Barrie live-music venues: Mavricks dark since 2020, Queens still booking
What it means: On the public record we could read, the only confirmed venue loss is Mavricks, which went dark in 2020. The 'unknown factor' the owner describes is not explained or even described by any source we opened. Nothing here shows a pattern.
Latest developments
LiveBarrie lists shows into December
LiveBarrie, read 26 October 2026, lists upcoming shows through 4 December 2026 at rooms including CW Coops and Temple Lounge. The page says nothing about closures or cancellations.
Queens website says its history is about to change
The Queens' website, read on 26 October 2026, carries the line 'The History of the queens hotel is about to change once again. stay tuned for whats coming!' It gives no detail and no posting date, so...
Cancer Bats listed at the Queens
Songkick lists Cancer Bats with Don't Try and Thunder Queens at The Queens Nightclub on Wednesday 23 September 2026. We did not find a source confirming the show took place or was cancelled.
Indie Music Scene Night launches at CW Coops
BarrieToday news release (Sep 21, 2026): the Gussapolooza team and The Indie Distributor Project launch Indie Music Scene Night on Oct 1 at CW Coops, saying the aim is to give emerging artists more pe...
Key takeaways
Touring acts of stature on Barrie's biggest stages, 2005 to 2026
What the counts show: the arena has hosted a few headline acts of stature in most years (0 to 6 a year, with no clear downward trend). What disappeared is the free multi-act festival days at Molson Park (Live 8 in 2005, and 28 to 49 acts a year in 2005 to 2007), which end after 2007. Mid-size rooms are not charted because the records cannot be compared across years. Compared with similar Ontario cities, Barrie's arena count is not unusual in trend: it did not fall, while some peers fell by half or more and one rose.
- 1 Jul 2, 2005 Live 8 Barrie at Molson Park source
- 2 Aug 11, 2007 Last Molson Park concert on setlist.fm source
- 3 Oct 16, 2008 Last Foundation source
- 4 Feb 10, 2009 Live Nation and Ticketmaster announce merger source
- 5 Aug 1, 2016 New management renames the 46 Dunlop St W building Mavricks Music Hall source
- 6 Nov 26, 2019 City of Barrie announces Sadlon Arena naming deal source
- 7 Feb 29, 2020 Last Mavricks Music Hall show on setlist.fm source
- 8 May 23, 2024 US DOJ and 29 states plus DC sue Live Nation Entertainment source
- 9 Apr 15, 2026 Federal jury source
One act is counted once per year. An act counts if its English Wikipedia article shows a chart entry (Billboard Hot 100 or 200, Canadian Hot 100, UK or Canadian albums or singles), a Juno, Grammy or Polaris nomination or win, or a major or recognized independent label. Tribute and cover acts are excluded, and the first-billed act on a show counts as the headliner. Shows come from setlist.fm and Songkick; the full list of acts, with the page that proves each one counts, is in the research file we hold.
- Every count is a minimum: setlist.fm and Songkick are crowd-sourced and each misses shows the other has. Coverage is thin for 2015, 2020 and 2026, and 2026 is incomplete.
- Matching acts to Wikipedia was done by script and then reviewed; a few local acts with common names could be mismatched.
- Mid-size rooms (The Foundation, Mavricks and The Roxy, Georgian Theatre, the Queens) are left out: each year is documented by a different room, so the numbers cannot be compared. Mavricks has no setlist.fm shows after February 2020.
- No source we could open says why large touring acts do or do not play Barrie (arena size, location, competing venues, promoters or ticketing deals). The Live Nation markers show when things happened, not that they affected Barrie.
- Two things sometimes called a decline are separate: the arena shows no clear drop in headline concerts in these counts, while the festival days ended after 2007.
- A comparison with ten other Ontario cities (see the section below) found no uniform pattern and no source tying any city's change to a promoter or Live Nation. It is weak to moderate evidence, because the counts come from crowd-sourced sites.
The numbers behind the chart
| Year | Headline concerts at the arena | Festival-day acts (Molson Park, Live 8) |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 | 49 |
| 2006 | 2 | 28 |
| 2007 | 2 | 30 |
| 2008 | 3 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 | 2 |
| 2015 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 6 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 | 5 |
| 2025 | 3 | 4 |
| 2026 | 0 | 1 |
- Live Nation and Ticketmaster antitrust case — The US case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster. No source cited on either page connects it to Barrie's venues.
Reference
Background6 points
- The Roxy Theatre opened in 1931 at 46 Dunlop St W as a single-screen cinema; the theatre closed in 1975; it was later The Roxx nightclub, then Sound Empire (reopened 14 Sep 2013) [cinematreasures.org]
- Another history says the Roxx name dates from 1988 and former mayor Rob Hamilton sold the club in 2012 [militarybruce.com, 29 Feb 2024]. The two sources differ on the dates.
