Loft Ten Twenty Finds Its Rhythm

1 day ago

4 min read

More than a thousand guests later, Powerlink is turning it up

Since Loft Ten Twenty opened its doors on the top floor of the Powerlink building, well over a thousand people have come up for concerts, galas, socials and information sessions. Every event has drawn great feedback, and people are still talking about the Blackburn Brothers and the debut of the house band, CB 1020.

“People still stop me to tell me they were there, that they had an awesome time and loved the space. Like anyone building something new, we’ve had our challenges, but that support gives me the energy to keep going. So I’m going to keep going.”

Finding the Formula

Building a new venue means experimenting: trying different acts, different nights and different formats to see what works. The summer stayed deliberately low-key, but August’s Elvis tribute drew more than 210 people, some in full costume.

“I’ve been trying to figure out what gets people up dancing and having a good time. I think we’ve got the formula now. So now we’re going to ramp it up.”

This Fall at the Loft

The fall calendar is the strongest yet, with high-profile dance bands booked through to December:

Halloween Dance (All Ages) with Boiler Beach, Fri, Oct 30. Spooky tunes, costume prizes and house-made pizza. $15 adults, $5 kids under 12. Get tickets
UK Calling, Sat, Nov 7. Canada’s premier alternative ’80s experience, with sold-out rooms across Ontario. Get tickets
CB 1020 & The Jump Jive Gents, Sat, Nov 14. The Loft’s own house band, led by Charlie Bell. Get tickets
FOG Blues & Brass Band, Sat, Nov 21. A seven-piece band of Maple Blues nominees. Get tickets
The 60’s Revisited, Sat, Dec 5. Summer of Love to Woodstock, with players who go back to The Ed Sullivan Show. Get tickets

The Halloween dance is a first for the Loft.

“We’ve never tried an all-ages event before, but I’m all about finding things people enjoy. We’ll crank the tunes, the kids can dance and eat pizza. What could be better?”

A Room That Gives Back

Loft Ten Twenty is also proud to host two major fundraisers this month: the Women’s House Annual Gala & Casino Night on October 17, and the Southampton Rotary Dinner Auction & Dance on October 24. The Rotary is returning after a successful gala last year.

Christmas Parties, Your Way

Holiday bookings are open. Rather than shared parties where several businesses split the room, Loft Ten Twenty hosts private parties one company or group at a time, for anywhere from 30 to 200 guests. Andrew finally has a new pizza oven up and running, which means more in-house catering for parties and events.

Up in the Loft, the new North Hall adds a second space: a private meeting room for 60 to 70 people that closes off from the main hall. It suits smaller parties, meetings and workshops.

The Building Below the Loft

The rest of the Powerlink building is catching people’s attention too. The offices on the first and second floors are now more than 90% full. New offices are being added in a few smaller areas of the third floor, the Loft’s floor, without taking anything away from the event space.

Tenants span healthcare, education, law, engineering and professional services, including several Bruce Power suppliers. Bringing those offices off Main Street frees up storefronts for new local businesses.

“It’s almost like a microcosm of the local area. We’ve got a STEM program with all the science and tech kids at one end of the building, and a ballet school with little ones in tutus at the other. I’m somewhere in the middle.”

Organizations are noticing as well. Recent information sessions in the Loft on local building permit changes and a proposed battery storage project each drew around 150 people. Professional associations now come in regularly for networking and team building, and Powerlink and AREA 81 are planning more events for local entrepreneurs.

Looking Ahead: The Loft Ten Twenty Social Club

Andrew is still refining his next big idea: a membership-based Loft Ten Twenty Social Club. Members would get discounted event tickets and access to a “5 to 9 Club” on Thursday and Friday evenings. It would be a relaxed place to stop in after work, grab a pizza and a drink, play a game and catch up with friends.

“Think of it as a private club, but without the pretentiousness. Somewhere you can stop in for an hour or two after work instead of going to the bar.”

A tap dance stage show is already lined up for the spring. Andrew would also love to see a beat poetry night, a local chess tournament, and eventually band rehearsal space.

“I always have lots of ideas. But we’re open to ideas, too. If you’ve got something that brings people together, come talk to me.”

Powerlink and Loft 1020 is For

Music lovers and families looking for great nights out close to home
Companies that want private holiday parties, meetings and team events
Charities and non-profits that need a professional venue for fundraisers
Entrepreneurs who want a local hub and a connection to AREA 81’s regional peer network
Professionals looking for office or coworking space