299 Queen Street West: The Much Music Documentary has its official premiere at Roy Thomson Hall (60 Simcoe Street) in Toronto on Sept 22, 2023, after which it will have screenings at several other cities across the country, before landing on Crave TV.

With unprecedented access to the MuchMusic archives, 299 Queen Street West tells the story of a scrappy television upstart from the perspective of the VJ’s. At the time, they had no prior TV hosting experience, were given no scripts, no direction and went live to air across the country.

Some of the voices heard in the documentary include seminal VJs including Erica Ehm (who also serves as the film’s consulting producer), Sook-Yin Lee, Michael Williams, Monika Deol, Bill Welychka, Denise Donlon, Steve Anthony, George Stroumboulopoulos, Namugenyi Kiwanuka and Rick Campanelli. The archival footage featured in the film include clips of Kurt Cobain, David Bowie, Bono, Tupac, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, and several others.

The film showcases how MuchMusic’s rise in popularity intersected with rap music entering the mainstream, the birth of grunge and alternative rock, and pop stars caused teenage hysteria at the iconic street level studio. The two-hour feature tells the origin story and meteoric rise of the seminal music and pop culture brand, highlighting its beginnings as a scrappy Canadian television upstart.

Following the screening will be a live Q&A with the film’s cast and past VJs.  The rest of the cross Canada theatrical screenings and Q&S will be announced soon, after which it will stream on Crave. Before watching this new documentary, take a look at this 2023 SXSW interview with film director Sean Menard, and watch the SXSW trailer. Then, go way back with this 1995 behind-the-scenes clip featuring MuchMusic founder Moses Znaimer, and this classic Retrontario clip.

299 Queen Street West: Much Music Documentary – Sept 22, 2023 Roy Thomson Hall 60 Simcoe Street

Tickets Available Here

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.