- Mavricks Music Hall opened in mid-September 2016 after Al Quigley (ex-general manager of The Ranch) acquired 46 and 50 Dunlop St W, with Impact Live's John Derlis as partner [impactlive.ca press release, 2 Sep 2016]
- Launch lineup in 2016 included The Road Hammers (21 Oct), Tom Cochrane and Big Sugar (4 Nov) and Buckcherry (18 Nov) [impactlive.ca]
- The Queens (formerly Queen's Hotel), 94 Dunlop St E, dates to 1850 as Marks' Hotel; Rob Hamilton owned it from 1974 and he and his wife sold it to the current owners in 2020 [barrie360.com]
- Barrie lost two city-run theatre spaces earlier: council cancelled the Georgian Theatre lease in Feb 2021 and the Fisher Auditorium was slated for demolition [portailmedias.ca, 10 Mar 2021]
Key players5 points
- Al Quigley: bought the Roxy buildings in 2016 and launched Mavricks [impactlive.ca]. Current ownership of the building is not stated in any page opened.
- Impact Live Events (John Derlis): partner at Mavricks launch; hosts a Queens profile page that names no promoter [impactlive.ca]
- Chris Terrard: named co-owner of the Queens in a 2022 Global News story [globalnews.ca, 16 Sep 2022]; the Barrie360 profile calls the owner 'Chris' [barrie360.com]
- TroyBoy Entertainment: promoter of a drag show at the Queens, 15 Aug 2026 [tickettailor.com]
- Tarantula Tapes: named on a Queens Halloween show, 18 Oct 2025 [songkick.com]
Where it stands now6 points
- Mavricks: Songkick shows 0 upcoming concerts; the latest dates listed are Feb and Apr 2020; Cinema Treasures says it closed in Feb 2020 and a 2024 comment says it is still closed [songkick.com; cinematreasures.org]
- Mavricks: a 29 Feb 2024 article says it has been closed since 2020 with no sign of reopening [militarybruce.com]
- Queens: listed shows on 15 Aug, 29 Aug and 23 Sep 2026 (Cancer Bats with Don't Try and Thunder Queens) [tickettailor.com; queensbarrie.com; songkick.com]. We did not confirm that the 23 Sep show took place.
- Queens website (undated, read 26 Oct 2026): 'The History of the queens hotel is about to change once again. stay tuned for whats coming!' No further detail [queensbarrie.com]
- Tourism Barrie's March 2026 guide lists live bands at the Queens Hotel and DJ/live nights at the Queens Nightclub, plus Malone's Pint House, Kenzington Burger Bar and CW Coop's [tourismbarrie.com, 18 Mar 2026]
- LiveBarrie lists upcoming shows to 4 Dec 2026 at CW Coops and Temple Lounge among others [livebarrie.co, read 26 Oct 2026]
Numbers and figures4 points
- Mavricks seating listed at 719 [cinematreasures.org]; the Roxy opened in 1931 as a roughly 700-seat cinema [militarybruce.com]
- Songkick lists 80 past concerts for Mavricks and 28 for the Queens Nightclub [songkick.com]
- Barrie's planned performing arts centre: 600-seat hall, budget raised by $10M to $85M in Jan 2026, target opening fall 2029 [barrie.ca, update 21 May 2026]
- Canada: a UK study cited by Wavelength Music's Jonathan Bunce puts average grassroots venue profit margin near 0.5 per cent [bnnbloomberg.ca, 1 Oct 2025]
Effects and evidence1 point
- A 2022 complaint about a Queens costume night came from the Women and Children's Shelter of Barrie; the owner said the sign was removed and the event went ahead [globalnews.ca, 16 Sep 2022]. It was about an event theme, not bookings.
Burl's Creek and shows that moved out of town11 points
- DOCUMENTED (barrietoday.com, 2019-08-25): last Molson Park concert was Warped Tour, Aug 11 2007; article says Burl's Creek 'has somewhat replaced what Molson Park once had'; deputy mayor: 'Burl's Creek is today's Molson Park'.
- DOCUMENTED (bellmedia.ca, 2019-02-11): Republic Live promoted the June 29 2019 Rolling Stones show at Burl's Creek; tickets via ticketmaster.ca; ~70,000 expected.
- DOCUMENTED (news.pollstar.com, 2005-06-21): Live 8 at Molson Park/Park Place Barrie on July 2 2005 promoted by Michael Cohl; free tickets via Ticketmaster.ca.
- DOCUMENTED (nowtoronto.com, 2017-09-05): WayHome produced by Republic Live with AC Entertainment 2015, Fource Entertainment booking 2017; ~35,000 (2015), 40,000 (2016).
- DOCUMENTED (globalnews.ca, 2017-09-05): Republic Live paused WayHome 2018; mayor said attendance was down.
- DOCUMENTED (globalnews.ca, 2019-03-20): ministerial zoning order bridged 2019 season for camping/parking at Burl's Creek.
