La Toscadura: Montreal’s Newest Music Venue Joins the Casa del Popolo Family

A spacious room draped in black curtains, a freshly painted stage, and scattered cases of electrical equipment set the scene for la Toscadura, Montreal’s newest live music venue. Located at 4388 St-Laurent Boulevard, this space is the latest addition to the esteemed Sala Rossa/Casa del Popolo/la Sotterenea family.
As stage lights flash shades of blue and purple, la Toscadura’s programmer, Chris Vargas, takes a moment to reflect. “There’s still so much to do,” they admit. “It’s chaotic and last-minute, but we get it done. We had to hang curtains everywhere because the original paint job looked like something out of Harry Potter—that’s definitely not the vibe I wanted.”
The team behind Casa del Popolo has been busy in recent months. They recently took over the venue formerly known as Ursa from musician-poet Martha Wainwright, transforming it into P’tit Ours—also under Vargas’s management. Now, with la Toscadura opening its doors, the family of venues continues to expand.
La Toscadura inhabits the same space that once housed El Salon, a bygone venue that, two decades ago, welcomed acts like The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Against Me!, and Of Montreal. However, what sets this new venue apart is Vargas’s deep ties to Montreal’s punk and electronic music scenes. A seasoned booker at la Sala Rossa, Vargas jumped at the opportunity to curate la Toscadura’s programming when approached by venue co-owners Mauro Pezzente (of post-rock legends Godspeed You! Black Emperor) and Sam Thifault.
“I feel strongly about this space,” Vargas explains. “There aren’t many venues of this capacity in the area.”
Music fans have drawn comparisons between la Toscadura and la Vitrola, a former venue run by Pezzente that shut down during the pandemic. However, la Toscadura has a notable advantage: its ground-floor location ensures full accessibility. With a capacity of 300—matching that of la Sala Rossa—the venue offers a welcoming space for artists and audiences alike.
Additionally, the building houses the Spanish Social Club, where an upstairs restaurant serves food that guests can bring down to enjoy during performances. Across the street, the beloved Latino grocery store Sabor Latino provides an enticing culinary perk. “They have the best chicharrón in the city,” Vargas declares, “and I don’t care who wants to argue with me about it.”
Committed to fostering a thriving music community, Vargas aims to keep booking fees affordable, making the space accessible to DIY promoters and grassroots organizers. “There are fewer DIY spaces now, and the need for venues in Montreal is huge,” they emphasize. “I’m always open to working out deals for organizers because we need to support each other.”
Beyond live music, la Toscadura will host a variety of events, from fundraisers to quinceañeras. A particular highlight is the upcoming monthly Noche de Cumbia dance night, Parranda en la Toscadura, organized in collaboration with Vargas’s Colombian musician friend, Jashim. “I want these dance nights to be a safe space, but also curated by people who actually grew up with this music,” Vargas explains. “I’ve been to cumbia nights in town where it’s just two white guys running the show, and that really irks me. We’re prioritizing authenticity and quality.”
Montreal’s live music scene has faced significant turbulence in recent years, with the closure of cherished venues like Divan Orange, la Tulipe, and the Diving Bell due to noise complaints. While the city has since amended its bylaws to exempt music venues from certain noise restrictions, complaints persist—Casa del Popolo, for instance, still faces pushback from neighbors.
“That’s why Casa has an early curfew,” Vargas says. “But Toscadura doesn’t have to abide by the same restrictions—it can stay open until 3 a.m., like a bar.” While launching a new venue always carries risks, Pezzente remains dedicated to cultivating spaces for live music, no matter the challenge.
The landscape of Montreal’s music venues is shifting once again. With la Toscadura’s opening, the announcement of the new TBA venue taking over the Diving Bell’s mantle, la Biu replacing Traxide, and Turbo Haüs’ Sergio Da Silva now overseeing programming at Blue Dog, the city may be on the brink of a musical resurgence.
“There are always new promoters emerging, and I love getting to know them,” Vargas says. “I think we’re getting back into the swing of things. But we always need more spaces for live music.”
With its community-focused ethos and commitment to accessibility, la Toscadura is poised to become a vital fixture in Montreal’s independent music scene.
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