Checking out Il Motore, the new music venue on Jean Talon

I went yesterday with Risa to look at Il Motore, the new venue opening on Jean Talon. Il Motore is a collaboration between Montreal show promotors, tour bookers, and label: Blue Skies Turn Black, and the owners of the staple indie rock venues, restaurant/cafe, hotel, and Spanish social club: La Sala Rossa and Casa del Popolo.

Less than a decade ago, before these groups established themselves in the area, Mont Royal on St. Laurent was effectively where restaurants and businesses began to drop off. Like other semi-/former-industrial areas, Mile End was a cheap place to live and make art. But it’s only since spaces like Casa and Sala joined the neighbourhood that Mile End became a self-supported spot for artists to work near where they live. Other bars, small businesses, rehearsal spaces, galleries, and offices followed and continue to build on the energy of the area.

If this is a pattern in independent city development (and I wouldn’t be the first to say so), I’m sure that Il Motore will encourage folks to move even further north, chasing the cheap rent and distance from noise-complaint-filing neighbours. Jean Talon might seem far now, just like I felt about Bernard a few years ago, but give these guys a bit of time and we’ll start seeing other creatives spaces opening up to support the new growth.

Plateau-centric myth-making aside, Il Motore is going to be a beautiful and well-designed space for music shows and events.

I took two videos to show how the venue looks now, part-way through reconstruction. Il Motore is scheduled to open around Labour Day. It can accomodate 250 people and the back section can be closed off for smaller shows of 100 people or less. The room is at ground-level (for easy gear load-in) and is fully wheelchair accessible!

Get in touch now about booking for September 2008 and beyond. The room rental fee will be 150$ for Sunday to Wednesday inclusive, and 200$ for Thursday through Saturday, which includes sound technician, basic lighting, and bar staff.

Call: 514-284-0122
Email: info@casadelpopolo.com or contact@blueskiesturnblack.com.

Il Motore is located at 179 Jean Talon West, a block from St-Urbain (between Parc and De Castelneau metro stations). It’s right around the corner from the old Electric Tractor.

Indyish sends reviewers, photographers, and video-bloggers to lots of blue skies turn black shows. > View all BSTB coverage.

A few of us also recently covered this year’s Suoni per il Popolo festival at Casa del Popolo and La Sala Rossa. > Scan through our notes, videos, and pics.