- DOCUMENTED (ca.billboard.com, 2019-07-05): Stan Dunford described as owner of Burl's Creek and co-founder of Republic Live.
- DOCUMENTED (edmtunes.com, 2022-08): Ever After festival cancelled after township denied special events permit; its earlier promoter Beyond Oz Productions reportedly bankrupt (CTV cited); not Burl's Creek or Republic Live.
- DOCUMENTED (newswire.ca, 2017-05-08): Casino Rama concerts ticketed via Ticketmaster; Casino Rama operated by Penn National Gaming.
- NOT ESTABLISHED: any injury, death, or bankruptcy tied to Burl's Creek or Republic Live (a 2015 arrest of a man on the stage roof is reported, no injury).
- NOT ESTABLISHED: that Burl's Creek was planned or chosen as a Molson Park replacement; the source calls it a 'somewhat' replacement in the writer's voice only.
Who promoted and ticketed Barrie shows6 points
- DOCUMENTED 1995-12-31 Barrie Molson Centre opened, city-owned, first event OHL game (en.wikipedia.org Sadlon Arena)
- DOCUMENTED 2005-06-21 Michael Cohl promoter of Live 8 at Park Place; tickets via ticketmaster.ca (news.pollstar.com)
- DOCUMENTED 2024-01-31 City RFP FIN2024-018P for one event ticketing provider covering Sadlon Arena (excl. Colts), Georgian Theatre, Five Points Theatre; awarded 2024-07-16, vendor not shown (barrie.bidsandtenders.ca)
- DOCUMENTED Edgefest at Molson Park 1996-2003; founded by CFNY staffers; Universal Concerts credited in a 1999 reference title (en.wikipedia.org Edgefest)
- NOT ESTABLISHED any named promoter or ticketer for a specific Sadlon Arena concert
- NOT ESTABLISHED any Live Nation or Ticketmaster mention in Barrie council documents
Mavricks, the Queens and other rooms13 points
- DOCUMENTED 2020-02-14: Mavricks Music Hall was operating, with shows listed for Feb 1 and Feb 15 2020 (barrietoday.com)
- DOCUMENTED 2020-05-02: Foxx Lounge (16 Dunlop St. E., capacity 75) closed indefinitely; owner cited COVID uncertainty (barrietoday.com)
- DOCUMENTED 2021-02: city council cancelled its Georgian Theatre arrangement in the 2021 budget; $300,000 saved, petition over 1,600 signatures (barrietoday.com)
- DOCUMENTED 2021-07-30: the Queen's added live music with promoter a promoter (barrietoday.com)
- ALLEGED 2022-09-16: advocates (Women and Children's Shelter of Barrie, UPlift Black) criticised the Queens' 'Naughty School Girl Night'; the club removed the sign but kept the event (globalnews.ca)
- DOCUMENTED 2023-10-19: Unearth show at the Queens ended after a fan ruptured a sprinkler pipe; no charges (barrietoday.com)
- DOCUMENTED 2024-02-28: Mavricks dark since early 2020, 'Sold in 2017', for-lease sign, owners could not be reached by BarrieToday (barrietoday.com)
- DOCUMENTED 2025-02-01: Liars Kitchen + Social opened at 34 Dunlop St. E., the former Foundation Nightclub site (barrietoday.com)
- DOCUMENTED 2025-07-17: city-hosted music meetup said a desire for consistent downtown programming was unanimous (investbarrie.ca)
- DOCUMENTED 2025-08-03: a promoter named Queens general manager (barrietoday.com)
- DOCUMENTED 2026-05-20: waterfront performing arts centre, up to $90M, construction slated spring 2027 (barrietoday.com)
- NOT ESTABLISHED: why Mavricks went dark, who owns it now, and whether it will reopen
- NOT ESTABLISHED: any promoter ban, AGCO/licence action or promoter dispute at the Queens; reason Tarantula Tapes' 2026 party is at Five Points Theatre
How Barrie compares with similar Ontario cities6 points
- Rule: the same as the chart above, applied to similar Ontario cities (one act per year per city; chart entry, Juno, Grammy or Polaris nomination, or recognized label on its Wikipedia page; headliners only; arenas counted only for full years after they opened).
- Average acts of stature a year in 2005-10, 2011-19 and 2022-25: Barrie 1.8, 2.3, 3.3. Peterborough 1.7, 3.8, 7.8 (early data thin). Kingston (arena opened 2008) 10.9 in 2011-19, then 5.3. Oshawa (opened 2006) 10.6, then 5.0. Sudbury 5.0, 7.2, then 2.8. Kitchener 3.3, 2.6, 2.0. St. Catharines (opened 2014) 5.4 in 2015-19, then 5.3. Guelph under 1 a year.
- Barrie's count did not fall between 2011-19 and 2022-25 (up about 39%); peers range from a 62% fall (Sudbury) to a 105% rise (Peterborough). No pattern is uniform across the cities.
