Stories of the Stage: 25 Years of Concert History at Scotiabank Arena

by Daniel Tate

Over the last quarter-century, few concert venues across Canada have witnessed as many electrifying moments as Scotiabank Arena. In this visual tour-de-force, readers embark on a mesmerizing journey of the building's storied past through the many legendary shows to happen on its stage. Beginning with the inception of the arena's construction, the book transports us through time, allowing us to relive a remarkable number of concerts by the world's most renowned artists. From The Tragically Hip's groundbreaking debut in 1999 to U2's incredible 4-night stand in 2005 to Madonna's thrilling Celebration tour in 2024, each page unveils unforgettable moments in Toronto concert history - told firsthand by the artists, promoters, and, most significantly, the passionate fans who were there.

Complementing these narratives is a breathtaking collection of concert memorabilia and photography, including a captivating two-part feature on the arena's wrestling legacy, and a dedicated section highlighting the Asian pop explosion of the 2010s. Stories of the Stage features insights from acclaimed performers such as Avril Lavigne, City and Colour, The Tragically Hip, Russell Peters, Leslie Feist, Glenn Lewis, Adam Copeland and many more.

Over the past 25 years, the building has welcomed over 13 million concertgoers through its doors, each seeking the exhilarating vibration and energy of live music. With Stories of the Stage: 25 Years of Concert History at Scotiabank Arena, we reflect and celebrate the cherished memories and connections forged at one of Canada's most beloved concert venues.

Genres: Music, History

418 pages, Hardcover

Published November 4, 2024

About the author

With his vast archives and knack for research and storytelling, Daniel Tate has been tirelessly chronicling Toronto music history since 2015 when he started The Flyer Vault project. His passion for sharing formative moments in Canadian concert history has helped propel The Flyer Vault as a go-to account for concert fans. In 2019, Daniel teamed up with Grammy-winning writer Rob Bowman to release the Amazon bestselling book, The Flyer Vault: 150 Years of Toronto Concert History with a foreword written by Geddy Lee (published by Dundurn Press). Since then, The Flyer Vault has expanded to offer services such as design, archival, consulting, writing, and research. Daniel has delivered several high-profile music history projects for esteemed clients such as Massey Hall, MLSE, Live Nation, and Universal Music. As of this writing, The Flyer Vault has over 24k followers on Instagram including distinguished musicians and journalists such as Drake, Geddy Lee, George Clinton, Nardwuar, and many more. Daniel has been featured in media publications such as CBC, Globe & Mail, the Toronto Star, and Vice. He lives in Toronto and goes to a lot of concerts.

Reviews

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly detailed collection with never before seen photos, fan stories, set lists, memorabilia and more. Over 400 pages of Toronto music history, compiled by someone who’s completely devoted themselves to these type of archives. I already look forward to Daniel and The Flyer Vault’s next project.

[Marc Winer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is PURE nostalgia. It took me right back to so many of the amazing experiences i’ve had over the years. For those of you who were not there i’m sure this read will give you the feelings as if you were. And it will feel Great! Thank you Daniel for chronicling the plethora of priceless relics and memories for all of us to enjoy. Truly a pleasure. 🙏

[Adam Armit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! So much fun history looking back at shows I've been to. Will be getting my family copies for the holidays!