Slowly, the Ontario economy is reopening. We have more and more activities to look forward to including patio dining, shopping at non-essential stores, and hopefully soon, personal care services. I have really missed seeing live theatre and concerts so I was thrilled to hear this morning about Massey Hall reopening in November 2021. The popular Toronto venue has been undergoing a much-needed revitalization over the past three years. The grand old lady will be 127 this year and if you had visited Massey Hall in the last few years, you would have agreed that a refurbishment was definitely in order.
Although the interior will look different, some remnants of the former building have been restored including the 127-year old ceiling arches and stained glass windows. And of course, there will be larger auditorium seats and more legroom since the folks of 2021 are a little wider in girth than the gentry of the late 19th century.
Massey Hall holds a dear place in my heart as it does for many Torontonians. I remember my mother, intent on developing our appreciation of classical music, bringing me and my siblings to see the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Massey Hall when I was a girl. In my 20s and 30s, I attended concerts and shows with boyfriends and girlfriends. Some of the concerts I saw at Massey Hall include Melissa Etheridge, INXS and Sarah McLachlan. More recently, my mother and I attended St. Michael’s Choir’s Christmas Concert at Massey Hall, a tradition we enjoyed for seven years in a row.
Massey Hall has announced the first selection of artists who will perform in the newly dedicated Allan Slaight Auditorium, including the following:
Gordon Lightfoot will perform on November 25, 26 & 27, 2021. The dates will mark the Canadian Grammy-Award-nominated artist’s 170th appearance at Massey Hall. (Read about one of Lightfoot’s appearances at Massey Hall.) Lightfoot was the last artist to perform on July 1, 2018 before the Massey Hall revitalization.
Other artists scheduled to appear include:
- Buffy Sainte-Marie with special guests, The Sadies, on November 30, 2021
- City and Colour on December 9 & 10, 2021
- Broken Social Scene on December 16, 2021 (debut performance)
- Emily Lou Harris and Patty Griffin on January 31, 2022
- Leif Vollebekk on February 26, 2022 (debut performance)
- The Glorious Sons on March 10, 11 & 12, 2022
- Sarah Harmer on March 25, 2022
- Tanya Tagaq on March 30, 2022
- Donovan Woods on May 27, 2022 (debut performance)
- Serena Ryder & William Prince on April 1, 2022
- Buddy Guy on April 9, 2022
- Bruce Cockburn on April 22, 2022
- Jann Arden on May 24 & 25, 2022
- Mavis Staples on May 28, 2022
Additional performers after the Massey Hall reopening include Whitehorse, Molly Johnson, Patrick Watson, Chilly Gonzales, Royal Wood and Cowboy Junkies.
Existing ticket holders of rescheduled concerts will be contacted soon.
Tickets for all shows are on sale to the public on Monday, June 21, 2021 at 12 p.m. by calling 416-872-4255 or online at Massey Hall. Information on exclusive member presales or American Express Front of the Line Access is also available via phone or online.
Are you excited about Massey Hall reopening? What concerts have you seen at Massey Hall?
