Barrie live-music venues: Mavricks dark since 2020, Queens still booking
What it means: On the public record we could read, the only confirmed venue loss is Mavricks, which went dark in 2020. The 'unknown factor' the owner describes is not explained or even described by any source we opened. Nothing here shows a pattern.
Latest developments
LiveBarrie lists shows into December
LiveBarrie, read 26 October 2026, lists upcoming shows through 4 December 2026 at rooms including CW Coops and Temple Lounge. The page says nothing about closures or cancellations.
Queens website says its history is about to change
The Queens' website, read on 26 October 2026, carries the line 'The History of the queens hotel is about to change once again. stay tuned for whats coming!' It gives no detail and no posting date, so...
Cancer Bats listed at the Queens
Songkick lists Cancer Bats with Don't Try and Thunder Queens at The Queens Nightclub on Wednesday 23 September 2026. We did not find a source confirming the show took place or was cancelled.
Twizta listed at the Queens
The Queens' own calendar lists TWIZTA on Saturday 29 August 2026, 10 to 11:59 PM, with no promoter or ticketing shown.
Key takeaways
Touring acts of stature on Barrie's biggest stages, 2005 to 2026
What the counts show: the arena has hosted a few headline acts of stature in most years (0 to 6 a year, with no clear downward trend). What disappeared is the free multi-act festival days at Molson Park (Live 8 in 2005, and 28 to 49 acts a year in 2005 to 2007), which end after 2007. Mid-size rooms are not charted because the records cannot be compared across years.
- 1 Jul 2, 2005 Live 8 Barrie at Molson Park source
- 2 Aug 11, 2007 Last Molson Park concert on setlist.fm source
- 3 Oct 16, 2008 Last Foundation source
- 4 Feb 10, 2009 Live Nation and Ticketmaster announce merger source
- 5 Aug 1, 2016 New management renames the 46 Dunlop St W building Mavricks Music Hall source
- 6 Nov 26, 2019 City of Barrie announces Sadlon Arena naming deal source
- 7 Feb 29, 2020 Last Mavricks Music Hall show on setlist.fm source
- 8 May 23, 2024 US DOJ and 29 states plus DC sue Live Nation Entertainment source
- 9 Apr 15, 2026 Federal jury source
One act is counted once per year. An act counts if its English Wikipedia article shows a chart entry (Billboard Hot 100 or 200, Canadian Hot 100, UK or Canadian albums or singles), a Juno, Grammy or Polaris nomination or win, or a major or recognized independent label. Tribute and cover acts are excluded, and the first-billed act on a show counts as the headliner. Shows come from setlist.fm and Songkick; the full list of acts, with the page that proves each one counts, is in the research file we hold.
- Every count is a minimum: setlist.fm and Songkick are crowd-sourced and each misses shows the other has. Coverage is thin for 2015, 2020 and 2026, and 2026 is incomplete.
- Matching acts to Wikipedia was done by script and then reviewed; a few local acts with common names could be mismatched.
- Mid-size rooms (The Foundation, Mavricks and The Roxy, Georgian Theatre, the Queens) are left out: each year is documented by a different room, so the numbers cannot be compared. Mavricks has no setlist.fm shows after February 2020.
- No source we could open says why large touring acts do or do not play Barrie (arena size, location, competing venues, promoters or ticketing deals). The Live Nation markers show when things happened, not that they affected Barrie.
- Two things sometimes called a decline are separate: the arena shows no clear drop in headline concerts in these counts, while the festival days ended after 2007.
The numbers behind the chart
| Year | Headline concerts at the arena | Festival-day acts (Molson Park, Live 8) |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 | 49 |
| 2006 | 2 | 28 |
| 2007 | 2 | 30 |
| 2008 | 3 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 | 2 |
| 2015 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 6 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 | 5 |
| 2025 | 3 | 4 |
| 2026 | 0 | 1 |
- Live Nation, the 'Velvet Hammer', and Indie Venues — The US case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster. No source cited on either page connects it to Barrie's venues.
Reference
Background6 points
- The Roxy Theatre opened in 1931 at 46 Dunlop St W as a single-screen cinema; the theatre closed in 1975; it was later The Roxx nightclub, then Sound Empire (reopened 14 Sep 2013) [cinematreasures.org]
- Another history says the Roxx name dates from 1988 and former mayor Rob Hamilton sold the club in 2012 [militarybruce.com, 29 Feb 2024]. The two sources differ on the dates.
- Mavricks Music Hall opened in mid-September 2016 after Al Quigley (ex-general manager of The Ranch) acquired 46 and 50 Dunlop St W, with Impact Live's John Derlis as partner [impactlive.ca press release, 2 Sep 2016]
- Launch lineup in 2016 included The Road Hammers (21 Oct), Tom Cochrane and Big Sugar (4 Nov) and Buckcherry (18 Nov) [impactlive.ca]
- The Queens (formerly Queen's Hotel), 94 Dunlop St E, dates to 1850 as Marks' Hotel; Rob Hamilton owned it from 1974 and he and his wife sold it to the current owners in 2020 [barrie360.com]
- Barrie lost two city-run theatre spaces earlier: council cancelled the Georgian Theatre lease in Feb 2021 and the Fisher Auditorium was slated for demolition [portailmedias.ca, 10 Mar 2021]
Key players5 points
- Al Quigley: bought the Roxy buildings in 2016 and launched Mavricks [impactlive.ca]. Current ownership of the building is not stated in any page opened.
