El Mocambo, Music venue in Toronto, Canada
El Mocambo is a music venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, recognized by its 26-foot illuminated palm tree outside on Spadina Avenue. The building spans multiple levels with performance spaces and technical rooms designed for concerts and broadcasts.
The name first appeared in the late 1940s and evolved over decades into a destination for rock bands. In 1977 The Rolling Stones played two surprise shows upstairs that later appeared on a live album.
The second floor of El Mocambo hosted performances by legendary artists including U2, Elvis Costello, and Blondie during its peak in the 1970s.
The 2020 renovation updated sound and lighting throughout the interior. Shows take place on different levels and some concerts are broadcast live.
Fender crafted guitars from reclaimed wood of the building, embedding fragments of the original structure into each instrument. Every guitar carries a physical piece of the performance space inside.
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