Tom Rush Makes Triumphant Return To Hugh’s Room

Fri Nov 01 2024
Tom Rush

Gordon Lightfoot called Tom Rush the best live solo act he’s ever seen and on Saturday night Tom Rush validated Gord’s assertion.

No stranger to the Toronto music scene, Tom performed at the legendary Riverboat at the height of the folk revival, the original Hugh’s Room and most recently opening for Gordon Lightfoot at his two last performances at the renovated Massey Hall. But this was Tom‘s first performance at the brand new location of Hugh’s Room Live. And what a beautiful venue it is. Great sound, great sightlines, and a perfect listening room. 

This was Saturday night, the second night of a two night stand, and there wasn’t a seat to be had. The moment Tom stepped on the stage a hush fell over the room and all eyes and ears were on the performer. And what a performance it was. The adoring crowd hung on every word. It was a wonderful mixture of love and respect for Tom and he returned the love and respect in equal measure. His easy delivery, warm, smooth vocal style wrapped the room in a warm coat and the well paced show rolled along with the time flying by.

Tom Rush Returns to Hugh’s Room Live

Fri Oct 18, 2024

The indefatigable Tom Rush’s 6-decade career of crossing the continent is marching right along.

The pioneering troubadour/folksinger/songwriter/storyteller is currently on tour and scheduled to make a long overdue return to Hugh’s Room Live in Toronto, Ontario on October 25 and 26, 2024.

Rush’s impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the ’60s and the renaissance of the ’80s and ’90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, “Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences.” Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences. Rush has long championed emerging artists.

Tom Rush began his musical career in the early ’60s playing the Boston-area clubs while a Harvard student. The Club 47 was the flagship of the coffee house fleet, and he was soon holding down a weekly spot there, learning from the legendary artists who came to play, honing his skills and growing into his talent. He had released two albums by the time he graduated.

Tom Rush Garden Old Flowers New

Fri Mar 29, 2024

Tom Rush, is an American treasure credited by Rolling Stone as ushering in the era of the singer-songwriter.

Although he wrote his own songs he was the first to record songs by then unknown talents like Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor helping them gain name recognition. Tom was looking for material to make an album when he heard some songs by Joni, Jackson and James that spoke to him and that he found refreshing and different from the more traditional folksongs of the day , lyrically and musically. “. I wasn’t looking into usher in anything – I was just looking for some songs. “

Fast forward a bunch of decades and Tom Rush is still out there paving roads and entertaining as only he can, and has released a new album, his first in five years.

“I want to thank Matt Nakoa for prodding me into making this happen. I think he got tired of hearing me say that maybe someday I would make another album and went ahead and booked a studio, some brilliant players and here we are.”