Métropolis (concert hall)

Métropolis is a performing arts centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, which as of May 2017 will be rebranded as M Telus.^[2] The Métropolis club is located in the central part of the city's downtown core, on Sainte-Catherine Street between Saint-Dominique and De Bullion Streets, in the Quartier des Spectacles. The hall primarily features rock music groups, and is a venue for several festivals, including the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Francofolies de Montréal.

Accommodating up to 2,350 people per concert,^[3] the Métropolis club has been listed as one of the world's 100 best rock concert venues.

Métropolis is within walking distance from Place-des-Arts metro station, the Complexe Desjardins in the west and from the Saint-Laurent metro station.

In 2011, Métropolis was ranked as the 9th most popular club venue worldwide in ticket sales.^[4] Telus has pledged to invest 5M$ in improvements to the club over the next decade, as part of the corporate rebranding effort.^[2]

History

The opening of Montreal's Metropolis goes back to 1884 and was first a skating rink before becoming a summer theater^[5] the following year under the name "Theatre Français".^[6]

Completely damaged by a fire at the end of the 19th century, the building was bought in 1920 by an American company, The Loew's chain (now known as Loews Cineplex Entertainment), which turned it into a theater under the name "The Loew's Court" and then a movie theater in 1923. A year later, the name "Theatre Français" is given back before being partially damaged by fire again in 1930.^[7]

Purchased by United Amusement,^[8] it was fully renovated and decorated by Emmanuel Briffa who's also responsible for the decoration of the Outremont Theatre. The building became a theater again before housing an adult cinema under the name "Eros" in the 1970s until 1981 when it shut down.^[9] Six years later, under its actual name "Metropolis", it reopened as a dance club.^[10]

Following acquisition of the building in 1997 by L'Équipe Spectra, Métropolis became a live performance venue, hosting artists like David Bowie, Beck, Les Rita Mitsouko, Green Day, the White Stripes, Björk, Bran Van 3000, Ben Harper, Nickelback, Radiohead, Coldplay, Corneille, Les Cowboys Fringants and Jean Leloup—the artist who has performed the most concerts in the venue. Popular TV program La Fureur has also filmed there on several occasions.^[11]

Shooting

In the early morning hours of September 5, 2012, following the 2012 Quebec general election, the venue was the site of a victory rally for the Parti Québecois. During a speech by premier-designate Pauline Marois, a gunman Richard Henry Bain infiltrated the building in an attempt to assassinate Marois. In his attempt, he killed a stagehand and wounded another man before being apprehended by police.^[12]

References

External links

• Métropolis Web site

Coordinates: 45°30′38″N 73°33′48″W / 45.5106°N 73.5634°W / 45.5106; -73.5634