Yesterday, the Silver Dollar Room was designated “as being of cultural heritage value or interest” by the Toronto City Council. This has put the well-used and well-loved venue under the Ontario Heritage Act, safeguarding it for future artists, shows, and fans (and not to mention great bookers of said shows).
It’s only been a year since the Wynn Group submitted a development plan proposing to demolish the Silver Dollar and Waverley Hotel in favour of building a student housing hive, which was ultimately rejected by council. City staff followed up on the site, consulting with music historian Nicholas Jennings on the Dollar’s background and historical importance – an act which played part in council recommending the heritage designation for the site.
“It represents an important part of Toronto’s musical past and present. We’ve lost too many great venues and the Dollar is a city landmark,” Jennings asserts about the venue’s almost 60-year run.
(Photo by: jennyrotten via Flickr)
If you’ve been to any show at the Dollar in recent years (cough, decades), you’d know that Dan Burke has been booking the talent and keeping the venue a pivotal place for new music in town: “History’s all fine and dandy, but I’m in the business of keeping the heritage alive.”
And he’s no slouch. With a track record of booking great indie bands before they get big (Death From Above 1979, The Black Lips, Basia Bulat, Tokyo Police Club, and Alvvays, just to name a few), Burke will give you a lineup that’s a solid bet no matter what night of the week you’re out.
Although you might have already missed a couple stellar sets this month, make sure you check out Burke’s annual series of shows in January called “Class of 2015: The Indie Music Honour Roll.” Guaranteed, you will see some bands that’ll gain a bit of well-deserved hype this year – among them, our synthpop favourites Brave Shores, who are playing this Saturday. There are a few more stellar shows in the series coming up that you can find here.
Get in on this and live some rock and roll history – before council changes its mind!