New Penelope

The New Penelope was the first Montreal concert venue to present important names in blues, rock, folk and jazz music in the 1960s. It hosted concerts by artists ranging from Muddy Waters and Frank Zappa to Joni Mitchell and Jesse Winchester. It was also a beloved hangout and gathering place for young people, located right in the heart of the Milton-Parc / Carré Saint-Louis district. This is the part of Montreal where the city’s new counterculture and arts scene was emerging.

Despite the fact that it was not open for a long time, the New Penelope nevertheless became legendary in the history of Montreal nightlife and music. Many people still vividly remember the excitement of going to see shows there, even all these years later.

The diversity of its programming included blues legends such as James Cotton, Junior Wells and Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, as well as local jazz musicians such as Sonny Greenwich and Duke Edwards’ band The Young Ones.