- Impact Live Events (John Derlis): partner at Mavricks launch; hosts a Queens profile page that names no promoter [impactlive.ca]
- Chris Terrard: named co-owner of the Queens in a 2022 Global News story [globalnews.ca, 16 Sep 2022]; the Barrie360 profile calls the owner 'Chris' [barrie360.com]
- TroyBoy Entertainment: promoter of a drag show at the Queens, 15 Aug 2026 [tickettailor.com]
- Tarantula Tapes: named on a Queens Halloween show, 18 Oct 2025 [songkick.com]
Where it stands now6 points
- Mavricks: Songkick shows 0 upcoming concerts; the latest dates listed are Feb and Apr 2020; Cinema Treasures says it closed in Feb 2020 and a 2024 comment says it is still closed [songkick.com; cinematreasures.org]
- Mavricks: a 29 Feb 2024 article says it has been closed since 2020 with no sign of reopening [militarybruce.com]
- Queens: listed shows on 15 Aug, 29 Aug and 23 Sep 2026 (Cancer Bats with Don't Try and Thunder Queens) [tickettailor.com; queensbarrie.com; songkick.com]. We did not confirm that the 23 Sep show took place.
- Queens website (undated, read 26 Oct 2026): 'The History of the queens hotel is about to change once again. stay tuned for whats coming!' No further detail [queensbarrie.com]
- Tourism Barrie's March 2026 guide lists live bands at the Queens Hotel and DJ/live nights at the Queens Nightclub, plus Malone's Pint House, Kenzington Burger Bar and CW Coop's [tourismbarrie.com, 18 Mar 2026]
- LiveBarrie lists upcoming shows to 4 Dec 2026 at CW Coops and Temple Lounge among others [livebarrie.co, read 26 Oct 2026]
Numbers and figures4 points
- Mavricks seating listed at 719 [cinematreasures.org]; the Roxy opened in 1931 as a roughly 700-seat cinema [militarybruce.com]
- Songkick lists 80 past concerts for Mavricks and 28 for the Queens Nightclub [songkick.com]
- Barrie's planned performing arts centre: 600-seat hall, budget raised by $10M to $85M in Jan 2026, target opening fall 2029 [barrie.ca, update 21 May 2026]
- Canada: a UK study cited by Wavelength Music's Jonathan Bunce puts average grassroots venue profit margin near 0.5 per cent [bnnbloomberg.ca, 1 Oct 2025]
Effects and evidence1 point
- A 2022 complaint about a Queens costume night came from the Women and Children's Shelter of Barrie; the owner said the sign was removed and the event went ahead [globalnews.ca, 16 Sep 2022]. It was about an event theme, not bookings.
Possible connections (none established)4 points
- No source we opened draws any link between Barrie's venues and promoter consolidation, ticketing, radius clauses, Live Nation or any other wider cause.
- National context only: Wavelength Music's Jonathan Bunce says closures are driven mainly by economics, citing small margins, insurance and labour costs and higher artist fees [bnnbloomberg.ca, 1 Oct 2025].
- Music commentator Alper (as reported) cites insurance, liquor licence fees, staffing, inflation and changing fan habits [bnnbloomberg.ca, 1 Oct 2025]. Neither speaker mentions Barrie.
- The same article notes Toronto's Velvet Underground, owned by Live Nation since 2019, was closing; its stated reason was a lease ending and the article does not say Live Nation caused it [bnnbloomberg.ca].
Open questions3 points
- What is the 'change' the Queens website promises, and when was that line posted?
- Which promoters currently book the Queens, and has any show there been pulled? No page opened says so.
- Did the 23 Sep 2026 Cancer Bats show happen as listed?
Not yet established4 points
- Any wave of Barrie venue closures in 2025 or 2026
- Any promoter dispute, complaint or licence problem involving the Queens, Mavricks or Dunlop Street clubs
- Any link to Live Nation, ticketing, radius clauses or promoter consolidation in Barrie
- The status of The Foundation as anything other than a former venue; coverage of Sadlon Arena shows or cancellations
Full timeline
- October 26, 2026
LiveBarrie lists shows into December
LiveBarrie, read 26 October 2026, lists upcoming shows through 4 December 2026 at rooms including CW Coops and Temple Lounge. The page says nothing about closures or cancellations.
- October 26, 2026
Queens website says its history is about to change
The Queens' website, read on 26 October 2026, carries the line 'The History of the queens hotel is about to change once again. stay tuned for whats coming!' It gives no detail and no posting date, so what it refers to is not known.
- September 23, 2026
Cancer Bats listed at the Queens
Songkick lists Cancer Bats with Don't Try and Thunder Queens at The Queens Nightclub on Wednesday 23 September 2026. We did not find a source confirming the show took place or was cancelled.
