Queen St. Fare unveils new stage for live music
Nearly 400 can fit into space, giving it club-like potential
The ripple of excitement that swept through the VIP crowd at Thursday night’s invitation-only opening of Queen St. Fare never did subside when the PepTides began their inaugural set on Ottawa’s newest stage.
Fuelled by complimentary craft beer and custom cocktails, a sharp-dressed contingent of Ottawa scenesters maintained a fever-pitched level of conversation throughout the band’s slick and well-rehearsed set. The funky blast of tunes seriously clashed with the crowd’s exuberant chatter, sending soundwaves ricocheting off the hard surfaces that define the space and turning it all into sonic mush.
The decor is cool, industrial chic, with polished concrete floors, a wall of windows, brick accent walls and exposed ceiling fixtures. It looks terrific but the food-hall-with-a-stage displayed an initial acoustic quality nearly as harsh as the cavernous Aberdeen Pavilion, the historic concrete-and-glass structure at Lansdowne Park that’s dreaded by local sound engineers.
In that case, one solution was to soften the room with curtains. This room is sure to need some adjustments after a few more shows, especially for acts that might attract a crowd anywhere close to capacity.
Almost 400 people can fit in the room, making it potentially one of the biggest nightclubs in town.
Of course, whether the new venue turns into a destination for live music — or remains more of a cafeteria for office workers — will depend on the booking. That job is a full-time gig that falls to Ottawa’s Jordan David, 31, known for his recent tenure with the Ottawa Jazz Festival’s communications team.
Scott May, who operates Bar Robo and is one of the key people in the new venture, said David has a broad knowledge of the local music scene, with diverse tastes that encompass both DJs and bands.
In an interview, David said he plans to feature plenty of local talent and present as many free shows as possible.
Upcoming performances include indie-rockers the Tackies on Saturday (no cover) and Fiesta Cubana on Dec. 22 ($10). Piano man Jeff Rogers and DJ Matt Tamblyn will be two regular weekly fixtures.
“I think the biggest thing for me is to get work for musicians and expose them to a bigger audience,” David said. For touring acts, he hopes Ottawa’s Queen St. Fare will be another option for acts travelling between Toronto and Montreal.
According to May, the plan is to start shows early, perhaps as early as 7 p.m., and be open to whatever the community wants.
“We’ll try anything once or twice or three times,” he said, “and have fun with it. We want to dispel the notion that Ottawa is a boring, robotic city.
“I’m thinking this is like Bluesfest, but with better bathrooms and cheaper beer. And less mud.”