The Riverboat Coffee House was a Canadian coffeehouse located at 134 Yorkville Avenue in the Yorkville neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was a key venue for folk rock music and singer songwriter music made famous for featuring high-profile acts, and is considered to be "the best-known coffee house in Canada."[1] It opened in October 1964 and closed on June 25, 1978.[1]
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| Location | 134 Yorkville Avenue Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°40′15.11″N 79°23′38.73″W / 43.6708639°N 79.3940917°W |
| Owner | Bernie Fiedler |
| Type | Coffeehouse |
| Genre(s) | Folk music. |
| Capacity | 120 |
| Opened | October 1964 |
| Closed | June 25, 1978 |
History
editThe Riverboat was owned by Bernie & Patricia (a.k.a. Sola, a well-known artist) Fiedler. Located in a basement, its decor was modelled after the interior of a boat, featuring port hole windows and intimate booths.[2] Legend has it that American protest singer Phil Ochs wrote one of his best-known songs, "Changes", on the back porch.[3]
Notable performers
editNumerous Canadian artists, including Lenny Breau, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Ian & Sylvia, Gordon Lightfoot, Bruce Cockburn, Murray McLauchlan and Billie Hughes, played the Riverboat.[4] A frequent stop on the touring circuit, many American artists, such as John Lee Hooker, James Taylor, Tim Hardin, Simon and Garfunkel, and Phil Ochs, also appeared there.
Live albums recorded
editLive at the Riverboat 1969 by Neil Young
Songs written at or about the Riverboat
edit- Gordon Lightfoot. "Steel Rail Blues" Lightfoot!
- Joni Mitchell. "Night in the City" Song to a Seagull
- Neil Young. "Ambulance Blues" On the Beach
- Phil Ochs. "Changes" Phil Ochs in Concert
References
edit- ^ a b "Riverboat". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ "Toronto Feature: Riverboat". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
- ^ Jennings, Nicholas. "The Riverboat and Yorkville's rich music history". heritageyorkville.tripod.com. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
- ^ "Airplay and TCD distribution for Bonfield-Dickson LP" (PDF). RPM. December 11, 1976.
External links
edit- Riverboat coffee house archival photographs from the Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections, York University
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