History

...

OUR HISTORY

Club Soda, a Montreal cultural landmark for over forty years, is a multi-purpose venue with a wide range of layout options, from cabaret to standing room only. It’s where tailoring, versatility and professionalism shine through.

Few of today's artists have not tread their first boards at Club Soda. In fact, Club Soda has had the honour of showcasing a plethora of local artists from all over the world, as well as making a name for itself on the international scene. Some of the world's greatest talents have been featured at this venue.

Club Soda's beginnings date back to 1982, when Guy Gosselin, André Gagnon (filmmaker) and Martin Després decided to transform a reception hall on Park Avenue into a new kind of cabaret. The cabaret was inaugurated by Boule Noire, then a few months later featured the premiere of Lundis des Ha! Ha! hosted by Ding et Dong.

Three years later, producers Michel Sabourin and Rubin Fogel, along with Martin Després, acquired Club Soda. The venue quickly became a real melting pot for Quebec's entertainment industry. In 1999, due to a lack of space and obsolete equipment, the Park Avenue cabaret closed for good, only to rise from the ashes a few months later, where it remains to this day, on Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Custom-designed by renowned Montreal architect Luc Laporte, Club Soda quickly became a fixture at major festivals, contributing to Montreal's cultural scene.

In 2003, a year after the Montreal Summit, a partnership was formed with the Quartier des Spectacles. Club Soda was very much involved in the initial discussions and was proud to participate in the launch of a major project for downtown Montreal.

In 2023, the venue at 1225 Saint-Laurent Boulevard changed ownership and was acquired by L-A BE (Let Artists Be), with the same mission of sustainability, outreach, and visibility.

Then and now, Club Soda's leaders continue to strive, year after year, to contribute to the city's vitality, with the firm belief that arts and culture are key elements in this revitalization.

Mission

Club Soda is a true Montreal institution and has been a beacon for the evolution of the performing arts in Quebec, Canada, and around the world for nearly 40 years.

Club Soda, located in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles [Montreal’s Entertainment District], provides artists and producers of all artistic genres with an affordable, high-quality infrastructure, enabling them to showcase culture while ensuring its sustainability.