Watch Blue Rodeo play Massey Hall courtesy of the CBC

CBC Music just shared this concert performance of Blue Rodeo at Toronto's legendary Massey Hall. 

Here's the scoop from the CBC...

A true Canadian institution, ‪Blue Rodeo brings its sound to the stage once more in a dazzling concert at Toronto’s iconic Massey Hall. Instantly captivating the audience, the Canadian music legends kick off the evening as they deliver the opening notes of Rose-Coloured Glasses, quickly setting the tone for the night. 

It's the perfect union of two Toronto institutions: the legendary Massey Hall as the perfect backdrop for Jim Cuddy, Bazil Donovan and Greg Keelor’s vibrant, country-rock stage presence and show-stopping performance. Filled with immersive guitar and a rousing, nostalgic energy, the set takes the audience through the band’s impressive discography, diving into tracks from its debut album, Outskirts, to the seminal release Five Days In July. 

Performing some of their biggest songs as they move through the evening — including Head Over Heels, Bad Timing and Trust Yourself — Blue Rodeo effortlessly transitions from intimate moments shared with an enraptured audience to pushing the venue’s acoustic limits on uptempo hits such as Diamond Mine. From an incredible drum solo by Glenn Milchem to prelude 5 Days In May, to bringing out Adam Baldwin to close out the show with a spellbinding performance of Lost Together, the night comes to a peak as the crowd joins in for a show-stopping finale when the band plays out the final anthemic notes. 

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Happy 70th Birthday Jim Cuddy!

Cheers to Blue Rodeo's frontman Jim Cuddy. Grab some tickets for his Country Classic fundraiser at the Horseshoe Feb 22.

Tickets for Jim Cuddy & Friends' Country Classic benefit for Daily Bread Food Bank go on sale December 19 at 10 am right here.

Toronto roots rockers Blue Rodeo honoured with a Canadian postage stamp!

Canada Post's oddly floral forward design of Blue Rodeo's new stamp could double quite nicely as a tissue box. 

Here's the scoop from Canada Post...

This booklet of stamps honours award-winning band Blue Rodeo. Canada Post has a long history of honouring Canadian bands and singer-songwriters for their contributions to the nation’s arts and culture.

Blue Rodeo has sold more than four million albums and won 12 Juno Awards, including induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and played more than 2,500 live shows – including more at Toronto’s venerated Massey Hall (their hometown venue) than any other rock band. Forty years on, Blue Rodeo continues to tour and record. 

One of Canada’s most beloved bands, Blue Rodeo has helped shape and redefine Canadian popular music. When they formed in 1984, the band’s unique blend of country, folk and rock set them apart in a musical landscape dominated by synth-pop and hair metal. Led by the sweet, soaring harmonies and endearing melodies of principal singer-songwriters Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, Blue Rodeo is known for its rootsy eclecticism and superb musicianship. Hits such as “Try,” “Lost Together,” “5 Days in May” and “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” have propelled Blue Rodeo albums to multi-platinum status.

Blue Rodeo joins such past honourees as Robert Charlebois (2009), The Tragically Hip (2013), Beau Dommage (2013), and Sarah McLachlan (2024).

About the design

The stamp shows a collage of studio portraits of the seven current members of Blue Rodeo. Pictured from left to right are (front row) Mike Boguski, Jimmy Bowskill, Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor and (top row) Colin Cripps, Bazil Donovan and Glenn Milchem.

In the background of the stamp is an illustration of a blue guitar; in the foreground, flowers reminiscent of the floral embroidery on the band’s western-style shirts.

The inside of the booklet includes the six stamps and a photo of Blue Rodeo performing in Toronto in August 2024.

The back of the booklet features elements of the guitar and floral art featured on the stamp, along with a short text on the band. 

Dakota Tavern's "renovation" marks the end of an era for a beloved T.O. live music venue

Apparently, the Dakota Tavern won't be returning as a live music venue. Who really needs another sports bar in Toronto?  

Derek Downham remembers the Dakota Tavern

The death of The Dakota Tavern represents so much more than just the loss of a great live music venue.

This is where some of Toronto's greatest bands were born and nurtured.

This is where strangers met to dance and fall in love. 

This is where for many years there was a mutual respect between band, audience and staff.

That's what made it so very special.

My emotional connection to The Dakota cannot be overstated. 

I am honoured that I had the opportunity to be a part of it's heyday for 11+ years on Sundays with The Beauties and as part of so many other groups. I actually can't calculate how many shows I played there. Several hundreds, certainly.

