Horseshoe Tavern, Music venue in Queen West, Toronto, Canada
The Horseshoe Tavern occupies a two-storey building at 370 Queen Street West, erected in 1861 and once a blacksmith's. Its light grey horizontal siding carries a black band with gold lettering, "HORSESHOE TAVERN", and a yellow "GRILLA MONSOON LOUNGE" sign hangs to the left. Inside, the concert room has a checkerboard floor, referenced in a Tragically Hip song.
The establishment opened in 1947 as a small saloon and gradually grew into a central hub for live music. It became known for introducing Canadian artists to wider audiences and hosting touring bands from around the world.
Locals call it The 'Shoe', and the checkerboard floor was name-checked in the Tragically Hip's 1998 song "Bobcaygeon". Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite gave unsigned Canadian bands a Tuesday slot; Stompin' Tom Connors wrote the "Horseshoe Hotel Song" about the room.
The venue sits in an easy-to-reach part of Toronto and is accessible by foot or public transit. Music runs most nights, so you can check ahead for what's on or simply walk in to see who is playing.
In the early 1970s, two concert films featuring Canadian singer Stompin Tom Connors were recorded here. One of these recordings resulted in a song written specifically about this location, marking its place in Canadian music lore.
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