- Barrie is at the low end for its size (about 1.6 acts a year per 100,000 residents), close to Kitchener and above Guelph. Kingston, Oshawa and St. Catharines have newer, larger arenas, which may explain part of the gap.
- Reliability: where both setlist.fm and Songkick were read in full, setlist.fm alone held only about 67 to 84% of known show dates, and coverage of both improves over time, so the 2005-10 averages are the least reliable. Overall strength of this comparison: weak to moderate. Brantford, Sarnia and Belleville could not be assessed because both sources list almost nothing for them.
- No source found ties any city's change in touring volume to Live Nation, radius clauses or any promoter. The few stated reasons (an arena manager in Sudbury citing the economy and acts skipping smaller cities; a Sarnia parks director citing lost event bids and a sports-leaning arena; a Kitchener festival head on radius clauses) are opinions, some seen only in search summaries.
Possible connections (none established)6 points
- No source we opened draws any link between Barrie's venues and promoter consolidation, ticketing, radius clauses, Live Nation or any other wider cause.
- National context only: Wavelength Music's Jonathan Bunce says closures are driven mainly by economics, citing small margins, insurance and labour costs and higher artist fees [bnnbloomberg.ca, 1 Oct 2025].
- Music commentator Alper (as reported) cites insurance, liquor licence fees, staffing, inflation and changing fan habits [bnnbloomberg.ca, 1 Oct 2025]. Neither speaker mentions Barrie.
- The same article notes Toronto's Velvet Underground, owned by Live Nation since 2019, was closing; its stated reason was a lease ending and the article does not say Live Nation caused it [bnnbloomberg.ca].
- Ticketmaster is documented as the ticket seller for Live 8 at Molson Park (2005), the 2019 Rolling Stones show at Burl's Creek and Casino Rama concerts. Ticketmaster has been part of Live Nation since the 2010 merger (see the Live Nation story). No source we opened says Live Nation produced, promoted or owned any of these events or venues.
- A BarrieToday writer says Burl's Creek "has somewhat replaced what Molson Park once had" (2019). That is the writer's view; no source says it was planned as a replacement.
Open questions3 points
- What is the 'change' the Queens website promises, and when was that line posted?
- Which promoters currently book the Queens, and has any show there been pulled? No page opened says so.
- Did the 23 Sep 2026 Cancer Bats show happen as listed?
Not yet established21 points
- Who promoted Jack Johnson (2008), Toby Keith (2009), CMT Music Festival (2011) and the Hip (2012) at Burl's Creek; only the venue's previous owners are mentioned in one unopened snippet.
- Who owned Burl's Creek before the 2014 ownership change; the outcome of the 2015-era Superior Court injunction; the outcome of the June hearing on the two-large-concert (40,000+) bylaw.
- Boots and Hearts ticketing partner (no opened page names one); Oasis Music Festival 2026 promoter and ticketing.
- Exact exclusive booking arrangements between the venue and Republic Live; the venue page says only that its operators partner with event producers.
- 'Kingdom Rock' and 'Jam on the Creek': searches returned nothing, so existence is unconfirmed.
- Promoter or ticketer of any Sadlon Arena concert
- Identity of the vendor awarded City ticketing RFP FIN2024-018P
- Ticketing providers of the arena 1995-2023
- Any statement by city staff on why large concerts do or do not come, with exact quote
- Georgian Downs or Georgian Theatre concert promoters
- Kempenfest ticketing provider
- Why Mavricks Music Hall went dark, who owns it, whether any sale, heritage or arts-centre proposal beyond the 2024 column is active
- Any AGCO or licence action involving the Queens
- The 'history is about to change' notice at the Queens
- Any Queens promoter ban or dispute; whether the Tarantula Tapes venue change was a dispute
- Closing date and reason for The Foundation Nightclub; status of Fuzzy Buddha, Kenzington, Rocky's
- Any named musician or promoter quote that Barrie bookings have 'dried up' beyond the Foxx and music-sector meetup items above
- Any wave of Barrie venue closures in 2025 or 2026
- Any promoter dispute, complaint or licence problem involving the Queens, Mavricks or Dunlop Street clubs
- Any link to Live Nation, ticketing, radius clauses or promoter consolidation in Barrie
- The status of The Foundation as anything other than a former venue; coverage of Sadlon Arena shows or cancellations
Full timeline
- October 26, 2026
LiveBarrie lists shows into December
LiveBarrie, read 26 October 2026, lists upcoming shows through 4 December 2026 at rooms including CW Coops and Temple Lounge. The page says nothing about closures or cancellations.
- October 26, 2026
Queens website says its history is about to change
The Queens' website, read on 26 October 2026, carries the line 'The History of the queens hotel is about to change once again. stay tuned for whats coming!' It gives no detail and no posting date, so what it refers to is not known.
- September 23, 2026
Cancer Bats listed at the Queens
Songkick lists Cancer Bats with Don't Try and Thunder Queens at The Queens Nightclub on Wednesday 23 September 2026. We did not find a source confirming the show took place or was cancelled.
