Festivals & Events in Metro Vancouver

[mcj]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

I don't know how old y'all are but Vancouver proper has a very vibrant music scene of most genres. How do we lack a music scene or festivals?

Try going anywhere on an average Friday that isn't playing the same top 40 music. While there are acts that come to town, there's really a dearth of venues for a metro area of 2.7 million people. If you're a band trying to find a mid-sized venue your only choice is the Commodore.

[madog222]

The Cobalt is reopening!

The Cobalt opens doors again on Friday, December 16 after it was required to close back in 2018 for seismic upgrades. Located at Main and Prior streets next to Boxcar Social and Pizzeria Farina, it was a staple for nightlife on the border of Mount Pleasant and Chinatown.

The Cobalt Hotel at 917 Main Street, Vancouver. (Google Maps)

“The hope was always to reopen, but it was up to the landlords to do the work in order to get the room up to code,” a spokesperson told Daily Hive. “This didn’t become a reality until a few months ago when the building changed hands and the work was finally complete.”

For its big welcome-back bash on December 16, it’s welcoming headliner Vicious Cycles to the stage alongside Little Destroyer and Rempel & the Rousers. Janky Bungag and Peter Press Lee are also playing Saturday, and GDBC and SUUNS are lined up for the new year.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/cobalt-reopening-earthquake-upgrades

[mcj]

Originally Posted by madog222

The Cobalt is reopening!

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/cobalt-reopening-earthquake-upgrades

Hallelujah!

Now designate it a heritage building so that it and the Boxcar can live on forever!

(and reopen the Railway).

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by mcj

Hallelujah!

Now designate it a heritage building so that it and the Boxcar can live on forever!

(and reopen the Railway).

That's not how heritage designation works. The owner has to want it designated. I'm pretty sure it was acquired for redevelopment.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by mcj

Try going anywhere on an average Friday that isn't playing the same top 40 music. While there are acts that come to town, there's really a dearth of venues for a metro area of 2.7 million people. If you're a band trying to find a mid-sized venue your only choice is the Commodore.

Sorry I was thinking under 300 as the sweet spot:
Fox Cabaret, Wise Hall, Rickshaw, Venue, Vogue, Imperial (if it opens again), Biltmore, Fortune, Sound Cloud, Roxy, Red Room, St. James Sq. (Rogue Folk). Might be missing a few.

But then there are the bar venues, which have daily amazing talent:
Railway Club, Guilt & Co., Heatley, Pats Pub, Princeton Pub, LanaLous, ANZA Club, Frankies.

Wish the Waldorf had a few more shows. Might be missing a few, but for a small city that's quite a few spots to go for every genre (been to all of them myself). Agreed the suburbs could go for 1 or 2 more 600+ venues

[GenWhy?]

Hollywood and Colbalt to the mix!

Hollywood has been a great addition. REALLY wish the Stanley did live music between their plays, etc.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Imperial (if it opens again)

Not going to happen unfortunately, the building will be redeveloped.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by madog222

Not going to happen unfortunately, the building will be redeveloped.

But the City are hoping that the replacement might still be available for some live performance. "Recognizing the cultural heritage value of the Imperial Theatre, staff have recommended that the proposed 2,600 sf cultural space be designed to accommodate a range of performing arts, including live amplified sound and music presentation, and should encourage live music as part of regular programming. At this time, the operator of the space has not been identified, and should the project be approved, the applicant would be required to work in partnership with the City to engage with the arts & culture and music community, develop a fair and transparent process for the proposed community ownership model of the cultural space, and a community use agreement be included to the satisfaction of the Managing Director of Cultural Services."

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by madog222

Not going to happen unfortunately, the building will be redeveloped.

Sorry I meant the new venue if it's a music venue (mainly) still rather than just a "community performance space".

I'll ask MA+HG. I can't remember.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Changing City

But the City are hoping that the replacement might still be available for some live performance. "Recognizing the cultural heritage value of the Imperial Theatre, staff have recommended that the proposed 2,600 sf cultural space be designed to accommodate a range of performing arts, including live amplified sound and music presentation, and should encourage live music as part of regular programming. At this time, the operator of the space has not been identified, and should the project be approved, the applicant would be required to work in partnership with the City to engage with the arts & culture and music community, develop a fair and transparent process for the proposed community ownership model of the cultural space, and a community use agreement be included to the satisfaction of the Managing Director of Cultural Services."

