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| Noel Gallagher |
The Mod Club on College Street has signed a long-term partnership deal with Virgin Mobile Canada to re-brand the venue as the Virgin Mobile Mod Club beginning Nov. 5 with an intimate acoustic performance by ex-Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher.
The makeover comes on the club's ninth anniversary and will include a new logo and some "cheeky" touches inside. The two-level space accommodates up to 600 people.
"The Mod Club has showcased some of the hottest up and coming acts from around the world," said Andrew Bridge, managing director of Virgin Mobile Canada. "This new partnership to create the Virgin Mobile Mod Club is a great way to shine the spotlight on great music while bringing more access and benefits to our Members."
Virgin Mobile customers will be offered VIP lines at shows, discounted or pre-sale tickets, and chances to win free concerts or to meet the acts. The club will also reserve some of the best seats in the house for Virgin Mobile members.
During his 30-minute set, Gallagher will showcase tracks on the self-titled album from Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. The band performs Nov. 7 and 8 at Massey Hall.
The Virgin brand, founded by Sir Richard Branson, has its roots in music. Branson and a friend operated a small record store in London that grew into a successful record label and retail chain (the office of Virgin Records Canada was once in a historic mansion on Jarvis at Gloucester St. in Toronto and the country's only Virgin Megastore was at Robson and Burrard St. in Vancouver). Astral currently operates Virgin Radio stations across Canada, including one in Toronto.
Virgin Mobile Canada, owned by Bell Media, staged several Virgin Festivals in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax before pulling the plug in 2009. At the 2008 Virgin Festival in Toronto, Gallagher was injured after Daniel Sullivan ran onto the stage and tackled him from behind. Sullivan pleaded guilty in 2010 and was sentenced to a year of house arrest.
Click here for a chance to win access to Gallagher's acoustic show at the relaunch of the Virgin Mobile Mod Club on Nov. 5.
