Riverboat Coffee House

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]

The Riverboat coffee house
Map
Location134 Yorkville Avenue
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates43°40′15.11″N 79°23′38.73″W / 43.6708639°N 79.3940917°W / 43.6708639; -79.3940917
OwnerBernie Fiedler
TypeCoffeehouse
Genre(s)Folk music.
Capacity120
OpenedOctober 1964
ClosedJune 25, 1978

History

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The 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

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Numerous 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

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Live at the Riverboat 1969 by Neil Young

Songs written at or about the Riverboat

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Riverboat". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  2. ^ "Toronto Feature: Riverboat". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  3. ^ Jennings, Nicholas. "The Riverboat and Yorkville's rich music history". heritageyorkville.tripod.com. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  4. ^ "Airplay and TCD distribution for Bonfield-Dickson LP" (PDF). RPM. December 11, 1976.
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