For nearly 25 years Skydiggers’ friends and fans have reunited over the holidays at Toronto’s Legendary Horseshoe Tavern to celebrate the season to the soundtrack of the band’s distinctive rootsy Christmas tunes, Skydiggers’ classics and special guests. We are thrilled to have Skydiggers back at The Centre on December 9 to perform A Legendary Horseshoe Christmas.  We spoke with Andy Maize, one of the original members of the band, to ask him all about the Christmas album and their upcoming performance at The Centre.
Question 1:  Skydiggers was at Centre In The Square last year, what can patrons expect to see this year?
Answer: Our goal is to build a show that will be different every year but the foundation will be the same. At the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, our annual show is a combination of Christmas music, our music, some choice covers and occasionally we’ll get special guests to pop up on stage – this is the foundation of the show. Material changes a little bit from year to year. We are pretty set with the Christmas material, the impetus of the Christmas album is our own version of Good King Wenceslas – that was one of the first songs that as a band we learned together.
The show is a celebration and a gathering place for people returning home for the holidays. The show that we have been doing at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto the weekend before Christmas have been happening for about 25 years now and it has become a gathering place for people returning home for the holidays. We would like to establish that tradition at Centre In The Square and other venues across the country so they can become gathering places, and we provide the musical backdrop to that gathering.
Question 2: You have been with Skydiggers for about 25 years. How does that impact the way you play together?
Answer: So much of playing in a band is about chemistry, and the chemistry has changed over the years when different players have come in, but we’ve been very fortunate that the chemistry changes in a positive way. We realized that the band is more of a community experience now.
Question 3: What does Christmas mean to you and the band and why did you decide to do a Christmas album?
Answer: Christmas is carrying forward the idea of community and gathering. There’s nothing more important to me than to gather with friends and family and loved ones at the holiday season and to appreciate each other and to join in the celebration of being together. Music plays such a big part in our celebrations.
Question 4: What does it mean to be a Canadian musician?
Answer: It’s about the community. We were lucky to be a part of a group of bands that were starting out and many of which have continued to play such as Cowboy Junkies, Spirit of the West, Blue Rodeo, Tragically Hip – we were all starting out roughly around the same time. We’re fortunate to be a part of a community and we support each other and celebrate each other’s accomplishments and try to outdo each other in a positive competitive way, and be inspired by each other. We’re just happy to be a part of that.
 Make Centre In The Square a part of your Christmas tradition. Buy your tickets to Skydiggers: A Legendary Horseshoe Christmas and enjoy a night of music, comradery and joy.
Want to make your night even better? Come early to the show to enjoy an exquisite three-course pre-show dinner for only $29.95*, brought to you by Borealis Grille & Bar in our CentreStage Lounge!
You can reserve your seats for the preshow dinner when calling to purchase your tickets, by visiting the Box Office, or you can email us to RSVP** with your name and the number of guests joining you. There are limited bookings available on a first-come, first-serve basis – RSVP** now to save your spot!
 *Price does not include tax, beverages or gratuities
**Please inform us of any allergies and sensitivities when making your reservation.