THE LEGENDARY HORSESHOE TAVERN

The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern is 60! (kickin' it since 1947)
Originally known as a Country Roots n’ Rockabilly Music Tavern, The ‘Shoe welcomed Blues and Folk in the ‘60s, Reggae, Mod Rock, and Punk in the ‘70s, New Wave and Alt Pop in the ‘80s, and everything from Ska, Surf, Swing, Celtic, No Depression Folk, Insurgent Country, Cow-Punk, and Alternative Modern Rock in the ‘90s....
If you would like to play at THE HORSESHOE TAVERN or Dave Bookman's NU MUSIC NITE please contact Craig: [email protected]. Include your contact information, a brief description and a link to mp3's.
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370 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 2A2
Canada
Click here for map
Tickets for our shows are available at: Ticketmaster , Rotate This
Soundscapes and at the front bar of the Horseshoe
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“Almost every time I come to Toronto I end up @ the Shoe, and always get that warm feeling when I'm there. I travel a lot all over N.America & the world to see bands and I have to tell you it's a special place. I can always be sure that I'll get to see & hear some great new rock bands and the cutting edge in new & emerging talent. Also they have cool bar people and staff, familiar faces who are always there welcoming me back. even thought I'm a yank, and the beer.....................
Need I say more.
I wish the Shoe another 60 years of happiness & great Rock-N-Roll!”
Ron Burman
Sr.VP A&R
Roadrunner Records
“The main intersection of the Canadian Music Business is Queen and Spadina and home base is The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern”
Jack Ross
Senior Vice President
The Agency Group
“HAPPY 60TH TO THE 'SHOE
As a fan who happens to be older (slightly) than the venerable Horseshoe Tavern, it is my pleasure and honour to welcome the grand old place to its 60's, and to thank it for making me feel young every time I visit.
I wish that were more often than it has been, but for many of those years that made us both LOOK younger, I was trying to turn the Maple Leafs into a decent television attraction, and my music fixes were applied privately. Now, I find time to see and meet Canada's best artists the way they're meant to be enjoyed-live and up close at the 'Shoe.
I was actually on stage once. It was a year ago that I introduced Jim Bryson and then Justin Rutledge to a crowded house. Kathleen Edwards and Jim Cuddy followed as guests. Four of my favourite singers and four of my favourite people were in one place at one time-it was packed; it was hot; it was loud and it was late-it was great.
On that night, and for those musical moments, there was nowhere else to be. It'll be like that for the 60th anniversary week, too-the Sadies and Joel Plaskett and Justin again, and all the others who join in. There, I've just spared you all the stories of the early days, but, after all, the best times at the 'Shoe are the last time and the next time. Happy 60th to 370 Queen West and to all those who give it its heart and soul-a reason to celebrate, indeed!”
Dave Hodge
TSN
“Ah....the Horseshoe.
My first memory of the Shoe is sneaking down there sometime in middle 60’s, maybe 1964, when it was a country bar. I saw Ferlin Husky and he sang “On The Wings Of A Snow White Dove”. That and all those women in the bar with bouffant haircuts and the fact that I was under the legal drinking age. You just can’t do any better than that!!!
Thanks Horseshoe. You’re the best.”
Bernie Finkelstein
True North Records
“I love that the bartenders, who serve hundreds of musicians every year, still remember my name. I love that I saw Calexico there. And the Immortal Lee county Killers. And my car got towed in the back parking lot.”
Luke Doucet
“In the end I couldn't choose just one. Having been asked to write a few words about the 'shoe I was initially riffing on a favorite show approach, but, just like those name your 10 favorite albums things, I just can't go there. The list of great shows is too long, the memories too bountiful and indelible, to choose just one, like having to pick a favorite child out of many.
