Todd Kerns brings Toque's Canadian rock tribute to Horseshoe Tavern tonight

Saskatchewan-born Todd Kerns, best known for 17 years playing bass and singing backup in Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, brings his Canadian classic-rock project Toque to Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern tonight, where doors open at 7 p.m.

Toque is a celebration of the bands Kerns and his bandmates grew up on — Rush, Loverboy, April Wine, Prism, Trooper — plus regional favourites like Orphans and Queen City Kids. The band occasionally slips in a Corey Hart or Alanis Morissette classic. Alongside Kerns, the lineup includes bassist/keyboardist Brent Fitz, who plays drums in Slash's band; drummer Shane Gaalaas, who plays with Japanese rock legends B'z; and guitarist/keyboardist Cory Churko, who spent 20 years playing guitar with Shania Twain.

The project started in 2012 as a Winnipeg breast-cancer charity performance before evolving into an ongoing band with a devoted following. Toque has released two albums — Give'R (2016) and Never Enough (2019) — plus originals including "Never Enough For You," "Broken" and "Fighters."

Kerns, who lives in Las Vegas, is juggling multiple projects. He recently joined reunited Canadian rock legends Triumph, which is heading back out on the road in November and December. While Slash is currently on tour with Guns N' Roses, Kerns has the availability to bring Toque to Toronto — something he told interviewers has long been a goal. "To play Toronto is a massive goal," he said in earlier remarks.