It is always a sad day when the last beat, chord and lyric is cried out at a legendary music venue before it shutters its doors. That is the fate facing longstanding Toronto venue Guvernment after an announcement in May that the 18-year-old venue would hold its last show this January. The venue has announced who will be playing the final week of shows, including a fitting send-off for the venue. Longtime New York City DJ Danny Tenaglia will headline Saturday, Jan. 10, Cosmic Gate will headline Saturday, Jan. 17, and Armin van Buuren and Knife Party will headline back-to back weekends Friday, Jan. 23, and Saturday, Jan. 24. As reported by Dancing Astronaut, the send-off party Jan. 31 will fittingly feature Toronto native deadmau5. He has promised to leave the final hour of Guvernment to its longtime resident Matt Oliver, but until that point, the "Strobe" producer will command the last night for the Toronto venue.
The venue has seen just about every big name in dance music, rock and pop come through its doors, and has been a staple of the Toronto dance music scene and nightlife and pivotal to Canadian electronic music. Just a few of the electronic acts to grace the decks at Guvernment have been Avicii, Armin van Buuren, deadmau5, Tiësto, Deep Dish, David Guetta, Hardwell, Steve Angello and more.
In addition to the electronic acts in the main room, the Koolhaus, also part of the venue, has hosted the likes of The Rolling Stones, Prince, Bob Dylan, The Killers, Kings of Leon, Lady Gaga and Coldplay.
The founder of INK Entertainment and owner of the venue, Charles Khabouth, commented on the closing:
"It makes me proud to see how far we've come. The Guvernment is one of my proudest achievements and after such a long-lasting journey with such fond memories, we want to thank all those who made it possible and shared in our successes."
It will be a sad day not just for Toronto music fans but also for all music fans to see Guvernment go Jan. 31, but it has been a great run. Tickets are on sale for the first two closing parties and Knife Party and Armin van Buuren become available for purchase next Monday, Dec. 29. Deadmau5 tickets have not been announced yet.
