I've been fortunate to have a lot of fun nights and to see a lot of fun music at over the years. And as we wait for live music to return in a safe, healthy, awesome manner, I've found myself looking back on some of my favourite nights and memories.
In this post I've done my best to key in on my five favourite nights at the Horseshoe... but that wasn't especially easy, so I've got some honourable mentions too.
From Canadian Music Week to album release parties to emerging acts in the legendary space, there was certainly no shortage of memories to choose from. And if you've spent any time on that checkerboard floor, I'm sure you've got some memories too.
Have a look back with me here, and leave a comment or send us a message with your favourite memories from the Horseshoe too!
Check out some photos Trish has shot over the years of artists on the legendary stage, then check out the honourable mentions and the five memories that came back to me the strongest. Enjoy.
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Honourable Mentions: The 2017 Horseshoe Holiday Bash with Janes Party, The Kents, Caren | Johnson Crook (2016) | Brett Kissel at the 2020 Country MegaTicket Announcement | Goodnight Sunrise (2018) | CMW 2015 with Daniel Lanois and Terra Lightfoot
Note: I've got two more memories that aren't show related.
1) A few years ago (I don't remember the year now) a group of Toronto pals that mostly met via Twitter and at events, gathered for a holiday party at The Horseshoe and there was a talent show and drinks and lot of fun. And, at the end of the night, a bunch of us got on stage to sing together, including me, singing, on stage at The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern. That's a fun memory.
2) On January 19, 2002, when I was a 19-year-old student at Humber College, I was at The Horseshoe with friends, likely to see a band - but what I remember is standing at the bar and watching football... and I remember because it was the playoffs and it was snowing and the Raiders should have been the Patriots but it was THE TUCK RULE GAME.
Live Music Memories at The Horseshoe Tavern
Whitney Rose Heartbreaker of the Year Album Release Party!
In April 2015, Whitney Rose released her second album, Heartbreaker of the Year, and she came to The Horseshoe Tavern to play her release party. The PEI native was already a favourite of ours then and continues to be now with Rule 62 and We Still Go To Rodeos and more.
But on that night in 2015, we watched and sang and smiled as Rose played her new music, charmed the Toronto crowd, and invited Raul Malo of The Mavericks to join her on stage to sing with her.
Whitney Rose has become a well-loved and celebrated artist in Canada and in the United States (and beyond) thanks to her talent and it is all very deserved. And as far as memories go, this is a good one.
Whitney Rose, CD Release Party: Heartbreaker of the Year [Photos]
The Aussie BBQ at Canadian Music Week 2016
We were very busy at Canadian Music Week 2016, but one of the highlights was definitely hanging out at The Horseshoe for the Aussie BBQ. It was a sunny afternoon, there were drinks and sausages, and music!
We spent some time out in the afternoon sun interviewing both The Dead Love and Mabel (Silver Love Club) to talk about coming to Canada, what drinks and food they were loving in Toronto, what the crowds were like, what was coming next for them and move. And that day The Dead Love gave us a lot of reasons to keep paying attention to them (which we have). They took a shot together on stage before they played. They got loud, sweaty, and garage grungy in their late-afternoon timeslot. AND, if The Dead Love decide they are coming back to Toronto when all is safe, we'll be there in the front row, just like we were there for the Aussie BBQ in May 2016.
CMW 2016 Spotlight: The Dead Love at the Aussie BBQ!
Crown Lands Kick Off 2018
In late-January 2018, Crown Lands played their first gig of the year at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern. The Oshawa duo rocked hard, impressed the fans who already knew and loved them, and got those who didn't know them yet in on the action too.
Before the show, we caught up with Cody and Kevin in the green room for a little catch up to talk about their music and Rush and their (at the time) new agreement with booking agency APA, and more. And then, just like everyone else on the checkerboard floor, we watched as they rocked through a fantastic set.
We've always loved Crown Land's energy and talent and sound. We've also always loved their passion and advocacy and goodness. And having a memory of Crown Lands at The Horseshoe just feels right. We hope there's another one in the future.
Rise Over Run: Crown Lands at The Horseshoe Tavern
Joey Landreth, Forgiveness Tour 2018
In October 2018, we went to The Horseshoe with tickets, not cameras, to see Joey Landreth on the Forgiveness Tour... and it was awesome.
It was so good in fact that I couldn't help myself and I took notes and then when I got home, I wanted to write about it and share it and feel it some more. So I did.
Joey Landreth is one of my favourite Canadian singers/songwriters/guitar players and any chance to see him live is a good one. And on this night, with Roman Clarke opening the show before joining Landreth and Meg Dolovich on stage in the headlining slot, we were fully entertained.
From Where Did I Go Wrong to Made Up Mind to Let It Lie, all the way to Whiskey at the end of the set, I was all in. Just like the rest of the crowd at The Horseshoe.
Forgiveness of a Dangerous Heart: Joey Landreth Live at The Horseshoe Tavern
MONOWHALES Shine Bright at CMW 2019
On a Wednesday night in May 2019, we saw four bands at The Horseshoe with MONOWHALES acting as our spotlight artists. They played songs from Control Freak, they played new songs we didn't know yet (this was before RWLYD (Really Wanna Let You Down), All or Nothing, BL/FF (Fake Friends), etc., and as we said then, the new stuff meshed perfectly with the stuff we knew at the time.
Here's what we said in the show review, "These four indie-pop darlings kept all of the feet moving, the music pumping, and the smiles on faces. We were at peak sweat, crowd size, and immersion in the live music moment as they played new music, songs from their 2018 release Control Freak, a surprise cover, and all of it with gusto."
We were already all-in on MONOWHALES back then, so seeing their rise and success isn't super surprising - but it is still really awesome. And we can point back to The Horseshoe on May 8, 2019, as just another step they took on the way to the top.
MONOWHALES and Ferraro at Canadian Music Week 2019!
