An iconic hub for Ottawa's live music community has gone silent. The Brass Monkey, a beloved rock club operating for 15 years, has permanently closed its doors, marking the end of an era for punk and metal fans in the capital region.
The Final Curtain for a Suburban Music Staple
For a decade and a half, the Brass Monkey brought a steady stream of loud, energetic acts to the basement of a strip mall in Nepean. Despite restructuring the business in the spring of 2025, owner Scott Ruffo concluded the venture was no longer viable. The final blow came from a combination of relentless financial pressures.
Ruffo pinpointed a crippling imbalance between rising expenses and falling revenue. The venue fell behind on its $10,000 monthly rent and could not manage a $20,000 deposit demanded by the property's new landlord, who took over the mall in April 2025. "Things didn't work out the way we hoped," Ruffo stated frankly.
A Perfect Storm of Challenges
The last five years presented immense hurdles, with skyrocketing costs following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. However, the problems ran deeper. "It's tough when nobody's coming out to the shows anymore," Ruffo explained. "Even with our regular programming, like pool, we saw a huge decline in it. I think it just comes down to nobody having money anymore."
Ruffo, who stepped back from daily operations last spring but continued to book bands, watched attendance dwindle. The spacious venue, which also functioned as a pool hall, grew quieter.
A Legacy of Loud Music and Lingering Concerns
Ruffo and his team assumed control of the Brass Monkey in 2015, sharpening its focus on hard rock and metal. Their efforts were recognized when the venue won the Capital Music Award for live venue of the year in 2024, a prize determined by public vote. The club hosted notable acts like Uriah Heep, Supersuckers, and Buckcherry.
Its closure has prompted Ruffo to reflect on the broader landscape for live music in Ottawa. "I think we're going to see a lot of big changes," he mused. "A lot of smaller places just aren't going to be able to handle it anymore. It's a struggle just to get people out."
He expressed hope that new corporate venues, like the upcoming History Ottawa and the Hard Rock Cafe, won't monopolize the region's entertainment spending and that younger audiences will rediscover the desire to experience live music.
For now, some shows originally scheduled for the Brass Monkey will find a new home at the Rainbow Bistro on Murray Street in the ByWard Market. The closure leaves a significant void in Ottawa's alternative music scene, underscoring the fragile state of independent cultural spaces in the post-pandemic economy.
