CrowdMateToronto · Venue
Bsmt 254
A compact Lansdowne basement built for close-range bands and DJ sets, with a 99-person licensed capacity and a custom sound system.
- Upcoming shows
- 13
- Capacity
- 99
- Address
- 254 Lansdowne Avenue, Toronto, ON M6H 3X9
- Phone
- (416) 801-6325
- Next show
- Tue, 29 Sept 2026
About Bsmt 254
BSMT 254 is a 99-person licensed basement venue in Toronto, with its scale part of the appeal: the short riser stage can hold up to nine musicians, while its custom Higher Heights HiFi system was built around close-range listening. The room began presenting shows in 2019 and hosts band bills alongside DJ parties. Expect a close-up set, a compact dance floor, and a room shaped around sound.
A basement takes shape
Former Lula Lounge manager Vas Cranis and a business partner started BSMT 254 to give young, up-and-coming bands performance opportunities. The venue dates its first show to 2019; Exclaim places its opening in 2021 and describes the space as a lower-level room near Lansdowne and College.
Its early years included a sharp municipal flashpoint. On November 5, 2019, Toronto staff asked the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to review or refuse BSMT 254’s liquor-licence application after nearby residents raised concerns involving noise, litter, safety and lighting. The application listed an indoor capacity of 99 people. Weeks earlier, Wavelength presented an October 2019 local hip-hop bill there with Swagger Rite, LolaBunz and 730Rarri, billing BSMT 254 as a new venue in town.
The room today
BSMT 254 welcomes promoters, performers and audiences, with live music, DJ events and private functions all part of its booking mix. Emerging bands, reggae-focused programming and DJs form a useful guide to the sound palette. Live bookings include an in-house audio technician plus audio and backline access; the room has a Behringer X32 Compact, monitors, a full-range PA, and LED and incandescent lighting. For DJ nights, the riser can come out to enlarge the dance floor; the bar remains in-house, while tables and chairs can turn the room into a seated-concert setup with a smaller capacity.
Sources
- About — BSMT254
- AGCO Liquor Licence Application – 254 Lansdowne Avenue (Basement), File No. 725356 — City of Toronto
- BSMT 254 — Exclaim!
- Wavelength Monthly: Swagger Rite + LolaBunz + 730Rarri — Wavelength Music
Next 13 shows
- Tue, 29 Sept 2026 · 18:00 SPITTING IMAGE + REST HAVEN, TO BE CONTINUED, HEAT View in the CrowdMate app
- Thu, 1 Oct 2026 · 19:30 Luster Dust + Sunglaciers, Sunforger, wanda View in the CrowdMate app
- Fri, 2 Oct 2026 · 20:30 Tony Price + Strip Lacquer, Down Town View in the CrowdMate app
- Sat, 3 Oct 2026 · 21:30 Container + Lee Paradise, Ontario Hospital, Twin Mask View in the CrowdMate app
- Sun, 4 Oct 2026 · 19:00 Gracefield + Tribunals, Monomyth View in the CrowdMate app
- Thu, 8 Oct 2026 · 20:45 OGs ONLY #03 – Josh Grant ‘Daydreams Part 4’ Tape release jamjust announced View in the CrowdMate app
- Fri, 9 Oct 2026 · 20:00 The Human Rights + DJ Friendlyness View in the CrowdMate app
- Wed, 14 Oct 2026 · 20:00 Geheimnisknecht + Andrew Nolan, Grief Debt, Gnostic Front, Trap Of Glass View in the CrowdMate app
- Thu, 15 Oct 2026 · 19:00 5an + Sidney Gilliam, Solo YS, & Arielle Perez View in the CrowdMate app
- Fri, 16 Oct 2026 · 21:00 Knockout! + Mortier, Apatridasjust announced View in the CrowdMate app
- Sat, 31 Oct 2026 · 19:00 Anime Livejust announced View in the CrowdMate app
- Fri, 13 Nov 2026 · 22:00 SDOT + KIZMET, Assassin Bug, Jiynx, Moodyjooly, Kerubjust announced View in the CrowdMate app
- Sun, 29 Nov 2026 · 19:00 The Legend Adam Bomb + King Bliss, Kng Bondalero, Swann, Resin, DJ Tictactic, DJ Shortcut, Quinn C Martin & JennyOldschooljust announced View in the CrowdMate app
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