The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: A Complete History

by David McPherson

A complete history of Toronto’s legendary Horseshoe Tavern, “the Birthplace of Canadian Rock,” to coincide with its seventieth anniversary.


Like the Queen Street strip that has been its home for seven decades, the Horseshoe Tavern continues to evolve. It remains as relevant today as it did when Jack Starr founded the country club on the site of a former blacksmith shop. From country and rockabilly to rock ‘n’ roll, punk, alt/country, and back to roots music, the venerable live music venue has evolved with the times and trends — always keeping pace with the music.


Over its seventy-year history, the Horseshoe has seen a flood of talent pass through. From Willie Nelson to Loretta Lynn, Stompin’ Tom Connors to the Band, and Bryan Adams to the Tragically Hip, the Horseshoe has attracted premier acts from all eras of music. In The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, David McPherson captures the turbulent life of the bar, and of Canadian rock.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Canada, History

272 pages, ebook

First published September 23, 2017

About the author

Ever since attending his first rock concert in 1989 (The Who) and buying his first LP (Freeze Frame by The J. Geils Band), music has been “the elixir of his life.” With more than 18,000 songs on his iPod, and an ever-growing vintage vinyl collection, it’s a joy for him to discover new music. He loves sharing these discoveries with his wife and two children. David watched his first show [the Old 97’s] at the Horseshoe Tavern more than twenty years ago; immediately, he was hooked. A regular contributor to Words & Music, Hamilton Magazine, and No Depression, over the years his writing on music has also appeared in Paste, American Songwriter, Bluegrass Unlimited, Exclaim! and Canadian Musician. As president and chief creative officer of McPherson Communications, David helps clients get their words right. He lives in Waterloo, Ontario.

Reviews

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Horseshoe Tavern (aka "The 'Shoe") is a bar at Queen Street W and Spadina here in Toronto. It opened in 1947 and though it has had different owners over the years, it's still in operation today as a music venue. The building itself dates back to 1861, when it opened as a blacksmith shop. It originally opened as a restaurant but soon became known for its country and western concerts, hosting soon-to-be superstars such as Willie Nelson, Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lyn, Charlie Pride and Ian & Sylvia Tyson.

Over the years, the music styles have changed ... blues, folk, reggae, mod rock, punk, new wave, alternative rock, ska, surf, swing, Celtic, alternative country and more. Iconic Canadian bands played there when they were starting out ... Bryan Adams, Blue Rodeo, the Tragically Hip, the Watchmen, Big Sugar, Wide Mouth Mason, Great Big Sea, Stompin' Tom Connors, the Band, Helix, Prairie Oyster, The Jeff Healey Band and Our Lady Peace. Surprise concerts include the The Rolling Stones, Bryan Adams, The ‘Hip, Melissa Ethridge, Sammy Hagar and The Blues Brothers.

I enjoyed this book as I like reading about the history of Toronto, I like music and I used to go to The 'Shoe. When I moved to Toronto in 1980s, it was one of the places I went to hear live music as that was the time when Amanda Marshall, The Phantoms, Jeff Healey, etc. were just starting out. It was a dive bar but it was a fun dive bar. I haven't been to The 'Shoe in years. Their music focus has changed and evolved and they are bringing in bands I haven't heard of. After reading this book, though, I want to go back and check them out again.

I liked the writing style of the book and it brought back memories of bands and bars I'd forgotten about (like The Diamond Club [now The Phoenix] and Albert's Hall). In addition to lots of interesting information and stories about The 'Shoe, there are interviews with those involved (like the owners, performers and even the bartenders) along with pictures. As a head's up, there is swearing.

It's a must-read for anyone who is interested in the music scene over the years here in Toronto and has been to The 'Shoe.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/03...

[David McPherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Everyone! This is my first book, coming out this fall! I am so excited for you to read it and hope that you help spread the word about it by adding it to your to-read shelf!

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific, enjoyable read, full of great anecdotes. If you appreciate Toronto's music history (or, indeed, Canada's) you'll enjoy this book.

[Martine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could read all day about the Toronto music scene. This could have been 5 times the length and I would have still devoured it.

[Kelly Dyment · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read for anyone who has memories of Toronto's iconic music venue, "The Horseshoe Tavern". While a good part of the book focused on the country/roots origins in the 40s-60s, which I thoroughly enjoyed (because so many artist's names were familiar), I was definitely more interested in the transitions during the 80s and 90s, and it did not disappoint, though I wish it went more in depth in those eras. This book would be enjoyed by music buffs who have any connection to Canadian music, and in particular the Toronto scene. Especially loved the chapters on the long-standing bar keeps! So many cool stories in those walls and on that checkerboard floor. Thanks David for the ride!

