Toronto, CA. (Jeff Healey Official Website) - Jeff Healey, one of Toronto's most internationally renowned blues, rock and jazz musicians, will unveil Jeff Healey's Roadhouse, a new live music showcase venue in the heart of the city's downtown entertainment district.
Located at 56 Blue Jays Way - across from the long-established restaurant owned by another Canadian icon, Wayne Gretzky - the "new Healey's" will feature a state of the art sound system, a roomy stage with excellent sight-lines, and a comfortable, easy-going ambience. The new club can accommodate as many as 600 visitors, but - using partitioning - can be scaled down for smaller, more intimate events. The venue has spring and summer patio seating for 150 people, and will be open each evening at 6 p.m. for drinks and dining.
Jeff Healey's Roadhouse will open Friday December 15 with a cross-generational lineup featuring 17-year-old guitar sensation Luke Mulholland, the Jeff Healey Band, and Canadian classic rock legends April Wine.
Doors to the music venue will open at 8 p.m., but the Roadhouse restaurant is open each day for dinner and drinks at 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 available through TicketMaster (www.ticktmaster.ca), or by phone at 416-870-8000). A website - www.jeffhealeysroadhouse.com - will be operative from December 1.
MAKING THE MOVE
For Jeff Healey, the move from his previous basement venue at Queen and Bathurst Streets (which will close after November 25) is something he has been working towards for the last year. "I've had some wonderful experiences as a musician at Healey's in the past five years," he tells friends.
"But the opportunity to create a larger space - almost from the ground up - so that we can give Toronto music fans a wider variety of music and attract better-known artists, was simply too good to pass by."
Healey believes that the need for a quality live music experience has never gone away. "Toronto has a variety of music venues - from Massey Hall to tiny bars - but we are committed to creating a first-class, upscale, relaxed club that will accommodate many different kinds of music and give audiences a fun experience. Toronto hasn't had a nice, clean, visually superior venue for live rock, blues, jazz and alternative music for years, and hopefully we'll deliver that.
"Bottom line: Jeff Healey's Roadhouse is going to become a much-needed downtown destination for audiences and artists alike. I can't wait to get started."
Jeff Healey's Roadhouse will be managed and booked by Randy Charlton, a club veteran with a resume that includes spells at such well-remembered spots as Albert's Hall and The Diamond, as well as The Hard Rock Cafe.
"We plan on attracting major names in the Canadian and worldwide music scenes, through special guest nights and performances," he said. "We are convinced that our size and location will be appealing to booking agents, artists and patrons alike."
