Closure of The Station on Jasper a devastating blow to local musicians
Musicians and live music supporters are mourning the loss of another Edmonton concert venue.
After five years, The Station on Jasper suddenly posted on social media Friday saying it was hanging up its microphone and closing for good.
"Our team has been nothing but superb," the live music venue said. "We can't thank them enough.
"A lot of amazing musicians shared their talents on our stages with a lot of Edmontonians - and we are proud to have been part of that."
Band Violet Riot played their first live show at The Station. Colton Taylor and Karli Romyn fondly remembered the experience.
"They were wonderful and the staff were amazing," Taylor said. "We are going to miss them."
"The venue is beautiful. The stage is set up so perfectly," Romyn echoed. "The sound was amazing too."
CTV News Edmonton reached out to The Station for more information but has yet to hear back.
For Steve Derpack, concert promoter and live music coordinator, The Station closing is part of a larger concerning trend.
He got into live music right out of high school in the early 90s and said only some of the venues from that era remain, except for The Starlite Room.
"There are a lot of pop-up places that come and go over time," Derpack said. "There are lots of places that do open stages, that do open mic night or throw up a microphone in the corner of a restaurant, but in terms of venues, there are not as many as there used to be."
The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the industry, which already has razor-thin margins, he says.
"It changed the face of everything," Derpack added. "It really, I think, redefined how people viewed their energy levels and their priorities and what they were able to do."
"COVID hit everything so hard that it's been a massacre watching all these venues close," Taylor echoed. "I hope things get better soon… Losing another stage is devastating."
Derpack, who works for JCL Productions, found out about the closure Thursday afternoon and has been scrambling to rebook some of the pre-Juno award shows.
"People in the community are amazing," he told CTV News Edmonton. "We don't have a lot of venues, but the people that are here have been outstanding."
- 6 local bands nominated for Juno awards
- Alberta artist Tenille Townes to perform at Junos in Edmonton
While The Station was a smaller and more intimate venue, Romyn says having stages like that is essential for local artists looking to cut their teeth.
"Starting out small, your draw is a little bit smaller," she added, "but as you work as a band, over time, your crowds get a little bit larger."
"It just takes away from the community's opportunity to get out there and put their music out."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
BREAKING Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.
Cherry blossoms blooming in Canada: Here's what to know
There is a swaying sea of colour in some cities across Canada, and it's a sure sign of spring: cherry blossoms are in bloom.