A new music venue is opening its doors in Victoria this week in place of Hermann's Upstairs.
Last year, The Arts on View Society, which opened the establishment with a capacity of 200 in May 2022, said Hermann’s Upstairs wasn’t generating enough revenue even when it was full. It had also struggled to cope with a pandemic-induced lull in patrons in its downstairs venue, Hermann's Jazz Club. In an aim to keep the celebrated downtown venue alive, the City of Victoria dipped into its land acquisition fund to buy Hermann’s Jazz Club (downstairs) for $3.95 million last March, and Arts on View Society terminated its lease for the second and third floors on March 31, 2024.
This weekend (Feb. 14 and 15), music will eminate from the upstairs 751 View St. space once again.
“As soon as our last permit was secured, we didn’t want to wait another day before getting the space open and filled with live music,” Christina Morrison, the co-owner of Hermann's Upstairs replacement, The Coda, said in a news release. “Victorians are hungry for a place they can go to find community and share experiences.”
To feed that hunger, on Feb. 14, The Coda is inviting romantics to fill the new venue for a Valentine's dance, which will boast upbeat tunes from The Fabulous B-Sides – a "sassy" six-piece offering contemporary and classic tunes. Later in the evening, The Midnights, one of "Canada's hottest, most distinctive and exceptional show bands," will take to the stage for over three hours of Motown and rhythm and blues tunes.
On Saturday night (Feb.15), the venue will be buzzing with the fun, warm sounds of Latin music. The evening is also set to feature a dance dedicated to the history of popular Cuban music, with salsa lessons and performances by Salsa Caliente – an internationally touring dance group from Victoria. A Latin DJ will also help keep the Saturday night energy pumping.
“This project has been a lot of work, but I know it will be worth it,” The Coda's other owner Al Smith said in the same news release. “We want to make sure that there is a supportive home for live music in Victoria. The Coda is the place musicians can share their work, connect to their community, and feel valued. We are excited for the future!”
For a detailed list of upcoming events at The Coda, visit: gotothecoda.com/calendar.
