Local venue celebrates a decade of music and community

Philip Muz (centre-left), is seen with staff at The Aviary on April 3, 2026. (Angela Amato/CTV News Edmonton)

Tucked away on a small business strip on 111 Avenue sits a venue that has served as a hub for local music and arts in Edmonton for a decade.

The Aviary recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a weekend of live music. Owner Philip Muz chalks the venue’s success to the support of city’s music community.

“The community has come through for me so many times through the eviction, the COVID-19 pandemic and fires and turning up all the time,” said Muz.

Before The Aviary, Muz ran The Artery, a small venue that was on a parcel of land on 95 Street and Jasper Avenue.

The Artery closed in 2015 after the city gave Muz just 34 days to clear out before the venue was demolished due to structural concerns.

“I pumped as many events out of that place in three-and-a-half years as I could till I got rudely booted out,” said Muz. “Some real questionable decisions from the city.”

Just less than a year later, Muz purchased the building that formerly housed Tiffany’s Bird Shop and started hosting shows again.

“My buddy Lindsey came with the name The Aviary as it was similar in name to The Artery, and a nod back to Tiffany’s Bird Shop – Edmonton legendary business,” he said.

Patrick Earles, the brains and frontman of Edmonton-based contemporary psychedelic project Pearly Moon, said playing the anniversary show was “huge.”

“It was a huge honour, especially now, it feels like this is the only steady venue in Edmonton,” said Earles. “Every city needs a venue that will do steady shows and that’s what they’re dedicated to.”

The Aviary typically hosts more than a dozen shows every month, spanning a wide variety of genres from post-hardcore metal to modern free jazz.

Calgary-based post-punk new wave quartet Sunglaciers headlined April 3rd’s show, marking the fourth time taking the venue’s stage.

“It feels very cool, very relaxed, really inclusive and welcoming,” said Evan Resnik of Sunglaciers. “It’s just run by wonderful people who are hungry and passionate about the arts, and that’s what every city needs.”

Most of the bands on the anniversary bill have headlined The Aviary in the past, some even having played The Artery in its heyday.

“Each band that played this weekend has been a very special part of building this space,” said Muz.

“We hope folks have a cool and real experience here. These types of places are rare these days, so I hope that when people attend, they feel like they’re contributing to something meaningful and cultural.”

As Earles and Resnik said: “To another 10 years.”