Handsome Ned’s roots country residency at The Cameron House kickstarted the cowpunk vibe of Queen St. East in Toronto. His mix of 50’s country with 80’s punk was influential to bands such as Blue Rodeo, Skydiggers, Razorbacks and Cowboy Junkies and by extension onto more modern bands such as Cuff The Duke and The Sadies.

On Sunday Jan 29 a group of Ned’s (real name Robin David Masyk) friends and bandmates will perform at a release party at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern for a six song EP coming out on Cameron House Records.

The recording, The Handsome Neds Live at the Horseshoe, is sourced from a show opening for Blue Rodeo in 1985 and features an unreleased new song “Little Miss Lonely Heart”.

Celebrating the life and sounds of Ned, who died of a suspected heroin overdose Jan 10 1987, are John Borra (Rattlesnake Choir), Steve Koch (Handsome Neds, Viletones), Cleave Anderson (Blue Rodeo), Screamin Sam Ferrara (Rattlesnake Choir, Viletones), Tony Benattar (Rattlesnake Choir), Johnny MacLeod (Johnny & The G-Rays), Tony Kenny (Razorbacks), Ferraro, Devin Cuddy and others.