- August 29, 2026
Twizta listed at the Queens
The Queens' own calendar lists TWIZTA on Saturday 29 August 2026, 10 to 11:59 PM, with no promoter or ticketing shown.
- August 15, 2026
Drag show at the Queens, promoted by TroyBoy
A Ticket Tailor page lists The Drag Stop! Summer Sizzle at The Queens NightClub on 15 August 2026, 6:00 to 9:45 PM, promoted by TroyBoy Entertainment, with tickets on sale.
- May 21, 2026
Performing arts centre update
The city's page, with a 21 May 2026 update, says the arts centre budget rose by $10M to $85M in January 2026, with a 600-seat hall. Demolition of the Sea Cadets building is expected in fall 2026 and opening in fall 2029.
- March 18, 2026
Tourism Barrie guide lists Queens and other rooms
Tourism Barrie's guide for 17-29 March 2026 lists live music at the Queens Hotel and the Queens Nightclub, along with Malone's Pint House, Kenzington Burger Bar, CW Coop's and Georgian Theatre. It does not mention Mavricks.
- December 31, 2025
City cancels NYE at Meridian Place for weather
CP24 reported on 31 December 2025 that Barrie cancelled its New Year's Eve event because of heavy snow and an Environment Canada warning. Kim Mitchell's set and the fireworks moved to Winterfest on 7-8 February 2026. This was a city event, not a venue issue.
- October 18, 2025
Tarantula Tapes Halloween party at the Queens
Songkick lists the Tarantula Tapes Five Year Halloween Party 2025 with Angry Spells at The Queens Nightclub on 18 October 2025, and 28 past concerts for the room. No cancellation is noted.
- October 1, 2025
National coverage of small-venue closures
On 1 October 2025 BNN Bloomberg (via CTV) reported small venues closing across Canada. Wavelength Music's Jonathan Bunce said economics are the biggest factor and that margins are small. Toronto's Velvet Underground was closing; the article does not say Live Nation caused it. Barrie is not mentioned.
Earlier updates10 more, back to 1931
- February 29, 2024
Mavricks still closed; arts-centre idea floated
A 29 February 2024 article says Mavrick's has been closed since 2020 with no sign of reopening. Former councillor Barry Ward proposed it as a site for the planned performing arts centre, though it is far smaller than the recommended size.
- September 16, 2022
Complaint over Queens costume night
Global News reported on 16 September 2022 that the Women and Children's Shelter of Barrie criticized a Queens 'Naughty School Girl Night'. Co-owner Chris Terrard said the sign was removed after a complaint but the event went ahead. This concerned an event theme, not bookings.
- March 10, 2021
City cancels Georgian Theatre lease
A 10 March 2021 report says the city announced in late February that the Georgian Theatre lease would be cancelled, saving about $300,000, and that the Fisher Auditorium was slated for demolition. Council voted to apply for grant funding and a taskforce was planned.
- February 29, 2020
Mavricks' last listed shows, Feb-Apr 2020
Songkick's latest listed Mavricks dates are the Saydes (15 Feb 2020), Theory (29 Feb 2020) and Cudbear (18 Apr 2020), and it shows 0 upcoming concerts. Cinema Treasures says the venue closed in February 2020. The sources do not agree on the closing month and give no reason.
- January 1, 2020
Queens sold by Rob Hamilton
Barrie360 says Rob Hamilton, owner since 1974, and his wife Donna sold the Queen's to its current owners in 2020. Only the year is given. The owners plan to restore some hotel features, depending on the economy and funding.
- September 15, 2016
Mavricks Music Hall opens
Cinema Treasures says the building reopened in mid-September 2016 as Mavrick's Music Hall, a live music venue. Its listing shows 719 seats.
- September 2, 2016
Al Quigley buys Roxy buildings, plans Mavricks
A press release dated 2 September 2016 says Al Quigley, former general manager of The Ranch, acquired 46 and 50 Dunlop St W and would open Mavricks Music Hall in mid-September with Impact Live's John Derlis as partner. It listed fall shows including The Road Hammers, Tom Cochrane and Big Sugar, and Buckcherry.
- September 14, 2013
Reopens as Sound Empire
Cinema Treasures says the building reopened on 14 September 2013 as the Sound Empire nightclub. A separate history says former mayor Rob Hamilton sold the club in 2012.
- January 1, 1975
Roxy closes as a theatre
Cinema Treasures records that the theatre closed in 1975. The building later ran as The Roxx nightclub. A commenter on the page disputes the club's start date.
- January 1, 1931
Roxy Theatre opens at 46 Dunlop St W
Cinema Treasures says the Roxy opened in 1931 as an atmospheric-style single-screen theatre, built by John Saso and Sons for about $100,000 during the Depression. Only the year is given.
militarybruce.com · cinematreasures.org · impactlive.ca · barrie360.com · songkick.com · portailmedias.ca · globalnews.ca · bnnbloomberg.ca · cp24.com · tourismbarrie.com · barrie.ca · tickettailor.com · queensbarrie.com · livebarrie.co
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