas West location, Hugh’s Room Live has hosted innumerable big-ticket acts that have included Gordon Lightfoot, Murray McLauchlan, Dan Hill, Buffy Sainte-Marie, The McGarrigles, and international artists such as Jesse Winchester, Odetta, Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Tom Rush, Albert Lee, Maria Muldaur, David Lindley, Richie Havens and Fairport Convention.

It’s a novel approach to funding and the venue’s 2K supporters have proven time and again that they are willing to lend financial support to this unique alternative music space.

– It’s billed as the Rebel Yell Canada tour for Billy Idol, but reviews of the shows so far indicate opening act Platinum Blonde is on a winning streak after years of playing down the hysteria it created in the ‘80s. Reports of fans rushing the stage, legions of autograph seekers and a romantic revival for the catalogue of hits they created are more or less universal. Alan Cross had Ross MacDonald post a review of the band’s appearance at Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday, August 10. It includes an enthusiastic review of Billy Idol’s return to the spotlight as well.

PS: Before the Scotiabank Arena show on August 9, Sony Music Canada President Shane Carter presented the band with an official Music Canada-certified Diamond Award, and one to former CBS Canada A&R VP Jeff Burns who signed and helped propel the band’s recording success.

With the Blonde’s Alien Shores album now certified having sold 860,000 copies (Diamond), it seems almost certain a million-seller is in sight.

– In a lengthy preamble to her whimsical but factual and thoughtful occasional newsletters, Shari Ulrich apologized to her fans for the length of her intro, penning the following to her subscriber list: “I do know, as someone on Bob Lefsetz’ e-mail list – (and who is that? Frankly I have no idea). He sends one, sometimes two, every day! 1500–2000 words each, so I know that long missives can be annoying – even rude and disrespectful to the readers who have their own busy lives. (I rarely read them but still haven’t unsubscribed. Why, oh why?)

“And now I’ve spent all this time talking about words and have used up my quota for your attention. Aargh! But of course, that won’t stop me!”

What Lefsetz might take from this is anyone's guess.

Those interested can sign up for the newsletter and find out more about the west-coast multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter here.

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