Live Nation has bought a legendary Ontario venue

June 30, 2023 Alan Cross 0 Comments 0 min read

If you’ve got history in Ontario’s cottage country, you’ll know all about The KEE to Bala on Lake Muskoka. The venue’s history goes back to 1942 when it was built in the town of Bala as an old-timey dancehall. Over the years, it has hosted gigs by everyone from Louis Armstrong to The Ramones to The Tragically Hip to Drake and a billion more.

Running such a venue in a seasonal far-flung market has been a dicey thing for many reasons, but The KEE should be safe going forward now that it’s been acquired by Live Nation. The KEE will continue to be run in partnership with the current operators, Mike Strong and Mike Homewood.

The Live Nation partnership promises a lot more shows from a lot more acts. This will good for the town, the region, and the Ontario live music scene in general.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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