/
1x
Advertisement
Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!
Culture

Inside the west end’s newly refurbished premier concert venue

By Kate Dingwall| Photography by Derek Shapton
Copy link
Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue

Catching a show at the now-defunct Mod Club was a rite of passage for Toronto concert-goers. For 18 years, it was the place to experience local up-and-comers or future global phenoms on the precipice of fame. Though different in name, the Axis Club embodies the same riotous energy and community connections as its predecessor. When MFG Entertainment took over during the pandemic, they decided to spend the downtime revamping the tech and interior layout, before opening for livestreamed concerts in September of 2021.

Essentially, it’s still a sweaty, sticky, boozy locale to see your favourite indie band, but this time with far better sight lines, smarter layouts, full-size LED screens, and a sound system designed to prevent residential neighbours from complaining. Subwoofers face inward to direct the sound through the space while minimizing the outward noise:

Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue

The new owners stripped out the tiers of the old floor to increase capacity. Above the stage, windows into the green room give artists an eagle-eye view of the crowd:

Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue

A souped-up new sound and livestreaming system makes Axis one of the city’s most teched-out venues. Far-away fans can stream shows via the platform Happin. A multi-camera set-up and audio recording gear allow the venue to double as a broadcasting and production facility during the day:

Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue

A sprawling mural by local artist John Nobrega immortalizes musical titans including Drake, Amy Winehouse and the Weeknd—all performers who have played that very stage:

Advertisement
Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue

Here’s the VIP level:

Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue
Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue

And the second-floor bar:

Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue
Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue

Spaces above and below the venue—including a Portuguese tapas restaurant and the Peach Gallery—are used as overflow areas to complement events or rehearsal spaces for visiting artists (like Crown Lands lead singer Cody Bowles):

Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue
Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue

Flor Dios, the subterranean tapas spot, offers fans mediterranean nosh and a place for pre- and post-show drinks. Menu highlights include Moroccan ras el hanout chicken, imported jamón, patatas bravas and grilled octopus:

Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue

Advertisement
Inside the west end's newly refurbished premier concert venue

NEVER MISS A TORONTO LIFE STORY

Sign up for This City, our free newsletter about everything that matters right now in Toronto politics, sports, business, culture, society and more.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
You may unsubscribe at any time.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Kate Dingwall is a writer, author and photographer covering spirits, business, culture, fashion and travel. By night, she’s a working sommelier. She has worked with Flare, Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast, Maxim, People, Southern Living, Rolling Stone, Eater, Elle, Toronto Life and the Toronto Star, among other publications. She frequently appears on both CTV and NPR, has co-authored a book on gin, judges Food & Wine’s Tastemakers and has strong opinions on the city’s best martini.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Big Stories

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

Inside the Latest Issue

The June issue of Toronto Life features our annual ranking of the best new restaurants. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.