[Susannah Findlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great read. So many anecdotes that keep you coming back for more. A true piece of Toronto history captured perfectly. People keep asking to borrow it but I get them their own copy. Don't want to give ours away.

[Barry Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history of one of Canada's oldest and best-loved live music venues. For seventy years and counting this Toronto fixture has been home to country, rock, punk, new wave, alt-country legends. McPherson collects all the stories into one readable history taking in all the classic acts from Nashville country stars, to Stompin' Tom Connors, from Blue Rodeo to modern acts. - BH.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: A Complete History is a very interesting book. I literally pass this place every time I go out that it became part of the scenery and I do not think much about it. From time to time, I am fortunate enough to watch a show, but for the most part, it rarely register during my day or my conscious. When I saw this book on the long list for the Toronto Book Award, I had to read it.

The Horseshoe Tavern is a concert venue at 370 Queen Street West in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and has been in operation since 1947. The building, erected in 1861, previously housed a blacksmith. Originally known as a Country Roots n' Rockabilly Music Tavern, it was an 87-seat saloon. The Horseshoe Tavern welcomed many genre of music throughout the years.

It is a timely book of music nostalgia and explores one of Canada's most famous music venues — an institution with a nondescript facade that has stood at the same place for over seventy years. In fact, McPherson has written his book in commemoration of the Horseshoe Tavern for its seventieth anniversary in December.

McPherson's passion for music and the Horseshoe Tavern is evident as he takes readers inside the bar that had hosted many famous acts during the decades. The Horseshoe Tavern was one of the first places in Toronto to get a liquor license and the first to have a television set. It was also the place for bands, including Blue Rodeo and countless others, to get their first real break.

The book is structured chronologically and begins when the venue opened at the edge of post-war Toronto's garment district, appealing to blue-collar factory workers. In its early days, the Horseshoe Tavern found great success as Nashville North, a gathering place for Maritimers, who arrived in Toronto looking for work, to enjoy country and western music. Over the years, the Horseshoe Tavern changed ownership and has reinvented itself time after time, hosting some of the biggest acts of the twentieth century.

The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: A Complete History was written and research extremely well. McPherson did an excellent job of recreating the venue's history through archival research and first-hand accounts. However, while it is a factually interesting book, I feel that in some places the book lacked depth and rarely goes beyond explaining why the venue was important to the musicians who played it or more importantly, why it was important to concert goers.

All in all, The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: A Complete History is an enjoyable read and a worthy tribute to an unpolished gem that has brought live music to generations of Torontonians.

[David Downer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice concise history of the 'Shoe. Learned quite a bit, especially about the early history of the club. I want to follow up on some his sources to go deeper on some of the different eras. Appropriately enough, going to the Horseshoe to catch a show in a couple of days. I will be looking closely at the walls to pick out some of the history that McPherson noted is still there.

[Benjamin Kahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting history of the Horseshoe Tavern. I hadn't realized that it's been around as long as it has. I've seen a handful of shows there over the years - probably less than ten, although I read this book between two visits fairly close together, so it seemed more relevant than it might otherwise have. I knew that Stompin' Tom had a history with the Horseshoe, but I didn't realize that it used to be a country bar, so that was interesting. The punk/Queen W scene was less of a surprise to me.

An interesting book. When I'm there tomorrow night at the show, I'll definitely be looking around with a fresh set of eyes.

[Peter Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a nostalgic read for me, having played at “The Shoe” a handful of times in the 90s and seeing so many great bands there over the last three decades. I loved reading about the country music era of the 50s and 60s and also the rise of so many pivotal Canadian bands that got their start there in the 80s. Thanks to the author for telling the story of one of the most iconic and loved music venues in Toronto.

[Brett Gajda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant history of my favorite live music bar in Toronto. I’ve been going to the Horseshoe Tavern for 30 years, and haven’t known anything about it’s history beyond my lifetime. Really enjoyed this read. Thanks for all the work to capture this venue’s story, David McPherson.

[Jacques S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canada Rocks

This book is living proof that Canada bats above its weight in the entertainment and music industry. It was fun reading about a lot of the bands that I have grown up and loved and many of whom I have seen.

[Aaron Badgley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and detailed history of the famed Horseshoe Tavern.

[Scott Wahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun whirlind history of the Shoe and Toronto music history.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of interesting tales of days gone by with bands at the Horseshoe. Some insight on the backroom dealings.