- September 21, 2026
Indie Music Scene Night launches at CW Coops
BarrieToday news release (Sep 21, 2026): the Gussapolooza team and The Indie Distributor Project launch Indie Music Scene Night on Oct 1 at CW Coops, saying the aim is to give emerging artists more performance opportunities beyond festival season in smaller venues. DOCUMENTED as a release by the organizers.
- September 10, 2026
Queens calendar lists Sept 10, 2026 punk bill with outside promoters
The Queens' own site lists Thursday Sept 10, 2026 at the Queens Nightclub 'Presented by Gay-Ass Productions, Tarantula Tapes and Autopsy Report Promotions' with O.C.O.D, Speed Humps and Black Budget, $15, 19+. This shows outside promoters were still booking the room in 2026 per the venue's own calendar. DOCUMENTED (venue's own listing, not independent reporting).
- August 29, 2026
Twizta listed at the Queens
The Queens' own calendar lists TWIZTA on Saturday 29 August 2026, 10 to 11:59 PM, with no promoter or ticketing shown.
- August 15, 2026
Drag show at the Queens, promoted by TroyBoy
A Ticket Tailor page lists The Drag Stop! Summer Sizzle at The Queens NightClub on 15 August 2026, 6:00 to 9:45 PM, promoted by TroyBoy Entertainment, with tickets on sale.
- May 21, 2026
Performing arts centre update
The city's page, with a 21 May 2026 update, says the arts centre budget rose by $10M to $85M in January 2026, with a 600-seat hall. Demolition of the Sea Cadets building is expected in fall 2026 and opening in fall 2029.
- May 20, 2026
Waterfront performing arts centre: stake in the ground
BarrieToday (May 20, 2026): council unveiled a sign at the Sea Cadets/Navy League property at 11 Simcoe St. for the performing arts centre. Cost could reach $90 million; construction is slated to start spring 2027 with completion mid-2029; plans include a 600-seat hall and a 200 to 250-seat studio. DOCUMENTED.
- March 18, 2026
Tourism Barrie guide lists Queens and other rooms
Tourism Barrie's guide for 17-29 March 2026 lists live music at the Queens Hotel and the Queens Nightclub, along with Malone's Pint House, Kenzington Burger Bar, CW Coop's and Georgian Theatre. It does not mention Mavricks.
Earlier updates42 more, back to 1931
- December 31, 2025
City cancels NYE at Meridian Place for weather
CP24 reported on 31 December 2025 that Barrie cancelled its New Year's Eve event because of heavy snow and an Environment Canada warning. Kim Mitchell's set and the fireworks moved to Winterfest on 7-8 February 2026. This was a city event, not a venue issue.
- October 18, 2025
Tarantula Tapes Halloween party at the Queens
Songkick lists the Tarantula Tapes Five Year Halloween Party 2025 with Angry Spells at The Queens Nightclub on 18 October 2025, and 28 past concerts for the room. No cancellation is noted.
- October 1, 2025
National coverage of small-venue closures
On 1 October 2025 BNN Bloomberg (via CTV) reported small venues closing across Canada. Wavelength Music's Jonathan Bunce said economics are the biggest factor and that margins are small. Toronto's Velvet Underground was closing; the article does not say Live Nation caused it. Barrie is not mentioned.
- August 3, 2025
Queens names a promoter general manager
BarrieToday (page date Aug 3, 2025): the Queens Hotel has a veteran local music promoter as new general manager, who previously booked there for four years and is also still booking shows at The Rec Room. Capacity is 350. She said the closure of the nearby Foxx Lounge 'was very hard on the music community', that a Live Nation representative recently visited to see a show, and that she hopes the planned waterfront arts centre looks at 'the whole (music) community'. DOCUMENTED.
- July 17, 2025
City music-sector meetup: unanimous wish for downtown programming
City of Barrie's Invest Barrie site (posted Jul 17, 2025) reported a June 25 Music Sector Meetup hosted by Creative Barrie at Brud Bar and Bottle Shop, with 14 locals including reps of Tarantula Tapes, Live Barrie and Canadian Musicians Co-operative. 'A desire for consistent and accessible musical programming in the downtown core was unanimous', with discussion of family-friendly venues for alternative and original musicians. DOCUMENTED (city-authored summary, not individual quotes).
- February 1, 2025
Liars Kitchen + Social opens at former Foundation Nightclub site
BarrieToday (Feb 1, 2025): Liars Kitchen + Social at 34 Dunlop St. E., the former site of The Foundation Nightclub, opened just over a month earlier after six months of renovations. It is a 19-plus supper club open Thursday to Saturday, with a DJ on one floor and live music on another, employing more than 70. Dustin Leigh said they were in talks with concert and comedy professionals. DOCUMENTED. The Foundation's closing date and reason are not in the page.