Thank you to Jennifer Haslett, Maggie Ruhl & Shawn Thomas Creamer for giving myself and so many others the opportunity to play and build community at The Dakota.

While many of us have already moved on and mourned the loss years ago, I feel this needed to be said.

Thank you.

There will never be another scene like The Dakota on a Sunday when The Beauties played. The music, the abandon, the happiness...truly the greatest and longest running weekly gig I have ever seen or been a part of. It's where I met and played for my heroes like Stuart Copeland, Johnny Marr...Jason Momoa would pick me up like a rag doll. The nights with Kevin Drew and the Metric crew were nothing short of legendary. The Beauties got to play the Junofest Gala, signed to Six Shooter Records and played Zach Galafanakis' wedding because of these nights. This is all just the tip of the iceberg of what came out of these incredible shows. 

Thank you to every one of you who came out and supported us and the venue.

I've lived a truly blessed musical life, and a huge part of that is because of The Dakota Tavern.

So Long, Dakota

There is no way

To draw the end of a line

There is no way to tell ending of time - it’s over 

And in a way we are a victim of crime

Another way to paint a picture so fine, moreover

So Long Dakota, Carry On Dakota

We had a day 

we had a decade or more

There wasn’t anybody keeping the score

It’s over 

We saw the morning through a bottle of wine

We held each other 

‘Til the end of the night spilled over

So Long Dakota, Carry On Dakota

- DD

Now, more than ever: 

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LIVE MUSIC. 

Without you, it ceases to exist. 

For more info on the unfolding story about The Dakota Tavern, check out Lindsay Dunn's report for City News (below) and the Exclaim piece in the links section. Also, watch The Beauties performing "Fashion Blues" at The Dakota Tavern back in 2010 below followed by a performance by Colonel Tom Parker & The American Pour feat. Nichol Robertson on guitar and a 360' clip of Toronto's premiere blues duo Catl in action.

LINKS

Exclaim.ca Toronto's Dakota Tavern reportedly not reopening

Blue Rodeo documentary "Lost Together" screens @ Cineplex, February 2 & 3

Lost Together, the new documentary about Blue Rodeo – a rare Toronto band that makes a living playing music – screens at Cineplex theatres across Canada.

Lost Together screens at Toronto's Cineplex Yonge & Dundas and theatres across Canada. Find out where/when right here.

Watch Rush's Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson join Blue Rodeo for Gordon Lightfoot Tribute

Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson sang "The Way I Feel" with Blue Rodeo at the Gord Lightfoot Tribute at Massey Hall last night. 

Tickets on sale for Blue Rodeo's Massey Hall return Jan 28 & 29

If you're interested in seeing Blue Rodeo at Massey Hall, you'd better act fast. Get yer tickets for those dates and more right here. 

Blue Rodeo On Tour

DEC 10 KITCHENER, CENTRE IN THE SQUARE

DEC 11 KITCHENER, CENTRE IN THE SQUARE

DEC 27 PETERBOROUGH, PETERBOROUGH MEMORIAL CENTRE W/ SPECIAL GUESTS

DEC 29 BARRIE, SADLON ARENA W/ TERRA LIGHTFOOT

DEC 31 NIAGARA FALLS, SCOTIABANK CONVENTION CENTRE W/ CROWN LANDS AND SERENA RYDER

JAN 22 LONDON, BUDWEISER GARDENS 

JAN 28 TORONTO, MASSEY HALL

JAN 29 TORONTO, MASSEY HALL

FEB 04 HAMILTON, FIRSTONTARIO CONCERT HALL

Watch Blue Rodeo's video for "Me & Baz"

Celebrating Greg Keelor's 66th birthday with Blue Rodeo's video for "Me & Baz"

The stars come out for Chris Houston's Hazards of Glitter album

Chris Houston's Hazards Of Glitter is out now on DW Records. Check out his cover of Tommy Ramone's Mean To Me. 

Forgotten Rebels great Chris "Baby Jesus" Houston is back with an all-star support cast of longtime pals – including the amazing Mary Margaret O'Hara, Teenage Head's Gordie Lewis & Jack Pedler, Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy, Bazil Donovan, Greg Keelor and Cleave Anderson, Michelle McAdorey, Harold Nix, Michael Fonfara, and his former One-Eyed Jacks bandmate Steve Koch – for his latest epic Hazards Of Glitter (DW Records).

