Commencing Countdown, Engines on.
Parkdale is counting down to the official grand opening of Toronto’s newest one-of-a-kind music venue. Ground Control, currently in its soft launch at 1279 Queen St. W., pays homage to David Bowie, immersing music enthusiasts in the sounds of the 1970s, 80s and 90s to current.
Ground Control stands out as a distinctive venue — it’s more than just a music spot. It’s a vibrant cocktail bar offering signature drinks and serves as a community hub hosting events such as karaoke nights, dance parties, live music and DJs spinning the most in-demand classic records. The entire experience is, as the name implies, influenced by the iconic David Bowie.
“Bowie passing away in 2016 hit me pretty hard as far as a celebrity death goes,” says Lloyd Warren, who owns the club in partnership with hospitality advisor Alex Gupta. “I’ve always admired him, his music’s a big part of my life. So, I’ve been thinking about it a lot since then and came up with this idea of honouring him, his music and his music videos.”
Well known around the city by his moniker DJ Lazarus, Warren has dedicated three decades to his DJ career in Toronto. He initially worked on the radio, and later transitioned to nightclubs, including the ownership of his own establishment, Funhaus, until its closure in 2008. Warren then shifted his focus entirely to event work, but the pandemic brought a pause to all events, leading to the permanent closure of several vibrant music venues in Toronto.
“To ensure survival of my events, I thought it would be best to open up my own spot,” explains Warren.
Enter Ground Control, a venue with a 330-person capacity aptly named after one of Bowie’s most renowned songs, “Space Oddity.” Described by Warren as a “music video bar,” Ground Control stands out as one of the few venues in Canada specifically designed to spotlight music videos at events, constructed from the ground up for this purpose. The club features six high-end video projectors strategically placed in both the back and front rooms, synchronizing video playback with live music performances.
“People love seeing the videos,” says Warren. “It’s great to see a real slice of time. When playing a music video from 1984 [for example], you get to see the hair and the makeup and all the imagery that goes along with the music of the time.”
On Saturday, October 14, those screens will exclusively showcase David Bowie all night for the official Grand Opening. The “David Bowie Dance Party” will encompass a range of visuals, including music videos, live footage and photo montages — a fitting introduction of the space invader to Toronto.
The impact of the iconic musician extends beyond the music and video screens, with the venue’s décor mirroring the artist’s groundbreaking fashion and style. Ground Control features David Bowie memorabilia curated by Warren, including his record collection — some autographed — mounted on the walls, magazine displays and portraits once showcased by the Art Gallery of Ontario for their David Bowie exhibit a decade ago.
Ground Control is also home to a mannequin dressed like Ziggy Stardust, inspired by the fictional character from Bowie’s 1972 album. The mannequin has a television for a head which will — you guessed it — play music videos throughout the late nights.
“The décor is a combination of glam rock meets David Bowie meets NASA,” explains Warren, who adds that being a devoted collector of his favourite musicians, around 60 per cent of the memorabilia was already in his possession even before the idea of opening a Bowie-inspired music venue came into play.
After the grand opening, the bar will feature a selection of Bowie-inspired cocktails with names cleverly riffing on song titles and stage personas of the artist, like the Ziggy Stardust Sour, Starman Spritz, Major Tom Collins, Golden Years Martini and Rebel Rebel Rum Punch.
Currently, Ground Control doesn’t have a food menu, but Warren suggests that a small snack menu might be introduced in the future. At present, Warren is concentrated on shaping the entertainment aspect of the venue, emphasizing a “community-based” approach to ensure there’s something for everyone.
“We want to bring a lot of events to the Parkdale area,” he says.
At Ground Control, Mondays are for stand-up comedy; Tuesdays are for karaoke; Wednesdays are “Bowie Shuffle Wednesdays” featuring all Bowie all night long (including some of the films he was in like The Man Who Fell From Earth and The Hunger); Thursdays will offer different DJs with a “retro music flare”; and Fridays and Saturdays are for those larger events that make use of both the front and back rooms.
These weekend special events will range from retro parties to spotlights on other musicians like Madonna and George Michael. Proving the need for a music venue like this in the region, Ground Control hasn’t even officially opened yet, and already Saturday nights are booked up until the end of March.
“There’s always something here that will appeal to people that want something a little bit edgy, a little bit different from the mainstream music venues in Toronto,” explains Warren. “There’s definitely nothing like it in Toronto that has the vibe we’re creating.
The reception of a club inspired by the English musician, actor, singer and fashion icon in Toronto is evident — proof lies in the swift sale of all 300 advanced tickets for the October 14 “David Bowie Video Dance Party” at Ground Control’s Grand Opening. However, a limited number of “first come, first served” tickets are still available at the door, so act fast!
Ground Control is now open seven days a week from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at 1279 Queen St. W.