Music News Digest: Toronto Music Venue The Velvet Underground Is Closing Down

In another blow to the Toronto live music venue scene, long-running Queen St. West club venue the Velvet Underground is shutting its doors at the end of October following the completion of its lease.

Formerly primarily a goth and industrial club dating back to the '90s, the venue was renovated and reopened in 2016 as a destination for live music, bands and DJs and has been operated by Live Nation.

On Instagram, the venue posted that “While we’re closing this door, we’re grateful for the countless nights filled with music and amazing energy that brought this place to life. To the fans, artists, staff, and community — thank you. You made this a place more than a venue. You made it a home for memories we’ll never forget.”

The property "will be returned to the landlord." Shows that are currently scheduled past the closing date will move to other venues in the city.

Festivals News

Now in its 17th year, the annual Supercrawl festival in Hamilton, Ontario has long been viewed one of the biggest and best free street fests in Canada. It took place Sept. 12-14 and the near-perfect weather (arguably the best in Supercrawl history) ensured large crowds. This year's eclectic and virtually all-Canadian music lineup drew some major names from across the country, alongside many local and regional artists.

I was there crawling all three evenings and was rewarded with some stellar performances from all three stages on the James Street North strip. The standout highlight was a mesmerizing set by internationally renowned post-rock instrumental Godspeed You! Black Emperor, one in which eight seasoned and skilled musicians created a near-orchestral wall of sound that reverberated around the adjacent buildings on a warm and still night.

Also impressing were another Polaris Prize winner Cadence Weapon, whose energetic show included plenty of shout-outs to his new hometown, and Foxwarren (led by revered singer-songwriter Andy Shauf), whose mellow '70s-inflected folk-rock created a sweet vibe. Local blues hero Steve Strongman confirmed his status as one of the genre's best, Montreal garage meets psych rockers PY PY delivered a fiery set, another Montrealer, Basia Bulat, charmed with her pure voice and personal material and the wit of Hollerado frontman Menno Versteeg, playing solo here, endeared him to the crowd. A superb event.

– The Kensington Market Jazz Festival, held in 24 different venues in the historic neighbourhood of downtown Toronto, turns 10 this year. The brainchild of co-founder and jazz star Molly Johnson, it is now a much-loved end of summer event in the city. This year's edition is ready to swing this weekend, Sept. 19-21. Noted names amongst the 400 musicians appearing this year include The Shuffle Demons, Heather Bambrick, Hilario Duran, Robi Botos, Billy Newton-Davis, Fern Lindzon, Amanda Tosoff, Thompson Egbo-Egbo, Jane Bunnett, Barbra Lica, Jay Douglas, John Alcorn & Laura Hubert and Jeremy Ledbetter. Most shows are pay at the door, with all proceeds going to the musicians. Check the full schedule here.

– The Voices Through Time: A Mariposa Journey exhibition at the Orillia Museum of Art and History was created to celebrate the 65-year history of the storied Mariposa Folk Festival. The exhibition includes unique shots of fest legends such as Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Cockburn, Serena Ryder and more and closes on September 27. For a virtual walk-through of the exhibition, visit here. These photographs are being offered through an auction being held from now until September 25 here.

Industry News

CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Association) has announced that early bird tickets for its upcoming Make It Music conference are now on sale here. The two-day event takes place at Parkdale Hall in Toronto, Nov. 4 and 5. The trade org calls it "your gateway to forward-thinking strategies and real-world solutions driving the future of independent music – and the place to connect with new allies and collaborators." Topics to be covered include Building a New Music Business, Next-Gen Revenue Models, IP & Rights Strategy, Music Tech Leadership & Innovation, Global Market Expansion and Live & Fan Engagement. Check out the programming here.

– Famed Toronto music club venue El Mocambo has announced Music That Moves, a new concert series supporting Canadian charities. It launches October 16 with veteran rockers Loverboy, with funds raised supporting the highest priority needs at SickKids. Other charities and causes will be designated for future events. The 350 tickets available for Loverboy are priced at $200 for general admission and $300 for VIP seating and are now on sale here. The El Mocambo was recently sold after owner Michael Wekerle defaulted on debt.

– The National Music Centre in Calgary will be offering free admission to Studio Bell on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Sept. 30. Acclaimed Indigenous hip-hop artist Drezus will host a panel discussion on the power of music for reconciliation, and visitors will have the chance to explore the recently updated Speak Up! exhibition, featuring 2025 additions Beatrice Deer, Dakhká Khwáan Dancers, Ray St. Germain, Harry Rusk and Kelly Fraser.

– Jazz drummer, composer, and bandleader Ernesto Cervini has launched a new monthly concert series in Toronto. The Next Set, held at The Emmet Ray (924 College St), pairs seasoned professionals with top emerging artists in a rotating ensemble. Presented on the first Wednesday of every month, The Next Set features Cervini and another established player performing alongside two exceptional young artists — typically current students or recent graduates of local programs like the University of Toronto. A debut show this month was a big success, and the next (Oct. 1, 7-8.45 pm, all-ages) pairs Cervini and noted bassist Dan Fortin (Myriad3, Bernice) with two U of T students. Cervini also brings Turboprop, the acclaimed band he leads, into The Jazz Bistro in Toronto, Sept. 18 and 19. Info here.

Artists News

Now based in Nice, France, adventurous Canadian singer-songwriter Selina Martin was previously a valued member of the Toronto music community. Her 2023 album, Time Spent Swimming, gained rave reviews and was supported by Canadian dates. This week, Martin is re-releasing the album in the new Immersive Audio Album format (it was was mixed and mastered using Dolby Atmos Immersive sound technology). She is accompanying it with a new video for "Something Wide Awake," and she recently announced a short Ontario tour. Running Oct. 1-11, it comprises concerts in Almonte, Hamilton, Toronto, Guelph and on Wolfe Island, near Kingston. Check the itinerary here.

– Dine Alone Records has announced the signing of Computer, a seven-piece experimental rock band from Vancouver founded by Hudson Schelesny and Ben Lock. The group's high-energy live shows have fuelled a buzz, and this fall, Computer is going to tour in the U.K. and Europe. That trek runs Oct. 10-25, concluding at the Left of the Dial festival.

– The work of prolific veteran Toronto singer-songwriter and radio host Lily Frost has, in my view, been seriously under-rated, so it is heartening to hear the news that she has now partnered with New York-based KMG Distribution and The Royalty Network to reissue two of her recent independent albums, 2019’s Retro-Moderne and 2022’s Decompression. Frost has also released a new single, “Cure For Loneliness,” co-written with L.A. artist Eleni Mandel. Listen for it at Frost's Sept. 24 show at Sauce on Danforth in Toronto