- February 29, 2024
Mavricks still closed; arts-centre idea floated
A 29 February 2024 article says Mavrick's has been closed since 2020 with no sign of reopening. Former councillor Barry Ward proposed it as a site for the planned performing arts centre, though it is far smaller than the recommended size.
- February 28, 2024
Mavricks: 'future remains uncertain' (BarrieToday, 2024)
'Quiet since the pandemic, Mavricks Music Hall in downtown Barrie remains dark.' A 'for lease' sign hangs near the building. Coun. Craig Nixon said reopening would be a boost to downtown. BarrieToday 'was unable to get in touch with Mavricks' current owners'. It says the building was 'Sold in 2017' and 'went quiet near the time the pandemic hit in early 2020'; it is neither a designated nor a listed heritage property. Barrie's capital plan then showed $36 million for a performing arts centre. DOCUMENTED; reason for closing and the owner's identity are NOT in the article.
- February 21, 2024
Columnist floats Roxy building as arts centre
BarrieToday columnist Barry Ward (Feb 21, 2024) wrote that the former Roxy Theatre at 46 Dunlop St. W. appeared to have been empty since the pandemic start (his words: 'as far as I know'), with a 'for lease' notice on a marquee, and suggested it could be repurposed as the performing arts centre instead of the old Barrie Central site. OPINION; the city does not own the property.
- January 31, 2024
City issues Event Ticketing Service Provider RFP
City of Barrie bid FIN2024-018P, an RFP, was published January 31, 2024 and closed March 4, 2024. It seeks one provider for box office, online sales and validation for Five Points Theatre, Georgian Theatre, Sadlon Arena (excluding OHL Barrie Colts ticketing) and special events; 3-year term with two 3-year extensions.
- October 19, 2023
Sprinkler rupture ends Unearth show at the Queens
BarrieToday (Oct 19, 2023): at 10:13 p.m. on Oct 18 a fan grabbed an overhead pipe and ruptured the sprinkler system during Unearth's set; the business closed for cleanup. Queens owner Chris Gerrard said repairs were done and the next show would go on. Barrie police said no charges were laid. DOCUMENTED.
- September 16, 2022
Complaint over Queens costume night
Global News reported on 16 September 2022 that the Women and Children's Shelter of Barrie criticized a Queens 'Naughty School Girl Night'. Co-owner Chris Terrard said the sign was removed after a complaint but the event went ahead. This concerned an event theme, not bookings.
- August 1, 2022
Ever After festival cancelled at Burl's Creek, 2022
EDM Tunes reports Ever After Music Festival (Aug 11-14 2022, Burl's Creek) was cancelled about a week before, after Oro-Medonte denied a special events permit in July for lack of 'proper approvals from various agencies'. It cites CTV that Beyond Oz Productions filed for bankruptcy the previous December (over $5.6 million liabilities) and Unity Travel organized 2022. The bankruptcy concerns the organizers, not Burl's Creek or Republic Live.
- April 9, 2022
Dayglo Abortions and Random Killing booked at the Queens
BarrieToday (Apr 9, 2022) previewed a one-night Queens Hotel show with Dayglo Abortions and Random Killing, with local openers, as live music returned after pandemic lockdowns. DOCUMENTED that the show was booked and promoted; the page is a preview, not a report of the night.
- July 30, 2021
Queen's adds live music with a promoter
BarrieToday (Jul 30, 2021): after lockdowns the Queen's (Dunlop St. E.) began live music, an idea from local promoter a promoter, who had been booking live music in the city for 16 years. Manager Darrell Staveley said they renovated during lockdown. A new stage was built, with a 96-person cap then, expected to exceed 300 later. DOCUMENTED.
- March 10, 2021
City cancels Georgian Theatre lease
A 10 March 2021 report says the city announced in late February that the Georgian Theatre lease would be cancelled, saving about $300,000, and that the Fisher Auditorium was slated for demolition. Council voted to apply for grant funding and a taskforce was planned.
- March 2, 2021
Council applies for federal grant for Georgian Theatre
BarrieToday (Mar 2, 2021): council voted to apply to the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative for a grant to improve Georgian Theatre. Coun. Clare Riepma said it had proved difficult to find suitable venues for some users. Refurbishment was estimated at $1.3 million over 3 to 4 years. DOCUMENTED; the grant outcome is not in this page.
- February 23, 2021
Mayor and CAO respond on Georgian Theatre; 'major gap'
BarrieToday (Feb 23, 2021): Mayor Jeff Lehman said that after council's earlier decision on the Fisher Auditorium, the Georgian decision 'closed the only existing space' and called the lack of that size of facility 'a major gap'. Petition signatures were over 1,600. CAO Michael Prowse said staff did not intend groups to feel disenfranchised. DOCUMENTED (statements by named officials).
