Edmonton Tavern Shutters After Sexual Harassment Allegations

The Needle Vinyl Tavern, a small music venue in Edmonton, Alberta, closed Nov. 21 after allegations of sexual harassment by one of the owners toward a then-employee.

The tavern, music-themed sports bar with a corner stage that has hosted acts like Martha Wainwright, Silverstein, and Make Them Suffer, posted a sign on its door Nov. 21 announcing that it “will be closed indefinitely” and will let the public know “if and when that changes,” the Edmonton Journal reported. 

– The Needle Vinyl Tavern

Brittany Lyne Rudcyk, social media manager for the venue, recently posted on Facebook that she quit Nov. 17 after one of the owners sexually harassed her at the club in March. Rudyck claimed the owner was “blackout drunk” and “groped her several times” as well as being disrespectful to other members of the staff.  The owner allegedly gave a “half-baked” apology the next day.

Rudcyk, who added that there are “two managers there who I love and respect and I’m grateful for,” said her decision to quit was also motivated by three owners’ decision to hire someone that Rudcyk had worked with as well as other women who had “left their prveious jobs because of this person.”

“Since then I can’t be sure how many others have quit as a result (I think four total), but I know more are to come,” she said.

After the post, local groups said they were moving their events including a podcast featuring a former member of Our Lady Peace.

The Needle released a statement to the Edmonton Journal Nov. 20 that it has “absolutely zero tolerance for any behavior or actions by staff or patrons that impacts the positive environment we have worked so hard to cultivate.” The statement added that the venue’s “management team and ownership are taking this situation very seriously, and we are taking immediate steps to ensure that The Needle is a safe environment for staff, artists and patrons.”

The Needle, which opened in 2015, had Cold Specks scheduled for Nov. 23, The Good Lovelies Dec. 8, Less Than Jake in January, and Amy Shark in March.

Pollstar has reached out to The Needle for comment.