Queen Street West

Art meets commerce on vibrant Queen Street West, the historic area that drove Toronto’s cultural renaissance a generation ago.

This district nurtured Toronto’s early punk, rock, and alt-country scenes–future stars like Blue Rodeo, Broken Social Scene, Jane Siberry, Parachute Club, The Pursuit of Happiness, Rough Trade, the Rheostatics, Alexisonfire, and Billy Talent came of age on Queen West stages in the 1980s and 1990s. 

Queen West is still a nightlife hub, with high-end fashion and restaurants now interwoven with the music. Landmark venues like the Rex, the Rivoli, the Horseshoe, and the Cameron House still showcase Toronto’s best roots, rock, folk, jazz, and global music.

Learn more about the Music Compass program or explore venues in this neighbourhood and near you below.