Venues:

The Free Times Cafe

An intimate “living room” space that features Open Concept’s acoustic & singer-songwriter shows as well as “theme” and “tribute” nights. The Free Times Cafe has a truly inviting and outstanding Monday Night Open Stage. Sign up is 7pm and playing slots fill up quickly! The Free Times also has some of the best looking staff in the city. Capacity 50. 320 College St. (1 block west of Spadina).
www.freetimescafe.com

Third Floor Reilly’s

On Yonge St. across from Sam the Record Man. Great for “Dance Floor” shows. Also has the Toronto’s world’s most sympathetic soundman. Capacity 200. 340 Yonge St.
www.thirdfloorreillys.com

Jeff Healey’s

Features Jazz, Blues & Rock, plus a Tuesday double-jam, Wednesday battle of the bands, and other shows featuring Jeff Healey and the Jazz Wizards. Open Concept Productions currently books select weekend night shows there. Capacity 300. 178 Bathurst St. @ Queen St.
www.jeffhealeys.com

The Drake Hotel

Embraces “creativity in all forms - writing, visual and performance art, music, fashion, architecture, design and great culinary experiences.” A beautiful venue to bring Art to a stage. Capacity 150. 1150 Queen St. West.
www.thedrakehotel.ca

Clinton’s Tavern

Perfect for Big & Loud Rock shows. Capacity 150. 693 Bloor St. W.

Partners (those that we would define as more than just friends):

musicface.com & Uncle Seth

Long standing friends and very fine musicians. Open Concept is happy to collaborate with them on many endeavours.

Free Times Cafe Open Stage

This place has been a second home to myself, and the toe-tapping grounds of Open Concept Productions. After learning to crawl at its very first few shows at the Oasis (on College), Clinton’s, and the Victory Café, Open Concept began to walk at the Free Times. We’ve been managing the Monday Night Open Stage and maintaining a Wednesday Night booking residency there for three years running. The Open Stage has proven to be the lifeblood of our bookings and led Open Concept to feature shows with well over 300 hundred emerging new artists and some (seasoned) pros. A special thanks goes out to the past, present, ever changing staff there (Paul, Julie, Renata, Lauren, Jen, Zoe, Simon, Roger…).

Open Stage Hosts (Free Times Cafe)

Not enough can be said these hard-working hosts. For those who have listened to the engaging guitar skills of Noah Zacharin, been party to the generosity of pianist Laura Fernandez, shared performance and songwriting insights with Jeff Stone or jammed with Jason Lapidus, you know what I mean. Thank you to them.

Salon Musica / Cluny Residence

Their home has been my third, um… home and a place to explore unspeakably fine art, engaging house concerts and the world’s most comfortable sofa. Thank you for the open invitation.

Peter Holliday, Sandra Alland, Wakefield Brewster, Ed Keenan and Ken Cormier

Have been my friends and inspirations in the spoken word community since I first began as a performance poet.

Tom Glenne, the 5.5, & Josh Holden

Tom Glenne is one of the first performers I met at Free Times and remains the strongest influence I've had in putting together live art. Watching the ever rotating lineup of the 5.5  and Josh Holden ensembles perform reminds us at Open Concept the importance of artistic collaboration. There is nothing greater to be learned than the value of what each and every person has within them to add to the world.

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