Ah thanks again for the homework. Saving me the reading. Fear it'll became a space like a BMO theatre

[mcj]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Railway Club

Railway is closed, removed from the Freehouse (new Donnelly) website, and removed from Google Maps.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by Changing City

That's not how heritage designation works. The owner has to want it designated. I'm pretty sure it was acquired for redevelopment.

https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/heritage-designation.aspx

The Vancouver Charter both gives Council the power to designate heritage properties, and dictates the process we must follow to protect a property.

I'm afraid you're mistaken as to how heritage designation works.

***(I fully realize that there's a snowball's chance in hell that city council would protect live music venues with Heritage Designation that aren't named the Commodore or the Orpheum.)

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by mcj

https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/heritage-designation.aspx

I'm afraid you're mistaken as to how heritage designation works.

***(I fully realize that there's a snowball's chance in hell that city council would protect live music venues with Heritage Designation that aren't named the Commodore or the Orpheum.)

That's not how heritage designation works in reality. If the City were to designate the Cobalt, they'd have to fully compensate the owner for the difference between the value as an encumbered heritage building, and the value of a potential redevelopment site. That's why they never do it - they can't afford it, and there's no way the Cobalt is that important. Hence melting snowballs. These days they generally rely on owners accepting a development bonus to save the facade of heritage buildings. Even then, sometimes the owner isn't interested. An 'A' building in the West End was demolished a few years ago.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by mcj

Railway is closed, removed from the Freehouse (new Donnelly) website, and removed from Google Maps.

Oh well there's something still in the former space that has live music on the stage. 579 Dunsmuir is still open.

Y'all should hit up Portside too.

[djh]

Originally Posted by mcj

Seattle's metro area in 1990 had a slightly smaller population than we do now in Metro Vancouver. It's not like they only developed their music scene since then.

The deeper pockets is true, but there's plenty of deep pockets that exist here.

Vancouver earned its' "no fun city" moniker by shutting down venues and clubs and centralizing them all to Granville street. There's some great guerilla-style efforts being made like sofarsounds but there's a true lack of venues throughout the city, and especially the suburbs. Surrey is effectively the same population as Seattle proper was in the year 2000, yet has ZERO appreciable live music venues.

Hmm...gonna have to try going to one of those events now. Have you been?

How good was the talent? Anything or anybody worth the money?

I'm a bit cautious of paying upfront for an unannounced local artist.

Whenever Vancouver organises things like this, I've found most of your money goes on paying for extraneous things so your Value for Money ratio goes downhill (e.g., anybody been to those "interactive exhibitions" at the Convention Centre, where you get there and the actual art isn't even there, just projections...! Or even worse, the annual rip off for paying to attend the Christmas Fair...you pay to get into a place to buy more things...)

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Oh well there's something still in the former space that has live music on the stage. 579 Dunsmuir is still open.

It appears to be for sale.

[GenWhy?]

Ugh not again!

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Changing City

But the City are hoping that the replacement might still be available for some live performance. "Recognizing the cultural heritage value of the Imperial Theatre, staff have recommended that the proposed 2,600 sf cultural space be designed to accommodate a range of performing arts, including live amplified sound and music presentation, and should encourage live music as part of regular programming. At this time, the operator of the space has not been identified, and should the project be approved, the applicant would be required to work in partnership with the City to engage with the arts & culture and music community, develop a fair and transparent process for the proposed community ownership model of the cultural space, and a community use agreement be included to the satisfaction of the Managing Director of Cultural Services."

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Sorry I meant the new venue if it's a music venue (mainly) still rather than just a "community performance space".

I'll ask MA+HG. I can't remember.

This is the current proposal; 1700sqft, 75 person. I won't complain since they're including something but it's no direct replacement.


https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/305-main-st

[mcj]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Oh well there's something still in the former space that has live music on the stage. 579 Dunsmuir is still open.

Walked by last night (Thursday) at approximately 7 pm. Doors were closed and gated up. It's certainly not open.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by Changing City

It appears to be for sale.

They've lowered the asking price multiple times now too, from $500k to $450k to $200k and no takers. Guess that $17,000/month lease is a bit too much for the business model.