Instead let's shout out to the 'shoe as a living, organic spirit, as embodied by the people - from Kenny and X-ray, to JC, Craig, teddy and everyone who has infused the joint with their blood, sweat and tears, all in the name of rock n' roll/ska/punk/surf/blues/roots etc etc, as the ATG ad descriptors would have it. Geez it occurs that maybe i have been taking the place for granted all these years. I mean can you imagine life in this city without the 'shoe? Note to self: proper respect to a legend next time you walk in the doors”
Kim Cooke
Maple Music
“I first played at the Horseshoe in 1997 with my band Joydrop and have played there several times since, both with the band and as a solo artist. Every time I play there, I feel a rush of belonging; that I have somehow joined with the family of musicians who have graced that famous stage, from the Rolling Stones to those whose name no-one can recall. For musicians, the Horseshoe feels like home.”
Happy Birthday, Horseshoe. Rock and Roll will never die.”
Tara Slone
Host/Reporter
Sun TV
“I've recently realized that my left ear is in worse shape than my right one, and I'm pretty sure I know the reason why: the positioning of the Horseshoe stage all but ensures your left ear takes a greater beating than your right one. But for that Neutral Milk Hotel show in '98 alone, I'd say it's an even trade-off.”
Stuart Berman
Eye Weekly
“It's never a gamble going to the 'shoe - it's always a sure thing.
From Tyrone at the door, to Teddy and Suzy at the bar, to some of the best bands in the world on that sweat soaked stage - it's got it all!
It's a farm club for developing bands, it's a mecca for live music, it's historic, it's legendary and I've been happy to call it my musical home away from home for almost 20 years.
Congratulations on 60...I'm looking forward to many, many more!”
Melanie Berry
President
Juno Awards/CARAS
"Growing up and playing the local club scene for many many years the Shoe was always "the ultimate venue" We played from the Generator (now gone) to Teds Wrecking Yard (now gone) to the Elmo and everywhere in between but we would always talk about how one day we'd play The Legendary Horseshoe! After all it was the sacred meeting grounds for bands and industry people to meet...I remember seeing the Foo Fighters there too The Strokes to hearing about the Hip playing and the Stones I mean shit this place has been Knighted by rock! So at that time...I was the guy that booked the shows for the band so I decided to suck it up one day and call Mr Laskey...After repeated calls...many a left demo and borderline begging he decided to let us play there but made sure we promised to bring at least 100 people...we called and again begged all of our friends to come out and sure enough they did...after that we began a great relationship with Jeff and Craig and we still to this day call and ask to play and are excited when we get the chance!"
To 60 years and to 60 more!
Ben from Billy Talent
"The Horseshoe has been a big part of my life for about 20 years. I often consider it my third home after the place I paid my mortgage off on and whatever office I've been spending too much time in (there have been a few of those over the years).
During that time I've made great friends with JC, Craig, Leslie and others who work behind the scenes, Tyrone (who I've written reference letters for) and some of the door people (most of whom are too cool to call bouncers), Justine and Theresa at the door, and Suzie, Teddy, Bob, Scottie, Joe, Marcie, Kylah and the other bartenders and wait staff who've served me more beers than they probably should (but please don't stop). In fact, rumour has it that my taste in beer played a very tiny role in the Shoe's move from being a Molson to a Labatt bar and in the fact that people will be enjoying free pints of Cinquante (that's 50 for you non-bilingual imbibers) at the 60th anniversary party. I've played shortstop for the Horseshoe softball team since its inception, from the struggling early days to this past year's undefeated season (until the playoffs, that is. Damn you, Rebels.)
My name was inexplicably used in a print ad and poster to attract people to one of the sorely missed Living Elvis Karaoke nights, where I always prided myself on being Toronto's most (and worst) punk Elvis. I still have to take up Mary Margaret O'Hara on her kind, and warped, suggestion of doing a duet. I've left the club at hours where farmers are getting up to tend to their crops. I've made out with some lovely young ladies, a few of whom I've even seen again after the night in question.
Through all that, there was also some great music. But I've kept that until the end because there's been so much that I can't possibly remember it all. I can name some favourites like The Chickens (and being attacked by a crazed woman and having to go to hospital the next day to have a damaged leg examined after she tried to wrestle the mic stand away from me during one of the band's shows), The Rheostatics, The Sadies, The Fleshtones, Andre Williams, White Cowbell Oklahoma, The Old 97s, The Bottle Rockets, Shonen Knife, The Soft Boys, Southern Culture On The Skids, The Damned, Stiff Little Fingers, The Waco Brothers, and far too many others to mention. Since I had four shots of tequila and four pints before writing this, and I'm proudly not on Facebook so I can't proof it, please let me know (and feel free to mock me) if I made any spelling, grammar or punctuation mistakes. I'm proud to be a Horseshoe patron and plan on being one for as many of the next 60 years as I can. Keep up the good work.”
