Riverboat Revisited: Tom Rush

Back by Popular Demand!

Part of our Riverboat Revisited series, highlighting iconic performers from the historic Riverboat Coffee House in Toronto.

Celebrated folk and blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist Tom Rush returns to The Westdale after a sold-out show in 2026 for an intimate performance, accompanied by pianist Brendan Cleary. A Harvard University English lit major, Rush began performing in 1961 at Boston’s Club 47 and became a key figure in the 1960s folk revival. Rush helped launch the careers of other artists, including Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, and James Taylor, by recording their songs early on. His composition “No Regrets” has become a widely covered standard.

The Riverboat Coffee House

Opened in 1964 by Bernie Fiedler, The Riverboat coffeehouse became a legendary venue in Yorkville, hosting countless iconic artists. A hub for Canada’s music scene, it launched the careers of many artists and remains celebrated as a cultural landmark, immortalized with a Heritage Toronto plaque in 2009.