The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto live recordings and venue details
Queen Street West isn't complete without the Horseshoe Tavern. From its opening in 1947 as a neighbourhood bar and restaurant, to a country and rockabilly club in the 1950's, and of course the famous 'last punk rock concert in Toronto' the Shoe has seen it all, including the Rolling Stones in 1997!
A long time music venue with its checkerboard floors still true to its roots of live music.
Upcoming live events at The Horseshoe Tavern
Yes, you can still enjoy live music at The Horseshoe Tavern. Check out https://www.horseshoetavern.com/events
Historic timeline
- In 1947 Jack Starr purchased the bar, with a reputation as a rough place - local bike gangs and even a famed bank robber Edwin Alonzo Boyd as a regular patron.
- From 1947 through the 1960's Jack Starr converted the space to a live music venue focused on rockabilly artists. The first booking was Americana artist Marvin Rainwater.
- The Horseshoe has also supported many Canadian acts - Stompin’ Tom Connors probably the most famous - he held the record by playing sold out shows at the Horseshoe for 9 straight weeks - in 1970 he recorded his first live album Stompin’ Tom Connors - Live at The Horseshoe.
- In the 1970's local indie new wave and punk promoters Gary Cormier and Gary Topp ('The Garys') booked artists like the Police, Talking Heads, Dictators, Suicide, The Cramps, MC-5, Dead Boys, and The Stranglers. They followed the tradition by also booking up and coming Ontario ats like the Diodes, Viletones, Demics, Forgotten Rebels, and Teenage Head.
- Perhaps the single most famous night at the Horseshoe was December 1, 1978 - 'The Last Punk Rock Concert' featuring bands like The Viletones, Teenage Head, and The Mods. This night was documented in the film The Last Pogo, which ended in a police-forced riot as promoters tried to shut down the concert.
- The biggest act to ever play at the Horseshoe is the Rolling Stones who played a 70 minute long set on September 4th, 1997.
Additional websites
The Horseshoe Tavern location
Located in Queen Street West neighborhood at:
370 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 2A2
CA
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 2A2
CA
GPS: 43.649194381763024, -79.39532647496195
Concerts at The Horseshoe Tavern
Concerts by date
- 1973 - Across This Land With Stompin' Tom Connors
- 1978 - The Stranglers 1978 Live at Horseshoe Tavern Toronto
- 1992 - Tragically Hip Live at the Horseshoe April 18th 1992
- 1995 - Thom Yorke playing Radiohead - Live at the Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto (March 1995)
- 1996 - Los Lobos Live at Horseshoe Tavern on 1996-10-16
- 1999 - Cowboy Junkies Live at the Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, Ontario on 1999-12-01
- 2001 - The Strokes - Toronto Horseshoe Tavern, 10/02/2001
- 2004 - Mono (Japanese instrumental band) Live at Horseshoe Tavern on 2004-10-14
- 2006 - The Tragically Hip - Live in Toronto, Ontario at The Horseshoe Tavern on October 17, 2006
- 2014 - Skydiggers - Good King Wenceslas - Christmas concert 2014 at the Horseshoe
- 2017 - Tea Party - The Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, ON - 2017-11-29
- 2017 - Rheostatics Live at The Horseshoe Tavern December 7 2017
- 2018 - Tragically Hip's Paul Langlois plays 'Wheat Kings' with the Skydiggers
- 2022 - Rheostatics November 26 2022 The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto
Concerts by artist
- Cowboy Junkies on Wednesday December 1st 1999
- Los Labos on Wednesday October 16th 1996
- MONO on Thursday October 14th 2004
- Radiohead on Tuesday March 28th 1995
- Rheostatics on Saturday November 26th 2022
- Rheostatics on Thursday December 7th 2017
- The Skydiggers on Saturday December 22nd 2018
- The Skydiggers on Friday December 19th 2014
- Stompin Tom Connors on Monday May 14th 1973
- The Stranglers on Saturday April 15th 1978
- The Strokes on Tuesday October 2nd 2001
- Tea party on Wednesday November 29th 2017
- The Tragically Hip on Saturday April 18th 1992
- The Tragically Hip on Tuesday October 17th 2006
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(Follow these links to the full list of venues and concerts by band name or concerts by year. We also have more details on some artists, here. Live music vault website design and original text copyright 2026 Wholemap. Videos and recordings and the details provided, are owned by the respective copyright holders.)