The restless rock ’n’ rollers of the city mix with everyday hipster types for their dose of edgy hard rock at this unadvertised and - to a certain degree - underdog spot in Mile-End. But, indie rock club Playhouse is no Gianni-come-lately: This spot, which was previously a strip club, has upped the swank factor, but by just a tad.

Despite its name, Playhouse has nothing to do with theatre - at least not anymore. This former strip-joint was transformed into a Rock ’n’ roll music venue to help forge the thriving music scene in Mile-End.

Residents of the area, the once nightlife-deprived intersect, have immediately embraced this neighbourhood bar, a fun spot to debate the merits of their more ambitious new rock bands, many queuing up to hit this very stage. On Friday and Saturday nights, the crew turns the dank post-strip joint into a heaving mass of sweaty downtown transplants, art school students, and scene regulars, dancing to whatever’s on tap that night.

You've seen the décor—velvet drapes and —a hundred times before, but the vibe is genuine stripper, punk, tinged with a hint of vice. With its vaulted ceilings, velvet seats and heavily-mirrored décor, there’s lots of space to move and dance—particularly in the huge, rec-room-like main area, where you may feel as if you’ve stumbled upon the coolest house party in town. With a capacity of 150, loyal hipsters already provide a solid fan base assuring that the joint is rarely empty.

Known for booking bands before anyone had heard of them, Playhouse continues to take risks on everything from singer/songwriters and country music to edgy hard rock groups. DJ Wax (Evil Boys From Hell) is the force the psychobilly Fridays and rock ’n’ roll Saturdays. The idea is that bands don’t have to pay to play and get to take what’s made at the door.