Toronto Sun Readers Crown Massey Hall as Top Winter Music Venue

Toronto Sun Readers Crown Massey Hall as Top Winter Music Venue

Toronto Sun readers have spoken, and in a decisive winter edition poll, they have selected Massey Hall as their favorite live music venue in Toronto. The celebrated hall, long acclaimed for its exceptional acoustics and unique atmosphere, emerged as the clear winner, reaffirming its iconic status in the city's cultural landscape.

The Historic Winner: Massey Hall

The popular venue holds the distinction of being Toronto's oldest, having originally opened its doors in 1894. It was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1981 and has hosted legendary Canadian music royalty throughout its storied history. Gordon Lightfoot performed there more frequently than any other artist, maintaining a standard fall run of shows around his birthday for years. Neil Young recorded his acclaimed Live at Massey Hall album at the venue in 1971.

The intimate hall, which currently seats 2,550 patrons, underwent extensive renovations from 2018 to 2021 at a cost of $186 million. The post-COVID reopening in 2021 revealed a new seven-storey addition alongside careful restoration of original features including stained glass windows. The renovation also introduced new seating arrangements, including removable floor seats to accommodate standing audiences, along with upgraded washrooms and bars on every level.

A Massey Hall spokesperson expressed gratitude in a statement: "Thank you to Toronto Sun readers for naming Massey Hall your favourite live music venue in Toronto! For 132 years, Massey Hall has proudly welcomed the world's most celebrated performers while championing the city's brightest homegrown talent on the legendary Allan Slaight Stage."

The statement continued: "Beyond all the extraordinary concerts, what truly sets Massey Hall apart is its role as a charity. Through Artist Development initiatives, as well as Education and Community programming – all housed within the state‑of‑the‑art Allied Music Centre – Massey Hall continues to invest in the future of Canada's music ecosystem."

The Complete Top Five List

Here is the complete ranking of Toronto Sun readers' favorite winter music venues:

1. Massey Hall - The historic venue that opened in 1894 and underwent a $186 million renovation from 2018-2021.
2. Danforth Music Hall - This 1,500-seat venue originally opened as a movie theatre in 1919 and was designated as a property of historic interest under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1985. After beginning to feature live music acts in the late 1970s, it underwent a two-year renovation in 2004 that included a new sound system and updated seating. The hall has since hosted major artists including Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Lorde.
3. The Horseshoe Tavern - On its 70th anniversary in 2017, then co-owner Jeff Cohen described the venue as having "a secret sauce that can't be replicated." Originally a blacksmith's shop, the space was purchased in 1947 by Jack Starr, who transformed it into a 460-patron capacity country music hall. Early performers included Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson, followed by Stompin' Tom Connors. The late 1970s and early 1980s saw a shift to New Wave with concerts by Talking Heads, The Police, and The Viletones. Subsequent decades brought surprise performances by legendary acts including the Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Bryan Adams, and The Tragically Hip.
4. History - One of Toronto's newest indoor music venues, this sleek marble and metal building opened in the Beaches neighborhood in 2021 as a collaboration between Drake and Live Nation. The 2,500-person capacity, 35,000-square-foot venue was designed to host approximately 200 acts annually. General manager Steven Biasutti explained the concept was to give "club-level artists experience what it would be like to play in a high-volume arena." Concerts have featured artists ranging from Muse and Garbage to Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran, with Drake making surprise appearances.
5. El Mocambo - Since 1948, this 500-person capacity venue with its famous palm tree neon sign has hosted legendary performances by iconic artists including the Rolling Stones, U2, Joan Jett, The Ramones, and Blondie. More recent ownership under Michael Wekerle from 2014 to 2025 invested millions in adding a state-of-the-art stage along with recording and streaming studios before the venue changed hands last year. Executive director Mike Chalut stated about the new ownership: "The El Mocambo isn't just a venue – it's a living, breathing part of Toronto."

Reader Engagement and Future Polls

The Toronto Sun is actively seeking reader input for future Top 5 polls. Readers are encouraged to suggest subjects ranging from local favorites like steak houses and swimming areas to Ontario weekend getaway destinations or preferred online entertainment options. Suggestions can be sent to the publication's email address for consideration in upcoming reader polls.

The poll results highlight the enduring appeal of Toronto's historic music venues alongside the successful integration of newer spaces into the city's vibrant live music scene. Each venue on the list represents a distinct chapter in Toronto's musical history while continuing to host contemporary artists and attract enthusiastic audiences throughout the winter season.