Recorded with Tim Vesley at Toronto's Woodshed studio, the 10-track album of rough-cut gems is split between Houston's own streetwise revelations and well-chosen covers like the Robert Calvert-penned Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters ripper The Right Stuff, Lou Reed's Vicious Circle and Tommy Ramone's Mean To Me featuring fellow Hamiltonian Lori Yates of Rang Tango and Last Resorts infamy (listen below).

Chris Houston's Hazards of Glitter album is available now from DW Records right here. Incidentally,  DW Records also has copies of Houston's previous album Today's Temperature released last March and his Evil Twang album from 1997 which features many of the same suspects involved with Hazards of Glitter, namely Mary Margaret O’Hara, Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor and Michelle McAdorey.

Blue Rodeo, Serena Ryder @ Budweiser Stage, Saturday

Jim Cuddy takes you on a guided tour of Blue Rodeo's recording studio in Toronto.

Blue Rodeo w/ The Sadies, Skydiggers, Oh Susanna @ Budweiser Stage, Saturday

Bassist/vocalist Bazil Donovan will be performing double duty with Blue Rodeo and Oh Susanna tonight. 

Gord Downie joins Blue Rodeo & The Sadies on stage at Massey Hall

Tragically Hip mainman Gord Downie was a surprise guest for a moving version of "Lost Together" last night.

Long thought lost Handsome Ned recordings being released

The Handsome Neds: Live At The Horseshoe EP launches at The Horseshoe on Sunday, January 29th. 

If not for some good old fashioned dumb luck, a collection of peak-period live recordings by Toronto roots rock legend Handsome Ned may never have seen the light of day. The forthcoming release of The Handsome Neds: Live At The Horseshoe is actually the result of a serendipitous reunion of former Horseshoe Tavern co-manager X-Ray Macrae and Ned’s brother, Jim Masyk, at a Toronto ATM. Here's the scoop:

Way back in 1985, The Handsome Neds were set to share a bill with fellow roots rock rising stars Blue Rodeo who'd just played their first show at the Rivoli on February 7th of that year. A 24-track mobile recording truck and veteran producer Terry Brown were hired in the hopes that a Blue Rodeo live demo would cement a record deal with Warner Music Canada. Fortunately, the tape was rolling during the Handsome Neds set and some real magic was captured on two-inch tape. Ned, who died tragically on January 10, 1987 at age 29, never got to hear that tape as the recording costs were never paid. As a result the tapes stayed in the possession of X-Ray who stored them in a Napanee farmhouse until the aforementioned ATM encounter. X-Ray generously donated the recording to the Masyks which made the current release possible.

You have to wonder whatever became of the early Blue Rodeo live document made on the same night. There's no question that any pre-Outskirts recording would be of interest to longtime Blue Rodeo fans – especially a professional quality 24-track job overseen by Terry Brown – so some further investigation into the whereabouts and condition of the tapes seems like a worthwhile pursuit.

In any case, Cameron House Records is launching the re-mixed and re-mastered Handsome Neds recording as the six-song Live At The Horseshoe EP – including the previously unissued original “Little Miss Lonely Heart” – at  The Horseshoe Tavern on Sunday January 29th at 8:30 pm. Set to perform songs from the Handsome Ned catalogue on the very same stage where the original performance was captured are:  John Borra (Rattlesnake Choir), Steve Koch (Handsome Neds, One-Eyed Jacks), Cleave Anderson (Blue Rodeo), Screamin' Sam Ferrara (Rattlesnake Choir), Tony Benattar (Rattlesnake Choir), Johnny MacLeod (Johnny & The G-Rays), Tony Kenny (Razorbacks), Devin Cuddy and some special guests.

Watch Handsome Ned performing "No Room For Cheating" on Ottawa's Capital City Hayride followed by the trailer for You Left Me Blue: The Handsome Ned Story below.

Bob Egan plays final show with Blue Rodeo @ Molson Amphitheatre, Saturday

Steel guitar ace Bob Egan bids farewell to Blue Rodeo's Toronto fans Saturday. Offers a life lesson below.

“Blue Rodeo’s show this Saturday, August 20 at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto will be our final show with our beloved pedal steel player Bob Egan, who is graduating from a highly successful career in music to a job in the public sector he feels is more suited to his new role as a 60 year old father of a 1 year old boy.

