Shwa Rock City: The Epicentre of Music in the Durham Region

Oshawa still makes things, but more and more, it's making things happen.

On any given night in Oshawa, the city nestled between two major provincial highways and connected to the GO Train line, up to 8,000 people could be out enjoying live music. That’s right: thousands of people, out on a random evening. That’s just Oshawa, a music city, the entertainment heart of Durham Region, and a place where the love of live music runs deep and flows freely.

An Aerial view of Oshawa's music-filled Downtown.

Right now, within walking distance in the city’s downtown core, there are five major live music venues. All sit in or near the block bordered by Simcoe Street to the west, Bond Street to the north, Mary Street to the east, and King Street to the south. Some have storied pasts; all were brought to life through the investment and vision of residents, business owners, artists and advocates alike. These places exist because the people of Oshawa believe in their city. If you know, you know.

The largest is The Tribute Communities Centre, with a capacity of 5,000. It’s home to the 2015 Memorial Cup champions, the Oshawa Generals, and has hosted music legends including Motorhead, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Elton John, The Tragically Hip, The Arkells and Blue Rodeo — who return on Dec. 27, 2025, for their Lost Together 40th anniversary tour.

Next is the Bond|St. Event Centre, with space for more than 1,000 concertgoers. Sloan, Crown Lands and Protest the Hero have all played here. Located in the former CAW union hall, the venue retains design touches that reflect its labour roots. Its basement also holds significance in the city’s music scene. Once known as The Dungeon, the 400-capacity space now operates as TwoTwoTwo, a go-to for punk and metal acts. Every second Thursday, it hosts an open jam night for emerging bands. One group that got its start here, Dusk Before Dawn, was featured in Exclaim! Magazine’s “bands to watch” this past January.

The multi-level Bond|St. Event Centre's Main Hall.

Nearby, the Regent Theatre, the home of the Ontario Philharmonic Orchestra, seats 600 and doubles as a teaching space for Ontario Tech University. Despite its academic use, the stage has welcomed a wide range of artists, including Leon Russell, Spirit of the West, Chilliwack and Gowan. This summer, Grammy-winning producer and musician Daniel Lanois plays the Regent on Monday, August 18. French-Canadian hitmakers The Box bring their “Still Alive and Kicking” Tour on Sunday, July 13.

The Biltmore Theatre holds around 550 people and has become a community staple. Current owner Diana Kedvessy took over the business following her father’s passing, but she was no stranger to the scene, having run Wasted Space, a local venue that helped launch Oshawa-born Juno winners Crown Lands and Dizzy. The Biltmore continues that community spirit, hosting acts like Frank Turner, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sheepdogs, Headstones and Death From Above 1979. However, some of its most packed shows have featured all-local lineups, a testament to the strength of the city’s talent pool.

On Saturday, July 12, Oshawa’s own Ash Molloy, Far From Infamy, Echo Eve and Adam Rodway will hit the Biltmore stage. On Friday, July 18, Aussie rockers The Lazys, no strangers to the venue, return to headline.

A full house at the historic Biltmore Theatre.

Also on King Street is The Atria, a club that’s been a cornerstone of Oshawa’s music scene for over 40 years, offering live shows every night of the week. Just around the corner on Simcoe St., Cork and Bean is a café-bar beloved by younger scenesters that often hosts acoustic acts and indie musicians.

Add it all up: five venues, all busy on the same night, and nearly 8,000 people out supporting live music. Oshawa hums again, not with factory lines, but with guitar riffs and drum beats. Once known as the Motor City, Oshawa still manufactures. But more and more, it manufactures moments. It makes things, and now, it’s making things happen.