- February 22, 2021
Petition after city cancels Georgian Theatre arrangement
BarrieToday (Feb 22, 2021) reported the 2021 operating budget approved by council cancelled the city's arrangement for the Georgian Theatre (owned by Georgian College), saving $300,000 against $124,000 lost revenue. A petition to restore it had more than 1,300 signatures. The article says no events had been held there since March 7, 2020. DOCUMENTED.
- May 2, 2020
Foxx Lounge closes indefinitely (COVID)
BarrieToday (May 2, 2020) reported the Foxx Lounge Rock Bar and Hotdoggery, 16 Dunlop St. E., 75 capacity and open 13 years, closed indefinitely. Owner Shane Heath said the decision was due to uncertainty around the health crisis and the entertainment industry. A local booker called it heartbreaking; a band member called it the lifeline of Barrie's indie scene. DOCUMENTED, with reasons stated by the owner.
- February 29, 2020
Mavricks' last listed shows, Feb-Apr 2020
Songkick's latest listed Mavricks dates are the Saydes (15 Feb 2020), Theory (29 Feb 2020) and Cudbear (18 Apr 2020), and it shows 0 upcoming concerts. Cinema Treasures says the venue closed in February 2020. The sources do not agree on the closing month and give no reason.
- February 14, 2020
Mavricks Music Hall profile: venue active in Feb 2020
BarrieToday (Feb 14, 2020) described the building at 46 Dunlop St. W. as opened in 1931, later known as Mavricks Music Hall, The Roxy, Sound Empire and The Roxx. It reported current management took over in August 2016 and renamed it Mavricks Music Hall, and listed upcoming shows on Feb 1 and Feb 15, 2020. Kim Mitchell is quoted on the venue's sound and history. DOCUMENTED.
- January 1, 2020
Queens sold by Rob Hamilton
Barrie360 says Rob Hamilton, owner since 1974, and his wife Donna sold the Queen's to its current owners in 2020. Only the year is given. The owners plan to restore some hotel features, depending on the economy and funding.
- August 25, 2019
Molson Park's last concert: Warped Tour, Aug 11 2007
BarrieToday (Aug 25 2019) states 'The final concert to be held at Molson Park was the Warped Tour on Aug. 11, 2007, featuring Bad Religion, Flogging Molly and a bevy of others.' It says the speakers were turned off and the site became a commercial district, now Park Place. It also reports that in late 2006 landowner North American Acquisition won an Ontario Municipal Board appeal to rezone the land from industrial to commercial.
- July 5, 2019
Billboard Canada profile: Dunford owns Burl's Creek, co-founded Republic Live
Billboard Canada (Jul 5 2019) describes Stan Dunford as owner of Burl's Creek Event Grounds and co-founder of Republic Live, with wife Eva and daughter Brooke involved. It says Boots and Hearts (Aug 8-11) draws about 40,000 over three days and the inaugural Big Sky Festival was July 20. The article does not mention Live Nation.
- March 20, 2019
Ministerial zoning order lets Burl's Creek run 2019 season
Global News (Mar 20 2019) reported Ontario municipal affairs minister Steve Clark issued a ministerial zoning order extending a temporary-use bylaw (approved by the OMB, Jan 1 2016, set to expire Dec 31 2018) for camping and parking while the tribunal heard the permanent application. Mayor Harry Hughes said it 'bridges the gap for the 2019 special event season'. Boots and Hearts and a Rolling Stones concert are named.
- February 11, 2019
Republic Live announces Rolling Stones at Burl's Creek, tickets via Ticketmaster
A Bell Media release dated Feb 11 2019 says Republic Live, which also produces Boots and Hearts and Big Sky, announced 'Canada Rocks with The Rolling Stones' at Burl's Creek on Saturday June 29, about 70,000 fans expected. Tickets went on sale Feb 15 at 10 a.m. ET, with information directed to ticketmaster.ca. Live Nation is not mentioned. Wikipedia lists the record attendance as 71,000.
- January 15, 2019
Big Sky Music Festival announced for July 20 2019
A Republic Live release describes it as 'the producers of the award-winning Boots and Hearts Music Festival' and lists Alabama, Diamond Rio and Travis Tritt for Saturday July 20 2019 at Burl's Creek. Tickets were to go on sale Feb 1 2019 through bigskymusicfestival.ca only. The page does not mention Ticketmaster or Live Nation. The release date is not shown on the page.
- September 5, 2017
WayHome 2018 put on hold
Global News (Sep 5 2017, updated Sep 20) reported Republic Live paused the 2018 WayHome. Co-founder Eva Dunford said the company decided to 'push pause on the 2018 edition'. Mayor Harry Hughes said 'I'm sure it was a business decision' and that attendance was down. CTV, via NOW, put 2017 at about 15,000 per day. No Live Nation mention.
- September 5, 2017
WayHome launched by Republic Live with AC Entertainment, 2015
NOW Toronto (Sep 5 2017) says Republic Live launched WayHome in 2015 in partnership with AC Entertainment (the company behind Bonnaroo), which quietly left in 2016; Fource Entertainment booked 2017. Republic Live reported about 35,000 attendance in 2015 and 40,000 in 2016. The article does not mention Live Nation.