Bob has been with us for 17 wonderful years, a cherished band mate and friend, a big hearted man who gives tirelessly of himself, whether it’s through his charity work, his family, his work or his friendship. You always know you can count on Bob.

In over 20 years as a professional musician, Bob was a member of Freakwater,Wilco, and Blue Rodeo, released his own solo material and guested on countless recordings, including The Tragically Hip’s classic, Bobcaygeon. We will miss him terribly and wish him all the best in his new vocation. Love you, Bob.” – Glenn Milchem

An Open letter from Bob Egan

Bob Egan here, writing an open letter to Canada on the cusp of my final show with Blue Rodeo.

These last 17 years have literally been a dream come true for me. From an awkward teen playing the Legion Halls of Central Illinois to a grown man playing on the stages of the world, this journey has exceeded my wildest dreams.

Seventeen years ago on my first day in Canada, as I walked down Queen Street in Toronto, I experienced a feeling I had never felt in my life. I felt like I belonged. I felt surrounded by people I could relate to. I felt at peace. And after 40 years of searching, I finally felt at home.

That day changed my life but it was only the beginning. Over the years, from coast to coast, you Canadians welcomed me into your towns and cities, your homes and your arms. You shared your stories, your celebrations and sorrows, but most of all you shared your love. This, my fellow Canadians, is the greatest reward of my life.

To serve in Blue Rodeo is to experience a level and intensity of camaraderie that is unimaginable. For almost two decades I’ve had the honour of sharing the stages, the dressing rooms, the studios and buses all over this world. In this strange bubble of an existence I experienced the truest and deepest friendships. The support and the love of my bandmates has led to the greatest joys of my life – music, my sobriety, my wife and my new son Leo. For this, I am eternally grateful.

Family has always been the the most valued cornerstone of my life and the embrace of the extended Blue Rodeo family has been a wellspring of unconditional true love.

The bonds we share amongst our children, our siblings, our parents, our spouses and our loved ones run deep in the Rodeo family and I’ll treasure them all my days.

From Blue Rodeo I learned some of life’s most precious lessons – work to bring joy into people’s lives, take a stand for greater good, try to make this world a better place and above all, share the love.

It is with these lessons I embark on the next journey of my life. My membership in Blue Rodeo has opened the doors for me to be of service to my adopted hometown of Kitchener, ON., and I am proud, honoured and humbled by this opportunity.

To you, the supporters and fans, I will be forever indebted for it is you who have truly made me feel at home.

To my bandmates, though our paths may part, the ties that bind us never will.
You will always be my family.          – Bob Egan

Happy 60th Birthday Dr. Jim Cuddy!

Check out Jim's engaging speech upon receiving his honorary doctorate from Queen's University back in June.

Blue Rodeo slams PM Stephen Harper with shout-along protest anthem Stealin' All My Dreams

To go with the Stealin' All My Dreams song and video, Blue Rodeo assembled an informative list of Harper's horrors.

Celebrating 30 years of Blue Rodeo!

After deep-sixing Fly To France (below),  Jim Cuddy & Greg Keelor first appeared as Blue Rodeo on Feb 8, 1985.  

Jim Cuddy and reunited Hey Stella! announced for James Gray Memorial Show

Members of Blue Rodeo are joining the salute to their late keyboardist James Gray. 

THE SECOND ANNUAL JAMES GRAY MEMORIAL SHOW will be hosted by Derek Downham of The Beauties and Bill Heffernan at the Horseshoe Tavern on Monday, August 18th at 8 pm. Tickets are $12.50 in advance, $15 at the door. All proceeds go to The Shine Group For The Advancement of Music. 

Confirmed performers include: 
Jim Cuddy with sons Devin Cuddy and Sam Polley, members of Blue Rodeo 
NQ Arbuckle with guest Luke Doucet
The Travellers featuring James' dad, Jerry Gray
Hey Stella! special reunion performance featuring Lori Yates
The Gypsy Rebels 
Sugarlips aka Daniel Joseph
Chris Bottomley's Brainfudge featuring Richard Underhill and Gerry James Scott 
Marty Morin of the Tom Waits Appreciation Congregation 
The Gray Brothers with The Dustbowl Daddies 
Druckfarben 

Before They Were Famous: Blue Rodeo

Prior to Blue Rodeo, Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy issued an ace power pop single as The Hi-Fi's in 1980.

Playa's Wear Weekly: Bob Egan

Blue Rodeo string slinger Bob Egan is simply mad about plaid