El Mocambo

437-990-2582

Team@TorontoClubs.com

torontoclubs.com/

A TORONTO LANDMARK

The Legendary El Mocambo located in the heart of Toronto’s bustling Chinatown is one of Canada’s most iconic music venues.

During the late 70’s the El Mocambo quickly became Canada’s premiere showcase destination hosting the likes of The Rolling Stones, U2, Blondie and Stevie Ray Vaughan to name a few.

In 2014, after years of neglect, Michael Wekerle, a Toronto financier and philanthropist announced that he was buying the building and vowed to restore the El Mocambo and its neon palms to their former glory.

Hiring an A-list team of music industry veterans to bring his vision to life , some 70 years after its founding, the world-famous El Mocambo has returned in a spectacular fashion touting state of the art audio and video control rooms , two expanded performance stages , improved sight lines and world class PA & lighting.

A VINTAGE VENUE FOR THE DIGITAL AGE

Now the largest studio floor on the Eastern Seaboard, The El Mocambo is a re-imagined broadcast facility. With the ability to record, film and capture high resolution audio and video from anywhere in the venue- this is the perfect place to see your favourite live performance, host a show stopping event, or connect a global audience with unique and memorable experiences.

The Venue

FACILITY OVERVIEW

FLOOR ONE

Stage 18ft wide 10ft deep 2ft 8in tall
Audience space 32ft wide and 63ft long
Sound System LAcoustics, Digico, Midas
Lighting system ATC GrandMA
Absen LED wal

FLOOR TWO

Stage 24ft wide 14ft 4in deep 3ft 4in tall
Audience space 28ft wide and 103ft long plus balcony 5ft wide and 74ft long
Sound System L’Acoustics, Digico,
Lighting ATC GranMA
Absen LED wall

THE FOOD

The McEwan Group is recognized as one of Canada’s premier hospitality companies.

Our exceptional catering service is led by renowned Chef Mark McEwan who is widely recognized for his distinctive style of cooking that captures the essence of classical cuisine with nuances of contemporary flavours.

To complement The El Mocambo’s iconic venue location, McEwan Chefs have curated specific menus for the venue offering a selection of “Start Me Up” appetizers, food stations, and dinner menus to our “Sticky Fingers” desserts.

From our El Mocambo Sirloin Burger, Lamb Nachos, Wild Boar Bacon & Monterey Jack Grilled Cheese to our Braised Oxtail Ravioli we are sure to satisfy any taste with all costs calculated to meet the needs of all clientele. Because of the scope of our business, we have the ability to scale events to a variety of clients.

McEwan Catering wants to enhance the spectacular space with event catering excellence. Our experienced catering team will devise inventive culinary moments that will further enrich the sensational setting of the El Mocambo and bring any client’s vision to life.

From intimate concerts to over-the-top occasions, McEwan Catering delivers with seamless perfection. We are driven by the freshest ingredients and our events team wows beyond the fork. El Mocambo and McEwan Catering together can create a fully immersive experience for all occasions.

UNDER THE NEON PALMS

The Story Of The Legendary El Mocambo

In 1948, an aspiring Toronto restaurateur named Joe Brown opened his dream dining and dancing establishment at the top of Spadina Avenue. He named it after his favourite haunt, Mocambo, in California. Brown hung an imposing 22-foot sign off the front of the building—a giant palm tree with the neon-lit letters of “El Mocambo” beneath the cascading white lights of its moonlit leaves.

A couple of decades (and several changes in ownership) later, the El Mocambo was converted into a rock ‘n’ roll venue, and it wasn’t long before the neon palm became a beacon for musicians and music lovers the world over. The El Mo was the place to play in Toronto, if not Canada. For many up-and-coming acts, landing a gig “under the neon palms” was a sure sign that you’d arrived.

Few venues can lay claim to such an illustrious past, and even fewer are still in operation. The El Mocambo is something of a living legend. And like any self-respecting rock ’n’ roll legend, the El Mo has had its ups and downs.

We won’t dwell on the downs, though they include some interesting stints—as a Hungarian music hall, a burlesque bar, a dance school and spiritual outreach centre. The ups, on the other hand, are worth remembering: Ronnie Hawkins playing his first of many week-long residencies in 1973; Bill Murray performing with National Lampoon in 1974; Tom Waits opening for the Good Brothers in 1975.

In March 1977, The Rolling Stones (billed as “The Cockroaches”) played surprise back-to-back gigs, with April Wine as their opener. Several songs became part of the Stones’ Love You Live album.

A year later, Elvis Costello played a show that led to the album Live at the El Mocambo. Then came The Cars’ album of the same name. The El Mo booking sheets from the 1970s, ’80s and early ’90s read like a Who’s Who of famous musicians: Arlo Guthrie, Buddy Guy, Sam and Dave, Gil Scott Heron. U2, Blondie, Burning Spear, The Guess Who, Meatloaf. Bon Jovi, Joan Jett, The Ramones. Little Feat, Squeeze, Duran Duran, Hall and Oates, the Psychedelic Furs—the list goes on and on and on…

The early 2000s, of course, brought many changes to the music industry, and for a brief spell the El Mo became a place of wild experimentation (Will Munro’s Vazaleen parties, Peaches) and visionary booking (The Sadies, The White Stripes, Deadly Snakes, Zoobombs, Sum 41).

