$35 nowadays is not a lot. But it is enough to grant you two nights full of live music and fun at the Rainbow Bistro. Located in the heart of the ByWard Market, the Rainbow was established in 1984 and has provided great live musical performances ever since. With a full schedule rich in musical diversity, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Last year, the Rainbow hosted over 400 bands, a feat that “definitely takes a village to pull off,” says general manager Stacie Sivyer. I attended two nights that featured local indie pop, indie rock and hip-hop artists. However, the catalogue is way more vast, ranging from punk to burlesque. Their website has an events calendar that can help you figure out when to go and what bands to see.
Rainbow Bistro memorabilia. Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
When you enter the Rainbow, you see its stage on the left and the bar to your right. There is an upstairs area, which includes a pool table that overlooks the stage. The walls are steeped in history with posters and pictures from previous acts. There is a high chance that your favourite local band has performed at the Rainbow and can be found somewhere on those walls. The place truly feels like the music hub that it is. Additionally, the Rainbow is home to some uncommon drinks, from four unique flavours of tap beer to coffee served in High School Musical mugs.
The bar is usually filled with people from different backgrounds enjoying the same music. When asked what nice things people say about the Rainbow, Sivyer says, “What I hear the most often is that people feel comfortable, and they feel safe.” It is an essential part of the Rainbow’s identity. Stacie worked at the bar in the ’80s and ’90s when her dad ran the place, and she talked about how different it was back then.
Rainbow Bistro memorabilia. Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
“People talk about the market being rough; [in the 80’s] it was rough,” she says. Back then, the Rainbow was a blues bar named after a famous restaurant in Los Angeles. As Sivyer describes it, “the Rainbow was a mix of Tom Cruise’s Cocktail and Roadhouse.” Through its origins as a rough blues bar that welcomed bikers and sex workers, the name always stayed. Sivyer’s father was advised to change it due to the stigma in the ’90s, but, as she said, “[We] make sure that people feel safe.” So the name stayed as the bar slowly changed to host “young bands who all make such happy music.”
This description was apt for the musical slate on January 26 as several local indie rock and pop acts took to the stage. As someone who went blind, I was impressed with the music. Acts like Zeelle had a fun catalogue of indie pop and a standout cover of Paramore’s “Misery Business.” The following acts, Teenage Fiction and Hannah Vig, also impressed the crowd with their performances. The coolest part of the night was seeing all the artists mingle amongst the crowd and cheer for the other acts. Between the building, the staff, the performers and the crowd, the place’s welcoming atmosphere is ever-present.
Hannah Vig performs at the Rainbow. Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
Saturday had a very different vibe, as the Knights of the Roundtable brought numerous hip-hop artists for a live performance. As expected, the crowd was different; however, it stayed as diverse as ever, maintaining the venue’s identity. The Rainbow’s tendency to showcase so many local artists is a huge positive. It’s a fun way to discover new talent and music from our area.
Nova performs at the Rainbow. Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
Overall, the Rainbow Bistro is an affordable and awesome way to spend any night if you enjoy music. There are so many unique local artists showcased there every week, all of whom offer something new. The establishment is as trustworthy as they come for having a good night out in the ByWard Market.
The Rainbow Bistro is located at 76 Murray St. Visit their website for more info. The venue is on the second floor, up a flight of stairs.
