Toronto indie music block party gets axed thanks to permit pains

by Dan MacRae

June 11, 2015

0

0

0

0

0

Email this article to a friend

Someone get Leslie Knope on the phone

Mourning caps on, everybody. Permit trouble has killed the #PAPER100 Block Party.

The NXNE nuzzling Toronto shindig was scheduled to go down on June 20 with the promise of bands, beer and buttloads more under the Paper Bag Records banner. Unfortunately, the label says that the city has put a fork in those plans.

“We have some sad news, we have to cancel The #PAPER100 Block Party,” reads the Facebook statement from Paper Bag. “After months of careful planning and dealing with red tape, we were assured by the city that our applications looked good and we were in line for our approvals. We recently received news that the city would not grant us the necessary permits to hold the event.”

The label stresses they went through all the appropriate channels to host the Queen & Massey street bash, but were still burned by the administrative process.

“Since November we’ve put in endless hours to correctly maneuver through the city’s bureaucracy,” shared Paper Bag. “Our goal was to engage the community and city that has given so much to us. Bands were booked, beer was brewed, and all proper street closure equipment rented. All wheels were in motion until the city pulled the plug.”

The event boasted performances from the likes of Lobby, Army Girls, Young Rival and Grey Lands with a DJ spot from Paul Saulnier out of PS I Love You.

“We’ve heard a lot of talk recently about making Toronto a ‘Music City.’ It seems there is still a long way to go…” said the label.

One Paper Bag Records event that is not getting the heave ho is the celebratory #PAPER100 show at Lee’s Palace on June 18. (It’s “#PAPER100” to mark the label’s 100 releases.) The bill includes: Members of Sam Roberts Band, Nils Edenloff of The Rural Alberta Advantage, Woodhands, Rock Plaza Central, The Acorn, PS I Love You, Frog Eyes, YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN, Laura Barrett, Cuff the Duke, Mozart’s Sister, The Luyas, Grey Lands, Hey Mother Death, Matthew Barber, Alana Yorke, Young Rival and the teasing of some surprises.

Tags: , Cancon, News, Toronto, NXNE, NXNE 2015, Paper Bag Records

0

0

0

0

0

Email this article to a friend