On June 8, the Municipal Licensing and Standards Department issued a memo that the city will immediately cease ticketing music venues for postering. That development came after the Cadillac Lounge was fined $490 in May for posters Big Tobacco and the Pickers put up on nearby poles.
That’s a positive move toward making T.O. more accommodating to musicians, but the glow-basking was short-lived. Three days later, word came that indie label Paper Bag had to cancel its #Paper100 Block Party 10th anniversary jam at NXNE.
“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,” organizers said in a statement. “We recently received news that the city would not grant us the necessary permits to hold the event.
“We’ve heard a lot of talk recently about making Toronto a ‘Music City,’” they continued. “It seems there is still a long way to go.”
The label’s stacked #Paper100 gig at Lee’s Palace on Thursday (June 18) is still a go.
music@nowtoronto.com | @nowtoronto
