BONA2018 | Best Venue North: CODA

Since opening its doors in 2014, CODA nightclub has become the key to the underground for the Canadian electronic music scene. Joel Smye, alongside his business partner Stephan Philion, opened CODA when they took it over from the Annex Wreckroom. The Toronto gem became the replacement to the once revered basement dance club Footwork which was also started by Smye and Philion. For over eight years, Footwork catered to house and techno music fans, plus became a pivotal force in the growth of Toronto’s dance music community. Thus, the years of hosting events and parties prior to the opening of CODA proved to be beneficial for both the owners and clubgoers. Smye and Philion have managed to provide an inimitable experience that DJ Mag readers in the northern part of North America live for – as evident by its win as this year’s Best Venue in the region.

From underground techno and house music icons such as Nina Kraviz, Chris Liebing, Maceo Plex, Maya Jane Coles, Victor Calderone and more, CODA has cracked the code to keeping the dancefloor thumping, by lining up A-list talent.

The venue boasts about its custom state-of-the-art PK sound system beast that surely has not gone unnoticed by the audiophiles that hit the club. Regarding the future, CODA’s reps say, “We've poured so much heart, soul and energy in to this room and we're ready to take it up a notch. CODA is excited to further enhance our customer and artist experience with a complete re-engineered sound overhaul. Be ready for CODA 2.0 coming soon!” Are you ready? We at DJ Mag are at the edge of our seats.

WORDS: GABRIELLE PHARMS

All images: © Kurtis Hooper of Ded Agency