- May 8, 2017
Casino Rama concerts sold via Ticketmaster; operator named
A Casino Rama Resort news release dated May 8 2017 says advance tickets were through www.ticketmaster.ca or 1-877-599-RAMA, with general sale at all TicketMaster locations, and that 'Casino Rama Resort is operated by Penn National Gaming, Inc.' Live Nation is not mentioned on the page.
- September 15, 2016
Mavricks Music Hall opens
Cinema Treasures says the building reopened in mid-September 2016 as Mavrick's Music Hall, a live music venue. Its listing shows 719 seats.
- September 2, 2016
Al Quigley buys Roxy buildings, plans Mavricks
A press release dated 2 September 2016 says Al Quigley, former general manager of The Ranch, acquired 46 and 50 Dunlop St W and would open Mavricks Music Hall in mid-September with Impact Live's John Derlis as partner. It listed fall shows including The Road Hammers, Tom Cochrane and Big Sugar, and Buckcherry.
- August 10, 2015
Boots and Hearts brought to Burl's Creek; residents object (2015)
Global News (Aug 10 2015) reported about 40,000 people attended the three-day Boots and Hearts festival at Burl's Creek. A man climbed onto the main stage roof and was arrested. SaveOro.com members complained about noise, traffic and spotlights, and Deputy Mayor Ralph Hough said organizers 'may well be charged for violating our zone bylaws for both concerts'. The land was zoned agricultural.
- September 14, 2013
Reopens as Sound Empire
Cinema Treasures says the building reopened on 14 September 2013 as the Sound Empire nightclub. A separate history says former mayor Rob Hamilton sold the club in 2012.
- July 2, 2012
Tragically Hip play Burl's Creek on Canada Day 2012
The Barrie Examiner reported on July 2 2012 that The Tragically Hip played Burl's Creek, north of Barrie, on Sunday July 1 for Canada Day. It said the band chose to do it there and 'set up the event from scratch', and that it was their first gig in the area. The article names no promoter or ticketer.
- July 2, 2005
Why Live 8 landed in Barrie
Wikipedia says Parliament Hill was rejected on June 10, 2005 by federal departments and the RCMP over capacity and ground damage concerns, Toronto venues had logistical problems (Downsview and Molson Amphitheatre hosting Canada Day concerts), and Barrie was named on June 21. Attendance about 35,000, full capacity.
- June 21, 2005
Live 8 Canada announced for Park Place, Barrie
Pollstar (June 21, 2005) reports Michael Cohl as promoter of the July 2 Live 8 show at Park Place (formerly Molson Park). Admission free, two tickets per person, on sale June 23 at 10 a.m. online only through ticketmaster.ca. Cohl is quoted: 'We want people to understand why they're attending the concert'.
- September 6, 2003
Edgefest at Molson Park 1996-2003
Wikipedia's Edgefest article lists Barrie (Molson Park) shows: 1996 Tea Party headline (35,000), 1998 Foo Fighters/Green Day/Creed, 1999 two shows after the first sold out in under a week, 2000 Creed, 2001 Tool, 2002 Nickelback, 2003 delayed to Sept 6 by SARS ('The Last Bash in Barrie'). Edgefest was founded in 1987 by CFNY-FM staffers; Universal Concerts is credited in a reference title for the 1999 archived website. The festival moved to Molson Amphitheatre (Toronto) in 2004.
- December 31, 1995
Barrie Molson Centre opens Dec 31, 1995
Wikipedia's Sadlon Arena article states groundbreaking in November 1994 and opening on December 31, 1995 at a cost of CA$13 million, owned and operated by the City of Barrie. First event was an OHL game, Barrie Colts vs Sudbury Wolves. Capacity listed as 4,195 hockey, 4,801 East End Stage, 5,000 Centre Stage.
- January 1, 1975
Roxy closes as a theatre
Cinema Treasures records that the theatre closed in 1975. The building later ran as The Roxx nightclub. A commenter on the page disputes the club's start date.
- January 1, 1931
Roxy Theatre opens at 46 Dunlop St W
Cinema Treasures says the Roxy opened in 1931 as an atmospheric-style single-screen theatre, built by John Saso and Sons for about $100,000 during the Depression. Only the year is given.
militarybruce.com · cinematreasures.org · en.wikipedia.org · news.pollstar.com · web.archive.org · globalnews.ca · impactlive.ca · newswire.ca · nowtoronto.com · bellmedia.ca · ca.billboard.com · barrie360.com · barrietoday.com · songkick.com · portailmedias.ca · edmtunes.com · barrie.bidsandtenders.ca · investbarrie.ca · bnnbloomberg.ca · cp24.com · tourismbarrie.com · barrie.ca · tickettailor.com · queensbarrie.com · livebarrie.co
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