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A long-running jazz and blues bar on Queen Street West presenting around 19 shows a week, most of them pay-what-you-can, with pub food and live music…
Horseshoe Tavern
A Queen Street West live music tavern open since 1947, with a front bar open daily and a 400-capacity back room that has hosted the Rolling Stones and The Police.
At a glance
- Type
- Live music tavern
- Area
- Queen West, Toronto, Canada
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Official site
- horseshoetavern.com
Good to know
- Live music most nights
- Front bar open daily
- 19+
Why we recommend it
The Horseshoe Tavern has been a fixture of Queen Street West since 1947, in a building at the corner of Queen and Spadina that dates from 1861 and once housed a blacksmith. It began as a small saloon and grew into a major rock and roots venue, with a back room that holds about 400 people.
The tavern's history reads like a list of musical eras. Stompin' Tom Connors recorded his 1971 album Live at the Horseshoe here, and in the 1970s and 1980s the room hosted punk, reggae, mod and new wave acts; the 1978 documentary The Last Pogo was filmed on site. The Rolling Stones began their Bridges to Babylon tour with a 75-minute show here in September 1997, and the list of performers over the years includes The Police, Talking Heads, the Ramones, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, The Tragically Hip, Wilco and Arcade Fire.
Today the Horseshoe still programmes live music most nights, from up-and-coming bands and singer-songwriters to tribute acts and special events. The front bar is open seven days a week, with live music in the back bar, so you can stop in for a drink even when there is no show you want to see. Doors for evening shows usually open between 7pm and 9pm.
Tickets are sold online through the venue's listings, and popular shows often sell out, so book early if there is a band you want to catch. All shows are for ages 19 and over, so bring photo ID.
The Horseshoe suits music fans, students and anyone who wants a no-frills night out with a sense of history. The room started life as an 87-seat saloon, and its film history goes beyond The Last Pogo: the concert films This Is Stompin' Tom and Across This Land with Stompin' Tom were shot here in 1972 and 1973, and the Rolling Stones show in 1997 was broadcast on MTV. From the 1990s it became a home for alternative country, and other performers over the years have included Blue Rodeo, Sloan, Bon Iver, Cat Power and Sun Ra. Tickets are sold through platforms including Tixr, TicketWeb and Ticketmaster.
The tavern is at 370 Queen Street West, at the north-east corner of Queen Street and Spadina Avenue. It is owned by Collective Concerts, and in recent decades it has advertised itself as a Country Roots n' Rockabilly Music Tavern.
Horseshoe Tavern FAQs
When did the Horseshoe open?
In 1947, in a building dating from 1861.
How big is it?
The back room holds about 400 people.
Who has played there?
The Rolling Stones, The Police, Talking Heads, the Ramones, Radiohead, The Tragically Hip and many more.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. Shows are 19 and over.
Can you visit without a ticket?
Yes. The front bar is open seven days a week.
What time do doors open?
Usually between 7pm and 9pm, depending on the show.
Do shows sell out?
Yes. Popular shows often sell out, so buy tickets early.
Where is it?
At 370 Queen Street West, on the corner of Queen Street and Spadina Avenue.