Steve McLean
Journalist, music lover, drinker (the order is quite interchangeable)
"The Horseshoe Tavern is Canadian music's backyard rink. The rush to get there almost matches the rush you get there. Think I'll watch hockey another night..."
Ron MacLean
Hockey Night In Canada
"The Horseshoe Tavern is one of those rare venues that brings out the best performances of those who play there. The bar is legendary because the shows are legendary. You don't go to the 'Shoe to see Band X; you go because Band X is AT THE 'SHOE! Conversely, if you suck at the ‘Shoe, you suck. Period.
The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern is a national treasure. Long may you run!"
Steve Jordan
Founder
Polaris Music Prize
"My first time at the Shoe was in '95 or '96 on a Wilco tour of Canadian markets. We had been playing bars all over the world by then so to me this was just another gig. Only it wasn't.
Jeff and Craig treated us like rock stars and made sure we were comfortable in every way possible. They surrounded us with the coolest folks from Toronto (many remain friends to this day) and created a wonderful, wonderful vibe.
As fortune would have it they placed Oh Susanna on the bill to open for us (to actually open for our opener). She was new to the city and needed a break so they gave her the slot somehow. We met at that show and formed a lasting friendship that would change my life.
Years after i left Wilco, Oh Susanna called me in Mississippi to come to Toronto and play on her debut record. I walked into Peter Moore's studio that fateful day and met Bazil Donovan who took me under his wing and introduced me to Toronto. It was a friendship with a big future as the following year he nominated me to replace Blue Rodeo's departing steel guitarist.
Since moving to Toronto 8 years ago the Horseshoe has been my bar, my living room, my music room and occasionally my bedroom. Many thanks to Tyrone for getting me home when I was blinded by booze. Thanks to Suzy and Teddy for serving me with a smile and special thanks to Jeff and Craig for opening the door to Canada for me. I wouldn't be here without them."
Bob Egan
Blue Rodeo
"Jeff "J.C." Cohen is such a credit to this stupid business. It's an hono(u)r not only to call him a colleague but also a friend. (Same goes for Craig.)
I meet so many people in the music business who are fucking shells and shills and have completely given up on being fans. They have lost the passion. Not Jeff. He's the real deal.
Here is a dude who spends his time and money chasing E Street Band dates for four days at a stretch, trying to get ito the pit with all the other suckaz! His taste in music is impeccable, he is a generous as a fella as I've met and he is a great buyer/booker. Honestly, I aim to be as great of a promoter as he is. Against The Grain is the best company booking in Toronto.
Also, the Horseshoe is my favorite bar and venue in the whole world, excepting maybe my own and the Mohawk Place. Some of my personally legendary shows have been there: Wilco, Ry-Ry, V-Roys, etc. What a great place!
Donny Kutzbach
Buffalo Promoter
"The night the Dallas Stars won the Stanley Cup, I was playing the HS with Old 97's. We had a tour bus parked out back with the game on. The opening band, our friends from Dallas, Slobberbone, finished playing and the game hadn't ended. We told Jeff and Craig that we'd go on as soon as the game was over. We are HUGE stars fans and figured the HS crowd would understand - they are Canadian after all. Well, the game went to OT. Time was dragging. The crowd grew restless. We were biting our nails and freaking out. When the game went to a second OT we promised we'd come in. We didn't. We couldn't tear ourselves away. Finally when they second OT gave way to a third, and the Old 97's fans were drunk and threatening to riot, we gave up and took the stage. Think how happy we were when Bryan, Slobberbone's bassist, ran on-stage with no shirt on and Dallas wins painted on his scrawny chest. I love you, Horseshoe!"
Rhett Miller
Old 97's
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