Few Montreal venues have shaped the city’s live arts scene quite like Club Soda. Born in 1982 out of a converted reception hall on Parc Avenue, the cabaret quickly became a launchpad for emerging talent—most famously the Lundis des Ha! Ha! comedy nights with Ding et Dong—and a reliable stage for local and international acts alike. After outgrowing its first home, the venue was reborn in 1999 on Saint-Laurent, in a space designed by architect Luc Laporte that remains central to the Quartier des Spectacles. Its format has always been versatile: cabaret seating, standing-room shows, or private events. Over four decades, Club Soda has been both a proving ground for young artists and a festival anchor for the city’s cultural calendar. Under new stewardship since 2023, its mission hasn’t wavered, and today is offering an accessible stage where Montreal’s creative energy continues to find its audience.