“I never made it to the Horseshoe. I was never big enough or known enough to sing in there,” Twain told The Canadian Press. “I remember the bands I was in, we would’ve dreamt to play the Horseshoe Tavern … Now I’m playing there.”
Founded in 1947, the Horseshoe Tavern has long been considered one of Canada’s most important live music venues, helping launch the careers of acts including The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo and Barenaked Ladies.
The roughly 500-capacity room has always been a proving ground for emerging musicians, but in recent years it has taken on more of a country flavour and has attracted some of the biggest names in the genre looking to reconnect with the intimacy of a small club show.
Country star Keith Urban recently played a set at the venue. And the ‘Shoe will welcome another country great later this year when singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams takes the stage in October.
For Twain, the return to a small venue is a full-circle moment. Before becoming one of country music’s biggest crossover stars, she spent years performing in small Ontario bars and clubs, often playing cover songs before landing her record deal.
And, yes, she started right here in Toronto, where she took music lessons.
For Twain, finally stepping onto that stage is less about the size of the room and more about the meaning behind it.
After decades of success, one of Canada’s biggest music stars is finally getting her Horseshoe moment
Tickets are sold out.