They say you can’t keep a good man down. The same can be said of a good music venue. In Toronto, examples of that abound. There are the multiple morphings of the Horseshoe, still rocking out after 60 plus years, the soon to rise yet again El Mocambo, the also many faces of The Great Hall, the Chinese restaurant turned dance club turned influential rock’n’roll venue Lee’s Palace, The Cameron House’s transition from dive bar to must hear music maven. Add to the top of that list Hughs’ Room, bringing the finest in acoustic and roots and folk players to the city’s west side, dealing in quality music and the pin drop acoustic supremacy.
The club was opened in 2001 by Richard Carson and named in memory of his brother Hugh, a former folk musician who had dreamed of opening his own performance venue before his death of cancer in 1999.
Primarily a folk music listening club, Hugh's Room also sometimes booked jazz, blues, classical and comedy artists as well. Noted artists who have performed at the club include Pete Seeger, Serena Ryder, Sylvia Tyson, Odetta, Jane Siberry, Ron Sexsmith, Maria Muldaur, and Richie Havens. Odetta's performance at the venue, on October 25, 2008, was her last-ever live performance before her death on December 2 that year.
Over time, it became a launching pad for careers, gaining a major rep as a “listening room” where servers scrambled to get plates on the table before showtime; where the bartender would shush patrons so others could hear the music. It also served as the nexus of the city’s folk scene, where players and fans could meet and mingle, connections were made and musical styles were cross-pollinated.
On January 8, 2017, Hugh's Room closed its doors for financial reasons. Several days later, a community committee announced plans to restructure the venue's accumulated debt and reopen. The club reopened in April 2017, following a successful fundraising initiative and the formation of a non-profit committee to manage the venue. The new corporation is called Hugh's Room Live.
Along with a new paint job inside, this 225-seat folk music venue is now a non-profit organization, run by a board of directors, with any profits going back into the venture. Efficiency, new income streams, and community engagement are on the agenda with an eye to long-term viability.
“The sightlines and the sound are much better than average, and performers love being there because it feels so warm. “Even the Judy Collinses of the world who play big halls are happy to do three nights at Hugh’s Room,” says committee spokesman Grit Laskin. “It’s got an international reputation: American and UK performers want a gig at Hugh’s Room on their CV.”
HUGH’S ROOM LIVE CALENDAR
Unless otherwise noted, all show times scheduled as Doors: 6pm | Concerts: 8:30pm
Just Announced!
Melanie Safka
Thursday | July 4, 2019
Tickets: $60 Advance / $65 Door *
Doors: 6:00pm
Performance: 8:30pm
John Sheard’s British Invasion
Friday | December 14, 2018
Tickets: $30 Advance / $35 Door
Doors: 6:00pm / Performance: 8:30pm
Ha Ha Happy Holidays with Martha Chaves + Friends
Saturday | December 15, 2018
Tickets: $25 Advance / $30 Door
Doors: 6:00pm / Performance: 8:30pm
The Ault Sisters
Sunday | December 16, 2018
Tickets: $30 Advance / $35 Door
Doors: 12:00pm / Performance: 1:00pm
DECEMBER 2018
12 / 12 / 2018 | Songwriter Session | $20 Advance / $25 Door
12 / 13 / 2018 | A Bluesy Christmas | $40 Advance / $45 Door
12 / 14 / 2018 | John Sheard's British Invasion | $30 Advance / $35 Door
12 / 15 / 2018 | Martha Chaves and Friends | $25 Advance / $30 Door
12 / 16 / 2018 | The Ault Sisters matinee performance | $25 Advance / $30 Door
12 / 18 / 2018 | Quartette | $50 Advance / $55 Door
12 / 20 / 2018 | Craig Cardiff | $30 Advance / $35 Door
12 / 21 / 2018 | Craig Cardiff | $30 Advance / $35 Door
12 / 22 / 2018 | A Very Tiki Christmas w/ The Tiki Collective | $25 Advance / $30 Door
12 / 28 / 2018 | Don Ross | $45 Advance / $50 Door
12 / 29 / 2018 | Suzie Vinnick | $25 Advance / $30 Door
12 / 30 / 2018 | Wintergarten Orchestra | $30 Advance / $35 Door
12 / 31 / 2018 | Diane Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley | $50 Advance / $55 Door
JANUARY 2019
01 / 05 / 2019 | Rob Tardik | $25 Advance / $30 Door
01 / 06 / 2019 | Martin Taylor | $30 Advance / $35 Door
01 / 10 / 2019 | A Celebration of the Music of Gordon Lightfoot | $40 Advance / $45 Door
01 / 11 / 2019 | A Celebration of the Music of Gordon Lightfoot | $40 Advance / $45 Door
01 / 12 / 2019 | A Celebration of the Music of Gordon Lightfoot | $40 Advance / $45 Door
01 / 13 / 2019 | A Celebration of the Music of Gordon Lightfoot | $40 Advance / $45 Door
01 / 18 / 2019 | Dan Hill | $40 Advance / $45 Door
01 / 19 / 2019 | Garnet Rogers | $40 Advance / $45 Door
01 / 25 / 2019 | Poor Angus | $25 Advance / $30 Door
01 / 26 / 2019 | Rik Emmett | $40 Advance / $45 Door
01 / 27 / 2019 | Rik Emmett | $40 Advance / $45 Door
FEBRUARY 2019
02 / 02 / 2019 | French Squeeze | $25 Advance / $30 Door
02 / 07 / 2019 | John McDermott | $50 Advance / $55 Door
02 / 08 / 2019 | John McDermott | $50 Advance / $55 Door
02 / 09 / 2019 | John McDermott | $50 Advance / $55 Door
02 / 09 / 2019 | Michael Jerome Browne CD Launch w/ Harrison Kennedy | $20 Advance / $25 Door
02 / 23 / 2019 | Van Morrison Tribute | $25 Advance / $30 Door
MARCH 2019
03 / 01 / 2019 | Joni Mitchell Tribute | $30 Advance / $35 Door
03 / 02 / 2019 | Joni Mitchell Tribute | $30 Advance / $35 Door
03 / 29 / 2019 | Old Man Flanagan's Ghost | $15 Advance / $20 Door
03 / 31 / 2019 | Dave Gunning CD Release | $25 Advance / $30 Door
APRIL 2019
04 / 12 / 2019 | Preston Reed | $30 Advance / $35 Door
04 / 13 / 2019 | Jack de Keyzer | $25 Advance / $30 Door
04 / 27 / 2019 | Coig | $30 Advance / $35 Door
MAY 2019
05 / 09 / 2018 | Martyn Joseph CD Release | $25Advance / $30 Door
05 / 18 / 2018 | An Evening with Judy Collins | $100 Advance / $110 Door
05 / 31 / 2018 | Jane Siberry | $60 Advance / $65 Door
JUNE 2019
06 / 01 / 2018 | Jane Siberry | $60 Advance / $65 Door
06 / 02 / 2018 | Jane Siberry | $60 Advance / $65 Door
06 / 20 / 2018 | Chris Antonik | $20 Advance / $25 Door
JULY 2019
07 / 04 / 2018 | Melanie Safka | $60 Advance / $65 Door
Further media information/interview requests contact:
Jane Harburyjane@harbury.ca P: 416.960.1568 M: 647.519.6706
Hugh’s Room Live 2261 Dundas Street West Toronto, Ontario, M6R 1X6, Canada
416-533-LIVE (5483) www.hughsroomlive.com
For a full line-up and to keep watch on all the great live entertainment visit: www.hughsroomlive.com