A decade later, experimentation had given way to a frayed, sentimental reprising of the blues and rock ’n’ roll era. By 2014, the colours of the old neon palm had faded and its bright lights were all but extinguished. After several years of decline, the nearly bankrupt El Mo was put up for sale.

On the eve of its closing, Michael Wekerle, a Toronto financier, philanthropist and rabid music fan, heard that the great neon palm was being auctioned off on eBay. He made some inquiries, and a day later announced that he was buying not just the sign but the entire building—and, more importantly, a much-revered brand. Vowing to restore the El Mocambo and its neon palms to their former glory, Wekerle has hired an A-list team to help bring his vision to life.

In 2020, 70 ++ years after its founding, the world-famous El Mocambo will return, in a spectacular new building worthy of its name.

1946-1950

A LEGEND IS BORN

Joe Brown (along with silent partner John Lang) buys 462 and 464 Spadina Ave. with the dream of creating a fine dining establishment with a Mexican flavour. Brown acquires one of the city’s first liquor licences, and offers live music and ballroom dancing.

INTO THE 1960S

Adam Schuy buys the El Mocambo. Schuy’s El Mo specializes in live Hungarian, Irish and Portuguese music. When business slowed toward the end of the decade, Schuy introduced burlesque dancing on the main floor stage to try to keep the El Mo solvent. Adam runs the El Mo until 1970, when his daughter Penny and her husband Peter O’Rourke take over.

NEW MANAGEMENT

Tom Kristenbrun and Mike Baird purchase the El Mocambo. Foot in Cold Water performs on opening night. Neill Dixon, who would later found Canadian Music Week, is hired as talent booker.

RONNIE HAWKINS

Ronnie “The Hawk” Hawkins plays his first of many shows at the El Mo

BILL MURRAY & NATIONAL LAMPOON

The evening also included: John Belushi, and Gilda Radner doing her best Patty Hearst? What a night that was!

Bill King Leads "Sawbuck"

THE EL MO'S ICONIC HOUSE BAND

Spanning a career that has seen Bill study with the legendary Oscar Peterson, become the musical director for Janis Joplin, tour with Martha Reeves, The Pointer Sisters and more – his output delves into rhythm, blues, soul, jazz and more. Sawbuck went on to support many of the Jamaican greats, and helped push reggae influences throughout Canada.

1976

START OF THE GOLDEN ERA

David “Blue” Bluestein becomes the El Mo’s booker. From May to December 1976, The El Mo hosts Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Gil Scott Heron, Buddy Miles, Gary Burton, Freddie Hubbard, Burning Spear, Chris DeBurgh, Jack DeJohnette, John Mayall, and Richie Havens

Live @ El Mocambo

THE ROLLING STONES

The Rolling Stones, billed as “The Cockroaches,” play back-to-back surprise gigs. April Wine, billed as the headliner, opens and some of the songs become side three of the album Love You Live. Margaret Trudeau, the newly separated wife of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, is among the guests.

1977

CLOSING OUT A BANNER YEAR

Between October and December 1977, El Mocambo hosts Fats Domino, Cheech and Chong, Buffy St. Marie, Grover Washington, and Steppenwolf

Live @ El Mocambo

MEATLOAF

Meatloaf plays his entire album Bat Out of Hell at the El Mo to rave reviews. The much talked about shows are a pr

Live @ El Mocambo

ELVIS COSTELLO

Costello plays in March and later records his album “Live at the El Mocambo”

1978-1979

THE GOLDEN ERA CONTINUES

In 1978 and 1979, The stage of El Mocambo is graced by talent such as Taj Mahal, The Runaways, Ramones, Loudon Wainwright, David Wilcox, Canned Heat, The Guess Who, Blondie, Goddo, David Johansen, Devo, Sam and Dave, Joe Jackson, Lou Reed, and John Hall

Live @ El Mocambo

THE CARS

The Cars play on Sept 14th, 1978 and later release “Live at the El Mocambo”

Live @ El Mocambo

U2

Dec 9, 1980 – U2 plays their first Canadian show at the El Mo

Live @ El Mocambo

STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN

Stevie Ray Vaughan records Live at the El Mocambo

Underground

PART OF THE UNDERGROUND MUSIC SCENE

Shaun Pilot managed and booked the El Mo. A brief return to its former glory, with such acts as Amanda Marshall, Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, the then-unknown Barenaked Ladies hosting Barenaked Circus. The Lowest of the Low played their first shows. Petrungaro’s faves were Buddy Guy, Dr. John, Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette. Tom Robinson Band and the night Rob Halford (Judas Priest) came in and sat with the owner

Grosso & Petrucci

ROOFTOP PATIO ADDED

Sold to Sam Grosso and Marco Petrucci, who add a rooftop patio and renovate the palm tree sign. Pat Travers and John Cafferty play the final night.

2014

WEKERLE ANNOUNCEMENT

On closing night in November, it’s announced that Michael Wekerle is buying the El Mocambo

2015

RENOVATIONS

Wekerle closes on deal; renovations begin in late fall

2020

REVITALIZED

The revitalized El Mocambo is set to reopen, 70 years after launching as a live music venue.

Address:	464 Spadina Avenue
Location:	Toronto
Min Age:	19+
Dress Code:	Dress to Impress
Layout:	2 Floors - Capacity: 458